Doorbells used to be the last thing we think of when we talk about technology. We used to take it for granted. With the introduction of smart doorbells, however, this perception has changed.
TL:DR: Which one is better?
My Bottom Line Up Front: In case you are in a hurry, here’s my overall take. The Ring Elite available here is demonstrably better in that it offers the more secure ethernet connectivity (constant power and faster connection), BUT it does require professional installation and is almost TWICE the cost.
Suddenly, smart doorbells are showing homeowners who is at the door. It helps keep our families safer at home, and it even gives us the ability to answer the door even when we are out of the house.
There are several smart doorbells available on the market today, but Ring Video Doorbell is leading the pack with video doorbells equipped with HD camera, motion sensor, and a host of other features and functionalities. It helps that the Ring Video Doorbell also plays well with other devices and looks good, as well.
Over the years, Ring has introduced several smart doorbell models. New to their line are the Ring Video Doorbell Elite and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro.
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Ring Video Doorbell Elite
The Ring Video Doorbell Elite is the most expensive product in the company’s line of video doorbells. The company describes this doorbell as a professional-grade solution that can draw power over an Ethernet line.
The basics
Like all Ring Video Doorbells, the Ring Elite allows you to keep track of what’s happening outside your front door, as well as allows you to answer the door and greet visitors using your smartphone. It comes with instant alerts.
The Ring Elite also comes with a high-definition video and two-way communication. This means that you can talk to whoever is outside your door even if you do not open it or even if you are not home.
The Ring Elite gives you the ability to set up the motion zones that it monitors. This means that you can specify which portions of your front door area are monitored.
If movement is detected within the motion zones, you will get an alert, but if movement is detected outside the set zones, this will not trigger an alert. This simple feature allows you to get fewer false alarms, and ensure that your Ring Elite monitors the areas that are most important to you.
Power over Ethernet
While most other video doorbells rely on batteries or on a direct connection to a power source to work, the Ring Elite gives you a better technology. You hardwire it so that it can draw power from an Ethernet cable.
This means you can be sure that it gets enough electricity to constantly monitor your front door, while also ensuring that you get the crispest resolutions for your streaming video and audio.
The more reliable Ethernet connection is also augmented by Wi-Fi.
Top notch camera
Because this is the company’s most pricey doorbell, you can expect that the camera included is unparalleled. It offers you a 1080 pixel resolution for crisp and clear high-definition images. On top of the motion detection, the camera can also see well at night because of the night vision capability.
It has a wide field of view, too. It can capture 160 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically, which is almost everything of what’s in front of it. The wide field of view ensures that even if a would-be intruder crouches in front of your Ring Elite, they would not be able to hide.
The Ring Elite sells for $500 on Amazon
What’s in the box
- Ring Video Doorbell Elite
- AC power adapter
- Drill bit
- Elite Power Kit
- Ethernet cable
- Flathead screw bit
- Flexible Security Bit
- Interchangeable faceplates
- Installation booklet
- Screwdriver
- Security Screws
- Welcome package
Ring Video Doorbell Pro
Costing half of the Ring Elite, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro has some great features packed in a very slim body.
Like the Ring Elite, the Ring Pro comes with a 1080-pixel camera that has infrared night vision and two-way communication.
The Ring Pro also sends you an alert every time somebody presses your doorbell or if the motion detector is tripped. It also comes with Live View, a feature that allows you to get a streaming video feed on demand using your mobile phone.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is hardwired to your existing doorbell wiring.
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
Side-by-side comparison: Ring Video Doorbell Pro vs. Ring Video Doorbell Elite
As you can guess, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and the Ring Video Doorbell Elite have a lot of features in common, such as the customizable motion detection zones. Both are compatible with 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connections and can work on two channels: 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz.
This means that these video doorbells can be very flexible because they use both 2.4 and 5 GHz frequencies. 2.4 GHz can transmit data over long distances, but this might prove to be a bit slow, while 5.0 GHz provides faster transfers over short distances.
Both doorbells offer the same horizontal field of view, letting you see 160 degrees from left to right of the camera. However, the Ring Pro has a wider vertical field of view at 100 degrees.
