There are as many smart doorbells on the gadget market as there are sand by the sea. This is not only due to the fact that more and more manufacturers decide to launch their own model on the market. On top of that, many companies have several different doorbells on offer. The best example is certainly Ring. The Amazon subsidiary offers different smart doorbells in its smart home portfolio. Everything is represented, from inexpensive to expensive. In today’s Ring Doorbell Pro 2 review, we want to focus on the premium model of the portfolio. Is a price of nearly 230 euros really justified here, or will a cheaper model do?
Technical data
| Video | 1536p full body video in HD, live video, night vision in color |
| Viewing angle | 150 ° horizontal, 150 ° vertical |
| Motion capture | 3D motion capture with bird’s eye view |
| Audio | HD intercom with noise reduction |
| Power supply (hardwired) | Fixed wiring with supplied DIN rail transformer (2nd gen., 24 VDC, 0.42 A, 10 W) or in conjunction with an existing doorbell system (16-24 VAC, 10-40 VA, 50/60 Hz). Do not use halogen or garden lighting transformers.
Use with ring DC equipment only. Use of third-party DC equipment may result in damage to your equipment. For more information, visit ring.com/hardwirded. |
| Dimensions | 11.4 cm x 4.9 cm x 2.2 cm |
| Connectivity | WLAN connectivity 802.11b/g/n/ac at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (from channel 100). For more information, see the Ring Help Center. |
| Operating conditions | Suitable for temperatures from -20.5 °C to 48.5 °C; weather resistant |
| Price | € 229.99 * |
Scope of delivery
The Ring Doorbell Pro 2 comes in a really compact box. But the appearance is deceptive. After all, the small package hides a lot of accessories.
In addition to the Doorbell Pro 2 itself, this package includes a special screwdriver for the security screw, screws and wall plugs for mounting, a pad for angled mounting, a Ring DIN rail transformer (2nd generation), a security sticker, an instruction manual, and a Quick Start Guide.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 review: design and workmanship
- Smart design meets high build quality
- Compact dimensions of 11.4 cm x 4.9 cm x 2.2 cm
- Weather and temperature resistant (-20.5 °C to 48.5 °C)
As the name suggests, the Pro 2 is not the first Pro model from Ring. A clue to this is not only the naming, but also the appearance. After all, connoisseurs of the series will immediately recognize the similarity to the first Doorbell Pro. And not only that. Even the standard version of the Ring Doorbell Wired (64.99 euros at Amazon) hits a design notch. What I really like is the compactness. For example, the Pro 2 measures just 11.4 cm x 4.9 cm x 2.2 cm. That’s significantly smaller than the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus (test), but that’s certainly due to the lack of a battery. A look at the front reveals a classy frame made of satin nickel.
This also forms the cover for the smart doorbell. In the middle of the whole sits the shiny black camera unit. In addition to the camera, there is also a microphone for the intercom function and an ambient light sensor that switches to night vision mode if necessary. Of course, the bell button should not be missing either. It comes with the iconic illuminated ring, which makes it visible even in the dark. As soon as the button is pressed, the ring glows blue. The equipment on the front is rounded off by a small speaker, which sits on the bottom.
If you take off the cover, you’ll spot the QR code, which is important for the setup, next to the reset button. If you look at the back, the ports are revealed. At the latest now it becomes clear that the smart doorbell does not allow wireless operation. The Ring Doorbell Pro 2 has to be connected to your bell wires to work. All in all, the doorbell lives up to its name. In particular, a direct comparison to my regular Ring Doorbell Wired makes it clear that this is the premium model. On top of that, weather and temperature resistance (-20.5 °C to 48.5 °C) ensure that it can be used outdoors without hesitation.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 review: technology
- Compatibility with doorbell systems uncertain
- Matching transformer is included
- Compatibility only with Ring products and Alexa system
The Ring Doorbell Pro 2 makes wireless contact with your home network. Here, the smart doorbell relies not only on 2.4 GHz, unlike many models of the competition. It also transmits at 5.0 GHz. This dual-band Wi-Fi underlines the premium claim of the Pro 2. Of course, you cannot rely on a wireless connection for the connection to your doorbell wire. Here, you connect the bell via a standard 16-24 volt AC transformer.
