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Ring Video Doorbell was one of the better connected doorbells to come out three years ago. It had great specifications and features, including a 720-pixel HD camera, a motion sensor, and night vision.
Plus, it allows you to see who’s at the door even when you are not home. Since then, Ring has come out with the second generation Ring Video Doorbell 2 and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro.
Bottom Line up Front: Here are the high level advantages of both. Personally, if price is not the object, I prefer the Ring Pro available here.
| Ring 2 Advantages | Ring Pro Advantages |
| Can be powered by battery | Has bigger vertical filed of view |
| More affordable (check here for the latest price) | Better control for motion detection |
| Takes up slightly less space | |
| Works with 5 GHz WiFi (faster video transmission) |
Contents (Jump to)
First Up: Ring Video Doorbell Pro
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is seen as a step up from the original Ring Video Doorbell with its upgraded hardware and enhanced looks. You can replace your existing doorbell with the Ring Video Doorbell Pro using the same wiring as your current one.
With the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, you can answer your door no matter where you are in the world. Through its HD camera, you will be able to see who is ringing your doorbell without actually opening the door. You can also talk to your guests with the built-in microphone and speaker.
The Ring Pro also doubles as a security camera. It has night vision and motion detection. You can get alerts on your smartphone when it detects somebody moving outside your door, even at night.
This helps keep would-be burglars from getting inside your home. You can also view live streams of what your Ring Pro sees in the vicinity of your front door.
Ring Integrations
Ring Video Doorbell Pro works with other connected devices such as smart locks from LockState, Kisi, Lockitron, and Kevo, as well as the Wink Hub, Wemo switches, and ADT Pulse.
These integrations can help you get more out of your Ring Video Doorbell Pro. For instance, you can get your smart lights to turn on when the Ring Pro detects motion outside your door.
Or you can set Ring Pro to sound the siren automatically if somebody has been outside your door for a few minutes and has not pushed the doorbell button.
What’s in the box?
- Ring Video Doorbell Pro
- Drill bit
- Four interchangeable faceplates
- Installation screws & anchors
- Optional Wiring and connectors
- Pro Power Kit
- Quick setup & installation guide
- Screwdriver
What you would love about Ring Video Doorbell Pro
The motion detection capability on the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is much more flexible compared to earlier Ring doorbell versions. You can just draw and create motion zones that it would monitor rather than be stuck with the pre-defined zones that you see in the first-generation Ring doorbell.
The Ring mobile app will send you alerts when movement is detected.
The camera does not only deliver crisp footage, but it can also see more of what is in front of it. With the camera’s 160-degree horizontal field of view and 100-degree vertical field of view, it would be difficult for anybody to hide from its line of sight.
You can also trust your Ring Video Doorbell Pro to work in any weather. It can withstand temperatures from below freezing point to very hot.
What could be better
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro needs to be hardwired to your existing doorbell, so it is not that easy to install. If you are only renting your home or if you hate having to wire anything, then you might want to look for another doorbell brand.
Ring also charges an additional fee per year to allow you to record and store videos in their cloud. There is no free option for this.
Next Up: Ring Video Doorbell 2
Ring Video Doorbell 2 is the second-generation Ring doorbell that gives you the option not to deal with any wiring. It can be powered by the lithium ion batteries included in the package or you can hardwire it to replace your existing doorbell.
Like the original, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 will alert you when somebody rings your doorbell and when the motion sensors detect movement.
Ring Video Doorbell 2 also works well with other connected devices, such as smart locks and smart switches. You can also use voice commands and tell Alexa to show your camera feed. Moreover, you can use IFTTT recipes with your Ring Doorbell 2.
As a video doorbell, it does its function really well. With 1080-pixel high-definition video, you can see the details of the footages very clearly. The Ring 2’s camera is also equipped with motion sensors and night vision.
It has a wide field of view, as well, so there would be no places for burglars to hide from the camera’s view. What’s more, you can also talk to whoever is ringing your doorbell with the two-way audio feature.
Additionally, the Ring 2 allows you to monitor your home from anywhere in the world. You can view the live stream using your mobile phone and get alerts when somebody’s at your door.
What’s in the box?
Every Ring Video Doorbell 2 package includes everything you need to install and operate your doorbell.
- Ring Video Doorbell 2
- User manual
- Installation instruction guide
- Micro USB charging cable
- Corner wedge
- Drill bit for anchors
- Miniature level
- Mount wedge
- Retrofit Kit plate
- Screw anchors
- Screwdriver handle
- Screws
- Two interchangeable faceplates
- Two-sized screwdriver bit
- Wire Extensions
- Wire nuts
Comparing the Ring Video Doorbell 2 and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 and Ring Video Doorbell Pro do not really differ much from each other if you take a look at their core technologies. Both live video streams with resolutions of 1920 pixels by 1080 pixels.
