RING Video Doorbell 2 Review

TGR Rating: 5 out of 5

Tech Specs

Dimensions: 5.05 in. x 2.50 in. x 1.08 in., (12.83cm x 6.35cm x 2.74cm)
Available Colors: Satin Nickel, Venetian (all colors included)
Video: 1080 HD Video, Live View, Night Vision
Motion Detection: Adjustable Motion Detection
Field of View: 160° horizontal, 90° vertical
Audio: Two-way audio with noise cancellation
Power: Rechargeable battery pack. Can connect to standard AC doorbell system for continuous charging
Internet Requirements: Requires a minimum upload speed of 1Mbps, but 2 Mbps is recommended for optimal performance
Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection @ 2.4GHz

Setup Requirement
Only if wiring in: Standard doorbell system with 8-24 VAC doorbell transformer. Doorbell wiring at install location

Box Includes

Ring Video Doorbell 2
Quick Release Battery Pack
Satin Nickel and Venetian Faceplates
Adapter Plate
Wedge and Corner Install Kits
Installation Tools and Screws
USB Charging Cable
User Manual
Security Sticker

Warranty: One year on parts, lifetime theft protection

My Review

I decided to swap out of our traditional doorbell with the latest RING Video Doorbell 2. I knew we wanted a doorbell that would give us a reliable live video feed and accessible on the mobile device. We have seen the RING doorbell in commercials and in-stores and curiosity preceded us to do more research around the hype surrounding it. What we have found is that it’s very popular and the pros outweighed the cons and that prompted us to buy one.

RING Doorbell 2 screw driver — RING includes the screw driver

Cost

The RING Video Doorbell 2 was comparable to other smart doorbells which had motion sensors and video feedback. While shopping around, most of them fell in the $99 to $300 range and the RING Video Doorbell 2 was priced at $199. Though we could have went with the first generation RING Video Doorbell for $99, but I opted for the enhanced upgrade model. For more information about this, see The RING Video Doorbell vs The RING Video Doorbell 2.

RING Protect Plans are subscription plans offered for RING Video Doorbell 2 owners. While you can sign up for the FREE plan, users will not be able to enjoy the video recording capabilities and only the live video on demand feature which there are reported complaints about delay lag times.

For more information: https://shop.ring.com/pages/protect-plans

Shipping

The Ring Video Doorbell 2 was available on Amazon with Free Shipping and arrived within 2 days. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Installation

The installation would have taken 5 minutes, however, since we were replacing an existing doorbell that was mounted to the side. We had to patch the hole up, paint and then drill a new hole where the panel is facing the street. Once that was complete, we were able to easily connect the two wires to the back of the Ring Video Doorbell 2 device. Though the hardwiring is optional, it provided two extra benefits, 1) the existing doorbell chime was linked to the Ring device, and 2) the RING Video Doorbell will always be powered.

Note: The doorbell wiring at our home was low voltage so we did not need to turn off any breaker though it would be safer to do so. The two screws found on the back of the RING devices can be universally connected to either red or black wire, it will work either way.

Setup Configuration

The setup configuration with the mobile was pretty straight forward. It only required the RING app and a steady Wi-fi Internet connection. It took about 5 minutes to complete the setup.

Product Quality

The quality of the product was really nice. It has a modern sleek look and the material seems durable any weather regardless of dry or wet. We have owned the RING Doorbell for a year now and it has gone through snow, extreme hot weather and even rain without a problem. It was able to maintain it’s appearance and operated as you would expect as long as it was charged. (We had one minor issue which I wrote about, see The RING Doorbell does NOT charge when hardwired)

Performance

Picture/Video – 4/5

The RING Video Doorbell worked seamlessly when charged. The picture and video quality was very clear, however, night vision was a bit grainy. Lucky for us, there’s adequate lighting at night so this wasn’t so much an issue.

Motion Sensors – 5/5

I was surprised with how far the Ring Video Doorbell 2 can sense motion. We had neighbors who were walking their dog about 40-50 feet away and they were picked up by the motion sensors. While this can drain the battery life, there are ways to manage this via motion sensor settings.

Video Recordings – 3/5

This will require a subscription plan of either the Protect Plus ($100 annually) or Protect Basic Plan ($30-36 annually). The purchase or either plans will allow for storage up to 60 days. I would consider this a hidden cost, but there’s no Long-term contract which you can cancel anytime and monthly plans are available for purchase.

Audio/Microphone – 5/5

This is a really nice feature, the audio comes through loud and clear. I was able to use this with a few visitors and no complaints here. We were able to carry a conversation while I was out of town and the audio appeared to be clear on both ends. The sound from the video recording are were also crisp.

RING App – 5/5

I found the RING app to be very user friendly and synchronizing the device with the app is very simple and intuitive with clear instructions. You can even do a live-view, review old video recordings, review neighborhood feeds and adjust settings for the RING Video Doorbell easily.

Wireless Connection – 5/5

This is dependent on your wireless connection, but with a 5g mobile network and high speed Internet connection, we had strong signals with the wireless router about 30 to 40 feet away from the RING Video Doorbell 2. With that being said, we have not had any issues with streaming or connecting to the RING Video Doorbell 2.

Customer Service

We had excellent customer service thus far when facing an issue. In a separate article, you can see how they were more than willing to help us. There was less than a 5 minute wait time from the few times we had to call them to assist us with either configuration or troubleshoot an error (which ended up being a unit replacement, see The RING Doorbell does NOT charge when hardwired).

Final Thoughts

The family has enjoyed having the Ring Video Doorbell. I have found it very useful when I’m at work or traveling abroad and having the ability to converse with them regardless where we are. The motion sensors have also helped us identify neighbors who did not pick up their dog droppings. Aside from these things, we have no regrets for the purchase and hope that it will continue to stick around for a bit longer until we decide for an upgrade.

Related Articles:

The RING Doorbell does NOT charge when hardwired

The RING Video Doorbell vs The RING Video Doorbell 2