myQ Smart Garage Video Keypad Review

We think myQ makes the best smart garage door opener you can buy, and now they are upping the ante with the myQ Smart Garage Video Keypad (available at Amazon for $69.77) .

This unique smart home device combines elements of video doorbells, smart locks, and smart garage door openers, wrapping them into an intriguing package that is simple to set up, easy to use, and full of solid security options. On the downside, it lacks local video storage and forces you into paying a subscription fee, which is a drag.

Despite this, the myQ Video Keypad offers tons of utility for those looking to add security to their garage door.

About the myQ Smart Garage Video Keypad

• Colors: White
• Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n @2.4GHz
• Power source: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included)
• Weather resistance: IP55
• Smart assistant support: None
• Operational temperatures: -4°F to 122°F
• Warranty: One-year warranty

The myQ Smart Garage Video Keypad, made by Chamberlain, combines a smart garage door keypad with a camera that connects over Wi-Fi. It has a built-in camera that records in 1080p HD, offers a 160-degree diagonal view, and includes night vision. There's also a built-in light and motion sensor.

The keypad sends push alerts when someone opens or closes your garage. You can also create unique PIN codes for others to use if they need access to your garage, and you can track when the door opens and closes in the myQ app for iOS and Android.

It works with services like Amazon Key, Walmart InHome, Tesla, Vivint, and Ring. But, there is no support for voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant.

What we like

It’s simple to set up

Both the installation and the setup of the myQ Video Keypad itself are simple, straightforward journeys. I recommend setting up the keypad first to establish an initial internet connection. Depending on how far away your garage is from your router, it might be tougher to go through that process with a potentially weaker Wi-Fi signal.

On the installation front, as long as you have access to a drill bit and know how to use it, you shouldn’t have any issues. There are a few pilot holes to drill and drywall anchors to wedge into place.

Setting the device up is equally pain-free, thanks to the step-by-step instructions in the myQ app. The myQ Video Keypad is only compatible with Chamberlain, LiftMaster, Craftsman, Raynor, or AccessMaster garage door openers built after 1993.

It adds security and flexibility to your garage

In its marketing materials, myQ likens the keypad to a video doorbell. To me, it's more similar to a video smart lock such as the Eufy Video Smart Lock.

The myQ Video Keypad detects motion (and options to adjust it), sending timely alerts based on the type of motion it detects. Like a video doorbell, visitors can press a button to call the device owner for access.

With the keypad, you can assign access codes for visitors to your home—much like how smart locks work.

These can be permanent codes for your household or temporary ones for friends or sitters who need access when you're away.

The myQ app displays a rundown of who is accessing your garage door based on a particular code, which is a neat security feature—especially if you're at work or traveling.

For example, I was at work, and my brother needed to borrow my lawnmower. Instead of navigating through a house full of pets, I granted him an access code to the garage directly.

I got a notification when he came by and was able to visually confirm that he was the person pulling my lawnmower out of storage. It was easy to do, and it added a nice peace of mind to the situation.

There's also the option to allow Amazon delivery drivers temporary access to drop packages inside your garage. (I'm not sold on that feature, though.)

The keypad is quick and responsive

Rather than waiting for slow Wi-Fi to open or close my garage remotely, I enter a quick code to access the door. In my experience, some smart home devices aren't immediately responsive and take a few seconds to process the request. But the myQ Video Keypad is ultra responsive.

Better yet, through dozens of use cases, there were no imminent delays or failure to react on the part of the keypad. That kind of consistency feels like something to celebrate.

One exception to this consistency was the myQ Video Keypad’s audio quality. Some recordings were sharp and intelligible. Some suffered from windy conditions and were unusable. It was a luck-of-the-draw sort of situation, albeit not a hugely problematic one, for the most part.

What we don’t like

It doesn’t offer local video storage

The camera on the myQ Video Keypad helps you see who is at your garage door.

The mQ Video Keypad doesn’t offer local video storage of any kind. In its place is a subscription plan, starting at $3.99 per month, which feels a bit steep.

Subscription services can be valuable tools, but when it's the only option available it feels like a cash grab by the company, more than a valuable feature.

You might have to buy another device to unlock its full potential

Oddly enough, myQ doesn’t make it clear that, unless you have an existing Wi-Fi-enabled garage door, you’ll need to purchase a Chamberlain Smart Garage Control to pair with the myQ Video Keypad to have remote access to your garage door.

Without it, you’ll only be able to access video recordings and other related settings. With it, you can open the door remotely to let someone in. That feels like something myQ should spell out more explicitly.

Privacy

I was happy to dig into the myQ app and find settings for setting up a passcode or biometric login to access recordings in the app.

To take it a step further, it even had the option to require an email address and password entry every time you launched the app.

Should you buy the myQ Video Keypad?

Yes, it's convenient and secure

The myQ Video Keypad is one of the first of its kind—a smart garage door keypad with built-in security. To that end, it does its job exceptionally well. The ability to grant different people access to your garage and keep tabs on your door and driveway with motion alerts and video recordings is an incredibly convenient way to secure your garage door.

There’s room for improvement, though. Local video storage would be great, as would remote access via the app without needing another smart home device.

For that kind of access, check out the Wyze Garage Door Controller. There are a few more wires involved, but it allows you to open and close your garage door from within the Wyze app.

These blemishes aren't dealbreakers, especially considering how easy the myQ Video Keypad is to use. If you want better control over who accesses your garage (while keeping an eye on nearby surroundings), the latest from myQ fits the bill.