Of course, the Pro 2 gets along perfectly with the rest of Ring’s doorbell series. And it is also compatible with other products, such as the manufacturer’s security cameras or lamps. A connection to third-party products, on the other hand, is only possible via rather complicated detours. Unfortunately, it is not able to work with a voice assistant other than Alexa. Voice control via Google Assistant or Apple HomeKit would have been really desirable.
However, practice shows that you can do a lot of things with Alexa. Finally, this scores with far-reaching features such as a pre-programmed message. This may inform your visitor of your absence or ask a parcel carrier to leave the delivery at the drop-off point. The whole thing becomes really practical in combination with an Echo display. This shows you then namely the camera recording.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 Test: Camera
- Camera offers 1,536p
- Night vision in either black and white or color
- Motion sensor also via radar
Camera quality is a real highlight of the Ring Doorbell Pro 2, where you get high-resolution HDR video at 1,536p. The field of view is square and offers an impressive 150° horizontally and vertically. In practice, this ensures that you can always see your visitors from head to toe. The quality is not only impressive during the day, but also at night. If the lighting conditions allow it, you will not only get black and white images at night. The Pro 2 is also capable of providing night vision in color.
The Pre-Roll Video feature is also really cool. This ensures that a video recording starts before the motion sensor is triggered. Speaking of the motion sensor. The smart doorbell offers 3D motion detection. It works together with Ring’s radar technology. In practice, this ensures that the visitor is not only seen by the camera itself. On top of that, you can use satellite to detect where the visitor is currently located on your property. This takes motion detection to a new level.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 review: ring protection is mandatory
In terms of price, the Pro 2 puts all other models from the Ring cosmos in the shade. After all, it comes with an MSRP of just under 250 euros. That is a lot of money and actually runs counter to the Amazon subsidiary’s other strategy. After all, Ring’s experience shows that it offers its smart doorbells at a really competitive price that many rivals cannot keep up with. In the end, most of the money comes from the revenue the company generates from subscription fees. A classic economic model that we also know from many other manufacturers in the tech sector. In view of the high price, the question naturally arises whether “Ring Protection” is possibly free of charge with the Pro 2.
We can quickly take this hope away from you. For the subscription, you also have to pay a price of at least 3.99 euros for monthly or 39.99 euros for annual payments. But then only one device is covered. It gets more expensive for those who want to use several devices from Ring with the full range of functions. They have to pay 10.00 Euros per month or 100.00 Euros per year for Ring Protect Plus. Theoretically, you can also use the smart doorbell without a subscription. But then you lose a lot of features. The most important feature is probably the time-shifted viewing of recordings. If you do not have a subscription, the camera simply does not record any videos. You can only use a live view.
With it, practical functions such as “Advanced Pre-Roll” also disappear. Here, the camera automatically records videos that also include the six seconds before motion is detected – And the whole thing in color and with sound. The practical Amazon Greetings feature is also among the premium functions.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 test: even with the flagship only a trial month
Who spends so much money on a smart doorbell, so should definitely also use the subscription. For everyone else, we recommend a cheap alternative. By the way, I think it’s a bit of a shame that Ring doesn’t deviate from its free trial month here.
Once you’ve tried the premium subscription for a month, you’ll have to expect a cost if you want to continue. The Amazon subsidiary could have easily dropped a quarter of a year on its flagship. However, Ring is a bit generous. You can get a free cover for the Pro 2.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 Test: Setup via Ring app
A real selling point for all smart doorbells from Ring is the impeccably programmed app. Already during setup, it shines with a great overview and is pleasantly self-explanatory. By clicking the plus button, you can easily add the Doorbell Pro 2 to your existing devices or set it up as the first Ring product.
