There are lots of smart video doorbells on the market that are top-notch, functional and highly durable products. Dozens of companies manufacture smart doorbells, and all of them claim that their products are the highest quality on the market.
Well, several smart doorbell manufacturers can truly be trusted. One of those reliable companies is Ring. Today, many consider Ring as the industry leading manufacturer that has created several best-selling video doorbells.
Their most famous creation, Ring Pro, is a beautiful, unique and capable smart doorbell that has thousands of satisfied customers and highest ratings. They didn’t stop there, and Ring released another battery-powered device called the Ring Video Doorbell 2.
There has been a serious buzz lately, and people have been comparing Ring 2 and Ring Pro. While these two doorbells differ in only a few aspects, it’s still interesting to see how they compare and to weigh up which one takes the top spot.
In this Ring Pro vs Ring 2 article, we’ll compare, rate, discuss and evaluate the most critical aspects. We’ll present exciting charts, and at the end, we’ll crown one of these doorbells as the leading product.
Ring 2 vs Ring Pro: Pros & Cons and Verdict
The primary reason why Ring’s doorbells became so popular is that they try to offer innovative and out-of-the-box features. They’ve succeeded in doing so, and today all of Ring’s new releases have something extraordinary and captivating to offer.
Ring Video Doorbell 2 Review
Ring 2 is a newer version of Ring’s first-generation, battery-powered wireless doorbell. The first-generation model was a huge success, but it had some drawbacks and annoying bugs. Ring 2 is an enhanced, refined and perfected wireless doorbell that exceeds the first-generation model in every aspect.
With so many positive reviews, a huge wave of new buyers, buzz and high ratings, Ring 2 is close to being named as the smart doorbell of the year.
1. Installation Process
The first topic we need to write about is the installation process of Ring Video Doorbell 2.
Since Ring 2 is a battery-powered video doorbell, the installation process only takes a minute or two. And if you prefer a doorbell that’s wired into the mains – don’t worry, Ring Video Doorbell 2 can work as a wired doorbell too.
Here’s the full list of what’s included in the package of Ring 2:
- Ring Video Doorbell 2
- Micro USB charging cable
- Adapter plate
- Miniature level
- Screwdriver handle
- Two-sized screwdriver bit
- Screws
- Screw anchors
- Drill bit for anchors
- User Manual
- Installation instruction guide
- Diode
- Wire extensions
- Wire nuts
- Corner wedge
- Mount wedge
- Two interchangeable faceplates
Do you need all those things to set up your video doorbell? No. But Ring was kind enough to include all sorts of things in case there are complications or unexpected issues. To activate your Ring 2, you need to download the mobile application of Ring and connect your smartphone with the wireless doorbell.
Connecting your phone and doorbell takes just a minute, and as soon as you’ve done so, your smart doorbell is ready for action. If you’re interested in the initial setup process, here’s a short guide:
- Download the Ring Application
- Click ‘Set Up a Device’
- Click ‘Ring Video Doorbell 2’
- Then choose the name of your wireless doorbell
- Verify your address and click ‘continue’
- Insert the batteries (after removing the faceplate), press the small button on the top right corner of your Ring Doorbell 2
- Connect your smartphone and Ring 2 via Wi-Fi
That’s it. The mobile application itself provides an in-depth guide and means there’s no chance you’ll get lost during the setup process. If you have questions left, Ring 2’s package includes a handy user’s manual that explains everything in detail.
2. Design
Having an attractive and eye-catching design is important for all smart home products. Modern smart home shoppers always look for products that are functional, modern, smart and beautiful. So it’s essential for our Ring Video Doorbell 2 to look attractive.
While the Ring 2 doorbell is quite similar to the design of the first-generation Ring, there are small differences that make the Ring Video Doorbell 2 more eye-catching.
I’ve recently received my Ring Doorbell 2, and it’s slightly larger than the first generation model. The dimensions of Ring 2 are 2.4 x 2.4 x 5.1 inches, and it weighs 9.6 ounces. Those are fair dimensions, and Ring 2 should fit easily in your chosen spot.
Ring 2 is available in two colours – Satin nickel and Venetian. Both finishes are included in the package of the doorbell, so you can use the one that best fits your house. In terms of wider opinions, I’ve talked with other Ring 2 owners and the general consensus is that it’s visually a great product.
