08 Nov
Blog

Ring Alarm Pro Review: Peace of Mind When You’re in the Dark

ring alarm pro test 2020q1 lifestyle insitu alarm base station keyboard input

Bell Alert Pro

RRP $ 300.00

"Never worry about power or internet outages again, because the Ring Alarm Pro will continue to work."

advantages

  • Double as a Wi-Fi 6 router

  • Backup of the internet for all devices

  • Lots of accessories to expand the system

  • Battery backup in the event of power interruptions

disadvantage

  • Separate app required for router settings

I have been using the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation) for almost a year now and have had very few complaints about the system or service. It kept me informed of what was going on in my apartment when and not being there, while frequent updates of Ring's services made the experience even sweeter. Add to that the range of Ring devices and accessories and it becomes a breeze if you're looking for a complete all-in-one security system for your home.

So how can Ring do it better? Maybe by making sure that all of my devices stay connected even when the power and internet go down. The Ring Alarm Pro serves this purpose but is different from other offerings in that it effectively acts as an Eero Wi-Fi 6 router to keep not only your Ring devices active and connected, but everything else on the network as well.

Setup and installation

The Ring Alarm Pro is available in a variety of configurations – which is good because it covers both small and large spaces – with the ability to add accessories to the system at any time. The five-part basic kit costs US $ 200 and consists of a base station, keyboard, contact sensor, motion detector, and range extender. I tested the eight-piece kit ($ 300) which has everything that is in the five-piece but includes three additional contact sensors.

Ring Alarm Pro in the closet.

In contrast to the Ring Alarm (2nd Gen), which I had hidden on a corner table, the Ring Alarm Pro has to be placed near your internet modem. If you already have a modem gateway that doubles as a router, you will need to connect the Ring Alarm Pro with an Ethernet cable. After setting it up through the Ring app, the only problem I stumbled across was connecting my previous sensors. They just didn't want to connect at first, but updating the Ring app seemed to fix the problem.

software

The Ring app went through a lot of updates, but it can be a bit overwhelming to navigate the app to find various settings. If you've been a long-time Ring user you shouldn't have too many problems, but anyone who is new to the Ring should have a serious look at the app. Regarding arming / disarming the security system, I like that the option is conveniently available right from the main screen. If there is one critical feature I would recommend to turn on, it is setting up the geofence – so that you will be automatically notified of arming / disarming the system based on your phone's GPS location.

In order to access or change some of the router settings, you will need to do so through the Eero app. This can cause confusion for some people as it is technically a separate app, but it is required if you are monitoring traffic on your network, changing the settings of the router, and adding additional Eero Wi-Fi 6 mesh extenders want to add. Personally, I would have preferred some of these options to be accessible through the Ring app as it means one less app to manage.

Home security performance

During the time I have been using the Ring Alarm (2nd generation), I have never had any problems. Whenever a door or window opens, I am informed about these events via the app, which can be combined with other automations, e.g. If you have pets nearby, I also recommend adjusting the sensitivity of your motion sensor as they can set off the alarm if they move. This happened once a year that I was using Ring Protect Plus and I got a call from Ring's professional monitoring service.

Ring motion sensor attached to the wall.

I really like that there are so many accessories connected to the Ring Alarm Pro home security system that you can sleep knowing that you are safe. Aside from the usual sensors, there are also those that can detect other hazards – like water collecting on a floor or even being able to watch out for fire / carbon monoxide sirens that you may already have.

Some home security systems can become vulnerable, but the Ring Alarm Pro cannot.

What really sets the Ring Alarm Pro apart from other home security systems is that it provides backup support for internet and power outages. This is not new in and of itself as other systems have similar automations, but what differs from Ring's offering is that Internet backup is available for all devices – not just the Ring Alarm Pro and its connected sensors. Would you believe it would work?

I tested this by unplugging the Ethernet cable connected to the Ring Alarm Pro from my modem, as well as the power cord. Within a minute, I received a notification that the Ring Alarm Pro was running on battery power and backup internet. I was very surprised to see that all of my devices, such as my laptop and smartphones, were still connected so I could keep working. Ring Protect Plus includes 3 GB of backup data service, but you can sign up for additional data through the Ring app for $ 3 per GB.

Bell alarm keypad on the table.

Fortunately, I haven't experienced an emergency situation, but I like how the Ring Alarm Pro takes that extra step to provide protection in other situations. Take, for example, an evening storm that cuts power for a few hours. Some home security systems can become vulnerable, but not the Ring Alarm Pro, which goes beyond that by providing total security.

WiFi 6 mesh router

There's no denying that I love multifunctional devices that eliminate the need to buy multiple devices – and the Ring Alarm Pro is one of them! Part Home Security Hub, part Wi-Fi 6 Router, it helps a growing smart home by expanding Wi-Fi coverage. Before installing the Ring Alarm Pro, I used an Eero mesh WiFi router with two other extenders in other parts of my home. Exchanging it with the Ring Alarm Pro and connecting the existing extenders was a breeze.

I appreciate the convenience of being able to expand the coverage when I move into a larger room.

Usually devices in my bedroom were struggling to stay connected to my living room router, but the Wi-Fi 6 mesh extender I set up helped fix the problem. Although my apartment is about 1,000 square feet, I appreciate the convenience of being able to expand the coverage if I ever move to a larger room with the Ring Alarm Pro. I can also see which connected devices are consuming the most data and even have the option to pause data usage. For parents, this is an incredibly powerful tool for managing device usage throughout the day.

Our opinion

Ring was a pioneer in the video doorbell space and has expanded into other categories to further expand its ecosystem. With the Ring Alarm Pro, it is the iterative home security system that needs to be beaten right now because it will really continue to protect your home if there is an emergency. Other systems have problems when the power or internet goes out and some of your other devices are left in the dark, but the Ring Alarm Pro keeps chugging as if nothing happened. And. oh yes it doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router!

Is there a better alternative?

Nothing matches the depth and utility that the Ring Alarm Pro offers, but SimiplSafe's home improvement security system is the closest competitor. While it may not have as many accessories and devices as Ring, SimpliSafe offers one of the best professional home monitoring services out there. In addition, many of the key devices, such as the base station and Smart Lock, are beautifully designed to match any facility.

How long it will take?

If the previous iteration of Ring is any indication, the Ring Alarm Pro should remain in good working order for a long time. Since this is a router and remains stationary, there is very little chance of it getting damaged – even more so if you're like me and place it in a locked room in your entertainment center. There is a one year limited warranty that covers it for defects.

Should you buy it?

Yes, you kill two birds with one stone, because the Ring Alarm Pro doubles as a Wi-Fi 6 mesh router and home security base station. You will never have to worry about home security and power outages again.

Editor's recommendations



05 Aug
Blog

Oura Ring Review: You Won’t Want to Take it Off

The Oura ring on a finger, seen from behind.

Oura Ring Review: Smart Jewelry That You Won't Want To Take Off Again

RRP $ 399.00

"The Oura ring is a stylish piece of jewelry for tracking sleep and basic daily activities made from high quality materials that is easy to wear and charge."

advantages

  • Light and comfortable to wear

  • Detailed, informative sleep tracking

  • Long battery life by simply charging

  • Stylish, with a choice of finishes

  • Well designed app

disadvantage

  • Limited activity tracking

  • Expensive compared to other fitness wearables

I've never got on so well with rings. In the end, I always took them off and stowed them away safely, either because they got annoying or it was just a matter of time before I took them off and forgot where I put them. When asked if I would like to review the Oura ring, the same concerns crossed my mind, but this chic piece of jewelry was too tempting to stop by.

It's a fascinating piece of wearable technology. Small and relatively inconspicuous, it doesn't take up valuable wrist space that I could fill with the watch of my choice. In terms of functionality, however, it's pretty light and also more expensive than many far more feature-rich smartwatches and fitness bands. After trying the Oura ring, did it stay on my finger?

design

The Oura ring has been in my possession for a month and I still wear it every day. For a jewelry-based piece of wearable technology that I never really got started with, this comes as a surprise, and proof that the Oura ring is a lot "stickier" than I expected. However, the decision to buy an Oura ring is a little more complicated than just buying a smartwatch because it is not a universal product.

