Best Ring Video Doorbells of 2023
If you’re on the fence about whether to invest in a video doorbell, let me tell you right away that they’re the perfect way to improve your home security. Video doorbells allow you to see exactly who’s at your door, and with the ability to record, they become even more useful. The best Ring doorbells also let you interact with whoever’s at the door, even when you’re not home.
If you’re considering upgrading your home security with a video doorbell, Ring has probably crossed your mind. Amazon’s home security brand has become increasingly popular and has a reputation as one of the best video doorbells on the market. While Google Nest buzzers and Arlo doorbell cams are great alternatives, many people looking to buy a video doorbell still opt for the industry’s biggest brand. Ring has an extensive selection of video doorbells that meet the needs of a wide variety of homes. Are you looking for a wireless or hardwired option? Do you want to prioritize buying something affordable, or do you want the latest devices with all of the bells and whistles? Ring has a complicated history with privacy and police partnerships, so you might also be wondering if some devices are better at protecting your privacy than others? Yes, shopping for video doorbells can give rise to a lot of questions, so our experts are here to help.
What is the best overall Ring video doorbell?
Our CNET experts have spent years testing both Ring products and video doorbells from a slew of manufacturers to find the best of the best. After years of testing Ring’s most popular home security devices — the Ring 4, the Doorbell Pro 2, the second-gen Video Doorbell and the Ring Video Doorbell (Wired) — to help break down the best Ring doorbell options, we have landed on the Ring Video Doorbell as the best overall choice.
Ring’s Video Doorbell 4 lists for just over $220 and comes with a slew of smarts. The doorbell camera features enhanced Wi-Fi, Quick Replies, simple battery recharging, full-color preroll video previews of all motion events, night vision and customizable privacy settings, so you’ll never miss a delivery or visitor at your front porch.
Best Ring video doorbells of 2023
Setup Moveable, outdoor/indoorResolution 1080pStorage Cloud storageGoogle/Alexa Compatibility Amazon AlexaField of View 160 degrees
In 2021, Ring launched its latest core video doorbell, the Ring 4. The doorbell camera lists for just over $220, offers 1080p resolution, a 160-degree field of view and two-way talk, along with plenty of other goodies like full-color preroll (which captures a few seconds before motion is detected, for added context). The Ring 4 can be used wirelessly with its battery, or it can be wired — though this won’t let it use your existing doorbell chime, sadly. For that, you’ll have to either get a separate plug-in chime, or use your Echo devices as a stand-in.
Setup Hardwired, outdoor/indoorResolution 1536 x 1536 (2K)Storage Cloud storageGoogle/Alexa Compatibility Amazon AlexaField of View 150 degrees
Ring’s highest-end video doorbell, the Video Doorbell Pro 2, includes some pretty advanced features for its $260 price tag. You get a 1:1 aspect ratio, so you can see people head-to-toe, super sharp better-than-HD resolution and even radar, which lets you track visitors’ or delivery persons’ route up to your door. In short, this doorbell camera has all the extras you could possibly want.
Setup Moveable, outdoor/indoorResolution 1080pStorage Cloud storageGoogle/Alexa Compatibility Amazon AlexaField of View 155 degrees
Ring’s $100 video doorbell is its most basic offering — almost identical in hardware to its $60 Ring Video Doorbell Wired, other than its included battery. If you’re looking for a starter smart buzzer, this doorbell camera is a great home security option — and it even works with Ring’s latest package alerts feature.
Ring camera doorbell compared
| Ring Doorbell | Price | Resolution | Field of view | Aspect ratio | Setup | Extra features | Review Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Video Doorbell 4 | $220 | 1080p | 160-degree | 16:9 | Removable, Rechargeable Battery Pack or Hardwired | Two-way talk, motion detection, full-color preroll, integration with Alexa | 7.4 |
| Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 | $250 | 1536p | 150-degree head-to-toe view | 1:1 | Removable, Rechargeable Battery Pack or Hardwired | Radar tracking, bird’s-eye-view, push alerts, integration with Alexa | 7.5 |
| Ring Video Doorbell (2020) | $100 | 1080p | 155-degree horizontal, 90-degree vertical | — | Built-In, Rechargeable Battery or Hardwired | Night vision, HD video, two-way talk, motion detection, package alerts, integration with Alexa | 7.2 |
Factors to consider when choosing a Ring video doorbell
When you’re looking for a video doorbell, the most important question isn’t “Which one is best?” so much as “Which one is best for me?” All of Ring’s video doorbells perform well — and all of them come from the same company, with the same troubling history of facilitating video sharing with police. Not all of them will be ideal for you.
