Vivint Smart Hub Pro 2 Review: Is It Worth the Upgrade?

After living with the Vivint Smart Hub Pro 2 for six months in our GearBrain smart home test house, it’s clear this isn’t simply an incremental update. Vivint redesigned nearly every aspect of its flagship smart home hub, creating one of the fastest, easiest-to-use, and most polished security control panels available today.

The Smart Hub Pro 2 combines security, home automation, energy management, professional monitoring, and camera control into a single touchscreen that genuinely simplifies managing an entire smart home. While the $599.99 price tag places it firmly in the premium category, homeowners investing in a professionally installed smart home security system will appreciate what Vivint has built.

Vivint Smart Hub Pro 2 ArmedGearBrain

One aspect that makes this review unique is that I was among the first reviewers to receive a production Smart Hub Pro 2 before its public launch.

Vivint didn’t simply ship us a review unit. The company sent members of its product team along with its professional installation team to our Vivint test home so we could experience the complete installation process exactly as a customer would.

That matters because professional installation is one of Vivint’s biggest advantages.

Unlike DIY systems where homeowners are responsible for installing sensors, troubleshooting connectivity issues, and optimizing camera placement, Vivint’s installers handle everything. Over the years, we’ve tested dozens of smart home products, and Vivint’s installation team continues to be among the most thorough, knowledgeable, and considerate professionals we’ve worked with.

They carefully positioned every device, tested every sensor, walked us through the software, and ensured everything was operating correctly before leaving.

That experience is part of what customers are paying for.

If interested in buying or learning more about Vivint’s Smart Home System, click here.

Vivint Smart Hub Pro 2 showing disarmedGearBrain

The first thing you’ll notice about Smart Hub Pro 2 is the display.

It looks dramatically better than the original Smart Hub.

The touchscreen is bright, colorful, sharp, and extremely responsive. Whether you’re viewing live camera feeds, checking weather information, adjusting lighting, or arming your security system, everything feels modern and polished.

One improvement I especially appreciated is the keypad.

The large numeric buttons used to arm and disarm the system are easy to read—even if not wearing reading glasses. It sounds like a small detail, but it’s one you’ll appreciate every day.

The interface is also customizable.

Users can personalize backgrounds, choose seasonal themes, and organize frequently used controls to keep them front and center.

The hub can either be wall-mounted or placed on a tabletop, shelf, or desk, making installation far more flexible than previous generations. For our testing, we replaced the Smart Home Hub Gen 1 on the wall with Gen 2.

Vivint says the Smart Hub Pro 2 offers up to 4 times more processing power than the previous Smart Hub.

After six months of daily testing, I believe it.

Everything responds almost instantly.

Menus open quickly.

Camera feeds load rapidly. No delays.

Switching between devices is smooth.

Touchscreen gestures register immediately.

The original Smart Hub wasn’t slow, but the Pro 2 feels significantly more modern and responsive.

If you’re upgrading from the first-generation Smart Hub, this alone makes a noticeable difference.

Camera Integration Is ExcellentGearBrain

One of my favorite features is how seamlessly Smart Hub Pro 2 works with Vivint cameras.

When someone approaches the front door, the hub can automatically display the live camera feed along with contextual notifications such as:

• Package detected
• Person detected
• Motion detected

This creates a much more proactive security experience.

Instead of waiting to manually check cameras, the information comes directly to you.

Accessing live video from Vivint Doorbell Cameras and Outdoor Cameras is fast, and the video quality on the display is excellent.

Even better, you can use two-way communication directly through the Smart Hub, making it easy to speak with visitors without reaching for your phone.

The experience closely mirrors using the Vivint mobile app.

The New Interface Mirrors the Vivint AppGearBrain

Vivint also recently introduced its largest mobile app update, and Smart Hub Pro 2 mirrors that experience almost perfectly.

That’s a smart decision.

Whether you’re controlling your home from the wall panel or your smartphone, everything feels familiar.

You can:

• Arm or disarm the security system
• View camera feeds
• Lock doors
• Unlock doors
• Adjust thermostats
• Control smart lighting
• Review alerts
• Manage devices

The consistency between the app and the hub makes learning the system much easier for homeowners, children, guests, caregivers, and family members.

Reliability During Power and Internet OutagesGearBrain

Fortunately, Vivint designed Smart Hub Pro 2 with redundancy built in.

The hub includes:

• Built-in cellular connectivity
• 24-hour battery backup
• Professional monitoring even during internet outages

If your Wi-Fi goes down, the Smart Hub automatically switches over to its cellular connection.

If your home’s power fails, the battery keeps the security system operating while remaining connected to Vivint’s 24/7 monitoring center.

That level of redundancy is something many DIY security systems simply cannot match.

Vivint has long been known for professional monitoring, and Smart Hub Pro 2 makes accessing those services easier than ever.

The built-in 100dB siren is extremely loud.

During testing, it was easily audible throughout our home and outside.

Emergency communication is straightforward, and one feature I really liked was the ability to communicate with Vivint customer support directly through the hub when needed.

That adds another layer of convenience for homeowners who may not want to call support using their phone.

Vivint’s Smart Home CompatibilityGearBrain

Vivint’s ecosystem has expanded considerably over the years.

Our test home included:

Overall, connectivity between Vivint devices was good.

Camera loading was quick. Door locks by Yale and Schlage (both Z-Wave compatible) responded immediately.

