A few weeks ago the second version of the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, which is the company’s most advanced family of bells, and therefore, the one that includes the most innovations and best technologies.
I have been using the Video Doorbell Pro 2, and from the beginning the question I asked myself was if it was really worth having such a powerful doorbell at home, considering that the doorbell I use (Video Doorbell 2) was quite satisfied.
The answer to my question was forcefully resolved a couple of days after I was using the Doorbell Pro 2Well, even if you think that a doorbell with 3D radar motion detection is a lot of technology for a gadget with a “simple” task, once you try it, you won’t want to buy another doorbell that doesn’t include this type of solution.
Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 Datasheet
Dimensions | 114mm x 49mm x 22mm |
Video resolution | HD 1563p |
Field of view | 150 ° horizontal, 90 ° vertical 150 ° horizontal, 150 ° horizontal |
Live video | Yes |
Night vision | Infrared and color |
Audio | 2-way HD |
Feeding | By cable |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g / n 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands |
Resistance to water and dust | IP65 |
Design: sleek and slim
Unlike most Ring doorbells, the Video Doorbell Pro 2 It is one of the thinnest and smallest that you can currently find on the market, only surpassed (and by very little) in dimensions by the Video Doorbell Wired, which is not available in Mexico.
The size and design are an advantage because it can be put on any wall without any problem. In addition, its metallic-look contour in combination with a camera, circular button and its black body make it feel like a premium doorbell in all respects.
The only color available is Satin Nickel (silver), but on Amazon there are 4 different fronts (black, gold, white and blue) that can be changed in less than 2 minutes.
As is customary for the company’s products, installation is not complicated, and there are video tutorials you can follow to complete the installation. However, this model (like the previous generation) does not have a battery, so the only way to use it is through a direct wired connection to the fuse box.
Everything you need for installation comes in the box; in fact, if you already have a wired doorbell you can use the same cables, the only difference is that the power must be 16-24 volts of alternating current, otherwise it will be necessary to install the Din Rial transformer that is included in order not to have any trouble.
If you know how to do electrical installations the process will be very fast, if this is not the case it is best to turn to an expert.
Is a wired or battery-powered doorbell more appropriate?
The advantages of the Video Doorbell Pro 2 is that you never have to worry about how much power your doorbell has because it will be working as long as you have light and an Internet connection. In my case, I even installed a solar panel in the second generation Video Doorbell, I do have to charge the battery approximately every month.
On the other hand, if you run out of power, the doorbell won’t work. Although in reality no smart doorbell works without light because in theory without electricity you also do not have the Internet to enjoy the benefits of the device.
Last but not least, there is the IP65 certification to resist rain and dust. In fact, the doorbell can resist temperatures between -20 and 50 degrees centigrade.
How good does it look and sound?
Unlike most of the brand’s doorbells, the Video Doorbell Pro 2 offers a video resolution of 1536p. However, the best thing about the camera is not the resolution, but the possibility to switch between 2 types; rectangular (150 degrees horizontal and 90 degrees vertical) and full-size (150 degrees vertical x 150 degrees horizontal), which allows you to see practically the entire body of the person in front of your door.
This can be of great help in different scenarios, because if suddenly someone knocks on your door telling you that they have a package for you, you will be able to see their hands with the full body shot and know if it is not a deception that could put your risk. security.
Likewise, it is a good option with sellers who knock on the door to offer you a product, because in case you want to see what they sell they will not need to raise their product to the level of the camera.
On the other hand, the 2-way audio is maintained with which you can talk and listen from the Ring application on your phone, or from an Amazon Echo.
The audio is much better than other smart doorbells from the company, as this model offers HD audio along with an array microphone that limits sound distortion so that communication is much clearer.
It is important to mention that this improvement in the quality of the voice applies to the 2 people who participate in the conversation; the one who answers the doorbell and who is behind him.
In my case, I answer the doorbell at least 2 times a day, and in almost all the calls I had no problem with the sound. Only on one occasion was the audio of the person who rang the bell was distorted, however, this can be a problem caused by the Internet network, because even with the second generation Video Doorbell you experience similar problems.