If you’re curious about trying out a video doorbell for the first time, mostly for basic features like live monitoring, two-way talk and so on, a starter device like the Ring Video Doorbell (the 2020 model, or its Wired version) should do what you need. On the other hand, if you really want to see what a smart video doorbell can accomplish in 2023, the Video Doorbell Pro 2 is unbeatable in terms of smart doorbell features — and especially with the option to use end-to-end video encryption. That leaves the Video Doorbell 4 as the middle child, with something for both kinds of people, but not necessarily the best value or features around.
Here’s some addtional features to consider before you purchase:
Does it work with smart home platforms? If so, do the smart features work well together?
Nowadays a smart home device is expected to work with at least one major smart home platform. Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit are the main ones you need to look for.
How’s the latency?
If your smart doorbell camera takes a long time to send a push notification after someone rings your doorbell, then you risk missing your visitor completely. You also need to be sure you’re getting notifications when something sets off the motion detector, as you can set the motion sensor of most video doorbells to notify you of activity happening near your door, even if no one rings the buzzer. If you have latency problems, start with your Wi-Fi connection. If it isn’t strong where the doorbell is installed, you might consider moving it (or, more easily, getting a Wi-Fi range extender). But it could also be the way the software works.
How’s the live view?
Doorbells are often exposed to direct sunlight, but many others are installed under porches, near shady trees and in all sorts of other settings. It’s important that the camera has night vision and can handle any of these scenarios so you don’t get stuck with a nonfunctioning product that can’t see faces under a porch.
How we test Ring video doorbells
Testing to determine the best of the best in video doorbells is similar to how we test any other home security camera. For this article, I started by downloading the Ring app. I recommend starting with the app rather than sifting through the tutorial booklets that ship with the hardware, because a good app includes detailed steps on the installation process, as well as how to connect the doorbell to your Wi-Fi network. The app will also be where you can check your notifications, alerts and settings, making it your one-stop shop for all things video doorbell-related.
After installing the video doorbells based on the manufacturer’s specifications, it was time to test the specs. Each video doorbell, despite all being Ring products, has slightly different features, so I took the time to test each unique feature to determine which was best. As soon as the Ring video doorbells were connected and I could view the live video feed, I checked their settings. I enabled features like motion detection, package alerts and bird’s-eye-view to get a sense of how well each feature performed.
Watch this: Ring 4 or Nest Doorbell Battery? Find the better fit for your porch
After hours of testing, I gave the highest rating (7.5) to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2. While it’s not the best value on the market, the advanced specs — a super-wide field of view, a 1:1 aspect ratio, 1536p resolution and all the basics you’d want your smart buzzer to have — make it a great choice for a high-end video doorbell.
Though rated lower than the Pro 2 at a 7.4, the Ring Video Doorbell 4 is my recommendation for best standard Ring doorbell. If you’re looking for a doorbell that’s a fair value and packed with nifty features, but just doesn’t send package alerts, then this is the best choice.
Finally, we gave the second-gen Ring Video Doorbell (2020) our lowest score (7.2) because it’s certainly an improvement over the original Ring Video Doorbell, but the built-in battery that needs to be removed to charge is a bit of a hassle. While it’s not our very favorite, it’s a decent buzzer with solid features at a fair value.
Ring video doorbell camera FAQs
How long does a Ring doorbell battery last?
If your Ring doorbell isn’t hardwired, the battery charge will typically last between six and 12 months, depending on the frequency of use and motion activations. You will receive an alert via the Ring app when the battery is getting low.
Is Ring a one-time purchase?
A monthly subscription is not required to use your Ring device, but there are three protection plans available if you’d like additional video storage and features.
How are Ring doorbells powered?
Most Ring doorbells are powered by a rechargeable battery or have a battery backup, so losing power to your home shouldn’t disrupt power to your device. Still, a power outage may affect your Ring device if your router loses power and the Wi-Fi connection is lost.