Lighting controls (Philips Hue) worked well once configured.

During our installation, however, we did encounter compatibility challenges with onboarding Philips Hue lighting and the Nest Learning Smart Thermostat 4th Gen.

Our Vivint professional installer ultimately contacted Vivint’s support team to complete the configuration.

Once connected, everything worked properly.

My advice is simple:

If you already own third-party Z-Wave devices or other smart home products, check with Vivint before installation to verify compatibility. This will save you and the Vivint installer time.

Professional installation certainly helps solve these issues, but it’s always good to confirm beforehand.

Note: We did not have a garage to test the myQ integration.

Living With Smart Hub Pro 2 Every DayGearBrain

The biggest compliment I can give Smart Hub Pro 2 is that it quickly disappears into daily life.

Everything feels natural.

Checking cameras becomes second nature.

Arming the house takes seconds.

Talking through cameras is intuitive.

The interface rarely requires explanation.

The always-on display provides useful information without becoming distracting, including:

• Time
• Date
• Weather
• System status
• Alerts

It’s exactly the type of information homeowners actually want at a glance.

There’s no getting around the cost.

The Smart Hub Pro 2 sells for $599.99, and Vivint itself is not an inexpensive smart home security platform.

If you’re simply looking for the lowest-cost security solution, DIY systems from Blink, Ring Alarm, or ADT Blu will likely cost less upfront.

However, Vivint isn’t really competing with those products.

Instead, it’s delivering a premium experience that combines:

• Professional installation
• Professional monitoring
• High-end hardware
• Integrated smart home control
• Reliable backup connectivity
• Fast performance
• Excellent customer support

For homeowners who value simplicity, reliability, and a professionally managed smart home, the additional investment can absolutely make sense.

If interesting in buying or learning more about Vivint’s Smart Home System, click here.

Should Existing Vivint Customers Upgrade?GearBrain

Yes.

If you already own the original Smart Hub, Smart Hub Pro 2 offers meaningful improvements.

You’ll gain:

• Much faster performance
• Better touchscreen responsiveness
• Improved interface
• Better camera integration
• Always-on display
• Future compatibility with newer Vivint products
• Enhanced connectivity

This feels like a genuine next-generation platform rather than a minor refresh.

• Redesigned customizable touchscreen interface
• Up to 4x faster processing power
• Live camera viewing
• Two-way communication with cameras
• Built-in cellular backup
• 24-hour battery backup
• Always-on display with weather and alerts
• 100dB siren
• Professional monitoring integration
• Automatic contextual video notifications
• Wall or tabletop installation
• Custom themes and personalization
• Whole-home smart device control
• Easy navigation for all household members

If interested in buying or learning more about Vivint’s Smart Home System, click here.

What new features does Smart Hub Pro 2 include?

Smart Hub Pro 2 introduces a redesigned customizable interface, a faster processor, always-on display, automatic live video notifications, two-way communication with cameras, improved connectivity, and flexible wall or tabletop placement.

How much does Smart Hub Pro 2 cost?

The Vivint Smart Hub Pro 2 costs $599.99.

Should I upgrade from my original Smart Hub?

Yes. Existing Vivint customers will benefit from faster performance, better camera integration, improved connectivity, and future support for newer Vivint devices.

Can I install multiple Smart Hub Pro 2 panels?

No. Vivint supports only one Smart Hub panel per security system.

Can I place the Smart Hub on a table?

Yes. Unlike previous models, Smart Hub Pro 2 supports both tabletop and wall-mounted installations.

What happens if my power goes out?

The Smart Hub Pro 2 includes a 24-hour battery backup and built-in cellular connectivity, allowing your security system to remain connected to Vivint’s professional monitoring center even during power or internet outages.

Has the interface changed?

Yes. The interface now closely mirrors the redesigned Vivint mobile app while also simplifying navigation for children, guests, caregivers, and first-time users.

After six months of real-world testing, the Vivint Smart Hub Pro 2 has proven to be one of the best smart home security hubs we’ve tested.

The improvements are immediately noticeable. The display is excellent, navigation is intuitive, performance is dramatically faster, camera integration is outstanding, and the always-on display adds useful information without getting in the way.

Professional installation remains one of Vivint’s greatest strengths, and the combination of professional monitoring, cellular backup, battery backup, and a robust smart home ecosystem makes this one of the most complete premium security platforms available today.

Yes, it’s expensive. But homeowners looking for a professionally installed smart home security system that delivers a polished user experience, dependable performance, and room to grow will find Smart Hub Pro 2 to be a worthwhile investment.

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10 stars

Who should buy it: Homeowners looking for a premium professionally installed smart home security system with excellent smart home integration, outstanding reliability, and one of the best touchscreen control hubs currently available.

Rating: 9

Pros

• Fast, responsive touchscreen with 4x more processing power
• Outstanding professional installation and support
• Excellent display with intuitive navigation
• Live camera feeds and two-way communication from the hub
• Built-in cellular and 24-hour battery backup
• Loud 100dB siren and professional monitoring
• Customizable interface with always-on display
• Strong smart home ecosystem with cameras, locks, lighting, and thermostats
• Wall or tabletop installation options

Cons

• Expensive compared to DIY security systems
• Requires professional installation
• Some third-party smart home devices may require additional support during setup
• Only one Smart Hub can be installed per home

If interesting in buying or learning more about Vivint’s Smart Home System, click here.

Like GearBrain’s content? Be sure to follow us.