Do you really need a Ring Video Doorbell Pro? Maybe, and here’s why

Top-grade video doorbell

Ring Video Doorbell Pro

$250 at Amazon

Pros

• No battery to recharge
• Pre-roll video
• Smaller size might be preferable in some cases
• Adjustable motion zones
• Privacy zones

Cons

• Wiring can be a deterrent
• Poor Google Assistant integration
• More expensive

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is still the best way to get the Ring experience. From the incredibly useful pre-roll video features to the convenience that comes from never having to charge a battery, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is the single best Ring video doorbell you can buy. Its only real downside is that it has to be hard-wired to power, which could limit ownership for renters.

Fantastic wireless choice

Ring Video Doorbell 3

$200 at Amazon

Pros

• No wiring required
• A bit more affordable
• Adjustable motion zones
• Privacy zones

Cons

• Have to recharge the battery from time-to-time
• No pre-roll
• Poor Google Assistant integration

Ring Video Doorbell 3 is the third-generation wireless doorbell from Ring, and it shows. With features like advanced motion detection and privacy zones that used to only be available on the wired models, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 is an almost-perfect solution for folks looking for a wireless video doorbell.

For several years now, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro has been one of the very best Ring products. Despite requiring a bit more work when setting up (because you have to wire it up), the Ring Video Doorbell Pro still users every single Ring feature without restriction. But the Ring Video Doorbell Pro’s advantages begun waning with the introduction of Ring Video Doorbell 3 and Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, which offers many advanced motion detection and privacy features that only the Ring Video Doorbell Pro used to offer.

That exclusivity existed once because the chipsets used inside of the first and second-generation Ring Video Doorbells would consume too much battery to make these features worthwhile. Thankfully, for users who prefer a wireless video doorbell, newer chipset technology is both more powerful and less power-hungry, opening up features like advanced motion detection, adjustable motion zones, and even privacy filters.

Ring Video Doorbell 3 Easier installation is the key

One of the biggest differences between the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and any wireless Ring Video Doorbell is the installation. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro has to be hard-wired to power, just like a traditional doorbell. That extra work to wire-up the Ring Video Doorbell Pro has always, historically, paid off in the number of features available to consumers. As we’ve already seen, the difference between the Ring Video Doorbell 3 and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro and fewer than ever, meaning the convenience of an easier installation might be preferable.

The keys to Ring Video Doorbell 3’s success, in this case, is the inclusion of advanced motion detection, adjustable motion zones, and privacy zones. That means that, for the first time on a battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell, users can customize specific parts of the video to detect motion and ignore any movement in the rest of the scene. This helps cut down on the number of erroneous notifications, sometimes significantly so, especially if your video doorbell can see cars passing by on the road or if a tree or bush tends to set motion detection off.

Being battery-powered also means the Ring Video Doorbell 3 is the best choice for renters when comparing these two products. That’s because renters can easily install the Ring Video Doorbell 3 without having to worry about adding or modifying the wiring by the front door. That’s because a removable, rechargeable battery powers it.

Ring Video Doorbell Pro Still a few advantages for the Pro

Despite being the most capable battery-powered Ring Video Doorbell yet, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 doesn’t support pre-roll footage. You’ll need to upgrade to the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus or the Ring Video Doorbell Pro for that feature. Pre-roll means your camera begins recording video four seconds before the doorbell button on the Video Doorbell Pro is pressed, which can help deliver better context to videos when they need to be reviewed later on.

While pre-roll isn’t going to be useful in every situation, but there are a few times where pre-roll video can really make a difference. One of the best reasons to get the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is not just because of the pre-roll footage, but because the pre-roll footage is much higher quality than what’s offered on the more expensive Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. On top of that, it’s also in color on Ring Video Doorbell Pro, while the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus’s pre-roll video is black and white.

While the installation is slightly more complicated and likely restricts ownership to just homeowners, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a more convenient product in the long run. Since it’s powered directly by your home’s electrical system at all times, you’ll never need to worry about maintenance. Unlike the Ring Video Doorbell 3, there’s no battery to remove and charge every so often, and you won’t need to worry about the occasional performance hiccup that comes with motion detection on any battery-powered camera.

Ring Video Doorbell 3 vs. Ring Video Doorbell Pro It really depends on your situation

In closing, the product you choose here is likely going to be determined by whether or not you’re able to hard-wire the video doorbell to electricity. Homeowners will almost certainly want to select the Ring Video Doorbell Pro if they already have a traditional wired doorbell. While the MSRP is $50 more expensive than the Ring Video Doorbell 3, it’s a product that offers enough additional functionality and convenience in the long-run. Sure it’s going to take a bit of wiring to install the first time, but you’ll never have to deal with charging batteries.

Renters, likewise, should probably choose the Ring Video Doorbell 3. Since it’s battery-powered, it doesn’t require any wiring and, thus, probably won’t irritate your landlord. You’ll be missing the pre-roll feature that the Ring Video Doorbell Pro offers but, if that’s a super important feature for you, you can always choose Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus.

The best Ring you can buy

Ring Video Doorbell Pro

A homeowner’s best friend

$250 at Amazon
$250 at Best Buy
$242 at Home Depot

Want a video doorbell that can do everything? The Ring Video Doorbell Pro has all the features you want with all the Ring ecosystem benefits.

A near-perfect wireless solution

Ring Video Doorbell 3

Keeping your home safe

$200 at Amazon
$200 at Best Buy
$200 at Home Depot

Ring’s latest-generation wireless video doorbells offer peace of mind for homeowners and renters alike. With easy installation and great new features, this is one of the best wireless video doorbells you’ll find.