Ring is a great choice for your video doorbell. The quality of the product, ease of installation and low cost for cloud video storage is the reason I use Ring in my home.
You decided that Ring is the right product for you. But which doorbell, Ring Doorbell 2 or Ring Doorbell Pro, is the best choice for your situation? The information below should help you make the decision when comparing Ring 2 vs Ring Pro.
Ring Doorbell 3 is here! This version is very similar to Ring 2 with three additional features: 5.0 WiFi, advanced motion detection and Pre-roll video. Check out all the new features on Ring Doorbell 3.
Ring 2 vs Ring Pro Comparison Table
The main areas to consider when comparing Ring Doorbells include:
- Installation
- Chimes
- Design
- Video and Audio Quality
- Motion Detection
The table below highlights the differences and similarities between the Ring Pro and Ring 2. The rest of the article contains more detailed information on these differences to help you decide which device is best for you.
Ring Doorbell | Model | Description | Buy |
---|---|---|---|
Top | Ring 3 Plus | All-new Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus – 1080p HD video, improved motion detection, 4-second previews, easy installation | Amazon Price |
Top | Ring 3 | All-new Ring Video Doorbell 3 – 1080p HD video, improved motion detection, easy installation | Amazon Price |
Top Top | Ring Pro | Ring Video Doorbell Pro, with HD Video, Motion Activated Alerts, Easy Installation (existing doorbell wiring required) | Amazon Price |
Top | Ring 2 | Ring Video Doorbell 2 with HD Video, Motion Activated Alerts, Easy Installation | Amazon Price |
Ring Pro | Ring 2 | |
---|---|---|
Release Date | March 2016 | June 2017 |
Video Quality | 1080P | 1080P |
Field of View | 160 Degrees | 160 Degrees |
Dimensions | 4.50 in. x 1.85 in. x .80 in. | 5.05 in. x 2.50 in. x 1.08 in. |
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz | 802.11 b/g/n | 802.11 b/g/n |
Wi-Fi 5.0 GHz | 802.11 b/g/n | No |
Battery Power | No | Yes (6-12 Months) |
Wired Power | 16-24 VAC transformer | 8-24 VAC transformer (Optional) |
Color Faceplates | 4 Included – Venetian – Black – Satin Nickel – Pearl | 2 Included – Venetian – Black |
Motion Detection | Advanced (Video Based) | Standard (PIR Based) |
Night Vision | Yes (Infrared) | Yes (Infrared) |
Color Night Vision | Yes | No (Coming Soon) |
HDR | No (Coming Soon) | Yes |
Two Way Audio | Yes | Yes |
Use your current doorbell chime | Yes | Yes (Wired Only) |
Operating Conditions | -5°F to 120°F | -5°F to 120°F |
Warranty | 1 Year | 1 Year |
Theft Protection | Yes | Yes |
Some key notes from the table are that both doorbells have the same video resolution and field of view (FOV). However, the two doorbells have different motion detection settings that really make the Ring Pro stand out.
Ring Doorbell Installation
The Ring 2 and the Ring Pro can both be installed with a wired connection. The biggest difference between these two devices is that the Ring 2 can also be installed with a battery only setup.
Wired or battery powered connection?
Overall, a hardwired installation of either Ring Doorbell is the best option. The installation is slightly harder, but the performance and stability of the devices will be better with a wired setup. However, the battery only installation is a great choice if you don’t have existing wiring or if you aren’t comfortable working with electricity.
Battery Only Installation
The Ring 2 battery only installation process is the easiest installation option of the Ring devices. You can complete this installation in about 5 minutes and it only involves a few screws. Using this option, the Ring 2 is not connected to any power source and it only runs on the battery pack that is provided.
The average Ring battery life is 6 to 12 months before you will have to bring the battery inside to charge. The battery takes around 5 – 10 hours to recharge depending on whether the USB charger is connected to the wall or a lower power source. Another option is to keep a spare Ring 2 battery that can easily be swapped out when needed.
- Works with Ring Video Doorbell, Peephole Cam, Stick Up Cam Battery (2nd and 3rd Gen), and Spotlight Cam Battery
- Powers your device for up to six months depending on motion and light settings
- Includes a quick-release tab to easily charge the battery without moving the device
Cold weather can also have a negative impact on the Ring 2 battery performance. Ring states that temperatures under 40 degrees Fahrenheit will likely lead to more frequent charging. If you live in an area with consistently cold weather, you should probably consider the Ring Pro. Customers that use the Ring 2 with a wired connection in cold areas have even reported issues keeping the battery charged. In some cases, this was resolved by installing a more powerful transformer (24V vs 16V) but it would be easier to just use the Ring Pro.
