This FAQ is designed to help you get the most out of your Reolink Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen), covering common questions about product positioning, power modes, chime compatibility, recording, and setup. 

  • Is the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) an upgraded version of the Video Doorbell WiFi? Which product line does it belong to?

    No — the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) and the Video Doorbell WiFi are two separate product lines, designed for different installation needs. The Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) is the second generation of the Video Doorbell (Battery).

    Product Line Power Source Best For
    Video Doorbell PoE Ethernet (PoE) New constructions with pre-run Ethernet; most stable connection
    Video Doorbell WiFi Hardwired 12–24V AC / 24V DC Homes with existing doorbell wiring; 5MP resolution
    Video Doorbell (Battery) Built-in battery (wire-free) or hardwired Renters, homes without doorbell wiring, or users who want installation flexibility

    The Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) runs on a built-in rechargeable battery and offers a 1:1 head-to-toe aspect ratio, while the Video Doorbell WiFi requires continuous wired power and uses a 4:3 / 3:4 aspect ratio. Each series serves different installation scenarios — neither is a direct replacement for the other.

  • What are the key differences between the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) and the Video Doorbell WiFi / PoE?

    Below is a feature-level comparison to help you understand how these product lines differ:

    Feature Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) Battery Video Doorbell (1st Gen) Video Doorbell WiFi Video Doorbell PoE
    Resolution & Aspect Ratio 2K (4MP, 2048 × 2048)
    1:1 Head-to-Toe         		2K (4MP, 2048 × 2048)
    1:1 Head-to-Toe         		2K+ (5MP, 2560 × 1920)
    4:3 or 3:4 (by color variant)         		2K+ (5MP, 2560 × 1920)
    4:3 or 3:4 (by color variant)
    Field of View (Diagonal) 180° 180° 180° / 150° (by color variant) 180° / 150° (by color variant)
    Field of View (H × V) 150° × 150° 150° × 150° 135° × 100° or 100° × 135° 135° × 100° or 100° × 135°
    Power Requirements ① Battery-Only
    ② Wired Connection (Battery Mode: 8-24V AC; Wired Mode: 16-24V AC)         		①Battery-only
    ②Trickle charge: 8–24V AC/DC         		12–24V AC / 24V DC (existing doorbell wiring required) PoE (IEEE 802.3af) or 12–24V AC / 24V DC
    Operating Modes Wire-free (battery) or always-on (wired) Wire-free (battery) or trickle-charged standby Always-on (wired) Always-on (wired)
    Mechanical Chime Support ✅ (requires hardwiring; RLA-PK1 or Jumper Cable needed for Wired Power Mode) ✅ (requires hardwiring) ❌ ❌
    Pre-Recording ✅ (Wired Power Mode only) ❌ ✅ ✅
    24/7 Continuous Recording ✅ (Wired Power Mode, standalone only) ❌ (motion-triggered only) ✅ ✅
    24/7 Recording to NVR or Home Hub ❌ (records motion events only) ❌ (records motion events only) ✅ ✅
    ONVIF / RTSP Support ✅ (Requires Reolink Home Hub; standalone support in Wired Power Mode coming in a future firmware update.) ✅ (Requires Reolink Home Hub) ✅ ✅
    Home Assistant Support ✅ (Requires Reolink Home Hub; standalone support coming in a future firmware update.) ✅ (requires Reolink Home Hub) ✅ (direct integration) ✅ (direct integration)
    Compatible Chime Reolink Chime Plus
    Reolink Chime 2.1
    Mechanical chime (hardwired)
    Home Hub series         		Reolink Chime (V1)
    Reolink Chime V2
    Reolink Chime Plus
    Reolink Chime 2.1
    Mechanical chime (hardwired)         		Reolink Chime (V1)
    Reolink Chime V2
    Reolink Chime 2.1
    Reolink Chime Plus         		Reolink Chime (V1)
    Reolink Chime V2
    Reolink Chime 2.1
    Reolink Chime Plus
    RLA-PK1 Compatibility ✅ (required for mechanical chime in Wired Power Mode) ❌ (not needed; mechanical chime works via trickle-charge wiring) ❌ ❌
    Reolink Doorbell Solar Charger Compatibility ✅ ✅ ❌ (no battery) ❌ (no battery)
    Zone Loitering Alert ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌
    Tamper Alert ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌
    Voice Masking ✅ ❌ ❌ ❌
    Purchase Advice Best overall choice for most users — start wire-free today, hardwire later for 24/7 recording; the only model with package detection, tamper alert, and voice masking Choose only if budget is the top priority; otherwise, the 2nd Gen offers significantly better battery life, detection, and future-proofing for a modest price difference Choose if you already have doorbell wiring and need ONVIF/RTSP or direct Home Assistant — otherwise the Battery 2nd Gen offers more features Choose if you are building a new home or need the most reliable, latency-free connection — overkill for most residential retrofits

  • What should I do if I cannot connect to Reolink NVR or Home Hub?

    If your camera won't connect to or work with your Reolink NVR or Home Hub, please try the following:

    • Update the firmware: Ensure your NVR or Home Hub is running the latest firmware. If you see a message indicating that the device firmware version is too old, but it also shows that it is already running the latest firmware on the update firmware page, please manually update the Home Hub's firmware.
    • Please update your Reolink App/Client to the latest version.