The Oura ring from the side on a finger.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Knowing your ring size will help you in the beginning, but Oura will send you a set of pacifier rings in different sizes to try on before you buy. I found two sizes that fit and the recommendation is to buy the largest that will fit. I did that and the end product is never too tight, even with hot hands, doesn't really sweat and actually fits on my index finger and thumb when I feel like a change.

I opted for the Heritage Oura ring with a flat top in a stealth finish versus the balance version, which instead tapers to a point. It's made of titanium with a PVD coating and is very light at around 5 grams, and the matte color here isn't as noticeable as the silver or gold alternatives. The choice of design and workmanship makes the Oura ring unisex, which is very welcome. Its lightness would make it disappear on your finger if it weren't for the 2.55 mm thickness of the tape itself. I wear it on my middle finger and can feel it on both sides of my fingers. It's not uncomfortable, but you always know it's there.

The Oura ring.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

This makes it noticeable along with the ring's width of 7.9mm. Whichever design or finish you choose, the Oura ring is easy to spot and will likely dominate all of the other more delicate rings on your fingers. I've worn it day and night for the past month. That is, when I'm working, washing dishes, gardening, and most other chores. He doesn't care about water, the finish is scratch-free and ugly streaks are quickly wiped away. I also had no issues with it on my skin, aided by Oura with a non-allergenic, non-metallic liner on the inside of the ring.

Obviously I haven't lost it yet, but sometimes I forget to put it back on, which results in me looking for it when I realize it's not on my finger. I would love to see some sort of "Find my Oura Ring" feature, but I understand that this is difficult to implement due to the lack of sound or vibration on the ring itself.

The Oura ring on a finger, seen from above.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

How has the Oura developed overall as a mostly non-ring bearer? It wasn't a problem. It's much less annoying than a watch overnight, and if it's a little uncomfortable with hot hands, it only needs to be removed for a few seconds to make my finger feel better. The downsides come with size as it bumps into things, you can feel it when you grab something, and I found it best to take it off to wash the car in case it was at risk of scratching the body.

That being said, the Oura ring has become a part of my hand and I doubt I'll take it off even after I finish my review. Am I satisfied with my choice of finish? Yes, but now that I'm used to wearing it, I almost wish I had chosen the glossy black version for a bit more visual appeal. When buying the Oura ring, do not proceed like buying a tech device, but rather as a piece of jewelry, is my advice.

Sensors and app

The Oura Ring is primarily a sleep tracker that only provides basic insights into your daily activities. If you want to keep an overview of your health and all of your workouts in detail, then you should also use a smartwatch or a fitness band. I wore it paired with an iPhone 12 Pro and the app is pulling data from Apple Health (or Google Fit with an Android phone). This means that if your training is tracked with an Apple Watch, this data will be taken into account.

The sensors of the Oura ring.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Wear it all day and the ring will record steps, calories, and activity time. It also helps the sensors monitor your baselines. It understands movement and in the app you can add a tag to any workout it shows during the day, it also records steps and displays them in the app. I've found that it tends to overestimate the step count when compared to a smartwatch. It doesn't offer real-time heart rate monitoring, the ability to track a workout, or blood oxygen measurement, and it doesn't offer features like contactless payment.

You don't have to do anything at night, just go to sleep as usual. It uses a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor to read your heart rate and breathing, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor to read your body temperature, and an accelerometer to monitor movement. All the data is collected and compiled in Oura's app, and since the ring is not displayed, you will need to open it to see your stats.

The sensors of the Oura ring.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Sleep is broken down into efficiency, rest, sleep stages, latency, and timing. It reports the length of your sleep, your heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV) and creates ongoing detailed trends based on all of these. Each section is given a rating and it's clear when something is wrong with the graph lines changing from blue to orange. Tap on any of these sections to learn more about what they mean.

Tracking and accuracy

You will receive a sleep and readiness score every day after the app has rated your activity and sleep. The readiness score shows how “ready” you are for the day, while the sleep score shows how restful and restful your night was. The main screen of the app is focused on these stats and you can easily ignore the rest of the stats and just look at these two and get a good idea of ​​your overall health every day.

I found the data from the Oura ring and its trends to be very interesting, and there is a decent amount of advice available, although it is mostly based on readiness rather than correcting sleep problems. For example, I like when I suggest that I take a break from too much activity when I've been busy and haven't had enough sleep. It seems obvious, but the reassurance is nice. But you are more on your own when you sleep, simply because correcting sleep problems is not easy.

What about the accuracy? I also use a Withings Sleep Analyzer under the mattress and the two always track my heart rate and record my deep sleep, but the Oura ring keeps saying I'm not getting enough REM sleep, while the Withings usually shows that i get twice the amount of REM sleep than the oura ring. The advice the Oura ring gives on this is too general to be helpful, especially since I am already doing what it suggests, but this applies to most sleep trackers.

I find the dates of the Oura ring and its trends very interesting

I like the way the Oura always understands when I wake up early in the morning and don't get up straight away, which the Withings are still recording when I sleep. This makes the overall statistics more accurate. However, the Oura ring sometimes thinks I wake up at night when I definitely don't. Finally, I cherish the memories of relaxing a few hours before bed, something based on your personal timing trends. It sounds like a mixed bag here, but it isn't. The data is presented in an appealing and logical way, the trending reporting is comprehensive, the connection and synchronization were absolutely solid, and the help it offers is largely informative and helpful.

Battery and charging

You place the Oura ring on its own little charging pedestal, which is designed so that the sensors snap it into place and make sure it doesn't slip and charge.

The Oura ring on its charging station.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The battery is good for a week before it is close to zero, but the recommendation is to keep the battery between about 40% and 80% charged. I've found that putting the ring on the charger every other day or so while showering and getting ready in the morning works really well. This will charge it without interrupting its use.

Price and availability

You can buy the Oura ring from Oura's own online shop. The Stealth Heritage model shown here is $ 399, as is the gold version, but the black or silver models are $ 299. The Balance model is available in black or silver for $ 299. The ring size set can be ordered for free, and we recommend that you do so.

Our opinion

As a technical masterpiece, the Oura ring is extremely impressive. It wasn't long ago that such a small, perfectly shaped portable device with a battery that lasts a week would have been impossible, let alone so reliably and polished to produce. It's not entirely inconspicuous on my finger, but it's not far away and the cool design makes me happy to wear it all the time. The Oura ring is a success as wearable technical jewelry.

I found the deep sleep and simple activity tracking data interesting, informative, and a good insight into my habits. The slight lack of actionable advice is forgivable, and it's still much more than basic fitness bands offer. Either my Withings Sleep Analyzer or the Oura Ring are wrong about my REM sleep, which isn't really a black mark on the Oura and instead makes me question the reliability of the data from sleep trackers in general.

The Oura ring is a success as wearable technical jewelry

Perhaps the biggest hurdle for me to wholeheartedly recommend the Oura ring is that it is expensive for a really companion device. For a complete picture of your health and true fitness tracking, you must also wear a smartwatch or fitness band. When Huawei's excellent TruSleep system is available on the feature-rich Honor Band 6, which costs around $ 50, the $ 399 Oura ring suddenly looks like a hard sale.

But that's the wrong way to think about the Oura ring. It's a high-tech gem with the benefit of sleep and movement tracking, and not a top fitness tracker that happens to look like a ring. The technology it offers is excellent and the app is very well designed so you will never feel like it is missing, but you need to be aware of its limitations.

Interesting to me is that before wearing the Oura ring I probably wouldn't have bothered about it that much, but after a month I got used to seeing and feeling it, appreciate the insights it gives and have become pretty much attached to it. I plan to keep wearing it, and like all the best wearables – high tech or otherwise – it's a decision based on both how it looks and feels and what it actually does.

Is there a better alternative?

Smart jewelry is still a small niche, and there are very few real alternatives to the Oura ring that are widely available. The smart jewelry from Bellabeat, such as the Bellabeat Leaf, can be worn as a bracelet, necklace or on clothing and is significantly cheaper. However, the design is not unisex. Otherwise, most smart rings focus on contactless payment and not much else.

If you want more fitness and activity tracking capabilities, the better alternative is a smartwatch or fitness band. Almost all of them offer greater functionality and include sleep tracking, and if your budget is $ 400, the choices are huge. We recommend the Apple Watch Series 6 for iPhone owners and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 for Android smartphone owners or the Fitbit Charge 4 or Honor Band 6 if you are only interested in a fitness band.

