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“Who can it be knocking at my door?” Surely, when the popular 80’s band Men at Work wrote these lyrics, they couldn’t have imagined today’s high-tech doorbells. Now you can see who’s at your front door, even when you’re not at home.
Ring, an all-in-one front door camera and doorbell that syncs with your smartphone via WiFi, is the best-selling video doorbell on the market. What makes Ring so popular? And is it really the best or do you have better options? Read our review to find out.
What Is The Ring Doorbell?
Ring is a well-known company that has created various popular home security products — such as the Ring doorbell. Unlike a traditional doorbell that simply notifies you with a noise when someone pushes it, the Ring doorbell activates when it detects motion in front of your door. This is incredibly useful because it lets you not only know when someone is in front of your house but also see them there — even if you aren’t at home.
If you are someone who is often out of the house or just someone who likes to work with loud music playing through your headphones, this can be an incredibly valuable tool for you. Using the Ring app, you can see who is at your door and even speak to them through the doorbell.
Ring’s doorbell sensor can detect motion from up to 30 feet away from your doorbell, and when it detects motion in those 30 feet, it will activate the camera and take a video of the area. This can be great at identifying friends and family wanting to say hello and ward off any unwanted package thieves that may be prowling around the neighborhood.
Ring Doorbell Review
Product Name: Ring Doorbell
Product Description: The Ring doorbell is one of the most technologically advanced consumer doorbell security cameras on the market. The company has created several models to meet different needs, at different price points.
Summary
Ring is the leader when it comes to video-based security. Its doorbell cameras are no exception, the video quality and app features are unparalleled. The only real con is its reliance on WiFi, which can be terminated by an experienced intruder.
Overall Score
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Video/Sound Quality
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Ease of Use
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Integrations
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Customer Support
Pros
- Customizable motion sensor
- Infrared night vision
- Apps for iPhone, Android and desktop
- Two-way audio with noise cancellation
- Record and save video (added fee for cloud storage)
- Can integrate with ADT, Wink, Lockstate, Kevo, Kisi and Wemo home security systems
- Pro model has small and sleek design
- Lifetime purchase protection (they’ll replace doorbell camera if it gets stolen)
- Interchangeable faceplates for 2, Pro and Elite
Cons
- Pricey, especially Elite
- No on-demand video (must be activated by motion or doorbell call)
- Standard model is larger than similar products
Consumer Reviews
This is the aggregate score of reader reviews we’ve received. Have a good or bad experience with a Ring doorbell? Feel free to leave your own review in the comments. Please note that only ratings with valid review content will be published and counted.
8 Key Features
- Top-selling video doorbell on the market
- Syncs with many smart security products and home automation systems, including Wink, Kevo & Lockstate smart locks, Kisi, ADT and Wemo
- Cloud video recording available ($3 per month or $30 annually for 6 months of recording time)
- Available in four faceplate finishes: Satin Nickel, Antique Brass, Polished Brass & Venetian Brass
- Automatic notifications via email and app when battery is getting low
- Chime add-on, plug-in home product lets you know when you have a visitor (even if your phone is in the other room)
- Phone and live chat 7 days per week
- Online support: blog, knowledge base, detailed FAQs
Price & Tech Specs
Ring offers 6 models, and each comes with a one-year warranty on parts and a lifetime purchase protection replacement in case of doorbell theft. Each model works in temperatures from -5°F to 120°F.
