Eufy Security Video Doorbell C31 - 2K, Battery or Wired

The Eufy Video Doorbell C31 is a 2K Wi-Fi doorbell that runs on a removable battery or on doorbell wiring. Footage goes to a microSD card (up to 128 GB, not included) or to a HomeBase S380, and Eufy advertises no monthly fee. Eufy's US page lists it at $99.99. Alexa and Google Assistant work with it, and Apple HomeKit doesn't.

This page is a researched summary of eufy's product page, retailer listings and aggregator reviews. I haven't mounted one by my own door.

Picture and detection

• Resolution: 2K. Eufy advertises an extended 16:9 view and mentions a 4:3 view as well. One European retailer lists 2048 x 1536 at 15 fps and a 90-degree horizontal field of view, while another says 160 degrees. Eufy's page gives no field of view, so I wouldn't rely on either.
• AI: human and motion detection per eufy's page. Face and package detection aren't mentioned, so don't expect them.
• Two-way talk: a speaker and microphone for live video calls.
• HDR and night vision: eufy's page doesn't specify either, beyond saying night images stay clear.

Power: the choice that matters

• Battery: a quick-release 6,500 mAh pack. Eufy doesn't state a runtime. One aggregator notes battery life could be better with frequent use.
• Wired: 16-24 V, 30 VA transformer. Wired power is what enables 24/7 recording and 5-second pre-roll, and the existing mechanical chime has to be bypassed to get them.
• Weather: IP65, rated -4 F to 122 F (-20 C to 50 C).

Chime and storage

The C31 may or may not come with a chime. Eufy's US page says the chime isn't included and sells the Add-On Chime (T8023) for $39.99. Some European bundles, such as the ones titled "with chime", do include one. Compatible chimes are your existing chime, HomeBase S280/S380 and the MiniBase Chime (T8023). It isn't compatible with the T8020 or T8740/T8742 chimes.

Local storage: microSD up to 128 GB, or up to 16 TB expandable via a HomeBase S380, sold separately. Eufy's optional Plus membership ($15 a month or $135 a year) adds cloud history, but it's not needed for local recording.

Smart home support

Alexa and Google Assistant are supported. Apple HomeKit isn't. Matter isn't mentioned either. ShopSavvy's review summary notes occasional Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

Who it suits

A renter or owner who wants a no-subscription doorbell with a 2K picture and either a battery or a wired install, using Alexa or Google. It isn't for HomeKit homes. If you want a newer model, compare it with the Eufy Video Doorbell E340, and read the home security guides on this site first.

Battery or wire: pick before you drill

The C31 does both. On battery it's a simple stick-on install, with a quick-release 6,500 mAh pack you swap out and charge. Eufy doesn't publish a runtime, and one aggregator says battery life could be better with frequent use, so a front door on a busy street will drain it faster than a quiet porch.

Wired is better if you can do it. With a 16 to 24 V, 30 VA transformer you get 24/7 recording and a 5-second pre-roll, so the clip starts a moment before the trigger instead of after it. There's a catch: you have to bypass the existing mechanical chime to get those features, and then the doorbell needs a chime of its own. That's where the Add-On Chime or a HomeBase comes in, which is an extra $39.99 for the chime on Eufy's US page.

Storage without a subscription

Local storage is the pitch. A microSD card up to 128 GB goes in the doorbell, and Eufy says there's no monthly fee for that. If you want more room or footage kept away from the door itself, the HomeBase S380 is sold separately and takes up to 16 TB. What that means in practice is that a thief who rips the doorbell off the wall takes the card with it, so the HomeBase is the safer option for evidence.

Eufy also sells a Plus membership at $15 a month or $135 a year, and its page shows cloud backup history included. You don't need it to record locally, which is a common reason people pick Eufy over cloud-first rivals.

Where it falls short

There's no HomeKit, so Apple households get notifications through the eufy app and nothing in the Home app. Detection is human and motion only, with no package or face alerts. And the 2K picture comes without a published field of view, so check the angle against your porch before ordering. A 90-degree view and a 160-degree view are very different on a narrow doorway.

Questions to settle before you buy

Do you have doorbell wiring with a suitable transformer, or will this run on battery? Do you want a chime that rings indoors, and are you happy to pay for one separately? Will you record to a microSD card or add a HomeBase? And does your household use Alexa or Google, since HomeKit is off the table? Answer those four and the C31 either fits or it doesn't. Nothing else on the spec sheet is likely to change the decision, and the weather rating, IP65 down to -4 F, is fine for most porches. Eufy also advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on its US page, which is a long enough window to test your Wi-Fi signal at the door and find out whether battery life suits your traffic before you commit.

Sources checked: eufy.com C31 page, Coolblue and Electrocity listings, ShopSavvy review summary.