Both models also offer a live view on demand, where you can watch a live stream of what the camera sees. Furthermore, these video doorbells are weather-resistant, able to withstand sub-zero cold and sweltering heat, with an operating temperature range of -5 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
You would also need to have around 2 Mbps of bandwidth to make sure that you can get optimal video clarity with top 1080 pixels of video.
Differences between the Ring Pro and Ring Elite
The ring Video Doorbell Elite is powered by Ethernet, therefore it does not need any transformers. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro, on the other hand, needs a compatible 16 to 24 VAC transformer in order to run. The Ring Pro is powered using the wiring of your current doorbell.
The more obvious difference between the Ring Elite and the Ring Pro is their dimensions. The Ring Elite measures 2.75 inches wide, 4.80 inches tall, and 2.17 inches thick, making it taller, wider and thicker than the Ring Pro. The Ring Pro measures 1.85 inches wide, 4.50 inches tall, and 0.80 inches thick.
This means that if you want your doorbell to be noticeable, you should get the Ring Elite. Meanwhile, you can consider the Ring Pro if you need or if you prefer a more compact doorbell.
While both the Elite and the Pro include four faceplates, the colors do vary. For the Ring Elite, the included faceplates are satin nickel, pearl white, Venetian, and satin black. Meanwhile, the Ring Pro offers satin nickel, satin black, dark bronze, and satin white.
How does the Ring Video Doorbell Pro compare to the Netgear Arlo Pro? Read here!
| Mode | Ring Elite | Ring Pro |
| Price | $499 | $249 |
| Customizable motion detection zones | Yes | Yes |
| Uses batteries? | No | No |
| 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz frequencies | Yes | Yes |
| Doorbell transformers needed? | No | Yes |
| Dimensions (inches) | 4.80 x 2.75 x 2.17 | 4.5 x 1.85 x 0.80 |
| Horizontal field of view | 160 degrees | 160 degrees |
| Vertical field of view | 90 degrees | 100 degrees |
| Face plates | Satin nickel, Venetian, satin black, and pearl white. | Satin nickel, dark bronze, satin white, and satin black. |
| Live View Available | Yes | Yes |
| Operating Temperature | -5 to 120 degrees F | -5 to 120 degrees F |
| Power Options | Power over Ethernet | Hardwired to existing doorbell wiring. |
| Video Resolution | 1080p HD | 1080p HD |
Final Say on the Ring Elite vs Pro
There is really not much difference between the Ring Elite and the Ring Pro. So if you are looking for a capable video doorbell that looks great and comes with the latest technologies and features, you can choose either of the two.
However, if you want to save, the Ring Pro is a whole lot cheaper than the Ring Elite.
Does the Ring Elite have enough features to justify the higher price tag? If you are serious about security, your main concern should be having a video doorbell that is always connected and powered. This is where the Ring Video Doorbell Elite’s power-over-Ethernet technology shines.
When it comes to security cameras, power-over-Ethernet brings with it two distinct benefits in that it supplies constant power to your device and your transmissions are faster. However, it does need professional installation because of the cabling involved.
The manufacturer even recommends the Ring Elite for newly constructed houses so that it can be included in your calling plan.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro, on the other hand, is a good replacement for your existing doorbell. You do not have to lay down Ethernet cables for the Ring Pro. Instead, you just hardwire it to your existing doorbell wiring. You can still enjoy round-the-clock Wi-Fi connectivity, but it may not be as reliable as the Elite.
The Ring Pro, in other words, is a good choice for those who want the same camera and features as the Ring Elite, but are not willing to pay for the higher price and the professional installation cost.
That being said, both the Ring Elite and the Ring Pro are not really ideal for those who are just renting their living space. For that, you might want to consider the earlier versions such as Ring Video Doorbell or Ring Video Doorbell 2, both of which can be powered by batteries.
Further Reading: Also check out my comparison between the Ring Doorbell 2 vs Ring Pro or my full review of the Ring Alarm Home Security System.
Good writeup Patrick. It looks like the new Ring line is more like the DoorBird. The DoorBird supports WiFi and Ethernet with PoE.
DoorBird has made installation easier as they do offer a 2-wire option where on one end you have a PoE port you plug your network cable in, it then put Ethernet and power over those two wires and then the device you install at the other end take the two wires and puts it back into a PoE to power and provide network connectivity to the device.
The new Ring line does have a better camera as the DoorBird is still 720P.