To see specific differences between models, visit our Ring doorbell comparison article
| Video Doorbell | Video Doorbell 3 | Video Doorbell 4 | Video Doorbell Pro | Video Doorbell Elite | Peephole Cam | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 | $149.99 | $159.99 | $249.99 | $349.99 | Check Amazon for availability |
| Installation | Existing Wiring or Rechargeable Battery | Existing Wiring or Rechargeable Battery | Existing Wiring or Rechargeable Battery | Requires Existing Doorbell Wiring | Requires Professional | Replaces Peephole |
| Video | 720p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Field of View | 180° | 160° | 160° | 160° | 160° | 155° |
| Advanced Motion Detection with Adjustable Motion Zones |  | | | | Adjustable Motion Zones | |
| Other | Pre-Roll 4 Seconds Before Motion Event | Human Detection | Human Detection | Knock Detection | ||
| Dimensions | 4.98″H x 2.43″W x 0.87″D | 5.1″H x 2.4″W x 1.1″D | 5.1″H x 2.4″W x 1.1″D | 4.5″H x 1.85″W x 0.80″D | 4.8″H x 2.75″W x 2.17″D | Indoors: 2.26”H x 4.40”W x 1.16”D Outdoors: 1.85”H x 3.83”W x 0.78”D |
| WiFi Connectivity | 2.4GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz |
Recording Plans
Recording plans are optional and allow you to review, save and share your videos at any time. Below are the plans available and their features
| Included Free | Basic | Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $3/month or $30/year | $10/month or $100/year |
| Number Of Devices | 1 | 1 | All Ring Devices |
| Motion-Activated Notifications | | | |
| Real-Time Video With Live View | | | |
| Two-Way Talk | | | |
| Lifetime Theft Protection | | | |
| Video History For 60 Days | | | |
| Video Saving & Sharing | | | |
| Snapshot Capture | | | |
| 24/7 Professional Monitoring For Ring Alarm | | ||
| Extended Warranties For All Devices | | ||
| 10% Off Select Products At Ring.com | |
Personal Experience
Our Safe Smart Living contributors share their experiences with their Ring doorbells.
I was worried about integrating the Ring Doorbell with my existing wired doorbell, as I wanted the chime in my house to still work when someone was at the front door. I’m not the most handy person, but the installation was a breeze (learn more about installing a Ring Doorbell) and my old chime still works.
I’ve been very impressed with the features, you can set it up to be notified with every movement, or only notify you (on your phone) when the doorbell rings.
My other concern was the battery life. Well, I’ve had mine up and running for over a year and the app says it is still at 94%. It has performed exactly how I expected it to – I’m able to monitor my front door even when I’m not home, and I haven’t run into any technical issues.
Jeff B.
Similar to Jeff, I was a little wary with how the installation would go for my doorbell. Using a power drill on the exterior of my home was a little concerning for me because I didn’t want to mess up the siding or drill the holes incorrectly. However, my husband took one look at the instructions and had it done within 20 minutes.
Overall, I’ve been happy with its performance. There have been a couple of instances where the notifications were delayed, and sometimes the app can take a while to load footage. But asides from that, it’s performed great.
The video quality is fantastic as well as the audio. I like that I can view activity history to see what I missed while I was away from my phone. I wish there were an option to disable the doorbell, though, because there are times where we are playing in the front yard, and our phones continue to notify us of motion at the front door.
Kimberly A.
Consumer Feedback
Here’s a balanced sampling of customer feedback from those who’ve purchased the Ring camera and doorbell.
Praise
This item was great it was just what I was looking for. It also updates you on crimes in your neighborhood.
Msoman33, Best Buy 11/11/2020
This doorbell is a nice color and works great. It provides a clear picture of any deliveries or activity in the front of our house.
Dave, Best Buy 11/11/2020
Complaints
Slow response from the door bell to the phone, by the time I get the alerts they are gone.
Wrench, Best Buy 11/11/2020
I started having missing data and battery does last long.
MoMo, Best Buy 11/5/2020
Want To See Ring in Action?
Check out Ring’s video below to see how its video doorbell works and the added security it can give you and your family.
How Does Ring Stack Up To The Competition?
Is Ring the best doorbell camera on the market? Amazon customers answer a resounding, yes! Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a #1 bestseller on Amazon with nearly 70% five-star reviews from more than 1,500 customers. And in our Ring review, we found that both models are the best on the market. They offer the best video and sound quality, customized motion detection, easy-to-use apps, and affordable cloud storage.
Yes, Ring is expensive (especially Ring Pro), but you’re paying for the quality and reliability that other video doorbells don’t deliver. See how Ring stacks up against other smart video doorbells in our best doorbell camera reviews. Ring also offers alarm systems, which you can learn more about here.
Tagged With: Doorbell Camera, Review, Ring Home Security