3. Features and Specifications of Ring Pro Doorbell
The next topic we need to write about is the features of Ring Video Doorbell 2. We need to know how it differs from its predecessor and if it’s worth purchasing or upgrading to this model.
| Features of Ring Doorbell 2 | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | HD (1080p) | |
| Field of View | 160-degree field of view | |
| Night-vision | Has built-in night vision. | |
| Audio Streaming | Two-way with noise cancellation | |
| Motion Sensor | Smart motion detection | |
| Dimensions | 2.4 x 2.4 x 5.1 inches | |
| Cloud Recording | Yes. 60-Day storage for $3 per month. | |
| Dual Powered | Use built-in rechargeable battery or existing doorbell wiring. In other words, you can use it as wireless or wired. | |
| Weather Resistant | Yes | |
| Easy Set-Up | Quick and easy setup – mount and sync to your Wi-Fi network in minutes | |
| Alerts | Motion-activated alerts | |
| Warranty | Lifetime. Check on Amazon for more information | |
| Suggested Price | |
Compared to the previous generation model, the features of Ring Video Doorbell 2 are much improved, more effective and more powerful.
4. Motion Detection and Camera Quality
The motion detection system of Ring 2 is outstanding. Compared to the first-generation model, Ring Video Doorbell 2 is much better at detecting activity and alerting the owner to what’s going on. We’ve tested Ring 2 with a Chime Pro and a Wi-Fi range extender that boosts the Ring’s network signal.
While there aren’t any significant improvements, we’ve noticed some differences. The two-way audio has been improved slightly. When someone rings your doorbell, you get instant, reliable notifications. Resolution is enhanced, and the camera quality is much better. The zoom feature is excellent, and now you can zoom in more without losing quality.
As Ring stated, they’ve improved the night-vision of Ring 2, and now it captures cleaner images and vids. When we compared the newly downloaded clips of Ring 2 with the first generation doorbell, there was a noticeable difference that was quite pleasant to see.
If you’re interested how well Ring Doorbell 2 can record, below I’ve dropped a picture taken from the live feed of Ring 2; as you can see, even on a rainy, cloudy day the face of the visitor is visible. The quality of the camera has improved compared to the first-generation model.
If you’ve owned the Ring Video Doorbell, you can probably remember that the live-feed quality was relatively poor and can see the visible improvement in the Ring 2.
As for the motion detection system of Ring 2, as we’ve already mentioned, it has been enhanced.
The mobile application gives the user freedom to configure the motion zones and allows scheduling so that you receive notifications whenever you want and as you see fit. As for the numbers of false alerts, if it seems like Ring 2 is sending a lot of non-relevant notifications, you can adjust the levels of the motion sensor so that it reacts only when someone is standing at your door.
There’s also a 30-day free cloud service, and Ring allows you to download and review clips on your phone. In short, Ring 2 isn’t a perfect smart video doorbell, but it delivers quality live feeds and sends correct and timely notifications.
5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ring Doorbell
Before we conclude this part of our article, we need to know the advantages and disadvantages of Ring 2 to understand what it has and what it lacks. We’ve created a lovely chart that lists the pros and cons of the wireless doorbell.
Pros |
Cons |
|
|---|---|---|
| Speak with the visitor straight from your phone | Larger in size | |
| Wireless Installation | ||
| Modern Design | ||
| Motion Zones | ||
| Built-in night vision | ||
| Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery | ||
| 1080p HD Camera | ||
| Cloud Recording |
Verdict on Ring Doorbell 2
So the Ring Doorbell 2 is a successful release that has thousands of satisfied customers and high ratings. It’s reliable, functional and durable. If you don’t like the idea of drilling and wiring and want a quality wireless doorbell, the Ring 2 is the best option on the market.
Ring Video Doorbell Pro Review
Now it’s time review Ring 2’s main competitor, which is the Ring Pro Doorbell. When this smart doorbell was released it gained instant renown and became the best-selling doorbell on the market.
The Ring Pro is a top-notch smart doorbell with outstanding and unique features. It has gained recognition as a reliable device that lives up to expectations.
Let’s find out how Ring Pro is different and if it can offer anything unique. To do so, we’ll review the most important aspects of this video doorbell.
1. Installation Process
The installation process of Ring Pro is a bit complicated since it’s not a battery-powered video doorbell. In order to activate Ring Pro, you have to hard-wire it.
But don’t worry that it will be a tedious process that requires professional knowledge or assistance.
Instead of writing a step-by-step guide, I’ll drop a video uploaded by Ring that perfectly explains how to mount and activate your Ring Pro video doorbell.
Before we do so, let’s find out what’s in the package of Ring Pro. Since it’s a wired doorbell, we need to make sure that it includes everything we’re going to need for the installation process.
- Video Doorbell Pro
- Screwdriver
- 4 Interchangeable faceplates
- Optional wiring and connectors
- Drill Bit
- Pro Power Kit
- Installation Screws & Anchors
- Quick Setup Guide
So we have everything required for setting up the Ring Pro. Now, let’s watch the 5-minute guide that perfectly explains how to install this video doorbell.