What does 3D motion detection do?
The most attractive technology of this model, and that currently does not exist in any other smart doorbell is the advanced motion detection with aerial view thanks to the radar technology.
The new radar sensor allows to detect with greater accuracy when a person enters the area designated by the user so that he begins to record, but the great novelty is the aerial view function, which records the movement on a map in real time of the person who came to your house or rang your doorbell.
That is the reason why it is promoted as “aerial view”, because you see the movement of the person from “the air”. This offers the advantage that from the application you can see in real time how it is moving.
For this feature to work properly you have to establish the position of your doorbell on the map, and then choose the viewing area of the camera; that is, if you are looking straight ahead or if you installed the corner kit that makes the direction 25 degrees to the right.
Radar scan works fine. Since the doorbell registers movement, it establishes the movement points on the map; The problem is that it can be confusing when there are several people in the same area, since the movement marks are left on the map so that you can see the places where the visitor is moving, so if another person arrives, another person becomes mark within the safety zone.
Perhaps with a Ring update I can make the marks different colors when more than one person is registered within the area, this way it will be easier for the user to identify the route of each one of them.
Another detail is that when several people pass together, only a record of the route is made on the map.
This function can be much more profitable in houses with a patio where visitors have to enter your property to knock on your door, because in places such as walkways, very narrow streets or apartments you can see the movement and know at all times in where is the person who rang your doorbell only with the device’s camera without necessarily needing an aerial view.
What home security options do you offer?
The most advanced safety-focused feature is the aerial view, yet it offers all the other safety features that are already classic on Ring products.
An interesting detail is that this model offers color night vision, which combines infrared and ambient light to provide color in totally dark environments.
In the application you can also activate the different work modes so that the doorbell records or notifies movement alerts as you like. Although for users who live in an apartment or very narrow street, I recommend programming the motion detection only at night so that they do not receive security alerts at times of the day where a person walking near the door of your house could be a danger.
Likewise, intelligent alerts can be established that prevent the movement of animals from being notified by the doorbell as an alert, since it only notifies when a person is moving near the door of your home.
The Video Doorbell Pro 2 can be used without the need for a Ring Protect subscription, but you get much more out of it with the subscription because it is the only way to store all the recordings made by the doorbell in the cloud. Ring Protect users even have protection against theft of their doorbells.
Regarding privacy, it is important to mention that both the storage and the video transmission are encrypted. Also, this is one of the models that supports end-to-end encryption, which means that you can add an extra layer of privacy, but consider that activating this function prevents you from being able to view the video from an Amazon Echo, and if you share access with other users to a device this privilege is lost.
Can I buy the Video Doorbell Pro 2?
The Video Doorbell Pro 2 costs 6,499 MXN. So it is one of the stamps with the highest price of the company in Mexico. Is it necessary to pay a little more than 2x the price of a second generation Video Doorbell to have the Doorbell Pro 2?
Everything will depend on your needs, if you are a user looking for the best available technology to keep your home guarded and safe, it is evident that the Video Doorbell Pro 2 is a necessary purchase. Especially since no other doorbell in Mexico can offer radar technology to know where the person who is ringing your doorbell is moving.
Although the resolution is higher than almost all ringtones from Ring and other companies, it is very likely that you will not notice that difference in live broadcasts and recordings; but where there is a notable leap is in two-way audio quality.
Internet connection stability is also noticeable in this doorbell because it has dual-band WiFi.
Being able to have full body sight is another helpful feature that provides safety and comfort benefits.
And finally there is the question of design. It is a small and elegant doorbell that looks great on any type of wall. Of course, the wired installation requires a little more work, but in my case I always recommend choosing a doorbell that can be used by cable to avoid recharging the battery.
But if you are a user who just wants a smart doorbell to see from your phone who is knocking on the door, then this model can offer you many more things than you need.
In the end, if you decide to go for the Video Doorbell Pro 2 or any other Ring doorbell, I recommend paying for Ring Protect.