Tom's Guide Verdict
The eufy Video Smart Lock E330 doubles as both a video doorbell and a smart lock. While it generally performs well, this 2-in-1 device has a few drawbacks endemic to its design.
Pros
- +
Multiple ways to unlock door
- +
Clear 2K video
- +
Easy to install
- +
No subscription required
Cons
- -
Video doesn't show as much vertically as some video doorbells
- -
Visitors might not know to press button to ring bell
- -
No spare battery requires a short downtime while charging
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As the smart home expert here at Tom's Guide, it's not a surprise that my house is jam-packed with many of the best security cameras. A Ring Battery Doorbell Pro guards my street-facing front door for a wide angle of my entryway and side yard. Step around my property and you'll find that my back door is fair game for all of my testing. This is where I install many of the best video doorbells and smart locks.
Eufy's E330 stands out from your standard smart lock because it combines both of these security functions into a single device. This smart lock fully replaces your existing deadbolt but adds keypad, fingerprint, and app access to your home. Meanwhile, its 2K camera records and stores footage on par with the best subscription-free security cameras I've used. So how does the E330 hold up, and is it worth the $279? Read on to see if it's a jack-of-all-trades or a master of none.
What I like
Easy to setup and use
The E330's setup process is straightforward. All I had to do was unscrew my existing door handle's two interior screws, remove my setup to clear out a blank bore, and insert the new Eufy deadbolt. While this piece arrives at a shorter default length of you can twist the plate to extend its length for doors with larger lock holes. Next I placed the exterior lock onto the door, fed its wiring through, mounted the interior, and attached its battery pack. All in all, it took about 15 minutes to get up and connected to Wi-Fi.
Eufy's app makes adding and managing the lock simple. The built-in camera's functionality is much more limited than that of dedicated Eufy security cameras because it lacks a siren, spotlight, or extensive features outside of screenshotting or recording. However, this core surveillance functionality works extremely well without any skips in footage or pixelation while a subject is in motion.
Snappy notifications with free AI detection
Pushing this doorbell button instantly sent an alert to both my phone and Alexa devices. This doorbell doesn't skip a beat between detection and manual button presses, even on a weaker, overcrowded 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.
This smart lock has one of the most accurate cameras I've tested thanks to its dual motion sensors and built-in AI. Both features work together to quickly identify subjects as they trigger motion events. You can set it to a "Human-only" detection mode to further minimize notifications and false alerts. The gadget reliably notified me within two seconds of someone opening and walking through my backyard fence, which is located 15 feet away, just within the E330's maximum detection range of 17 feet. If I see a notification, I can be certain someone is at my back door.
The smart lock's sleek black design looks sharp in the daylight and you can clearly see the circular doorbell button and keypad along the bottom of the exterior lock.
Multiple access points
Eufy's E330 streamlines getting into your home with five different ways to unlock your door. I vastly preferred the accurate and snappy fingerprint scanner system. This setup process takes under a minute while its top-side scanner learns your print from eight different angles and stores up to 50 different user profiles. It consistently registered my touch within two seconds, even when my fingers were layered with water from a passing shower and, grossly enough, pizza grease.
The built-in keypad provides a more generalized approach. You can set several individual codes depending on the type of access—permanent for family and temporary codes that expire for guests or workers. These can also be deactivated on the fly. One of its more useful features is the lock scramble option, which lets you place fake digits before and after the real PIN code to throw off prying eyes.
If you're home and have your hands full with a project, you can even use a PIN code with a smart assistant like Alexa or Google to open your lock via voice commands.
While you're away, you can view a live feed or unlock the door remotely through the Eufy app. And if you have one stubborn household member, the lock ships with two physical keys. These are easy to make copies of if you need access to more spares. Just bear in mind that this lock cannot be rekeyed.
What I don't like
Short battery life
At an average of 10 events per day, I'm seeing the rechargeable battery drain at a rate of just under 20 percent per week but this can vary on days where there's no activity. I've only charged the battery twice over the three months I've used it. That's impressive, but I'm not particularly eager to leave my home unguarded as I recharge the battery.
Sharp, but narrow 2K picture
Even budget-focused security cameras like the Tapo C120 ($29, Amazon) and Wyze Cam v4 ($36, Amazon) have shifted to a 2.5K resolution, so this smart lock combo feels a bit pricey at $279. There's no denying that the sharp lens produces vibrant colors or makes out intricate detail in texture and wording. But my 6'2 frame gets cut off when I'm standing directly in front of the lock.
In the picture below, I'm three feet away after ringing the doorbell and taking a step back. I still can't see my feet or if I were to leave something on the ground. Its field of view feels narrow, be it from the sides or vertically. Some of the best video doorbells have shifted to a more vertical orientation, so you can better see if there's a package at the foot of your door.
And, compared to traditional video doorbells which generally have an unobstructed view, a lock-based camera is offset and enclosed by door jambs on each side. And, this lock is best used where you don't have a storm door, which would obscure the image from the camera.
What do I push?
Having a video doorbell mounted on your door, rather on the jamb next to it, will be a bit of a learning curve for anyone who comes to visit. While there's a big blue circle around a button on the bottom of the lock, it's not where people expect to look, and they may just knock on your door instead.
At night, it's even worse: the lights on the keypad don't turn on until you physically tap it, so all you see at first are the red infrared lights surrounding the camera. Most after-hour visitors have ended up physically knocking on my door.
Verdict
For $279 the Eufy E330 is a capable all-in-one solution for your back or side door where you may want a smart lock and video footage to match. Its picture is rich and the fingerprint reader is accurate and fast. Plus, you don't have to pay a subscription to store video events like you do with a Ring or Arlo doorbell.
However the rechargeable battery will require you to set aside a monthly charge time—there's no instantly swapping in a fresh set of AA batteries like with most smart locks. Meanwhile, the camera's narrow field of view can be a turn-off if your door isn't head-on with the area you're trying to monitor. This worked out perfectly as my back door lock faces the sole entryway to my yard, but it might be an issue for others. Overall its ability to provide a live view and unlock the door from the same place makes it one of the best smart locks I've used.
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