How long it will take?

If you don't lose it, the Oura ring should last for years. The decisive factor will be the battery, which is obviously very small and, if it wears out, quickly only offers a short service life. However, this is unlikely to happen for a few years and Oura offers a two year warranty on its rings.

Should you buy one?

Yes. If you remember that it is a fancy piece of jewelry rather than a full fitness tracker, then not only will you enjoy wearing it, but you will also benefit from its sleep-related insights.

Editor's recommendations



26 Jun
Blog

Ring Wall Light Solar Review: Sunshine Whenever You Need It

Ring wall lamp solar mounted on the wall

"Powered by sunlight, the Ring Wall Light Solar brings light conveniently anywhere in the house."

  • Effortless installation

  • Bright light output

  • Extended battery life through solar charging

  • More functionality through linking

  • Solar charging is a little slow

Ring's range of products has been largely dominated by its various video doorbells and security cameras, but the home security company doesn't neglect some of the other product categories it deals in LED lightbulbs, path lights, floodlights and more. The newest member of the Smart Lighting family is the Ring Wall Light Solar.

I'm a big fan of almost anything that uses solar energy. The special thing about this particular model is that the solar panel is integrated into the light itself, so you don't have to worry about additional cables or fixings. All of this is a simple and straightforward solution for anyone looking to add a little light outdoors. Are there any disadvantages? Well, let me break it all down.

Installation: ring bridge is required

The installation and setup of the Ring Wall Light Solar is quite simple. In fact, I got it working in about 10 minutes. First of all, you should decide where to place it. I ended up putting it in my garage as it lights up the area around the garage when it detects movement. You only need to install two screws to secure the included mounting plate to a surface. That's all. You can then attach the Ring Wall Light Solar to it.

Ring bridge on the surfaceJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

To complete the setup, you will need the Ring Bridge to connect the solar light to your home's Wi-Fi network. There was an option to use my Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd generation) as an alternative for a bridge, but that would mean Amazon Sidewalk was enabled for it to work. I decided to stick with the Ring Bridge as many of my existing Ring products already communicate with it.

After making my selection, the Ring Wall Light Solar appeared in the Ring app – where I then added it to a group for quick access. Unlike some Ring doorbells, the Ring Wall Light Solar is so easy to install that anyone can use it.

Output: Bright 800 lumens of white light

What amazes me most about the Wall Light Solar is its strong brightness. Before it was turned on for the first time, I was skeptical of how bright it might get – so you can imagine the amazement I was when I saw it. While it could easily be used as an accent light for houses and apartments, such as above outdoor decorations or house numbers, the 800 lumens white light was powerful enough to cover a large space around my garage.

Ring wall light solar switched onJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

I was genuinely surprised at the range of the light. In the Ring app, you can manually turn the lights on as you wish – perfect for occasions when you know you will be in this area for a while. The longest duration is 15 minutes, the shortest one minute. As a deterrent, the motion sensor turns on at night when the sun goes down to automatically turn on the lights when it detects motion nearby. Of course, I appreciate how well this works as a deterrent to unwanted visitors, but I also like how helpful it is when I walk in and out of the garage.

You can use the app to set the intensity of the light – lower to save the battery, higher for more lighting. The Ring Wall Light Solar offers both strong lighting and wide coverage and is a great addition around the house, including those secluded gaps.

Battery: Integrated solar panel is helpful

Using solar panels in its product is not a new idea for Ring. In fact, his portfolio has built a pretty large selection of solar-powered smart home devices – such as surveillance cameras powered by a solar panel and even a solar powered step light. The remarkable thing about the Wall Light Solar is that it can rely on the power of the sun during the day to recharge its battery when it is not actively used. There is also a setting to completely disable the motion detection sensor during the day.

The Ring Wall Light Solar is so easy to install that anyone could do it

When testing the battery, I am happy to report that it has managed to keep a level of over 50% at the highest brightness level for an entire day of use. It's worth noting, however, that during this time there were a handful of occasions where it stayed on for 15 minutes at a time – while the rest of the one-minute cycles would expire when it detected movement. But here the integrated solar panel comes to the rescue. In my tests, it managed to charge the battery by 2% during a 30-minute interval of intermittent sunshine. Sure, this number might be skimpy, but it's still helpful. Plus, you can easily remove it from the holder at any time for manual charging.

Ring wall lamp solar panel close-upJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The nice thing about the solar panel is that it charges all day long, which is better in summer when the sun shines longer. Of course, battery life will vary, but having a light source that requires minimal manual charging helps.

Our opinion

If you already own a Ring Bridge, all you need to do is spend $ 60 on the Ring Wall Light Solar. If not, the light and bridge combo costs $ 80. Either way, the Ring Wall Light Solar is a fantastic addition that works great with the Ring ecosystem. Not only do you get a practical outdoor light that charges during the day, but it can also act as a first line of defense for your home thanks to the ability to connect to other Ring devices.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really. There aren't many smart solar lights on the market, especially those that can be plugged into a robust smart device ecosystem. The only other alternatives are Ring's Solar Steplight and Solar Floodlight.

How long it will take?

It is solidly made and has a weatherproof protection class IP66, which makes it possible to work at temperatures between minus 4 ° F and 122 ° F. There is a one-year limited warranty that covers defects.

Should you buy it?

You should definitely buy it as it is easy to install, has strong lighting and is charged with the help of the sun.

Editor's recommendations



01 Apr
Blog

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 Review: Within Radar Range

Doorbell video doorbell guide

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

"Ring best rang the doorbell and added a bump to the key specs. Then there was radar! "

  • High resolution

  • High quality video day and night

  • User-friendly installation

  • Radar detection

Ring's latest video doorbell builds on previous successes and adds a new dimension to its bag of tricks: radar, which currently seems to be all the rage in the smart home industry. Ring hopes that with the addition of radar, motion tracking will be even more accurate and gaming more fun. It's a nice demonstration for sure, but how useful is it? I wanted to find out.

When you compare the Ring Video Doorbell Pro to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, there are few physical differences. They basically look the same. While the horizontal field of view is slightly limited on this newer generation (150 degrees out of 160 degrees), you get a much wider vertical field of view (150 degrees out of 90 degrees). You also get what Ring calls "3D motion detection," which I'll get into in a moment. Ring also increased the resolution of his camera to 1536p HD video. In short, Ring has selected an already outstanding performer and improved it with a new technology. So let's look at how "amplified" it is.

Minor upgrades

But first we should look at the doorbell as a whole. At first glance, most of the upgrades you'll get from the previous generation Ring Video Doorbell Pro are minor. You get more resolution and more field of view, but there isn't much beyond that. That's just because the Ring Doorbell Pro already sets a very high bar. It's not surprising that Ring built radar into this generation as anything else would be hard to top.

Ring video doorbell guide image

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 still gives you an immersive installation experience with voice prompts as opposed to cryptic beeps or messages displayed on your phone. You get the great experience with the Ring software including the Neighbors app, the cameras provide great clarity during the day and night, and the reduced horizontal field of view is not that much reduced so you can still see everything outside your door.

The video quality is still pretty clear. This generation increased the resolution to 1536p, which is the highest ever. During the day, the videos are crisp and hardly have a fish-eye effect at the edges. Color rendering is good if a touch on the cool side. The picture is very balanced even in bright sunshine. At night, the camera is able to generate colors in poor lighting conditions that switch to IR if necessary. In short, the camera is very good.

Alexa as a concierge

One feature that isn't new to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro range (but was new to me) was using Alexa to open the door. When someone rings your doorbell, Alexa can enter after a set time and greet your visitor for you. Alexa is quite limited in this capacity; You can choose from a number of pre-selected messages. For example, Alexa can instruct a parcel handler where to leave the delivery, or she can ask your neighbor to leave a message.

I would have liked a little more artificial intelligence (A.I.) to be involved here. Stir in facial recognition and parcel recognition and you can get yourself a nice virtual butler on your doorstep. As much as Amazon wants to bring Alexa to any device under the sun, I would expect Alexa to be a little smarter here.

You don't even need Alexa to say, "Please leave the package at the door." It's just a recorded message. In fact, I'd argue that recording a message that says, "I can't get to the door, but can you leave the package in the garage" is more secure than a generic Alexa message. I think after all this time I just want Alexa to be a lot smarter.

