The latest tech from Ring is nearly here. The Ring Video Doorbell Wired hits shelves on February 24 and will sell for the unbeatable price of $59. The compact cam brings a number of tried and true Ring doorbell features to the table, making it a great option for those looking to get into front-door monitoring, or those looking to expand their existing Ring systems. But how does Ring’s latest wired bell stack up against the company’s existing hard-wired option, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro? In this comparison, we break down each device according to specific criteria — including design, features, installation, and price — to help you determine which wired bell is the best choice for your home.
Design
The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is Ring’s smallest doorbell yet. Measuring in at 3.98 inches tall, 1.8 inches wide, and 0.88 inches deep, it’s the same rectangular aesthetic the company has brought to each of its past door-mounted bells. The major difference here (compared to other models) is the lack of exchangeable faceplates in the box, as the doorbell comes out of the box in a black color scheme. You can add on interchangeable faceplates, but they’re not included in the box.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro measures 4.50 inches tall, 1.85 inches wide, and 0.80 inches deep. In the box, there are four exchangeable faceplate colors. These are satin nickel, pearl, Venetian, and black. The Doorbell Pro also comes with wedge and corner kits for angling the doorbell against your home’s exterior features.
The iconic blue LED around the doorbell is present on both the Doorbell Wired and Doorbell Pro.
Winner: Ring Video Doorbell Pro
Installation
Both the Doorbell Wired and Doorbell Pro require an existing doorbell system for wiring. Before you begin the install process, you’ll want to power down the breaker to your home’s doorbell before dismantling. Once the wiring is exposed, use the provided Ring cables to connect both terminals in your bell’s chime box. You can also use the Ring plug-in adapter or a dedicated transformer (16-24 VAC, 40VA max, 50/60Hz).
Outside, you’ll want to disconnect your existing doorbell, then connect the exposed wiring to your Doorbell Wired or Doorbell Pro. Use the included mounting hardware to attach the bell to the exterior door frame. Once the bell is secured and the faceplate attached, re-power the breaker and download the Ring app to continue setup.
If your home’s Wi-Fi network is overloaded, the Doorbell Pro offers support for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz network bands. The Doorbell Wired offers only 2.4GHz support.
It’s also important to note that if you’re using your home’s existing doorbell wiring to power your Doorbell Wired, your doorbell chime won’t work. To keep the chime going, you’ll need to purchase the Ring Chime. With the Doorbell Pro, your home’s chime system will still work.
Winner: Tie
Features and specs
Both bells offer full 1080p HD video, live view, and night-vision capabilities. Advanced motion detection and customizable motion zones come standard, as well. With custom motion, you’ll be able to use the Ring app to draw motion partitions around your property. Whatever is detected outside the boundaries you draw won’t trigger an alert on your device. Both bells also offer two-way audio with noise cancellation to allow you to chat and interact with your front-door visitors (or ward them off if they’re unwelcome). If you need as much property coverage as possible, the Doorbell Pro offers better viewing, with up to a 160-degree field of view and 90-degree vertical viewing. The Doorbell Wired isn’t far behind though, offering a 155-degree field of view and 90-degree vertical viewing.
Both bells offer an additional suite of features as part of a Ring Protect Plan, with prices starting at $3/month and the first 30 days for free. One of these features is Pre-Roll footage. Available for both cameras, this allows the Ring camera to record up to six additional seconds of footage before a motion event begins. This helps to paint a bigger picture of exactly what happened to trigger the bell. Another special feature is People Only Mode, which issues a motion alert to your device only if it’s a person that your doorbell detects. Then there are Rich Notifications, which plant a snapshot preview in your motion alert. If you can see it’s just your dad in the thumbnail image, there’s no need to unlock your phone to view the full motion alert.
For $10/month and the first 30 days for free, you can opt for a Ring Protect Plus plan. This includes all the benefits of a Ring Protect plan, along with 24/7 emergency surveillance from Ring, extended warranties on all your home’s Ring devices, as well as 10% off select products on Ring.com. Be aware that if you plan on using Ring’s 24/7 emergency support, you’ll also need a Ring Alarm kit.
Amazon households will be pleased to know that both the Doorbell Wired and Doorbell Pro are compatible with Alexa ecosystems. Use your Echo speaker to hear and send commands with two-way audio, or view your front-door footage with an Echo Show.
Winner: Ring Video Doorbell Pro
Price
The Ring Video Doorbell Wired will sell for $59, with pre-ordering available through Ring.com and Amazon right now. The Doorbell Wired officially hits shelves on February 24. Right now, you can save $9 off the cost of a Ring Chime by purchasing the Doorbell Wired and Chime together for $79.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro sells for $249 through Ring.com and Amazon.
Winner: Ring Video Doorbell Wired
The verdict
If you’re shopping on a budget, we’d recommend going with the Ring Video Doorbell Wired. While you won’t be getting the extra 5 degrees of wide view and additional faceplates that you’ll get with the Doorbell Pro, you’ll save yourself close to $200. If you’re looking for the most tech and features you can get with a wired Ring doorbell, then the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is the way to go.
For more Ring content, be sure to check out some of the best Ring video doorbell deals this month, as well as our side-by-sides of other Ring products.
