Five of the best video doorbells

These devices promise to revolutionise the way you collect packages, keep your home safe and even how you interact with your postie and friends. The BBC Science Focus team picks their faves

Ring Video Doorbell 4 £139.99, en-uk.ring.com

Ring (owned by Amazon) has been making doorbells for a decade now and the Ring Doorbell 4 is its most recent model. Compared to brands like Google Nest or Arlo, the Ring doorbell isn't the most aesthetic option, offering as it does a purely utilitarian design.

However, what you lose in design, you gain in a long list of features. The Ring has a fantastic battery life, lasting for up to six months at a time from an 8-hour charge. Equally, the camera produces clear audio and video both in the day and night. There are options to detect packages, leave pre-recorded messages, interact with people at the door and even set up a threat deterrent when you go away. While some of these features are locked behind a subscription plan, the Ring doorbell is still a more than capable device without this 'paid-for-content'.

Google Nest Pro Doorbell

£179.99, Store.google.com 

The Google Nest Pro Doorbell features a 145º field-of-view, streams in 1600p HD-resolution video and displays footage in a 3:4 aspect ratio, ideal for viewing on a smartphone held vertically.