Your front door in 3D

One of the highlights of the latest generation of doorbells from Amazon is the so-called "3D motion detection". It uses radar built into the doorbell to let you know where the action you see on your video feed is actually taking place. If you watch the live feed or a replay of a previous event, you will see a bird's eye view of your home (read: satellite view) with dots on the map showing where the action took place. Amazon claims it can detect movement up to 30 feet. I clocked it closer to 20, but that's still pretty impressive. In some cases, the radar detected my dog ​​before she jumped onto the quarterdeck and could be seen clearly. Rings radar knew something was back there.

It works like this: While your subject is moving in the frame, a trace of dots is displayed on the small map in the corner of the image. The map can be moved, but its size cannot be changed. This does not necessarily have to be the case, since the card only serves to provide the context for the image moving on the screen. The dots disappear as your subject moves, giving you a sense of movement and direction. It is really very chic.

The key value here is frankly lost to me as I have a pretty good sense of direction and depth. If I watch a video of someone walking around my front yard, I can tell exactly where they are. This is not the case with all. Not everyone is wired to look at a 2D image and find out exactly where something is going on. The bird's eye view and a series of points showing where movement is taking place give the viewer much more context as to where the action is taking place.

This is one of the top three doorbells you can buy right now.

How useful this is ultimately depends on the user. It sure is a nice addition. But is it worth an extra $ 100? I'm not sure. I know exactly what Ring is doing here, and it can be interesting. However, I don't consider it a flagship nor a reason to upgrade from an earlier generation doorbell.

Our opinion

Overall, this is the best video doorbell Ring has made. It's a bit pricey at $ 250, and as I said in my review on the Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell, video doorbell prices have been going down lately. That doorbell flies in the face of that. The main reason for purchasing this doorbell over the original Ring Video Doorbell Pro is its radar capability. While this does add some feature and context to your video, it's hard to say that it definitely adds value to the doorbell, let alone worth more than $ 100.

Fortunately, that's not all the new doorbell adds. You also get degradation in video resolution and field of view. When you put all of this together, it will be easier to see where your money is going. Ring already had one of the best video doorbells out there, and adding it makes everything even better. It's not enough to upgrade from the original Pro to the new one. However, if you are looking for a new video doorbell in the market, this is one you should consider.

Is there a better alternative?

There is no better doorbell that uses radar technology because there is no other doorbell. The Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro gives you a better field of view and the last generation Ring Video Doorbell Pro gives you better value for money when the radar isn't exciting for you. The Arlo Essential doorbell gives you a similar software experience, but it lacks the Neighbors app. Put it all together and this is one of the top three doorbells you can buy right now in terms of the total package.

How long it will take?

The construction of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is very robust. It is similar to previous generations and has the same operating temperature range and limited warranty. I wouldn't worry how that doorbell is going to hold. It will surely take you a while.

Should I buy it?

Yes. This is one of the best video doorbells you can buy today. They are expensive but cheaper alternatives that you may or may not be okay with. If you already have a bell, you probably don't need to upgrade to this one. If you want to save a few dollars, use the original Ring Video Doorbell Pro. Otherwise, this should be at the top of your list.

Editor's recommendations




18 Feb
Blog

Ring Video Doorbell Wired: Delightful Value for the Money

Ring video doorbell wired mounted on brick

Ring video doorbell wired

"This is the best video doorbell value."

  • Magnificent installation

  • No need to recharge

  • Great app

  • Clear, clear video

  • Bypasses the wired carillon

  • Narrow field of view

Ring is arguably the company that brought video doorbells into the mainstream. That tradition continues with Amazon's brand new $ 60 Ring Video Doorbell in a very affordable space. This affordable video doorbell is a wake-up call for the video doorbell room. We've already seen an extremely (read: ridiculously) affordable doorbell from Wzye, and Ring is now showing us that if you double your money, you can quadruple your value. Simply put, this doorbell is no joke.

installation

Installation tools needed to wire the video doorbell.

When I think of the installation experience I had with this doorbell, the only word that really comes to mind is adorable. I've installed half a dozen doorbells in the past eight months, and while none have been particularly difficult for anyone with my skills (I'm your basic handyman), none have been particularly easy. The wired ring doorbell was very easy to install. I only had two hiccups and only one of them was Ring's fault.

The Ring Video Doorbell with Cable is one of my favorite doorbells that I have reviewed.

At first I had trouble figuring out how to expose the screw holes to mount the doorbell. As it turns out, I just didn't apply enough pressure to remove the cover. Then I had problems pairing the doorbell with the app. I was using a beta version of the software as it wasn't officially released and I just had to wait for the server side to turn things on for me. Once it was them, all I had to do was scan a barcode and head to the races.

What impressed me the most about the installation process was its simplicity. I had to scan a barcode with my phone to connect to the doorbell. During the setup process, verbal cues indicated when the doorbell was connected to WiFi and when the setup process was complete. It is far more satisfying when the element you are working with tells you in plain English that "you did this right" rather than a cryptic series of beeps or buzzes.

No chimes for you

One important hardware note that I have to mention is also the only real downside I found with this doorbell. During the installation I installed an included jumper wire on the transformer of my doorbell bell. This is to bypass the mechanical chimes completely so that the doorbell can get the power it needs. Previous ringtones had to be recharged regularly, even if they were connected to the ring tone. This jumper basically ensures that the doorbell gets the power it needs. But it will also render your mechanical chimes inoperable.

What that means as a homeowner: When a visitor presses the doorbell button, all you get is a notification on your phone or smart screen. That will be enough for many. Personally, I carry my cell phone around the house for this to work. But something doesn't seem right when a wired doorbell doesn't ring the chime it is wired to – "wired" is even in the name!

My Kindle Fire HD 8 Plus tablet with its wireless charging stand can announce someone is on the doorbell and it can show me the video feed from the doorbell, but the Kindle does not have two-way communication. You can also purchase an additional wireless bell that can be plugged into any power outlet. Ring currently bundles a wired doorbell and rings for an additional $ 20. This might be a good option if you don't factor in the added cost.

Surprisingly good video quality

The video feed from the doorbell is clear at 1080p in daylight and at night in infrared. The field of view is a very decent 155 degrees. When you receive a Ring Basic Protect Plan, you can access recordings for a single device for up to 60 days. This also brings with it "bulky notifications" which give you a thumbnail of what the camera will see when it sends a notification. I particularly liked that.

Bell door mounted on brick

The bidirectional communication on the device is great with very little delay, while the voices on both ends are loud and clear. The Ring app cannot broadcast sound from the doorbell when I am talking. In principle, a host and a guest cannot talk about each other. This is another minor limitation.

Setting detection zones is standard in video doorbells, and you can do that here, but Ring goes a step further by allowing you to set privacy zones. No data is recorded in a specific data protection zone. The camera can also detect movements and people. Another thing that is difficult to understand is that an Amazon company's doorbell does not offer package detection. What's wrong with it?

Our opinion

This is a small, nondescript video doorbell with a great price tag. It's not the cheapest on the market. This award goes to Wyze. In terms of money, this doorbell is just superb. There are some minor tradeoffs, but even if you buy a bundled wireless chime, you are still spending less than you would on the closest competitor.

In addition to a good doorbell, you get the Ring app and all the benefits that come with it, like the network of neighbors. It's good to know what's going on in your neighborhood, whether it's a person stealing packages or a random fox showing up in someone else's driveway. Overall, this doorbell offers you the best price-performance ratio in the video doorbell arena.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. There are better doorbells out there, but they all cost more. The 155-degree field of view is surpassed by most of the other doorbells on our scorecard. Ring's own video doorbell Pro, however, only knocks it by five degrees. Other doorbells like the Arlo Video Doorbell and Vivint Doorbell Camera Pro offer 180 degrees. However, when you weigh the value these other doorbells offer for the price, often three or even four times that of the Ring Video Doorbell Wired, dollar for dollar, Ring's offering is hard to beat.

How long it will take?

The Ring Video Doorbell with Cable comes with a one-year warranty. The doorbell is solidly constructed, although it is mostly made of polycarbonate. It seems very solid and should stand up to whatever Mother Nature is up to.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Ring Video Doorbell with Cable is one of my favorite doorbells that I have reviewed. The easy installation process, great app, and solid hardware make this a breeze. The Wyze video doorbell is half the price but a quarter of the experience. The Ring Video Doorbell with Cable has so much value that it is impossible to recommend it to anyone looking for a video doorbell.