Hardwired Installation
Both the Ring Pro and the Ring 2 can be installed with a hardwired setup. This involves some work with low voltage electricity, but it is a fairly simple process that can be completed in about 15 minutes.
If you have existing wiring, then you need to do a quick check to see if the power transformer is compatible with the Ring Doorbell 2 and / or the Ring Doorbell Pro. The Ring Doorbell Pro is compatible with a 16-24 VAC transformer, while the Ring Doorbell 2 is compatible with an 8-24 VAC transformer.
The transformer is a device that converts standard voltage to low voltage and is usually found in your mechanical doorbell chime. You can determine the VAC of the transformer by looking for the data on the transformer or by testing it with a multimeter. You can review this quick guide on how to check the voltage of your doorbell transformer.
If your doorbell transformer tests within the parameters of the Ring Pro or Ring 2, then you are all set to hardwire your Ring doorbell.
How difficult is it to install my Ring doorbell?
The Ring 2 and the Ring Pro are very easy to install. You can usually complete the installation in less than 15 minutes even with a wired connection.
Ring includes everything you need to install the Ring 2 or Ring Pro. This includes a screwdriver and appropriate screws and anchors for mounting to wood, brick, concrete or stucco. Ring also provides very good written and video instructions to help you install the devices. You can see the installation videos below:
Ring Doorbell 2 Battery Only Installation:
Ring Doorbell Pro Wired Installation:
The Ring 2 also includes wedge and corner mounts that can be used to angle your doorbell camera properly. This is extremely important to ensure correct motion detection. Ring Pro angle mounts are available from several aftermarket sellers, but they are not included with the device.
- NOTE: Angle mount for Ring Video Doorbell Pro ONLY!!! (The Ring Video Doorbell Pro NOT Included)
- 3 Angle Choices: 15 degree / 30 degree / 45 degree. Each corner kit is 15 degree; two kits stack for 30 degree; three kits stack for 45 degree.
- Perfect Design---All screw holes are well designed and fit the high quality stainless steel screw perfectly. Theres no more broken screw heads in the hole.
- Easy Installation--Package coming with detailed Installation Guide and necessary accessories. Make sure your installation complete in minutes.
- Turn it over, you can choose to install it in the left side or right side of your door
Overall, the level of difficulty to install either the Ring 2 or the Ring Pro is easy. Just take your time and watch the videos and you will have the doorbell installed in no time.
Ring Doorbell Chimes
All Ring Doorbells (wired or battery powered) can alert you when the doorbell is pressed in three ways:
- Receive an alert on your phone with the Ring App
- Play a chime through the wall plugin Ring Doorbell Chime
- Play a chime through your Amazon Echo device
The sound played and the times that you want the chime to sound are completely customizable using the Ring App.
I highly recommend using Amazon Echo Dots to extend the Ring Doorbell chime throughout your home.
Can I use my current doorbell chime?
If you use a wired setup, then you can possibly use your current doorbell chime with Ring. If you use a battery power only setup, then your Ring Doorbell will not work with your current chime.
Your current doorbell likely has a mechanical or electronic chime. Mechanical chimes have the classic “ding dong” sound and electronic chimes usually play a digital chime or music. If your current doorbell uses an 8-24 volt AC powered chime then it will work with a connected Ring doorbell. If it is a wireless or DC powered chime then it will not work with Ring.
Ring has an extensive list of chimes that have been tested with the Ring Doorbell. You can see the list of over 50 chimes that work with Ring and a list of chimes that don’t work here.
Ring 2 vs Ring Pro Design
Ring doorbells are some of the best looking smart home doorbells on the market. Both the Ring 2 and the Ring Pro will look good by your front door. However, there are two important design considerations to make sure you get the perfect device:
- Size (will it fit in your space)
- Color
Size
The size of the device is an important element when comparing Ring 2 vs Ring Pro. The Ring 2 device is quite a bit larger, so you want to make sure it will fit properly in the space where your current doorbell is mounted. As you can see below, the Ring Doorbell 2 is longer, wider and thicker than the Ring Pro.
Ring Doorbell 2: 5.05 in. x 2.50 in. x 1.08 in.
Ring Doorbell Pro: 4.50 in. x 1.85 in. x .80 in.
Color
The Ring 2 and the Ring Pro both include interchangeable faceplates, but the Ring Pro has more options. All faceplates listed below are included with the device when purchased. The faceplates are extremely easy to change so you can switch them out based on your current design style.
