Ring’s cheapest wireless doorbell gets the job done
Ring’s Battery Doorbell lacks many of the features that you get with its more expensive sibling, the $229.99 Battery Doorbell Pro, but at $99.99, it’s much more affordable and just as easy to install. It delivers sharp HD video and provides a wide field of view, but as is the case with all Ring doorbells, you have to pay to view recorded video, and it doesn’t support Google or HomeKit integrations. You’ll get a higher resolution, a wider field of view, and support for Google with the $79.99 Arlo Video Doorbell, our Editors’ Choice winner for video doorbells.Design and Features: All the Basics
The Battery Doorbell looks nearly identical to Ring’s Battery Doorbell Plus ($149.99) and Battery Doorbell Pro models, but at 4.9 by 2.4 by 0.9 inches (HWD), it is slightly smaller than its siblings, which measure 5.1 by 2.4 by 1.1 inches. This model comes in a Satin Nickel or Venetian Bronze finish and uses an internal battery. To charge it, the doorbell unit itself easily detaches from your door.
The front of the device holds a doorbell button, a camera assembly, and a microphone, and around back are two wiring terminals (you can use your existing doorbell wire for power if you prefer), a setup button, and a USB-C battery charging port. A small speaker is located on the bottom edge of the doorbell. Included in the box are mounting screws, a USB-C charging cable, a mounting plate, a plate removal tool, and a user guide. If you need a wedge mounting plate, you can pick one up for $19.99.
The camera has a resolution of 1,440 by 1,440 pixels and a 150-degree viewing angle that provides a head-to-toe view of visitors on your doorstep, and it captures both black-and-white and color night vision. In comparison, the Arlo Video Doorbell has a sharper 1,536-by-1,536-pixel resolution and a bigger 180-degree viewing angle, but it does not support color night vision. Ring’s Battery Doorbell Plus upgrades the resolution to 1536p, while the Battery Doorbell Pro adds a number of perks, including dual-band Wi-Fi, a Pre-Roll feature that captures four seconds of activity prior to an event trigger, and Birds Eye View aerial motion tracking.
The Ring Battery Doorbell will record video when the doorbell button is pressed and when motion is detected, but you’ll need a Ring Protect subscription to access the clips.