Editor's recommendations




09 Aug
Blog

Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) Review: Light on Upgrades

Bell video doorbell 2nd generation 2020 rating 2 and post person

Ring video doorbell 2nd gen.

"The cheapest ring is not a revelation, but its price is."

  • Inexpensive

  • Great app experience

  • Privacy Zone censors certain areas

  • easy installation

  • No replaceable battery

  • Glitchy video and audio

Several video doorbells have gone through since the original was released in 2013. There were Elite, Pro, Ring Video Doorbell 2, Ring Video Doorbell 3, and Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. After all that, the company returned to the original with the Ring video doorbell 2nd gen. ($ 100).

How does it differ from all of its cousins? It's $ 100 price tag. It's by far the cheapest bells launched this year – Bells 3 and 3 Plus for Ring Video cost $ 200 and $ 230, respectively. That's a big difference. Is it worthy of the premium brand Ring? I tried the 2nd generation to see how it stood out from the competition and the other ring doorbells.

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 and Post Personring

installation

Like the other Ring Video Doorbells, Generation 2 is very easy to install. The instructions in the app will guide you through everything step by step. The kit even includes a level, screwdriver, and drill bit in case you need a drill bit. All you have to do is attach the mounting plate to the wall or door frame with a couple of screws, click the doorbell onto the plate, and then secure everything with two more screws. The wireless installation takes about 30 minutes in total. If you're replacing another wired doorbell, the installation won't take much longer because it connects to the cables you already have. However, if you want it to be wired but don't currently have a wired doorbell, you will need to get a professional to do the installation.

Still not an easy way to top up

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 BackAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

The very first thing I noticed is how difficult it is to charge this new model. The other new video doorbells in the Ring range have a detachable faceplate that allows you to remove the battery to recharge. The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) does not have a removable battery. The entire doorbell must be completely removed from the mounting plate as the charging port is on the back of the doorbell. This is the same method as the first generation Ring Video Doorbell. That means you have to loosen two security screws to be able to recharge the doorbell. What a pain! While the doorbell is charging, instead of a doorbell, you have an ugly mounting plate next to your door.

Other than having to unplug the doorbell from the front panel and load it in, the battery isn't that bad. Like the other ring doorbells, it should only need to be charged every few months. Overall, it consumes around 1% of its battery life every day.

Video

The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) has a 1080p HD camera, just like the Ring Doorbell 2, the Ring Doorbell 3 and the Ring Doorbell 3 Plus. It's leaps and bounds better than the 1st generation with a 720p HD camera, however. What's even more surprising is that this 2nd generation model has higher color saturation and better contrast, possibly a little too much contrast, despite the same video specifications as the 3 Plus.

The curvature of the fish shell around the edges of the video seems a little less obvious.

Also, the curvature of the fish shell seems a little less obvious around the edges of the video. As I've said in other doorbell reviews, curvature distortion is an issue that should have been resolved by now. Among other things, the Arlo Video doorbell figured out how to create a doorbell without distorting the edges. Why is Ring sleeping on this upgrade?

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 VideoAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

The 2nd generation has night vision just like their brand friends. It's similar to other night vision doorbells, but far from amazing. The contrast is good and faces are pretty recognizable. When it is really dark outside, the camera switches to black and white footage. As long as the lights on your porch are on, they will still be recorded in color.

The video is corrupted if the person moves in front of the camera. It corrects itself in a few seconds, but is still annoying. You would think that this is due to the fact that it only has 2.0GHz Wi-Fi connectivity. Not so. The other ringtones also have this problem even when using a 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi connection.

The field of view (how much area the camera can "see") is somewhat narrower than with other doorbell doors. The Ring Video doorbell (2nd generation) has a field of view of 155 degrees, while the 3 Plus is a little wider 160 degrees. Frankly, this didn't seem to make much of a difference when comparing footage side by side. The original model has a 180 degree field of view so I'm a little confused. You would expect Gen 2 to be an upgrade, not a downgrade.

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 VideoAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

While you can watch live videos for free, you will need a subscription to save your videos. The ring protection plan allows you to review and share videos and photos for up to 60 days. It costs just $ 3 per month per device or $ 10 per month for your entire household. So it's not particularly expensive. It's similar to other plans like Nest Aware for Google's Nest Hello, but other companies like August offer free video storage for their doorbells.

Audio

Ring video doorbell 2nd generation on the doorAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

Two-way audio is a feature found throughout the Ring line of video doorbells. You can talk to anyone at your door without opening it or even being home. The noise-canceling technology really helps to attenuate ambient noise so you can hear the person speaking clearly. The sound is also very loud. The only problem is with the microphone and speaker turning on and off so the sound is a bit choppy on either side of the conversation.

properties

The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) has most of the same functionality as any other Ring Doorbell, mainly because they all use the same app. One thing that isn't there is the pre-roll option, which allows the camera to record a four-second preview video in front of a motion alarm, which is exclusive to the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. It's helpful when you need more footage, such as identifying someone on a video, but it's not a huge loss.

Many Ring competitors use artificial intelligence to detect and warn you when a package is on your porch. However, Ring does not offer it for a single model. Maybe I'm just overestimating what a great feature this is. I think it's pretty helpful, but Ring maybe not. It's artificial intelligence that can tell the difference between people, animals, or cars so that motion notifications are more accurate.

Ring Video Doorbell Gen 2 with 3 PlusRing Video Doorbell Gen 2 next to the 3 Plus Alina Bradford / Digital Trends

To save battery power and reduce constant notifications, there are several ways you can customize the camera's motion detection. The motion detection area can be adjusted so that it only detects movement on your porch or as far as the sidewalk. You can also adjust the sensitivity of the motion detection. If you don't want any notifications at all, you can turn off motion alarms for 30 minutes to four hours.

There is a privacy zone option that literally blocks part of the yard in the video.

If you have a part of your yard that you don't want the camera to see, there is a privacy zone that literally blocks that part of the yard in the video via a black box. Think of it as your own censorship bar. This can be helpful if you don't want the camera to record your children's play or pool areas if you are concerned that the footage is being hacked.

I say this a lot in my reviews but I will say it again. I love the Ring app. It's not buggy and easy to use. Even better, you'll get live crime and security alerts reported by your neighbors or local law enforcement, as well as weekly security reports. This is the only doorbell app that has it all. In fact, the app is one of Ring's biggest selling points.

Ring App

Our opinion

It really seems like Ring is just producing video doorbells without much innovation. The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Generation) is almost indistinguishable from the other new video doorbells except that it does not have a removable battery or 5.0 GHz WiFi connectivity option and has a slightly narrower field of view. The special thing is the price. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 is $ 200, while this 2nd generation model is $ 100. That's a great incentive.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want a ring video doorbell, this is your best bet for the price. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has an additional pre-roll option and a replaceable battery. However, it's not worth paying an extra $ 135. A better option might be the Ring Video Doorbell 3, which brings the cost down to $ 200 and has the same features and specifications as the 3 Plus except for the pre-roll feature.

For better video quality, I would recommend the Arlo Video Doorbell or another option on our list of the best video doorbells. That said, Ring has the best app out there, and if you have other Ring products I definitely recommend the Gen 2.

How long it will take?

Since this doorbell is a solid piece with no removable faceplate, it may seem more durable than other ring doorbells. It comes with a one year limited warranty. If it is stolen, Ring will replace it for free.

Should you buy it

Yes. It's actually a decent doorbell for the price. You also get the great Ring app.

Editor's recommendations




22 Jul
Blog

Ring Video Doorbell 3 Review: Not a Proper Upgrade

Ring video doorbell 3 rating with silver front plate

"I wanted to be excited about the third generation Ring Video doorbell, but it wasn't as impressive as it should be."

  • Great two-way audio

  • Fantastic app

  • Easy to install

  • Alexa compatible

  • Fisheye distortion

  • Doesn't work with Google Assistant

The Ring Video Doorbell 2 was such a success that it reached our list of top video doorbells from 2020. So you can bet if the Bell video doorbell 3 came out, there were high expectations. Has the third generation model introduced some exciting new features? Here's what I found out when I tried it.

