Last fall, Ring updated its wired video doorbells with a new, sleeker design and more powerful 2K and 4K retinal cameras; now, the company is refreshing its battery-powered doorbells with similar capabilities, so that homeowners who need the flexibility of a non-hardwired device (or merely want a battery backup) will be able to get higher-resolution feeds from their doorstep.
In total, Ring is launching three new battery-powered doorbells, the least expensive of which is just $99, and it's also refreshing its cheapest video doorbell, the Ring Wired Doorbell, which will cost just $79.
The naming conventions of the new models — Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd gen), Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd gen) and Ring Battery Doorbell (2nd gen) follows that of the ones they're replacing, so there shouldn't be much confusion over an upgrade path if you're ready for a change.
Here's the lowdown on each model.
Pricing and availability
All four Ring doorbells go on sale today (March 25), and will be priced as follows:
- Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen): $249.99
- Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen): $179.99
- Ring Battery Doorbell (2nd Gen): $99.99
- Ring Wired Doorbell (2nd Gen): $79.99
The biggest differences
Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen) |
Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) |
Battery Doorbell (2nd Gen) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Price |
$249 |
$179 |
$99 |
Resolution |
4K |
2K |
2K |
Removable battery |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Like the Ring Wired Doorbell Pro (3rd gen), the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd gen) will have a 4K Retinal camera, so you'll be able to get the sharpest picture out of the three models. It will also have a removable battery, so you can recharge it without having to remove the entire unit from your front door.
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus and Ring Battery Doorbell will both have 2K cameras, similar to the Ring Wired Doorbell Plus (2nd gen). However, only the Battery Doorbell Plus will have a removable battery. This is similar to the previous generation models, where only the Plus version had a battery that could be removed from the unit.
A new budget wired doorbell, too
Ring is also updating its least expensive video doorbell. The Ring Wired Doorbell is being replaced with the — you guessed it — Ring Wired Doorbell (2nd gen). This model will have 2K resolution and sell for just $79, making it the most affordable doorbell in the company's lineup.
In the past, we've been hesitant to recommend this product, because the first-gen Wired Doorbell did not work with a home's existing doorbell chime. Unfortunately, the second-gen model also does not work with built-in chimes, so you'll need to purchase a separate plug-in chime. Ring sells a combo of the doorbell and chime for $99.
Outlook
Ever since Ring released the 4K and 2K video doorbells in the fall, it was only a matter of time until it refreshed the rest of its lineup. The new, sleeker design of the video doorbells will be welcome, considering the company has had the same look since nearly its inception.
The addition of higher resolution cameras to its entire lineup means that Ring will be able to better compete with the best video doorbells, though it should be noted that unlike options from Nest, Wyze, and Eufy, you'll need to sign up for a Ring subscription in order to save video.
For those already in the Ring ecosystem whose video doorbells are showing their age, this upgrade should have you set for another five years at least.
