In today’s society, especially the “Millenial Generation”, it’s about how the latest Gadget or App can make your life easier and trust me, I’m a “Gen X” and I fit into that category as well. But, it’s so much more than that. It’s also about keeping you & your family, your property and belongings safe and being able to answer the door wherever you are. And, this you can do with a video doorbell from Ring.

In the last few years, video doorbells have become more and more popular; and are forecast to be worth a staggering $1.4 Billion by 2023. Many consumers are lured by their home security and remote communication features and the peace of mind they bring.

Founded in 2012 and now owned by Amazon, Ring is one of the biggest and most well-established brands in home security.

Its video doorbells (with 18% market share in 2020) and security cameras (claiming Top Spot in 2020) are popular for good reason. However, with so many models to choose from, all ranging in price and functionality, it can be difficult to know which is the best Ring video doorbell for you.

To make the task of deciding that little bit easier, we’ve summarised the best reasons to buy each of the current crop of video doorbells from Ring. You’ll find our recommendations after our buyer’s guide, which should demystify some of these differentiating features.

 

Choosing a Ring doorbell. Which one is right for you?

What can I do with a Ring doorbell?

The major selling point of any Ring doorbell is the ability to respond to a knock on your door from your mobile device and to provide home security. For many, Ring doorbells provide peace of mind as they act as a deterrent for would-be burglars.

They give you access to a video feed of what’s happening outside your door and, with a subscription to the Ring Protect Plan, the Ring doorbell will record things happening outside your front door (triggered by motion) and store footage in the cloud.

What features should I look for?

When considering which Ring Doorbell to purchase, there are a few things to consider. Such as ease of installation (some doorbells need a hardwired power source, and a removable rechargeable battery pack powers others).

Compatibility with smart home devices such as Amazon Alexa, and the extent of the motion detection technology.

Wired or wireless: What’s the right choice for me?

Ultimately the answer will come down to user preference and what’s already in place in your house. For me, a wireless doorbell was the best choice as I already had one in place

• Wired: If you have a normal doorbell powered by the mains, you may even be able to simply connect your new doorbell using the existing wiring. On the other hand, if your existing doorbell is battery-powered or there are no existing wires, you’ll need to have a professional electrician fit the doorbell, which will add to the cost.
• Wireless: A wireless battery-powered Ring doorbell can be easily fitted with just a few screws. And don’t worry too much about recharging as it doesn’t need to be done too often (Ring says about once a year with normal use).

 

What is a Ring Chime and do I need one?

Typically, notifications are delivered through the Ring smartphone App. In order to have your Ring unit heard throughout the house, you will need a Ring Chime.

These are speakers that plug into any wall socket of your home and, as the name would suggest, chime when the doorbell is rung. The Ring Chime is configured and managed the same way as all video doorbells from Ring are, through the companion app, and there are currently two models of Ring Chime on the market; a base and a pro model.

The key difference between the two is in the Chime Pro’s ability to act as a WiFi extender for Ring devices.

• The Ring Chime is available for £29
  • Amazon
  • eBay
• The Ring Chime Pro comes in a little pricier at £49.
  • Amazon
  • eBay

Certain Ring doorbell models come as a bundle with Ring Chimes from Amazon or direct from Ring.

What other differences are there?

Although some Ring Doorbells are battery-powered and others are “wired”, all the video and audio data is normally sent over your home Wi-Fi network, and there is some difference between how the various models connect.

Just bear in mind that, the cheaper models only support a single-band 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and may struggle for a reliable connection in areas of particularly high Wi-Fi congestion. While the more expensive models support dual-band connectivity.

Whilst every Ring video doorbell has a level of motion tracking capabilities, the newer and pricier models give you more adjustability.

As an Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases

The best Ring Video Doorbell

 

1. Ring Video Doorbell 3 (Replaced by Ring Video Doorbell 4)

• • The Best All-Round Video Doorbell

The most innovative thing about the Ring Doorbell 3 is its pre-roll feature, which means that the camera can pick up on footage up to four seconds before the motion sensor detects anything, and then stream it to your smartphone. This is done with the addition of three small cameras on the front, something that the standard Ring Doorbell 3 lacks. It may not sound like much, but this bonus footage can go a long way in helping you see things you would otherwise have missed.

 

 

 

eBay

Key specs –

• Camera: 1080p
• Field of view: 160˚
• Installation: Battery/Wired
• Dual-Band Internet: Yes
• Motion detection angle: 160˚

 

2. Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2:

• • The best wired-in Ring doorbell

Unlike other Ring Doorbell products, the Pro model can only be powered by your home’s mains power supply, and it comes with the tools and equipment you’ll need to install it yourself.

The key benefits here are, that the Pro model offers coloured night vision (whereas other Ring Video Doorbells only offer black and white), as well as advanced pre-roll, where you get those few seconds of footage recorded before motion is detected.

Design-wise, the Pro is sleek and built to sit flush on any surface it’s installed on.

Also, you never have to worry about re-charging the battery as it’s wired into your mains.

 

 

eBay

 

Key specs –

• Camera: 1080p
• Field of vision: 160˚
• Installation: Wired
• Dual-Band Internet: Yes
• Motion detection angle: 160˚

 

3. Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation)

• • The best affordable Ring doorbell

The 2nd-gen Ring Video doorbell is an excellent entry-level option for those interested in trying home security systems. It can be either hardwired directly into existing doorbell wiring (a compatible transformer is needed) or can run completely off the rechargeable battery.

Although it’s much cheaper than some other Ring models, the 2nd-gen Ring Video Doorbell has everything you need to keep your home safe and give you peace of mind; night vision, adjustable motion tracking, 1080p HD video conferencing, and smartphone notifications.

What it lacks, compared with the most recent Ring 3 at least, is dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can only hook it up to slower 2.4GHz networks. It doesn’t have the pre-roll recording capability of the Ring 3 either and also misses out on the more advanced motion tracking.

Indeed, where the Ring 3 allows you to customise motion-detection zones using “near” and “far” zones, the Doorbell 2 only allows you to segment the motion-detection zones horizontally.

 

 

 

eBay

Key specs –

• Camera: 1080p
• Field of view: 155˚
• Installation: Battery/Wired
• Dual-Band Internet: No
• Motion detection angle: 180˚

 

4. Ring Doorbell Elite:

• • The best high-end (and most expensive) Ring doorbell

OK, this is by far and away the most expensive of Ring’s Video Doorbells. But it benefits from the sleek design and superior internet stability (thanks to the way the device is installed). Instead of using Wi-Fi connectivity for video and data (although it does support this, too), the Elite is designed to plug in directly to your home or business network via an Ethernet cable; it can even be powered via Ethernet using PoE (Power over Ethernet), although you need a PoE switch of your own to supply power. The advantage of this is you never have to worry about having to recharge the battery pack.

Other than this, the Elite offers much the same feature set as other premium Ring doorbells, with advanced motion tracking (that has customisable motion zones), noise-cancelling microphones and dual-band Wi-Fi for those who prefer wireless data connectivity over Ethernet. A 50m Ethernet cable is included in the box.

 

 

eBay

 

Key specs –

• Camera: 1080p
• Field of view: 160˚
• Installation: Power over Ethernet (PoE)
• Dual-Band Internet: Yes
• Motion detection angle: 160˚

 

In Conclusion

Whichever model you decide on, be safe in the knowledge, that you can see who is at your front door, no matter where you are in the world (network coverage dependant), day or night.

I personally went with the Ring 3 model because it’s Dual Band and can either be hard-wired, or installed wirelessly.