Ring video doorbell 3 with silver front plate

installation

As with most wireless video doorbells, installing the ring video doorbell is a breeze. All you have to do is screw the mounting bracket onto your door frame, insert the battery and attach the doorbell to the mounting bracket. The instructions in the app show you step by step how to set everything up, including connecting the new doorbell to your home's Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

After installation, you can use the doorbell to connect the doorbell to other ring products in your home, e.g. B. with other indoor / outdoor cameras from Ring, intelligent light bulbs, path and step lights and the Ring Solar Floodlight. After everything is connected, you can create tasks for the devices to work together. For example, if someone rings the doorbell, you can have your porch or other lights turn on automatically.

Ring video doorbell 3 batteryAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

If you want to hardwire the Ring Video doorbell 3, it's pretty easy too, as the app guides you through the app. Just make sure that you have a connection with a maximum of 8-24 VAC and 40VA and a doorbell transformer with 50/60 Hz. If you do not know this or do not know what it means, you may need to consult a professional installer.

design

When it comes to design, you will immediately find that the third generation device is a small piece in terms of video doorbells. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 is 5.1 inches tall and 2.4 inches wide and really sticks out of your door frame (or wherever you install it) and sticks out like an aching thumb. Choosing a slimmer doorbell such as the Nest Hello, the Arlo video doorbell or maybe even the older Ring Pro is sure to have a less visual impact. The front panel is available in two colors: silver and black. So you have a choice of how this affects the atheism of your front door.

Ring video doorbell 3 front panelsAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

A major design improvement over the last Ring Video doorbell is that the company made it easier to remove the front panel so you can access the battery. This may seem small, but nobody wants to struggle with their doorbell just so they can charge the battery. It simply clicks in and out with a small push. Once the cover is removed, pull out the battery and charge it with a USB cable that comes with the doorbell.

The carillon in the ring video doorbell 3 is not very loud. It sends notifications to your phone. However, if you don't carry your phone with you, you may not hear it. Couple the ring 3 with the RingAt just $ 30, this is a great way to fix the problem. The doorbell is a separate device that you plug into an outlet in your home. From there, pair it with the doorbell. When the button on the doorbell is pressed, the doorbell also sounds. It's loud and has a variety of chimes to choose from in the app, including special Christmas chimes.

Video and audio quality

In terms of video quality, nothing has improved since the second generation. This third generation model still has a 160 degree field of view at 1080p HD, which you would expect with video doorbells, so no complaints. The video is really clear when there are objects just a few meters away from the camera. further away it gets a little blurry. The colors are a bit subdued, but taking pictures is good. There are a few pixels when the object the camera is focusing on is moving quickly, but it tends to clear up quickly.

However, there is still a curvature around the edges of the video. I'm not sure why Ring didn't think it was important to fix this since other video doorbells like the Arlo have no problem with the fishbowl. The field of vision is also somewhat narrow vertically, so you cannot see the floor of the porch at the door where parcels can be placed by a delivery person.

Ring video doorbell 3 live video on app

The night vision is in black and white, which is not unusual for a wireless video doorbell. However, if you hard-wire the Ring Video doorbell 3, the video is colored. So you should take this into account.

Like its predecessor, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 does not have a local video memory. You must subscribe to Ring Protect. It starts at $ 3 a month or $ 30 a year for storing videos and photos. So it's not too expensive. Other video doorbell brands offer storage plans similar to Ring Protect for about the same cost, but August, for example, offers its users free video storage.

Clear audio is always a good thing, especially when there are strangers at the door.

The two-way audio of the Ring Video Doorbell 3 is really nice and clear. This is probably due to the noise cancellation technology. It is said to raise voices from outside noise and does a good job. Clear audio is always a good thing, especially when there are strangers at the door.

properties

Ring video doorbell 3 app

There is a new function which is an upgrade of the Ring Video doorbell 2. With the near zone function you can adjust how close or far the motion sensor detects motion. This prevents your notifications from being triggered all the time, for example if you have a sidewalk or a street near your front door. You can adjust the range from 5 to 15 feet to your needs.

It doesn't have box detection like some other video doorbells, including the Nest Hello.

The snooze and sensitivity functions also help reduce the number of warnings. The app lets you set notifications to sleep for 30 minutes to four hours. You can also reduce the sensitivity of the motion detector so that a notification is only sent when something big like a human is hanging around. Or you can simply set it to people-only mode so that only people are recognized. It doesn't have box detection like some other video doorbells, including the Nest Hello.

If you have no more notifications, you can activate Home mode even better. This function prevents the doorbell from detecting any movement at all. Note, however, that this mode also disables the live view feature.

Like the second generation device, this new one can be connected to Alexa. This way, you can see visitors on Alexa video devices like the Echo Show 8. You can also use any Alexa Echo device to speak to visitors who come to your door. An upgrade that would have made sense is adding Google Assistant features. However, this is unlikely.

Ring neighborhood warnings

In my opinion, the app is the best function of all ring video doorbells. It has so many features and so few glitches that it's a pleasure to use compared to other smart device apps. My favorite feature is the real-time crime and security alerts. You can also view current crime activity on a map of your neighborhood, weekly security reports, and more in the app. With these tools, you can always know what's going on in your neighborhood, which makes me feel safer.

Battery life

Ring the video doorbell 3 on the solar chargerring

Ring does not state exactly what the battery life is. However, I've found that you are more likely to charge it about every 3 months, depending on how often you use it. It seems to consume just over 1% of the battery life per day. If you don't like this idea, you can purchase a solar charger that is installed just behind the doorbell for $ 50. The solar connection is a new option that the second generation ring did not have.

privacy

The Ring Video doorbell 3 contains three remarkable data protection functions. After Ring was asked to hack several of his video cameras, he made two-factor authentication mandatory for his app and website. This is a great way to make sure your footage stays safe, and a feature that many smart devices overlook. Another smart privacy feature is the ability to turn off the camera's microphone if you don't want it to be recorded.

Ring Video Doorbell 3 privacy option

You can also prevent the camera from "seeing" certain parts of your garden by setting up data protection zones in the app. Wherever you set up a data protection zone, this area of ​​your garden is shown as a black box in the video.

Our opinion

While we love Ring Video Doorbells for its ease of use and great app, the third generation seems to be missing something – especially when you look at what else there is. While it's a great doorbell, it doesn't have any significant advantages over the Ring Video doorbell 2. If you already have a doorbell 2 and are thinking about upgrading, you might as well stick to what you have. Otherwise, the Arlo video doorbell is a better upgrade.

Is there a better option?

Yes. At $ 200, it's slightly more expensive than most other high-quality video doorbells on the market, such as Arlos' video doorbell ($ 149) with better video. Perhaps the only thing worth the extra cost would be that the ring app is the best, but if you go that route, you can also buy the ring bell 3 Plus for $ 230. The Plus has an additional feature called Pre-Roll that allows you to view an additional four seconds of video before a motion event is recognized by the doorbell.

How long it will take?

The ring video doorbell is made of thin plastic that doesn't last longer than a year or two. However, it is rainproof and the battery lasts at temperatures between -20 and 50 degrees Celsius. It also comes with a one-year limited warranty, and Ring will replace it for free if it is stolen.

Should you buy it

No. If you want a better ring experience, I would say spring for the 3 Plus ring doorbell. If you are on a budget, you can get the new bell (2020) for $ 100 less. If the ring app and ecosystem don't affect you, choose the Arlo video doorbell.

Editor's recommendations




27 May
Blog

Ring Alarm (2nd Gen) Review: New Look, Same Great Protection

Ring alarm (2nd generation) keyboard on the wall

Ring Alarm Security 5-piece kit

"The ring alarm offers excellent home surveillance with a surprisingly low monthly fee."

  • Affordable professional surveillance service

  • Quick setup

  • Backwards compatible with 1st generation hardware

  • Solid range of accessories

  • Needs better camera integration

The new ring alarm (second generation) starts at $ 200 for the five-part kit. However, there are several other kits and bundles to choose from. You can also add accessories later at any time if necessary.

Ring intends to make home security simple, easy and safe. Unlike traditional security systems that require professional installation, it is a do-it-yourself solution where you set everything up. However, Ring Alarm continues to offer 24-hour home surveillance to give homeowners another pair of eyes when they're not there.

What's new?