The app supports you by guiding you step by step. Once you have familiarized the smart doorbell with your wireless network, the app will point out various fine-tuning options. For example, you can define blind areas for the camera. For privacy reasons, you should do this meticulously, for example, for the public street and especially for neighboring properties.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 review: plenty of overview
Once set up, you’ll always find the right tab here thanks to a clear design. Clicking on the icon of the smart doorbell opens the practical button. Here you can open the live video of the camera. In addition, you can track the recent motion detections with the help of a timeline. You can view the respective recordings, provided you have a subscription. When you open the live view, you can activate the intercom function at the touch of a button. There are many areas of application here. Is the letter carrier waiting at the door with a long-awaited package? Then ask him to leave it on the stairs. You want to put your visitor on a bit of a wait because you’re running late?
Then just tell him via the intercom function. The microphone and speaker do a great job at this. You can again make detailed settings of the Pro 2 via the gear wheel in the upper right corner. In addition to the ringtone, you can also regulate various modes and adjust motion detection and motion alarms. The link to existing Ring products is also practical here. For example, I linked my Ring Floodlight Cam to the Pro 2. As a result, the security camera’s light turned on when a person was registered by the smart doorbell. Many different scenarios are conceivable here, which will please smart home fans.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 Test: Installation
A good smart home gadget should always shine with a high level of user comfort. And this begins with the installation. The Ring Doorbell Pro 2 hardly differs in its installation from other wired smart doorbells. You can easily connect it to your existing doorbell wire. The necessary tools such as a safety screwdriver, screws and dowels are included. For people who have already connected a lamp or installed another doorbell, this should not be a problem.
Absolute amateurs or people who are not confident about working with power lines, on the other hand, should seek an expert or acquaintance with a little more clue as support. As with the Ring Doorbell Battery Plus, it is relatively mysterious which existing doorbell systems are compatible with the smart doorbell. For this reason, it’s also impossible to say for sure whether your existing doorbell is compatible or not. If there is incompatibility, however, that is not a problem. Ring offers a convenient alternative with its Chime, which you just have to plug into your household socket. The pairing between the two devices works completely straightforward.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2 review: practical test
Time for a look at everyday life with the Doorbell Pro 2. There is really nothing to complain about here. After completing the installation and startup via app without any problems, I was particularly impressed by the great video quality. No matter whether it was day or night. Ring’s flagship always delivers pleasingly sharp moving images.
Of course, you can’t expect anywhere near the quality of the daytime pictures from the nighttime color shots. However, the color view at night is always nice. The motion detection was also convincing in the test. If you set the detection to “People only”, which you should urgently do especially on busy streets, the camera only really strikes people.
I was also impressed with the so-called bird’s eye view. Apart from that, you actually get what other smart doorbells of the brand can boast of. The Pro 2 stands out in practice with minimal reaction times between pressing the ring button and the subsequent ringtone. Also, the use with the help of the app as well as Alexa convinces in everyday life with its idiot-proofness.
Conclusion
At first glance, the Ring Doorbell Pro 2 may seem like just another smart doorbell. However, Amazon’s flagship does have some exciting features to show off. In addition to the outstanding video quality, this is primarily the so-called bird’s eye view. This enables a satellite view, so you can see your visitor not only via the camera, but also from above. Using the app and Alexa was also very straightforward. The same applies to installation and startup. However, the doorbell also gives one or two reasons to complain. First, there is the expensive subscription model.
I find it somewhat questionable that Ring only offers a trial month of Ring Protection even for its most expensive doorbell. The Amazon subsidiary could have offered more here. It is also a shame that the smartphone only allows saving videos via the cloud. Competitors at least offer the option of free local storage via an SD card. And the elephant in the room is of course undoubtedly the high price. At just under 230 euros, the Pro 2 is one of the most expensive smart doorbells on the entire market. Even if it is technically one of the best, I think the price is a bit exaggerated.
Ring Doorbell Pro 2
Workmanship and design
Hardware
Usability
Value for money
89/100
The Ring Doorbell Pro 2 is a technically excellent smart doorbell whose subscription model and high price are a bit sour grapes.
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