If you still have any questions or believe that it’s a complicated process, you can check out the user’s manual for further guidance or reach out to the support team for additional help. As a further option, Amazon offers a professional doorbell installation service, and they’ll do the job for you.
2. Design
As we’ve already said, it’s essential for a video doorbell to be both functional and good-looking. I’ve been a long-time user of Ring Pro and can say for sure that it’s the most attractive doorbell on the market. I enjoy the fact that it attracts attention from visitors too, who have a tendency to admire its unique, modern look.
Ring Pro is a well-made smart doorbell that has a quality feel. It’s weatherproof and robust. The dimensions of Ring Pro are 1 x 2 x 4.5 inches, and it weighs 9.6 ounces.
Ring Pro’s package also includes four interchangeable faceplates, and you can install the one that fits your home best. What I like the most in Ring Pro’s design is that it doesn’t look like an intercom. It seems more like a traditional doorbell.
3. Features and Specifications of Ring Pro Doorbell
The next topic we need to write about is the features of Ring Pro doorbell. Let’s find out if it has anything unique and how it differs from Ring and Ring 2.
| Features of Ring Pro Doorbell | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera | 1080p wide-angle HD video | |
| Field of View | 160° | |
| Night-vision | Has built-in night vision and uses LED technology | |
| Audio Streaming | Two-way with noise cancellation | |
| Motion Sensor | Ring Pro has the most advanced motion detection system | |
| Dimensions | 1 x 2 x 4.5 inches | |
| Cloud Recording | Ring Pro maintains a clear view of your home’s entrance and cloud recording lets you view the footage at a later time. Plus, as soon as the motion is detected, Ring Pro automatically starts to record it | |
| Customizable alert zones | This is such an awesome feature that we’ll talk more about it below | |
| Weather Resistant | Yes | |
| Easy Set-Up | Quick and easy setup – mount and sync to your Wi-Fi network in minutes | |
| Colours Offered | 4 | |
| Warranty | Lifetime. Check on Amazon for more information | |
| Suggested Price | |
Based on the chart, Ring Pro is a video doorbell with top-notch features. It’s quite similar to what Ring 2 has to offer, but the advanced motion detection makes it a bit better.
4. Motion Detection and Camera Quality
Since the first generation Ring was sending a lot of false alerts, Ring decided to make changes in their upcoming video doorbell.
They made sure that Ring Pro was well-developed and introduced an excellent feature called “customizable alert zones”. As a result, Ring Pro became a lot smarter. It rarely sends false alerts and is smart enough to differentiate human and, for example, vehicle activity.
With the help of motion zones, you can customise which areas the doorbell focuses on. If certain areas are causing Ring Pro to send false alerts, you can adjust to focussing on specific zones, which means that the unwanted alerts will be minimised.
As for the recording quality, like the Ring 2, it records in 1080p quality. It records as well as the Ring Video Doorbell 2, and some even argue that the quality of Ring Pro is even better.
As for the night-vision, it’s fantastic. I haven’t come across a video doorbell that records as well as Ring Pro. It’s incredibly clean and high quality.
5. Advantages and Disadvantages of Ring Pro Doorbell
Before we conclude this part of our article, we need to know the advantages of disadvantages of Ring Pro. Hence we’ve created a detailed chart that lists the pros and cons of this doorbell.
s
Pros |
Cons |
|
|---|---|---|
| Two-way audio and one-way video (for privacy concerns) | Field of view is smaller | |
| Easy to use | ||
| Modern design | ||
| HD video and audio quality | ||
| Built-in night vision and LED technology | ||
| Lifetime protection (if someone steals the doorbell, they’ll replace it for free) | ||
| Enhanced Wi-Fi connection | ||
| Cloud recording | ||
| VIP customer service |
Verdict on Ring Pro Doorbell
Frankly, Ring Pro is the best video doorbell on the market. It’s a best-selling product and has the highest ratings. Ring Pro has thousands of satisfied customers, and it has proven its worth many times over.
- Working Abilities – Both of these smart doorbells work flawlessly. Ring Pro and Ring 2 are newly released doorbells and both have the potential for improvement. Regarding working capabilities, it’s a tie.
- Battery Use – Here’s where Ring 2 wins big. It can operate as both, either a wireless or wired doorbell. It has rechargeable batteries and offers maximum convenience in this respect.
- Looks And Quality – Visually, both video doorbells are outstanding. Ring 2 is nearly identical to its predecessor, and Ring Pro’s design is the best one on the market. Ring 2 is a bit big, and some buyers have reported problems with its size being less convenient.
- Cloud Recording – Ring Pro and Ring 2 have the same cloud recording features, so there’s not much to discuss here.