Basically nothing changes in the basic requirement of the new ring alarm. It is the same home improvement security system that consists of a base station, contact sensors, a motion detector, a keyboard and a range extender. They attach the contact sensors to doors, windows or other entry points throughout the house that then communicate with the base station and send warnings as soon as they are triggered.

Door alarm (2nd generation) Door sensor on the doorJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

What is special about the new hardware is that Ring has reduced the size of each component by around 30%. For example, the keyboard is 38% smaller than its previous counterpart in the first generation system.

Despite the reduction, the sensors are not significantly smaller than those used in other systems such as SimpliSafe or Xfinitys Home Security. Ring is catching up instead of leading with a much smaller design.

Another important change concerns the batteries used by the sensors. The first generation version requires a 3 V lithium battery that is not as readily available as the new version CR2032 coin cell batteries. It's a boring detail, but you'll appreciate the change when it comes to replacing a battery.

Mix and match compatibility

If you happen to own the first generation ring alarm, you can mix and match the hardware to work with the new system, and vice versa. I'm glad to see that owners don't have to drop the old hardware when planning an upgrade. Interoperability is always a welcome relief as it helps maintain the value of the system over time.

It is always a welcome relief when there is interoperability.

Setting up is a breeze with the on-screen instructions in the Ring app. The base station can be connected directly to a router or wirelessly via WLAN. Placement at home is crucial, however, as the gateway communicates with the various sensors. There is also a range limitation for the sensors. For smaller places like my home, range is not a problem as everything is within 50 feet of the base station. Fortunately, the basic model of the ring alarm, the five-part kit, comes with a range extender that attaches an additional 250 feet.

After reclassifying the sensors, the entire setup process was completed in less than 30 minutes. If you need additional sensors, Ring offers a range of accessories to choose from – such as flood sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide sensors and more.

A lot of control, but could be smarter

In the Ring mobile app, you can access and change all settings of the Ring Alarm home security system. You can quickly activate and deactivate the system in the dashboard of the app by pressing the corresponding buttons. In a critical situation, I like how I can use the exclamation point button on the dashboard to quickly request help and trigger the alarm. The same controls are on the keyboard for quick access.

When I resort to some of the app's detailed controls, I find it useful that I can set the mode for each sensor. For example, I turned off the window sensors when they were in home mode, which prevents them from notifying me when I open or close them. At the same time, I switched off motion detection with my Ring Indoor Cam to prevent even more redundant notifications from being sent to me.

Conversely, when the system is activated in away mode, all sensors are monitored and set to trigger the alarm when triggered. Speaking of which, the base station sends out a deafening 104 dB siren that is more than loud to deter an intruder and hear my neighbors.

Although there are enough controls to customize the security system to my liking, it could be more intelligent. One complaint I have is that the alarm does not go off when my ring indoor camera detects motion in away mode, so it just sends the typical push notification instead.

Also, there doesn't seem to be an option to force the camera to turn on and shoot footage when one of the sensors is triggered – something that would be useful if my front door opened, regardless of where the camera is at home.

Finally, it would be helpful if Ring Alarm could see whether I was at home or not. In fact, there have been several cases where I forgot to activate it before leaving. Therefore, it would be nice if the app suggested to put it into vacation mode.

Affordable 24/7 home surveillance

The most attractive aspect of the ring alarm (second generation) is the affordable cost associated with its professional 24-hour home surveillance service. You must subscribe to Ring Protect Plus, which is $ 10 a month or $ 100 a year, but has the benefit of a real-time emergency response.

When an alarm is triggered, not only will you receive a notification on your smartphone, but a representative from Ring's professional surveillance service will call to check. From there, you can simply speak the verbal password to ignore the alarm or have emergency services sent to your home.

Base station for ring alarm (2nd generation) on the tableJohn Velasco / Digital Trends

The monthly cost of $ 10 for Ring Protect Plus also covers video history for all cameras connected to your Ring account for up to 60 days. In the event that the power supply fails at home, the base station has a 24-hour backup battery and a cellular service to continue the service. If you are heavily invested in the ring ecosystem, the cost is a bargain as this also includes professional monitoring.

Our opinion

With the ring alarm (2nd generation) you are protected in protecting your house – without having to cost an arm and a leg for a professional surveillance service. The five-part base kit costs $ 200 and the surveillance service costs $ 10 a month (or $ 100 a year). This makes it extremely competitive with other services that have both a higher initial investment and a higher monthly fee.

Is there a better alternative?

SimpliSafe is another do-it-yourself security service that needs to be considered due to its robust range of accessories. In addition to the usual sensors, SimpliSafe also offers a Smart Lock, special smoke and CO detectors, a key fob and a glass break sensor. SimpliSafe accessories are cheaper ($ 15 for an input sensor versus $ 20 for ring). To top it off, further settings and data protection regulations must be adjusted with SimpliSafe.

How long it will take?

Because the base station remains stationary and is in your home, it is unlikely to be damaged or need to be replaced. However, the sensors need to be replaced and the alarm keypad needs to be recharged occasionally unless you want to connect it to the power source.

Ring offers an extended warranty on all devices connected to your Ring Protect Plus subscription, so malfunctions due to defective parts or workmanship are covered until you stop service.

Should you buy it

Yes, especially if you are already invested in the ring ecosystem and want an affordable professional home surveillance service. If you already own the first generation model, there is little incentive to upgrade as the basic features and service remain the same.

Editor's recommendations




11 May
Blog

Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight Review: A Bright Choice

Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight

"You won't find a more intelligent and useful solar safety light on the market."

  • Adjustable brightness

  • Can connect to other smart devices

  • 1200 lumens of white light

The Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight is the answer to your outdoor security requirements, especially if you don't know anything about wiring and don't want to hire an electrician to install security lights outside your home. This lamp is easy to assemble and is powered by a solar panel. You don't have to worry about batteries or wiring, and installation takes an amazingly quick 5 to 10 minutes. Even better? With the Ring app you have full control over this intelligent light. Really, there is nothing you don't like

about this ring product.

Brighten the night

This writer's back yard gets as dark as a mine shaft at night, so I need a floodlight that can really turn off the light. I wasn't sure if a solar light would do the job. But when I tried the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight on a cloudy night, it lit up most of the 4-acre lot behind my house.

If you need a little less power for your cottage, you can control the brightness with the Ring app.

It is also adjustable. If you need a little less power for your holiday home, you can use the ring app to control the brightness as you wish. In total, the light provides up to 1,200 lumens of white light (3500K color temperature).

App functions

Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight in the Ring app

You'd think that a simple spotlight wouldn't have too many app features. Just on, off and maybe a brightness control, right? Well, the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight offers a lot more functions in the Ring app. In addition to changing the brightness, you can also enable a motion detection option that turns on the light when it detects something is moving in the area. You can also choose whether or not to receive a warning on your phone every time a movement is detected.

It was really only recognized when my dogs were moving and not seeing any insect movement, which can be a lot here in Texas.

You can also adjust the sensitivity so that the light doesn't come on every time a moth floats by. I set the light to medium sensitivity and then left my dogs in the back yard for a few hours. A look at the "Event History" section of the app showed me that the light only came on a few times, which means that it was really only recognized when my dogs were moving and not detecting any insect movements, which can be a lot here in Texas .

Ring Smart Lighting solar floodlight and blue skyAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

The app also gives you the option to set your floodlights on a schedule. You can connect it to other lights in your house or set it on your own schedule. I have set it to turn on only from dawn to dawn, which gives it time to turn the battery on fully during the day. The combination with other devices such as the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is also a good idea. For example, each time your floodlight detects motion, it can be set up to automatically turn on the camera on your video doorbell. This ensures that if someone tries to sneak around your property, you have a better chance of capturing video footage of the person – and it's a wonderful deterrent.

Power from the sun

Ring Smart Lighting solar floodlight and solar panel Alina Bradford / Digital Trends

By far my favorite feature of the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight is that it is solar. You don't have to wire anything or replace batteries. As long as you set up the 2 W solar panel in a sunny place, you can get started. My garden has a lot of shade, but the battery is still well charged. The solar panel is fantastic, but it is dedicated to light so it cannot be used with other products.

It takes a buddy

Ring bridge in handAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

An important thing to remember is that you have to buy one Ring bridge In order for the floodlights to be connected to the app and to be coupled with other lights and intelligent devices in your home, the WiFi in your home is less used. The ring bridge costs $ 50 and is about the size of half a deck of cards. So it takes up very little space in your house. Unfortunately, it cannot be used with devices that were not made by Ring.