  • What should I do if my camera cannot power on?

    If your camera isn't turning on, please try the following troubleshooting steps:

    • Charge the camera: Use a DC 5V/2A power adapter with the USB-C cable included in the box. The LED indicator will turn solid green when fully charged.
    • Perform a hard reset: Press the power button three times in a row to reset the device to factory settings.

  • Does the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) come with a Chime in the box?

    No — the Chime is not included in the box and must be purchased separately.

    What's in the box:

    • Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) Camera Unit
    • Pack of Jumper Cables
    • Pack of Extension Cables
    • Mounting Plate and Wedge
    • USB-C Cable
    • Quick Start Guide

    Compatible Chime options:

    • Reolink Chime Plus (sold separately) — recommended; full compatibility with all features
    • Existing mechanical chime — supported when the doorbell is hardwired; requires either a Jumper Cable or a RLA-PK1 Power Kit (sold separately) if using Wired Power Mode. Note: When using the Jumper Cable, the mechanical chime is bypassed and will not ring when the button is pressed.
    • Digital Chime

    Note: The original Reolink Chime (V1) and Chime V2 are not compatible with the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen).

  • What power modes does the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) support, and how do they differ?

    The doorbell supports three power configurations, each enabling different features:

    Mode Power Source 24/7 Recording Pre-Recording Mechanical Chime
    Battery-only Mode Built-in battery (no wires) ❌ ❌ ❌
    Battery + Trickle Charge 8–24V AC/DC wiring (device stays in Battery Mode) ❌ ❌ ✅
    Wired Power Mode 16–24V AC/DC wiring (device runs as a plugged-in camera) ✅ (standalone only*) ✅ ✅ (requires RLA-PK1 or a Jumper Cable*)

    *24/7 continuous recording is available only when the doorbell is used as a standalone device. When connected to an NVR or Home Hub, the device records motion events only.

    *When using the Jumper Cable, the mechanical chime is bypassed and will not ring when the button is pressed.

    How to switch to Wired Power Mode:

    1. Connect the doorbell to 16–24V AC/DC doorbell wiring using the terminal block on the rear.
    2. Open the Reolink App, go to Camera Settings > Power > Working Mode.
    3. Select Wired Power Mode and follow the on-screen prompts.
    4. If using a mechanical chime, pair with the RLA-PK1 Power Kit (sold separately) or a Jumper Cable.

    If a 16–24V AC/DC power supply is not connected before switching to Wired Power Mode in the app, the mode cannot be switched successfully.

    Power outage behavior: In Wired Power Mode, the doorbell automatically falls back to battery power during a power outage, then resumes wired operation when power is restored.

    For more information, refer to Introduction to Power Modes of Reolink Battery Video Doorbells (Dual-Power Support).

  • How do I enable 24/7 continuous recording and pre-recording?

    Both 24/7 continuous recording and pre-recording require the doorbell to be in Wired Power Mode (see Question 6). These features are not available in Battery Mode.

    Prerequisites:

    • Doorbell connected to a 16–24V AC/DC power source
    • Doorbell set to Wired Power Mode in the Reolink App
    • Doorbell used as a standalone device (not connected to an NVR or Home Hub for continuous recording)
    • A microSD card (up to 512 GB) installed for local storage

    To enable 24/7 recording:

    1. Go to Camera Settings > Camera Recording.
    2. Select Timer Recording.
    3. Set up the recording Schedule.

    To enable pre-recording:

    1. Ensure Wired Power Mode is active.
    2. Then pre-recording will be enabled by default.

    Note: When the doorbell is connected to an NVR or Home Hub, continuous recording is not available, the device records motion-triggered events.

  • Can the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) integrate with Home Assistant or other third-party platforms?

    Yes, but with specific requirements:

    Platform Integration Method Additional Hardware Required
    Home Assistant; ONVIF; RTSP Via Reolink Home Hub Reolink Home Hub required
    Google Assistant Direct None
    Amazon Alexa Direct None

    Note: A future firmware update will allow the camera to independently support Home Assistant, ONVIF, and RTSP in Wired Power Mode.

    Currently, unlike the Video Doorbell WiFi and Video Doorbell PoE — which integrate directly with Home Assistant — the Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) requires a Reolink Home Hub for Home Assistant connectivity. The camera will be detected on the network but cannot establish a direct connection to Home Assistant without the Hub. This is a by-design distinction due to the device's power-efficient battery architecture.

    To set up Home Assistant integration:

    1. Ensure the doorbell is connected to a Reolink Home Hub.
    2. In Home Assistant, add the Reolink integration via the Home Hub's IP address.
    3. The doorbell and its sensors will be exposed through the Hub.

  • How long does the battery actually last, and how can I extend battery life?

    The Battery Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) is rated for up to 300 days (~10 months) on a single charge, based on approximately 5 minutes of recording per day. At 10 minutes of recording per day, you can expect around 6 months.

    Actual battery life varies based on:

    • Number of motion-triggered events per day
    • PIR sensitivity settings
    • Wi-Fi signal strength and distance from router
    • Ambient temperature (extreme cold reduces battery performance)
    • Recording duration per event

    Tips to maximize battery life: How to Extend the Battery Life of Reolink Battery Powered Cameras

If you have any questions, click “Submit a request” below to contact the Reolink Support Team.