Ring Battery Doorbell Pro Review: Front Door Home Security Done Well

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Amazon's Ring brand has been a dominant force in DIY home security for years now, and even though its original product has not needed much in the way of updates, a new version is here that might just be perfect for some users. Most people know what Ring is and how the countless videos acquired from users have not only helped with security. These doorbell cameras have also aided in fighting crimes and have provided more than enough amusing video reels to keep us entertained, probably for a lifetime. The Shark Tank reject that was picked up by Amazon in 2018 has evolved into a brand with a wide range of products dedicated to home security and automation. And while the Ring doorbell, which was originally branded as Doorbot, and subsequent versions are meant to be permanently installed on your house, the new Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (which Amazon provided to us for this review) eliminates the need to hardwire anything.

The aforementioned videos alone should be proof enough of the value having a doorbell with two-way audio and video capabilities provides. Not only is it valuable to be able to screen visitors without unlocking the door to potentially unsavory characters, but the secondary benefit of solving crimes – even petty theft on or near your property – is equally compelling. Additionally, since Ring came on the market, it has been flooded with similar devices built by reputable companies, copycat imitators from overseas, and everything in between. We know pretty well how official products from Ring perform, so the question is, "How does the latest one stack up?"

Installing a Ring Doorbell is extraordinarily easy and should only take about five minutes, although connecting to your home's doorbell may take a few extra minutes. The whole unit can be installed directly on the wall or door framing but also comes with an angled mounting bracket allowing it to be installed tilted left or right about 15 degrees. An optional Corner Kit is also offered to aid in tricky installs that require more of an angle. I chose to use the included bracket to point the camera towards the center of my entry and towards the driveway where most traffic approaches, however, I did not connect to the house doorbell as it had already quit working and it seemed kind of pointless.

Once your installation looks good, the Ring app is required to get it up and running, and Ring has made that process easy and painless. The only thing required is the Wi-Fi password and everything else is directed by the app and only takes a few minutes. The rest of the process involves setting parameters for the motion settings, alerts, and connections to any other Ring products that may be used on the same account. To enjoy full functionality of the camera and app, a Ring Protect subscription plan is required, and new devices come with a 30-day trial. You will need to set this up if one does not already exist.

In exploring the menu and functions, one of the first things I noticed was just how sharp and vivid the HD picture was. Not only can people on the porch be seen with complete clarity, but zooming in to look across the street results in very little degradation of the overall picture. The sound in both directions is crisp and clear, with plenty of volume to be heard by those at the door. Before using this, I had a cheap unbranded Chinese-made doorbell that always aggravated me with how long it took to display the camera's live feed after I received a notification. I was pleasantly surprised to find minimal lag when using the Ring. This could be the 5GHz connection or it could be the result of a superior product, but I suspect it is a little of both. The app is also much more intuitive and functional.

Whenever motion triggers the Ring, it records video and includes up to six seconds before the triggering event. Videos are just as sharp and detailed as the live view, which is part of what has made them so invaluable as evidence. While the camera records video after any motion trigger, it also saves video anytime you view the live feed. Perhaps you hear something outside and use the app to investigate, only to witness something shocking — or extremely funny — and that will be saved, a useful function. Furthermore, the night vision displays everything clearly in extremely low light and eliminates any guessing games as to what you might be looking at on a video from the wee hours.

While the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro may sound good on paper, how it works in the real world is what matters. The picture and sound of the videos are great and the app is intuitive and easy to use. Notifications can be a sticking point for some, especially if you are home a lot as I am. I have two Ring devices on the front of my house, the Battery Doorbell Pro and the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro, which I also reviewed. Both send notifications when walking from the driveway to the porch, and I wish that could be limited, although it is possible I overlooked something in the settings. They are linked but the functionality is a bit lacking. What I did like is the package detection that alerts you to the presence of a package within a customizable pre-determined area.

Without having power available at my existing doorbell, having battery power is ideal. The doorbell came with about a 29% charge, so I plugged it in for about four hours, which brought that up to 55% – I only unplugged it due to impatience. After about a week's use, it was down only to 41%. This proves to me that with a full charge, you won't have to charge the battery but once every two weeks, although a full charge will take a very long time. Also, Ring sells spare battery packs, which would leave you with no camera downtime for $35. A tamper-resistant screw and corresponding tool is included to help keep the battery cover secure.

My biggest complaint about using Ring products is the need for a Ring Protect subscription. While Ring products function without a plan, they do not save video. Unlike Wyze, which includes a slot for an SD card, Ring recording is saved only to the cloud. A Ring Protect plan starts at $3.99 per month for the use of a single device. Options for the Plus or Pro plan cover all devices with premium video and notification features while the Pro plan steps it up to include 24/7 monitoring like a traditional home security system. These plans are priced at $10 and $20 per month, respectively.

On its face, these prices are reasonable. I have had the $3.99 plan for some time and plan to upgrade to cover the second device. However, the subscription models of late have gotten a bit out of control. I would like the option for local recording without a subscription as I live in a relatively safe area with few genuine security concerns, and I already have more subscriptions than I would like to admit. Some folks like me might be thinking about what to cancel to add this or whether security ranks up high enough to pay for another one. This may be an inconsequential expense for you, but I felt it is worth mentioning as there are options on the market to serve the subscription-averse among us.