Our opinion

I really can't say enough good things about this light. The Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight ($ 90) is affordable, easy to install, and maintenance-free. The app gives you the control you've ever dreamed of when it comes to outdoor lighting. This product really met all of my outdoor security lighting requirements.

Is there a better alternative?

Not really. There are some solar powered floodlights on the market at prices between $ 35 and $ 600, but there are very few that can be controlled with an app, and probably none that can be connected to other lights in your home. The next light that the Ring Smart Lighting Solar Floodlight can be compared to is the Link2Home Security Solar Floodlight ($ 40): It is programmable, but not really "intelligent" and cannot be connected to other smart devices.

How long it will take?

I think it will stand the test of time. It is designed for a temperature of -20 ° C to 50 ° C and is weatherproof with protection class IP66. There is also a 1 year limited warranty.

Should you buy it

Yes, there really is no reason why you would not love this light.

Editor's recommendations




09 May
Blog

Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus Review: Complacent in a Sea of Innovations

"Live breakdowns and a few missing functions make this doorbell a dubious choice."

  • A variety of motion controls

  • Pre-roll preview function

  • Compatible with Alexa and Ring devices

  • easy installation

  • Doesn't recognize boxes

  • Glitchy live view

  • Distorted video

We already love ringtones. With the ring app, you can see who is at your door, wherever you are, and even talk to visitors in real time. We love Ring so much that Ring Video Doorbell 2 and Ring Video Doorbell Pro made our list of the best video doorbells for 2020. Now the company has launched the next model in its line, the Ring video doorbell 3 Plus ($ 229.99). Will we love it as much? That's how it went.

Doorbell Plus 3 is ringinginstallation

Setting up the doorbell is fairly easy since the doorbell app guides you by connecting the doorbell to your Wi-Fi network. It is even helpful to set up security and usage settings. The installation kit also includes everything you need, including a drill, in case you need to drill new holes for the mounting bracket.

As soon as this is complete, you can connect your new doorbell to other Ring products such as the Ring Solar Floodlight, Solar Path Lights, the various intelligent light bulbs from Ring or Solar Step Lights. With this connection to other devices, you can set up tasks. For example, you can set up a task to automatically turn on your smart lights during the night when the doorbell detects motion.

Ring video doorbell 3 plus cover platesAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

If you have color preferences, the 3 Plus comes with two different front panels: you can choose between silver and black to better match your home. Replacing is as easy as snapping a case onto your phone.

I recommend combining bell 3 with the bell signal. It will work without it, but if someone comes to your door and you don't have your phone nearby, you probably won't hear the doorbell ringing. It is not very loud. I could barely hear it and was only a few yards from the front door. The carillon sounds in your house.

Outstanding functions

The bell 3 has so many functions that it looks almost overwhelming. Fortunately, the app is intuitive and it's easy to set everything up.

One feature that I like is the pre-roll option. This allows the camera to record a four-second preview video to see exactly what triggered a motion alarm. The footage is shot in black and white to conserve the battery. In the event of a possible break-in or tampering with the package, this additional four seconds can help law enforcement. Unfortunately, pre-roll does not work with the night vision of the camera. That means you won't get this nifty feature at night.

I was disappointed that there was no box detection technology.

The motion detection is fully customizable. You can adjust the area of ​​the motion detector, for example, by specifying how many feet from your door it detects motion. If your home is near a sidewalk or street, you will not be notified by the doorbell every time something goes past your home. If you want to take a nap, you can turn off motion alerts for 30 minutes to four hours. You can even adjust the sensitivity of the motion detector to reduce warnings.

Ring video doorbell 3 plus app

There are options to change what the doorbell also recognizes. You can choose whether the doorbell detects some kind of movement or just people. I was disappointed that there was no box detection technology like the Nest Hello doorbell. I get a lot of packages and want to know when a package is on my porch. For some reason, this doorbell does not contain the box identification A.I. Feature. It has the same field of view as the nest at 160 degrees, so it's a shame it doesn't support this feature.

In addition to these options, you can also customize various modes that can be set up with specific behaviors when you are at home or on the go. In home mode, for example, you can set the doorbell so that no movement is detected and deactivate the live view function.

Do you want to stay up to date? The Ring app sends you real-time crime and security alerts reported by your neighbors or local law enforcement agencies. The app shows you current activities on a map of your neighborhood, weekly safety reports and more. I think it's a very useful feature. For example, a neighbor was shot down the street by her boyfriend. I could see the location of the incident on the map. The app also reports information about missing children near you so you can keep an eye out for them.

Ring neighborhood warnings

Works with Alexa

Although the app works great, you can connect other smart devices outside of the ring ecosystem to your doorbell using the Alexa app. You can also control the doorbell with voice commands. For example, you can say commands like this:

  • "Alexa, speak to the front door."
  • "Alexa, turn off the motion sensor on the front door. "
  • "Alexa, set the motion sensitivity on the front door to low."

If you have an Alexa-compatible smart display like the Amazon Echo Show, you can see who is at the door on the screen. You can also speak to them for even more flexibility when using the 3 Plus.

Video and audio

The Bell 3 Plus has 1080p HD video, which means that the quality has not changed since the Bell 2. Still, the video was nice and clear, but there was a problem.

Things are just a little rounded.

There's fishbowl-like distortion for everything you see through the camera. However, this doesn't seem to affect how visible a person is in the video, regardless of where they stand on the porch. Things are just a little rounded. I'm a little disappointed because other video doorbells like the Arlo video doorbell have figured out how to get great video quality without the fishbowl look.

Ring video doorbell 3 plus live videoAlina Bradford / Digital Trends

The live video can also be faulty and it can take a minute for a connection to the app to be established. This can be annoying when trying to speak to someone at your door. You can go before you get the app up and running. Shutting down and restarting the app fixed the problem, but it was an annoyance. It's hard to say what is the culprit behind the problem, as the 3 Plus has both 2.4 and 5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity.

While the 3 Plus is doing a great night video, I wish it had a built-in floodlight like the August Doorbell Cam Pro. There are dozens of situations where a little more light on your porch can be useful. August also records color night videos, and the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus only records in black and white.

You need a cloud service plan to save your videos. With Ring Protect, you can review and share videos and photos for up to 60 days. It costs $ 3 a month per device or $ 100 a year for your entire household. This price is comparable to other video doorbell video storage plans like Nest Aware, but Ring Protect gives you a lot more storage days. August, on the other hand, offers its customers its video memory for free.

The audio quality when you talk to someone through the app is very good. The 3 Plus has noise cancellation technology that makes voices stand out from all the noises in your house, which is very helpful.

privacy

Ring has been in the news many times for privacy concerns related to their cameras. However, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has some features that can help you calm down. For example, there is a two-step confirmation to access the app or your account online and protect your personal information. You can also turn off the microphone to prevent it from hearing things you don't want to hear. If certain parts of your garden are not to be recorded, e.g. For example, your pool or your children's play area, you can set up privacy zones that limit the visibility or recording of the camera. In the video you can see a black box in which the data protection area has been set up in the app.

Our opinion

Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is a decent intelligent doorbell. It has a lot of great features, but it's not the best option we've come across. The video specs could have been updated to keep up with the competition, and I don't like the live video glitches. However, there are many great features that allow you to customize how the doorbell detects things around your door. Finally, I really appreciate how easy it is to integrate into a larger smart home ecosystem to work with other smart products that are compatible with Alexa and Ring. When it comes to price, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is $ 300 compared to other major providers in the high-end video doorbell market.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The Arlo video doorbell ($ 149) is cheaper and offers many great options, including Alexa integration. The August Doorbell Cam Pro ($ 171) is also cheaper and has a fantastic lighting feature.

How long it will take?

The whole doorbell is made of plastic. The thinness of the cover plate affects me. I'm not sure if it will withstand rigorous use, but a one-year limited warranty is given. In the unfortunate event that it is stolen, Ring will replace it free of charge.

Should I buy it?

If you already have a lot of ring products in your house, I would absolutely say so. The best thing about the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is how it interacts with other Ring products and the great Ring app features like crime warnings. If you are not a ring fan, I would choose a different video doorbell.

Editor's recommendations