As a leader in connected doorbells, the Ring brand is back with a new battery-powered model that innovates with a wider viewing angle. This not only allows you to see people from head to toe, but more importantly, you can also observe the packages left on your porch.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Ring has been one of the pioneering brands in connected doorbells since its founding in 2013. The company now produces cameras, security systems and, of course, networked doorbells. Ring has released many wireless and battery-powered models, including all four generations of video doorbells. Previously, all were offered in landscape orientation, so you couldn’t see in front of your porch and the packages that might be left behind.
With the new Battery Doorbell Plus, Ring offers an evolution of the Video Doorbell 3, including a new video format that enables head-to-toe visibility and HD+ quality.
A customizable design but not very elegant
Ring designers have not innovated with the new Battery Doorbell Plus as it is almost identical to the other video doorbells, namely a rectangular and vertical format measuring 12.8 cm x 6.2 cm x 2.8 cm . It’s relatively thick and doesn’t look particularly elegant.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
The upper part, which makes up about a third of the front, is covered in glossy black plastic, with a slit under which we can see the lens and the infrared sensor. The rest of the front is a removable shell that hides the removable battery. As standard it comes in satin nickel. However, you can order another copy in the color of your choice free of charge using a promotional code that will be sent to you by email upon activation.
The front is exactly the same as the other video doorbells, making them compatible with each other. Likewise, the battery is the same as that used in many Ring doorbells and cameras, so they can be replaced if necessary.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
In addition to the doorbell and the battery, the box contains a corner support, the screw set, cables for any electrical connection and a micro USB cable for charging. Ring still hasn’t bothered to switch to the USB-C standard, especially because it’s committed to battery interoperability between its devices, although replacing the battery charging port without that doesn’t seem like rocket science change format.
A simple and efficient installation
Installing the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is quick and easy. Simply scan the QR code on the back of the doorbell to start the process. This is a guide because the application is responsible for telling you how and where to drill before installing the doorbell. Depending on the type of surface you want to install the Battery Doorbell Plus on, the Ring app will tell you which screws to use and how to drill.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Once this step is completed, the doorbell is attached to the wall with four screws. All you have to do is clip the battery into the designated location and mount the front panel. This not only hides the battery, but also the four fastening screws. It is secured by a special screw, preventing a malicious person from easily removing the cover to dismantle your doorbells.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Beyond the doorbell hardware installation, the Ring app asks you to configure certain settings, such as: E.g. pairing with your Wi-Fi network, defining detection zones, etc.
A complete application but paid features
The Ring application allows you to control all of the brand’s products, especially your cameras, doorbells and security systems. Logically, the different devices are designed to work together. This makes it possible to define rules so that a camera starts filming or lights up its integrated LEDs when your doorbell is activated or detects a person. Likewise, it can rely on your security system’s modes to activate motion detection on your porch when your alarm is activated.
In addition, many of the Battery Doorbell Plus parameters can be personalized by defining motion detection rules so that you are only notified when a person is detected. It is also possible to limit the detection areas to ignore movements in the sky or on the road. You can also create areas where filming is not allowed, for example to respect the privacy of your neighbors. Finally, the sensitivity can be adjusted to your needs to minimize unwanted notifications.
Of course, the main purpose of these smart notifications is to be notified when a package is dropped off at your door, regardless of whether the delivery person rings the bell or not. The doorbell can also automatically record the event to keep track of the delivery in the event of a problem.
The main problem with these features is that most of them require a Ring Protect subscription, which costs around $3.50 per month. Cloud recording, intelligent people and package detection, and comprehensive preview notifications are not available without a subscription. For comparison, the Nest Doorbell (battery) offers most of these features without requiring a paid subscription. You need to take these criteria into account because the doorbell automatically includes a one-month Ring Protect trial, which gives you these features for free for 30 days before you have to pay to continue using it.
When someone rings the doorbell, the Ring app simulates a call, ensuring your phone vibrates constantly so you don’t miss any visitors. If you are unable to respond, it is possible to define automatic replies that will be triggered after a few seconds. Unfortunately, these are only available in English and can only be triggered after a maximum of 20 seconds. Although it is not possible to pre-record them, you can still pick up and select one of the existing answers during the conversation.
It’s important to note that while the Battery Doorbell Plus is the latest addition to the Ring lineup, it is an evolution of the Video Doorbell 3. That means it doesn’t suggest certain advancements to the Video Doorbell 4, such as Pre-Roll or Bird’s Eye View, each of which allows you to record the few seconds before a person arrives before the doorbell rings and display their steps on a satellite map.
Finally, the Battery Doorbell Plus is an Amazon branded product and works natively with Alexa. However, it doesn’t offer integration with Google Assistant, which may influence your choice if you already have a connected ecosystem.
Good image quality
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus offers HD+ video quality, HDR and color night vision. In general, the image quality is good and allows you to clearly distinguish people and even see what is happening in the background. Thanks to the 150° field of view, unlike previous generations of video doorbells, you can see visitors from head to toe, as well as packages left on your porch.
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On the other hand, this format is unnatural and the image resembles what one might see through a peephole, especially due to the black borders on the sides. Plus, people appear smaller than they are, but that’s probably the price you pay for full head-to-toe visibility.
As usual from Ring, the night vision is very clear. Faces can be easily distinguished and the infrared beam is well adjusted. The Video Doorbell Plus also offers a color night mode, which allows certain parts of the image to be artificially colored. It doesn’t work that well because many parts are in gray tones, and this feature is more anecdotal than actually useful.
Excellent autonomy
Let’s finish with the autonomy of the Battery Doorbell Plus, which lasts about a month without activating motion detection. This is more than enough, since it is also possible to adjust the detection parameters and video recording duration according to your needs, which will affect battery consumption depending on whether the camera is activated more often.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
To charge, you need to remove the front panel, take out the battery, charge it with the micro USB cable, and then put it back in if you don’t have another one. It is also possible to connect the Battery Doorbell Plus electrically if you already have the cables on site, eliminating the need for charging.
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus pricing and availability
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is available for 180 euros. This price includes a one-month trial of Ring Protect and a code to order a free faceplate in the color of your choice.