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Video Doorbell Review

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

The best doorbell for most people

9.0

Expert Score

Head-to-toe 1536p HD video

3D Motion Detection

Bird's Eye View

Hardwired installation

$249.99
$299.99

Check Price on Amazon

Ring

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

4.5
(35,000+ ratings)

$249.99
$299.99
Save 17%

• Head-to-toe 1536p HD video
• 3D Motion Detection
• Bird's Eye View
• Hardwired installation

Check Price on Amazon

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What Makes the Pro 2 Different

Ring has several doorbell models, which can be confusing. Here's how the Pro 2 stands out:

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 Exclusive Features:

• 1536p HD video (vs 1080p on other models)
• 3D Motion Detection – knows distance and direction
• Radar-powered Head-to-Toe view – sees packages at your feet
• Dual-band Wi-Fi – better connectivity on 5GHz
• Hardwired only – consistent power, no battery changes
• Built-in Alexa Greetings – custom pre-recorded messages

Design & Build Quality

First Impressions: Premium

The Pro 2 feels substantially more solid than Ring's battery-powered models:

• Metallic faceplate (Satin Nickel or Venetian Bronze)
• Glass lens instead of plastic
• Thicker construction (1.8" deep)
• Backlit button that glows at night
• Hardwired only – requires existing doorbell wiring

What's in the Box:

• Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
• Mounting bracket & security screws
• Wire extension kit
• Drill bits and anchors
• Faceplate tool
• Quick start guide

⚠️ Important: This is hardwired only. If you don't have existing doorbell wiring or don't have 16-24V AC transformer, you'll need an electrician ($100-200 installation cost).

Installation

Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 30-60 minutes

Pre-Installation Checklist:

✅ Confirm you have existing doorbell wiring
✅ Check transformer voltage (16-24V AC required)
✅ Turn off power at breaker
✅ Download Ring app
✅ Measure doorbell height (48" recommended)

Installation Steps:

1. Turn off power at breaker
2. Remove old doorbell and photograph wiring
3. Connect wires to Pro 2 (polarity doesn't matter)
4. Mount bracket to wall (level is critical!)
5. Snap Pro 2 onto bracket
6. Turn power back on
7. Setup in Ring app (5-10 minutes)
8. Test motion zones and alerts

💡 Pro tip: If your transformer is under 16V, buy the Ring Plug-In Adapter ($30) instead of upgrading your transformer.

Common Installation Issues:

Problem: Won't power on
Solution: Check transformer voltage – must be 16-24V AC

Problem: Keeps disconnecting from Wi-Fi
Solution: Switch to 5GHz network or add Ring Chime Pro as Wi-Fi extender

Problem: Delayed notifications
Solution: Enable priority mode in Ring app settings

Video Quality: Best-in-Class

Resolution: 1536p (2016 x 1512) – highest in Ring lineup

Daytime Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Sharp detail – can read package labels from 15 feet
• Wide 150° field of view – captures entire porch
• HDR – handles bright sun and shadows well
• True color – accurate skin tones and package details

Night Performance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

• Color Night Vision – best we've tested (requires porch light)
• Standard IR Night Vision – excellent black & white
• Range: 15 feet – clear facial detail up close
• Minor issue: Slight motion blur in low light

Real-World Test Results:

Scenario: Package delivery at noon
Result: Could read shipping label and delivery person's name tag

Scenario: Night visitor at 10pm
Result: Color night vision captured clear face (with porch light), license plate barely readable

Smart Features

3D Motion Detection (The Game-Changer)

This is where the Pro 2 justifies its premium price:

How it works: Uses radar + camera to track motion in 3D space

What it means:

• Distance-based zones – "Alert me only if someone comes within 10 feet"
• Direction tracking – ignore cars passing by, alert only for people approaching
• People-only mode – ignore animals, focus on humans
• Reduced false alerts – 60% fewer false notifications vs original Ring Pro

Real-world test: Over 2 weeks, we had zero false alerts from passing cars or distant pedestrians. Only alerted when people actually approached the door.

Head-to-Toe View

Problem it solves: Standard doorbells miss packages left at your feet.

How Pro 2 fixes it: Radar detects objects near the ground, camera tilts digital view downward

Does it work? Yes, mostly. We could see packages down to 6" off the ground, though the angle is steep so details are limited.

Bird's Eye View

New feature that shows motion path on overhead map:

• Cool visual – see where person walked
• Limited practical use – nice-to-have, not essential
• Requires Ring Protect subscription

Alexa Integration: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alexa integration is perfect (no surprise, Amazon owns Ring):

• Announce visitors on all Echo devices
• Show video automatically on Echo Show
• Two-way talk through Alexa
• Pre-recorded greetings – "Leave package at door"
• Routines – turn on lights when doorbell rings

Example routine we love:
When doorbell rings after 9pm:

1. Flash hallway lights
2. Turn on porch light
3. Announce "Someone's at the door" on bedroom Echo

Google Home: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Works well, missing some features:

• ✅ Stream to Google displays
• ✅ Basic voice commands
• ✅ Routine integration
• ❌ No pre-recorded greetings
• ❌ Can't answer through Google speakers

Apple HomeKit: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Officially: Not supported
Workaround: Homebridge plugin exists but buggy
Verdict: Choose Logitech or Aqara if HomeKit is priority

Ring Protect Subscription

The controversial part: Most features require Ring Protect subscription

Free (No Subscription):

• Live view only
• Two-way talk
• Motion alerts
• Video recording
• Video history
• People-only mode
• Rich notifications
• Snapshot Capture

Ring Protect Plus ($20/month or $200/year):

✅ 180-day video history
✅ People-only mode
✅ Snapshot Capture (every 5 minutes)
✅ Rich notifications (thumbnail previews)
✅ Covers ALL Ring devices at one location

Is it worth it?

Yes if:

• You want video history
• You have multiple Ring devices (doorbell + cameras + alarm)
• You value people-only notifications

No if:

• You only want live view
• You don't need video recordings
• Budget is tight

💡 Money-saving tip: Wait for Black Friday – Ring Protect annual plans typically 50% off.

Pros & Cons

Ring Pro 2 vs Competitors

Who Should Buy the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2?

✅ Buy if:

• You're invested in Alexa ecosystem
• You want premium video quality
• 3D motion detection matters to you
• You have multiple Ring devices
• You're willing to pay subscription

❌ Skip if:

• You're on a tight budget (get Ring Video Doorbell $100)
• You don't have existing doorbell wiring
• You refuse to pay subscriptions (get Eufy)
• You're in Apple HomeKit ecosystem (get Logitech or Aqara)
• You need instant notifications (all doorbells have 2-5 sec delay)

Final Verdict

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is the best doorbell camera in Ring's lineup and one of the best overall if you're in the Alexa ecosystem. The 3D motion detection genuinely reduces false alerts, the video quality is excellent, and the build feels premium.

However, the subscription requirement is aggressive. Without Ring Protect ($20/month), you lose most smart features. That's $240/year on top of the $250 hardware cost.