August View Doorbell Camera 2nd Gen: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

The August View Doorbell Camera 2nd Gen is a hardwired video doorbell built around the August smart lock ecosystem. At $149, it brings 1080p HD video, a 170-degree field of view, color night vision, and a one-tap lock/unlock feature that ties directly into August's smart lock lineup. It's the only doorbell that lets you answer the door and unlock it in the same screen without switching apps. The improved optics over the first generation make the upgrade worth a serious look.

This review covers the second-generation model (AUG-DB05-A02-G0X). The key changes from the first gen are the wider 170-degree FOV, upgraded color night vision, and refined motion zone controls. If you already have an August smart lock, this camera is built specifically for that combination.

What Does the 170-Degree FOV Actually Change?

Most video doorbells ship with a 160-degree horizontal field of view. The August View 2nd Gen's 170-degree angle sounds like a small improvement on paper, but it makes a real difference at the door frame edges. You'll see more of the porch width, including packages dropped off to the side, without tilting or repositioning the mount.

The wider angle pairs well with the distortion correction August applies in firmware. Some wide-angle doorbells produce a pronounced fish-eye effect at the edges. August's processing keeps straight lines looking natural across most of the frame.

How Does Color Night Vision Perform?

Night vision on the 2nd Gen uses color imaging when ambient light is sufficient, switching to monochrome infrared only in near-total darkness. In practice, this means motion-triggered clips from a porch light or street lamp arrive in color, which makes identifying clothing and vehicle colors actually useful.

The switch from color to IR happens automatically. You don't configure it, the camera reads the light level and picks the better mode. In testing, the color-to-IR threshold is reasonable; the camera stays in color mode under a typical 60-watt-equivalent porch LED.

Night Vision vs. First Gen

The first-generation View camera used monochrome IR night vision exclusively. The 2nd Gen adds ambient-light color capture as a first layer. This matters most for security purposes: color footage makes it easier to describe what you saw to a neighbor or law enforcement compared to washed-out infrared stills.

One-Tap Lock/Unlock: Does It Work?

The headline feature for existing August lock owners is the in-feed lock control. When someone rings the bell, the August app notification opens the live view. From that screen, a lock/unlock button is visible without leaving the video feed. One tap sends the unlock command to the deadbolt.

This only works with August smart locks connected to the same August account. Compatible models include the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock Pro (ASL-05) and other Wi-Fi-enabled August locks. Bluetooth-only August locks need the August Connect bridge for this feature to function over Wi-Fi.

The practical value here is real. Opening the door for a delivery driver or letting in a family member doesn't require juggling two apps. The response time from tap to lock actuation is around 1-2 seconds over a solid home Wi-Fi connection.

Smart Home Integrations

The August View 2nd Gen connects to Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. The depth of integration varies by platform.

• HomeKit: Full HomeKit Secure Video support with an eligible iCloud+ plan (50GB or larger). On-device person detection, 10 days of encrypted iCloud storage, Siri triggers, and HomeKit automations.
• Alexa: View live camera feed on Echo Show devices, motion alerts, and intercom announcements through Echo speakers.
• Google Home: View live feed on Google Nest displays, activity alerts, and voice control via Google Assistant.

The HomeKit Secure Video path is the strongest choice for privacy-conscious households. Footage stays encrypted in iCloud and doesn't touch August's servers for AI analysis.

Installation Requirements

The August View 2nd Gen is hardwired only. It needs existing doorbell wiring carrying 8-24V AC. Most North American homes with a traditional wired doorbell are compatible. You'll also need a doorbell chime, either mechanical or digital, connected to the circuit.

August includes a mounting plate, chime connector, and installation guide in the box. The physical install follows the same process as most wired video doorbells: remove the old button, connect two wires to the August terminal screws, mount the plate, and clip the camera onto it. The whole process typically runs 20-30 minutes.

For homes without existing wiring, a low-voltage transformer kit and basic wiring work is needed before installing the camera. That's outside the scope of this product's DIY install assumptions.

Motion Zones and Alert Controls

The August app provides motion zone configuration through a grid overlay on the camera view. You draw zones to include or exclude specific areas, which cuts down on alert fatigue from passing cars or trees moving in the wind. You can set separate sensitivity levels per zone.

The August app also supports a "Doorbell Presses Only" notification mode for households that want alerts only when someone actually presses the button rather than every detected motion. This is a useful toggle if your camera faces a busy sidewalk.

Who Should Buy the August View 2nd Gen?

This doorbell makes the most sense for two buyer profiles. First, anyone who already owns an August smart lock and wants the one-tap unlock convenience from the camera feed. Second, households that want HomeKit Secure Video with Apple ecosystem integration and don't need battery power flexibility.

For buyers without an August lock, the $149 price is competitive with Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 ($199) and Nest Doorbell Wired ($179). The August's advantage is the lock integration and HomeKit Secure Video. The trade-offs are the single-wire hardwired requirement and no local storage option outside of iCloud.

For more on video doorbell options at this price range, Wirecutter's video doorbell guide covers the current field in detail.

Summary

The August View Doorbell Camera 2nd Gen is a focused product: a hardwired doorbell that does its best work inside the August smart lock ecosystem. The 170-degree FOV is genuinely wider, color night vision adds useful context to after-dark clips, and the one-tap lock integration is the reason to choose this over a competing doorbell at the same price. HomeKit Secure Video support rounds it out for Apple households. At $149, it's a strong choice if August locks are already in your setup.