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About the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
No support for Google or Siri
Extra features aren't worth it
Ring’s new Video Doorbell Pro 2 comes with everything you need to get setup.
Ring’s Video Doorbell Pro 2 records in 1536p HD video and has color night vision. It offers a 150-degree horizontal and 150-degree vertical field of view that provides a top-to-bottom look of who is at your front door. Two-way talk with noise and distortion cancellation is available. There are also new features like Alexa Greetings, Quick Replies, and 3D Motion Detection with video previews.
Can’t answer the doorbell? With a paid Ring plan, Alexa can answer the door for you and take voice messages from visitors.
If you’re unable to respond to the door, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 can do it for you using Alexa Greetings, which can be set up in the Ring app under Smart Responses. When someone rings the doorbell, Alexa will start a brief conversation to determine the purpose of the visit (like a package delivery). You can customize how quickly you’d like her to respond after someone rings the doorbell, with response times ranging from immediately to up to 20 seconds.
Quick Replies are also available on the Pro 2 doorbell. Unlike Alexa Greetings, this feature doesn’t require a paid subscription plan. Just choose from one of six preset messages to play if you can’t get to the door like, “Hi! We’ll be right there,” or “Sorry, we’re not interested.”
The video quality day and night looks great in the Ring app. You can also control the doorbell’s settings in the app.
Bird’s Eye View, which shows the path someone took when they are within a certain distance of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, appears in picture-in-picture for easy viewing.
New to the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 are advanced home security features like 3D Motion Tracking and Bird’s Eye View. The motion tracking feature is intriguing, letting you specify the exact area you want the doorbell to start recording once motion is detected for more accurate alerts. There’s also Bird’s Eye View, which creates an aerial map view that outlines the exact path of where a motion event starts and stops up to 30 feet away from your doorbell.
When motion is detected, you can access the Bird’s Eye View in the Ring app. Ring says the two features work together to give homeowners more “control and context” about what’s unfolding outside. The new features are nice to have and work well, but only perspicacious homeowners will truly appreciate the more detailed explanation of what’s going on outside their doorbell.
Here’s the view from the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2, as seen on Amazon’ Echo Show 10.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 works well, but it is overpriced compared to other smart doorbells, like the Arlo Wire-Free Essential Video Doorbell, that pack in plenty of smarts for more affordable price.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is a premium, Alexa-only smart doorbell outfitted with impressive video and audio quality alongside advanced home security features like 3D Motion Detection and Bird’s Eye View. These features will appeal to curious homeowners who enjoy diving into the details, but aren’t crucial to the day-to-day operations of your doorbell. Unless you’re examining motion events on the regular, you likely won’t pay much attention. The built-in responses from Alexa offer added convenience when you can’t get to the door, including the option for visitors to leave a voice message, which you can quickly access in the Ring app. But for most people, the Pro 2 is simply overpriced.
If you love the idea of all those extra features, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 could still be worth consideration. But we’d strongly suggest you wait until you can find a serious sale.
Senior Staff Writer
Rachel Murphy covers smart home for Reviewed. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida. Previously, she worked as a freelance writer for several major outlets and as an associate editorial producer for ABC News' Good Morning America.
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Category: Technology
Source: USA Today
