I moved into my current home back in September of 2017. At the time, we had a regular doorbell that would work on and off but completely stopped working after a shovel accidentally knocked it off. Until October of last year, we didn’t have a doorbell since I was unable to fix it and never got around to replacing it. I finally decided to purchase one last year during Amazon Prime Day because they had a great deal on the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. Smart doorbells have only been around for several years but more and more people are making the switch. I DoorDash on the side and one of the things I’ve noticed when making food deliveries is the number of houses that have one. If you’re unfamiliar with what a smart doorbell is, it basically expands the notification of a traditional doorbell by giving you more options. Sometimes referred to as a “video doorbell,” it’s internet-connected with a video capability, sending notifications to your smartphone, tablet, smart speaker, and integrates with your smart home automation system. The original Ring doorbell was developed by Jamie Siminoff in 2013 and was known as the “Doorbot.” The device was even featured in the reality tv series Shark Tank but none of the investors invested in the product. Since then, the name has changed from “Doorbot” to Ring and was acquired by Amazon in February 2018 at an estimated value between $1.2 billion and $1.8 billion. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 is the newest generation features three different models: Video Doorbell 3, Video Doorbell 3 Plus, and Video Doorbell Pro. Both the Video Doorbell 3 and Plus have a removable, rechargeable battery pack or can be hardwired. The Pro, on the other hand, is only hardwired. The Plus is $30 more than the Video Doorbell 3 and the main difference is that the Plus has 4-seconds pre-roll video previews while the former only has standard video capture. The Pro has an ultra-slim design and has advanced security features. Although I am a DIY enthusiast, I didn’t want to mess with hardwiring the doorbell so declined to get the Pro. Instead, I opted to go with the Plus since it was on sale and also because it had the 4-second video preview. I’ve been using it for a few months now and I have been pleased with it so far. However, this wasn’t always the case when I first started using it. Design The Ring Video 3 Plus design is very simple. It is small and rectangular with smooth edges, measuring 5.1 inches tall, 2.4 inches wide, by 1.1 inches deep. Compared to the Pro, I definitely like the look of the Pro better since it is smaller and sleeker. However, the Plus is still small enough that it fits well where my old doorbell used to be. The camera is located on the top and the doorbell button is right below it. Most people are probably accustomed to seeing the Ring Video Doorbell with the satin nickel faceplate (silver) but it also comes with a Venetian bronze faceplate. The faceplates are pretty easy to swap out, so you can change the look in a matter of minutes if you move to a new place or paint your house and find that the other color matches better. Installation Before installing the doorbell, you’ll want to plug in the battery to fully charge it. Included in the box is a USB charging cable but no adapter.
