Video doorbells help provide a sense of security by letting you know who’s at the door without having to open it. It’s crucial to have one installed during these times when we’re getting most of our stuff delivered at our doorstep. The best ones feature two-way audio so you can scare off potential package thieves. One of the best makers of video doorbells is Ring, and right now three of its biggest sellers, the Ring Peephole Cam, Ring Video Doorbell 2, and Ring Video Doorbell Elite, are on sale at Amazon and Best Buy ahead of Memorial Day. Get them for as low as $130.
Ring Peephole Cam — $130, was $200
The Ring Peephole Cam is designed to fit around an existing peephole in your front door, which means no need for hammering or drilling that could potentially ruin your beautifully ornate portal. This makes it the perfect security cam for apartment owners since there’s little to no impact on the property when installing it. The Ring Peephole Cam is currently on sale at Best Buy for a huge $70 off its normal retail price. Get it for the affordable price of $130 instead of $200.
This video doorbell has an integrated 1080p high definition camera with two-way audio so you can see and chat with visitors from the comfort of your smartphone even when you’re not at home. This battery-powered device is cleverly engineered to slot through your door instead of sitting next to it and requires no tools to install. Although it looks decent, its all-plastic construction looks rather cheap. We expected more from a $200 doorbell.
What it lacks in form it more than makes up in function. If your doorway happens to face a busy path or a hallway, motion sensitivity will be reduced to keep false alarms to a minimum, or you can switch it off completely. Night Vision is disabled automatically if you have a screen door or storm door covering your entrance to prevent infrared light reflecting back into and blinding the camera. Privacy zones can be easily established to avoid the camera monitoring areas such as a close neighbor’s door or window, and you can disable audio streaming or recording to prevent eavesdropping on conversations outside your door. And if you own an Alexa-enabled device with a screen — like an Amazon Echo Show or Fire TV device — you’ll receive real-time notification of callers as well as a live video feed.
The Ring app boasts a multitude of features, including an Event History log, with easy filters allowing you to review events by type; answered rings, motion alerts, missed knocks at the door, and more. Unfortunately, you need to enroll in a monthly or yearly subscription in order to continue enjoying all these services once the 30-day free trial period expires.
Do you rent a flat? If so, the Ring Peephole Cam is what you should get for additional security. Get it for just $130 at Best Buy today.
Ring Video Doorbell 2 — $139, was $199
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 is wireless and doesn’t have to connect to your home’s old doorbell and wiring circuit in order to work, unlike Nest Hello and the August Doorbell Cam Pro. Flip the device and you’ll find terminals on its rear to hardwire it. It comes with a rechargeable battery pack which makes the installation rather simple, although it adds bulk. Since this video doorbell is 2.5-inches wide, it’s best suited for thicker door frames or the adjacent wall. The battery pack connects to a power source via a mini-USB cable and will power the doorbell between six months and a year (or around 1,000 notification events) according to Ring.
The setup of this video doorbell is pretty straightforward. Just follow the instructions on the Ring mobile app (available on iOS and Android). The app is very easy to use and does a great job of integrating all Ring smart home devices, too. Through it, you can control not just the doorbell, but also Ring-made security cameras, smart lights, and alarms if you have them installed.
When the built-in motion detector senses movement or if someone presses the doorbell, its 1080p HD video camera starts recording and you’ll receive a real-time alert on your phone. You also have the option of speaking with whoever’s at the door via the two-way audio and view the live video feed anytime you want. It’s worth noting though that the image captured by the camera, although sharp and clear, has an unfortunate fish-eye effect to achieve its 160-degree field of view. Thankfully, the integrated night vision works wonderfully well, so you won’t have any difficulty seeing who’s at your doorstep at night or on overcast days. Lastly, this video doorbell works with Alexa, so you can get security at the sound of your voice or view live activity at your door on Alexa-compatible devices.
The Ring Video Doorbell 2 won’t have you messing with your home’s wiring thanks to its rechargeable battery and boasts lots of cool features including motion detection and two-way audio. More importantly, its relatively low cost won’t break the bank, unlike most video doorbells. Get it today for $139 instead of $199 at Amazon — a huge $60 off.
Ring Video Doorbell Elite — $350, was $500
The Ring Video Doorbell Elite is a professional-grade premium video doorbell with plenty of high-end features. Unfortunately, it also requires professional installation unlike the Ring Peephole Cam and Ring Video Doorbell 2. If you don’t mind paying the extra labor cost, this is easily the most impressive looking device in Ring’s video doorbell lineup and allows property owners to monitor their home even when they’re away. Right now, you can order it at Best Buy for $350 instead of $500 — a huge $150 less.
Ring Video Doorbell Elite offers a flush mount so it doesn’t stick out that much. Despite the upgraded look, it’ll fit most standard junction boxes. Perhaps its most important feature is its Ethernet connectivity. With an Ethernet hard-wired system like this, expect more consistent security. It’ll stay online all of the time, won’t lose power, and subsequently provide the best video output possible.
This video doorbell’s high-definition camera has a 1080p video resolution. It offers the best image quality we’ve encountered on a Ring video doorbell yet, and for the price, it should. The camera also includes infrared night vision so you can still have a clear view of your doorstep even in the dead of night. The Ring app boasts a myriad of premium security functions. First is Live View, a feature that allows you to receive on-demand video and audio. Then there’s the ability to customize the motion zones, so you can set the specific areas where you want the Ring Video Doorbell Elite to detect motion only. Once motion is detected by the camera, it will send an instant alert on the app. Finally, the app lets you receive real-time crime alerts from your neighbors, so you can all work together to make your community a safer place.
The Ring Video Doorbell Elite is designed to sit flush which makes it perfect for designer homes. With exceptional video quality, a reliable Ethernet connection, and plenty of top-notch security features, this is one of the best video doorbells that money can buy. Get it for $139 at Best Buy today.
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