Full Details On Ring 2 Vs Ring Pro
Before concluding our Ring Pro vs Ring 2 comparison article, we want to present a detailed chart where we directly compare these two smart doorbells.
| Name Of The Doorbell | Ring 2 | Ring Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Video Doorbell | Ring 2 | Ring Pro |
| iOS & Android and Windows Compatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi Support | Yes | Yes |
| Two-Way and One-Way Video |
Yes | Yes |
| Cloud Recording | Optional | Optional |
| Motion Sensors | Yes | Yes |
| Image & Video Quality | HD/1080p | HD/1080p |
| Night-Vision | Yes. Ring 2 Uses LED technology | Yes. Ring Pro Uses LED technology |
| Camera Field of View | 160-degree field of view | 160-degree field of view |
| On-demand Video | Yes | Yes |
| Silent Doorbell Mode | No | Yes |
| Is it Dual Powered? | Yes | No |
| Weather Resistant | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions Of The Product | 2.4 x 2.4 x 5.1 inches | 1 x 2 x 4.5 inches |
| Easy Set-Up | Yes | Yes |
| Colours | 2 (both included in the package) | 4 (all four included in the package) |
| Warranty | 1-year | 1-year |
| Suggested Price | $$$ | $$$ |
| Special Features | Rechargeable Batteries | Customizable Alert Zones |
| Check Price | |
|
So both of these video doorbells have nearly identical features. The main difference between these two is the battery-powered feature. As for the rest, Ring Pro and Ring 2 are quite the same.
Last Words
While these two share the majority of their features, Ring Pro and Ring 2 target different types of buyers. If you’re a person who doesn’t want to do drilling and wiring, Ring Video Doorbell 2 is a beautiful choice that nearly has all the features of Ring Pro. Ring 2 also works with Alexa via Amazon Echo Show, SmartThings, IFTTT and Wink (Ring Pro supports all of them too).
If you want a doorbell with advanced capabilities and with the looks of a traditional doorbell, Ring Pro is a many-times-tested and highly-trusted video doorbell with the highest ratings.
There’s a slight price difference too. If you’re not willing to pay a bit extra for the Pro version, compared to the first generation Ring, it’s a smarter move to get the Ring 2.
Summary Ring Pro and Ring 2 are top-notch video doorbells with amazing features and capabilities. If you want a quality, durable and a functional smart doorbell, you need to choose between these two.
To sum up, Video Doorbell 2’s main value is the removable, rechargeable lithium-ion battery. If you’re not looking for a battery-powered video doorbell, purchasing the Ring Pro doorbell is the better option.
Frederick Mohr says
Hi George,
I just purchased the Ring doorbell Pro to upgrade my original Ring doorbell. I had my original doorbell wired in but now have it operating on battery power with a wifi chime until I can replace my transformer. It would appear that I cannot wire my Ring Pro and my dumb doorbell switch to my dual mechanical chimes. I would need to run an extra wire to my transformer terminal on my chimes since the existing wire would be used to install the Power Pro Kit. It was my understanding whether right or wrong that the Ring Doorbell Pro does not like to share its transformer. I also don’t know what effect it would have on the Pro or the Pro Power Kit if I connect the circuit from my dumb doorbell switch to the Chimes tranformer terminal being used by the Pro Power Kit. I don’t know if this is a power problem or if the Doorbell Pro or Pro Power Kit just doesn’t like this setup. My chimes are rated 16V 10VA. If I were to upgrade my transformer to a 16V 20 or 30VA could I operate both the Doorbell Pro and the dumb doorbell switch with my dual chimes without any problems ? It appears that Ring didn’t consider this setup when designing the Pro version. I just don’t know?
Ava Floyd says
Will the Ring Pro as a hard wired bell work with my Android wifi without wifi in the home? Thanks in advance for your reply
Brandi says
I’ve been researching a “smart doorbell” and the Ring seems to be the most popular but after looking at the most recent reviews I’m a little concerned. Many users reported that sometime in mid August 2017 Ring “updated” their doorbells significantly downgrading the quality of the night vision video. Reviews state that the quality downgrade is to the point that now night vision video is unrecognizable. Obviously night vision video is a very important part of home security and this is making me wary of the Ring. There are also a lot of complaints about the poor customer service from Ring. Can you comment on the quality of night vision video following this “upgrade” or “downgrade” as it seems to actually be? I’m on the fence about purchasing a Ring and would appreciate any updated information you may have on the subject.
Gene Yoder says
I don’t understand why the Ring Video Pro is more expensive then the Ring Video 2; when the Pro is smaller in size and does not have a back up battery system??
This makes no sense.
Gene
Gladys Urban says
I complained about my Ring Doorbell from the get go in 2016. Customer Service went thru the set up and indicated a replacement which never happened. Warranty is now expired and say it’s a Hardware issue. Due to expired warranty I was told to purchase a new one for another$200. Very poor customer service. Rip off in my opinion.