ADT Just Launched a DIY Security System, and It’s Actually Perfect for Apartment Life

As someone who has lived in apartments for most of my adult life, “home security” has always felt like a thing that applied to other people (like those with houses, basements, and alarm panels hardwired into the wall). But I also live alone, and that comes with its own particular brand of mental load: wondering who buzzed my intercom, keeping one eye on whether a package made it inside, and that low-grade anxiety when I’m traveling and just want to know everything at home is fine. I’ve wanted something that could give me real peace of mind without the commitment that usually comes with it.

Then I heard that ADT just came out with a new line of DIY home security features that can be fully self-installed — a first for the brand. And this ADT Blu Doorbell Camera is making me reconsider everything I thought I knew about home security.

The ADT Blu Doorbell Camera is part of ADT’s new self-installed security line, and at $109.99 it’s the most accessible entry point into the ADT ecosystem. It delivers 2K HDR video at 1944p with a 1:1 aspect ratio — sharp enough to read package labels and make out faces clearly — and a 180-degree diagonal field of view, the widest available for any ADT doorbell option. That wide angle matters a lot in an apartment building hallway or a tight front stoop where you’re not working with a lot of space.

Night vision covers up to 20 feet in low light, which comfortably handles the average front porch or apartment entryway, and two-way audio connects through the ADT+ app so you can speak to whoever’s at the door from anywhere. It also connects to your existing doorbell chime, so visitors hear a normal ring while you’re checking in from your couch — or from three states away. Beyond video, the camera uses smart detection to identify people, animals, vehicles, and packages, so you’re getting relevant alerts rather than a notification every time a car drives past.

Honestly, it comes down to a few things that I didn’t expect to care about as much as I do.

The video quality is genuinely impressive for the price point. We’re talking 2K HDR — sharp enough to read a package label or actually make out someone’s face, not just a blurry blob at the door. The field of view is 180 degrees, which sounds like a spec-sheet number until you realize it means I can see the full width of my hallway, not just a narrow slice of whoever’s standing directly in front of it. And then there’s the monitoring piece. I can self-monitor through the ADT+ app, or activate ADT’s 24/7 professional monitoring at any point — no long-term contract required or big commitment upfront. For $9.99 a month to start, that’s a pretty low bar for actual peace of mind.

Buy now: ADT Blu Doorbell, $109