Both have cameras that can see in the dark and whose horizontal field of view is 160 degrees. Both also have motion detection capabilities and are able to alert you when something is moving outside your door.
They have the same operating temperature range, as well.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro and the Ring Video Doorbell 2 also play well with others, allowing you to use IFTTT recipes and connect to the Wink Hub. These video doorbells also work with Amazon Alexa.
The two doorbells also have the same pitfalls: there is no way to record videos and play them back unless you pay for the Ring Cloud service.
| Ring Video Doorbell 2 | Ring Video Doorbell Pro | |
| Price | Less expensive (Check here for the latest price) | More expensive (Check here for the latest price) |
| Dimensions | 5.05 x 2.5 x 1.08 in. | 4.5 x 1.85 x 0.80 in. |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 months | N/A |
| Horizontal field of view | 160 degrees | 160 degrees |
| Vertical field of view | 90 degrees | 100 degrees |
| Faceplates | 2: Satin Nickel, Venetian | 4: Satin Nickel, Satin Back, Dark Bronze, Satin White |
| Live streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Motion detection | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Detection Angle | 180 degrees | 160 degrees |
| Operating Temperature | -5 to 120 degrees F | -5 to 120 degrees F |
| Weather resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Power Options | Battery or hardwired | Hardwired |
| Bandwidth | 2 MB per second | 2 MB per second |
| Video Resolution | 1080 pixels | 1080 pixels |
| High definition | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Alexa, Wink, IFTTT | Alexa, Wink, IFTTT |
How is the Ring Video Doorbell 2 different from Ring Video Doorbell Pro?
There is no argument that Ring takes a lot of pain when it comes to designing their video doorbells. However, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is both bulkier and thicker than the Video Doorbell Pro.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro, meanwhile, has a broader vertical field of view for its camera. It can cover 100 degrees, making it more difficult for anybody to crouch low in order to hide from its view or motion detectors. The Ring Video Doorbell 2 has a vertical field of view of only 90 degrees.
Furthermore, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro also comes with four faceplates, which is two more than the Ring Video Doorbell 2. This means that you can change your doorbell’s look more with Pro than the second generation Ring. The Pro also works on two Wi-Fi bands: 2.4 Ghz and 5Ghz.
In addition, Ring Pro allows you to specify the areas around your front door that you would like it to monitor with its motion detection capability. Ring 2 works with preset motion detection zones.
The Ring Video Doorbell 2, however, has a wider motion detection angle at 180 degrees, while the Pro only has a 160-degree motion detection angle. The former is also less expensive.
The biggest difference between these two, though, is that with the Ring Video Doorbell 2, you have the option to hardwire it using the current wires you use for your current doorbell or to run it on batteries. With the Pro version, you can only hardwire it.
Other Smart Doorbells to Consider
Over the years we have tested out many different smart doorbells, so I wanted to mentioned a few others in this article worth considering.
Skybell HD: The Skybell is really only worth considering if you want a better live streaming experience than the Ring 2 and the “silent” doorbell mode. It’s generally comparable in price to the Ring 2, so if you want better streaming quality, it’s worth considering with the Ring 2. You can read my full comp of the Skybell versus Ring here. Otherwise, both Ring devices have a much better feature set.
August Smart Doorbell Cam: August recently released their doorbell camera and the only reason I mentioned it is if you already have other August smart products (like smart locks). Otherwise, it doesn’t make sense as a standalone, unless you plan to get the corresponding locks. Still, you can read my full review here.
Final Recommendations: Ring Pro or Ring 2
Choosing between the Ring Video Doorbell 2 and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a matter of preference. While the two have pretty much the same core features, they still have significant differences upon which you can base your choice.
The Pro has a bigger vertical field of view, has four faceplates to choose from, and has better control as far as motion detection is concerned. It also requires a smaller space.
The bigger Ring 2, meanwhile, is cheaper and can be powered by a battery. This makes it perfect for the budget-conscious and those who do not want to deal with the wiring.
The Pro also works on two Wi-Fi bands: the 5 GHz and the 2.4 GHz. The 5 GHz has less interference from other devices and could also mean faster video transmission. So if you don’t mind tweaking with wires and you don’t mind paying extra, then get the Ring Video Doorbell Pro.
Patrick Sinclair is a geek; make no mistake about that. He runs All Home Robotics in his spare time so he doesn’t have to think about his depressing cubicle and it gives him an excuse to buy expensive gadgets to review!
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