Review of the Ring Video Doorbell
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What is the Ring Video Doorbell?
The Ring Video Doorbell is one of the leading and most popular smart video doorbells around that allows you to see and respond to everything that is going on on your doorstep with a simple click of an app on your phone.
My Experience with the Ring Video Doorbell
Before purchasing this doorbell, I (obviously!) went through my usual research process to ensure that I was buying something reputable and worth the money (as £90+ is a lot to be spending on a doorbell, so you want to get it right!). I found that the Ring Video Doorbell definitely came out on top when it came to features, popularity and best value for money.
The Ring Video Doorbell has been a lifesaver when it comes to package deliveries! Gone are the days where you pop out to run a quick errand and when you return moments later you find that dreaded ‘sorry we missed you’ note on your doorstep.
I remember the day after we installed the Ring Video Doorbell, we went out on a Costco run and I got a notification on my phone that someone was at our front door. My phone literally buzzed and chimed like a doorbell. Upon swiping the notification, I was taken to my Ring app and I could see exactly who was at my front door in real time. The two way audio (with noise cancellation) allowed me to provide clear instructions to the delivery man on where to leave my parcel. Just so easy and convenient and saved me a trip to the depot the next morning!
Other than the convenience factor of the Ring Video Doorbell, I even more so love the added comfort and security it gives me in knowing that I will be alerted instantly of any motion detected outside our house and I can view this either by swiping my notifications, or simply by clicking the Ring app and taking a look at the live view to see what’s going on outside our house.
The camera on the doorbell covers a 180 degree field of view and a 30 feet range which can be adjusted depending on the length of your driveway (thereby avoiding constant motion alerts of cars passing by). With infrared night vision and 720p HD video quality you can rest assured that this doorbell will always provide you with a clear vision of anyone on or within close proximity to your property.
Missed a motion alert/someone at your door? You can subscribe for video recordings (after your 30 day free video trial) which allows you to catch up on/playback any missed activity and starts at £2.50 a month.
Pros of the Ring Video Doorbell
As for the pros of the Ring Video Doorbell, there are many!
The biggest advantage of the Ring Video Doorbell is just the added level of comfort and assurance it brings when it comes to the security of your home and the fact that you can get alerts of any motion or activity outside your home straight to your phone wherever you are in the world via the Ring app. Your doorbell can also be connected to a number of different devices too.
The Ring Video Doorbell can be installed and operated either by being wired into your existing wiring or battery operated. If you opt for the latter (which I’ve done), you’ll get a notification on your phone when the Ring Video Doorbell battery is running low. Then all you need to do is unscrew it and connect it to the USB charger provided.
Then there’s the two way audio function which allows you to hear and communicate with any visitors (wanted or unwanted!). I just find it ideal when it comes to package deliveries and communicating where to leave a package when you’re not home or can’t answer the door straight away.
I also love the infrared night vision which is very clear so I can easily keep track of what’s going on outside my home at night.
It’s also theft protected meaning it can only be unscrewed and removed from the wall with a very special Ring screwdriver that fits into the custom screws that come with the doorbell.
The majority of the Ring Video Doorbells are available in two colours. The standard satin nickel colour or a very slick venetian bronze colour (pictured).
Cons of the Ring Video Doorbell
When it comes to cons I honestly found few.
I found that on occasion there has been a delay in motion detection (I’m talking like a few seconds) and in loading the live activity on the Ring app. I found that this either came down to the battery on the Ring Video Doorbell running low or poor WiFi connection.
As frustrating as these occasional time lags can be, there are a number of troubleshooting solutions and a great support page on the Ring website and app to help resolve any issues, with step by step guides and instructions.
The Verdict
To conclude, I’m honestly so happy with this purchase and despite the occasional time lag its still miles better and more advanced than having a standard doorbell! I’ve highly recommended the Ring Video Doorbell to all my friends and family who were just as satisfied and who have now gone on to purchase security cameras and complete security systems from Ring too to further protect their home.
Yes, it is expensive for a doorbell, currently ranging from £89 (for the original Ring Video Doorbell) to £449 (for the Video Doorbell Elite), but given the various features and the added comfort and security it provides as well as overall convenience, it’s honestly a no brainer and a really great investment.
This review is based on the original Ring Video Doorbell which I believe is the best video doorbell for anyone on a budget.
Other Ring Video Doorbells
Ring Video Doorbell 2 (Soon to be discontinued)
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 came out soon after I purchased the original Video Doorbell and has all the same features as the original but now with better camera quality (1080 HD vs 720 HD video on the original Doorbell). For some reason the Ring Video Doorbell 2 has now been discontinued in most places and will be replaced with the Ring Video Doorbell 3 and 3 plus, both of which will be available to purchase very soon!
Ring Video Doorbell 3 and 3 plus
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 is essentially the same as the Doorbell 2 but now comes with a dual-band WiFi connection at 2.4GHz and 5GHz ( vs Doorbell 2 which only had 2.4GHz WiFi). The enhanced connectivity will allow for faster motion detection and also faster notifications and load times on the Ring app. It also includes improved motion detection and stronger screw strength to make it even more theft protected.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is essentially the same as the Doorbell 3 but comes with a video roll back feature which allows for an additional 4 seconds of video playback before the motion detection was initially triggered. This roll back feature is displayed in black and white and low resolution to conserve battery power. It reminds me of the live photo functionality on an iPhone which captures a couple of seconds of video before the photo was taken.
Ring Video Doorbell Pro
I won’t go into too much detail here as the only difference between the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and Doorbell 3 is the customisable motion detection that allows you pinpoint exact areas that will trigger an alert in the camera’s 160 degree field of view. The Doorbell Pro only allows for hardwiring installation (and does not come with a battery pack) which apparently can be quite tricky and would need to be done professionally.
Every Doorbell Pro does however come with the Ring Chime which allows you to hear your doorbell ring from anywhere inside your home (rather than just relying on mobile alerts).
My Recommendations
As we currently own the original Ring Video Doorbell, I honestly think this doorbell provides the best value for money and is the most budget friendly option too. The 720p HD resolution is really clear and we’ve never had issues with poor quality even in bad weather conditions. It has adjustable motion zones (although not customisable like the pro, which I don’t personally feel is an essential feature and worth paying over £200 for, but of course it all comes down to your own personal preference, the layout of your property and budget too).
The only issue with the original doorbell again is the occasional delay in receiving notifications and detecting motion which can be quite frustrating at times but easily resolved via troubleshooting.
As the Ring Video Doorbell 2 has been discontinued and will be replaced with the Ring Video Doorbell 3 which is due to release very soon, I’d highly recommend the latter for faster connectivity due to the new and improved Dual Band WiFi of 2.4GHz and 5GHz. I wouldn’t suggest getting the Doorbell 3 Plus as I’m not sure if the roll back video option is essential but again it comes down to personal preference and budget.
Chime
If you wanted to buy the indoor chime separately, it retails at £29 and allows you to hear the doorbell from anywhere in your home without having to rely solely on phone alerts.
It’s super easy to set up, all you need to do is plug it into a power socket and connect it to your WiFi. You can select a chime from various options, control the volume and even switch it to do not disturb mode all via your Ring app.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on any of the Ring doorbells and what your experiences have been like! Drop me a comment below or if you want to discuss any of these options further, feel free to fill out my contact form or drop me a direct message on Instagram and I’d be so happy to help!