Ring Pro Faceplates:
- Satin Nickel
- Venetian (Bronze)
- Black
- Pearl
Ring 2 Faceplates:
- Satin Nickel
- Venetian (Bronze)
Ring 2 vs Ring Pro Video and Audio Quality
Video and audio quality are the most important features of any security doorbell camera. In this case, both the Ring 2 and the Ring Pro have good video quality with a capability of recording up to 1080p HD quality.
Additionally, the Ring 2 and Ring Pro both offer 2-way communication so you can talk to the person at your front door using your mobile phone or another compatible device.
Wi-Fi Impact of Video Quality
The quality and speed of your Wi-Fi network can greatly impact the quality of the Ring video. This is an area where the Ring 2 and Ring Pro are different.
The Ring 2 can only connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks and the Ring Pro can connect to 2.4 GHz and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Several newer model Wi-Fi routers only use the 5.0 GHz channel so you should check the options available for your router.
Ring also requires a Wi-Fi connection of 1-2 Mbps for the Ring doorbell to work. Based on my experience and other customer reviews, you should ensure that you have over 2 Mbps speed to ensure higher quality video. The Ring Doorbell might work with lower speeds, but you will see a lot of pixelation and an overall reduction in video quality.
You can check your Wi-Fi speed at the location where you plan to install the Ring Doorbell by using your phone or laptop computer. Make sure you are connected to your Wi-Fi network (turn off mobile data) and open your web browser to www.fast.com and it will show you the speed of your Wi-Fi connection in that location.
HDR and Color Night Vision
Ring is constantly adding features and updating the capabilities of their cameras with firmware and software updates. In some instances, these updates come at different times for the different doorbells. Currently, there are two key differences in video options for the Ring 2 vs the Ring Pro.
- HDR (High Dynamic Range) – The Ring 2 has an additional option to enable HDR. HDR allows the camera to produce a better video when there are both very bright and very dark areas within the video. This option is supposed to come to the Ring Pro in late 2019.
- Color Night Vision – The Ring Pro has an additional option to enable color night vision. Both Ring 2 and Ring Pro support monochromatic night vision, but you now have the option to enable color night vision on the Ring Pro. Color night vision is expected to roll out to the Ring 2 in late 2019.
Ring Video Subscription Plans
The Ring 2 and Ring Pro will both offer the following features without and additional subscription plan:
- Instant Motion Alerts
- Live View Video
- 2-Way Communication
If you want to add video recording and the ability to share or save videos, then you will need a Ring Protect subscription plan. This plan costs $3 per month ($30 annually) for a single doorbell camera. With this option, you will have the ability to view any event recorded by your Ring camera for up to 60 days.
Current Prices for Ring Subscription Plans
Ring 2 vs Ring Pro Motion Detection
Motion detection is a critical element to consider with your Ring Doorbell purchase. If you receive too many alerts, then you will ignore them which defeats the purpose of the device. If your device misses a motion event, then you will be stuck without video that time you really need it.
How does Ring Doorbell detect motion?
Ring 2 and Ring Pro use different technologies to detect motion. Both methods are effective in detecting motion and have their own pros and cons.
Ring 2 – The Ring 2 Doorbell uses an array of 3 PIR (Passive Infrared) motion sensors to detect motion. PIR motion sensors use changes in heat to detect motion. The Ring 2 will trigger a motion event when it detects a moving heat signature in the FOV.
Ring Pro – The Ring Pro uses data from the video stream to detect motion. The Ring Pro uses face and body-shape analysis to detect motion and determine if the motion was caused by a human. This type of motion detection can help reduce the number of false positives.
Custom vs Advanced Motion Detection
Because the Ring 2 and the Ring Pro use different ways to detect motion, they also have different ways to control the motion detection in the Ring app.
Ring 2 – Custom Motion Detection
The Ring 2 allows you to control the direction and range of the PIR motion detection. This gives you some control for when when you will receive motion alerts, but it isn’t as good as the Ring Pro Advanced Motion Detection.
Ring Pro – Advanced Motion Detection
The Ring Pro allows you to create custom motion zones for the camera to look for motion. Activity outside of these custom zones will be ignored. This allows you to ignore areas such as streets that would constantly give you false motion alerts.
Ring Doorbell Mobile Application
The Ring Mobile application allows you to control all Ring Doorbell, Camera and Home Security devices. This includes the custom motion detection and advanced motion detection settings found in the Ring 2 and Ring Pro. You also use the Ring App to view live video on your doorbell and recorded video motion events.
The only differences between the Ring 2 and Ring Pro on the mobile application are the features that are unique to each device. Otherwise, the app is very intuitive and useful for managing and viewing your Ring doorbell.
Ring 2 Review Summary
- Connect your Ring doorbell with Alexa then enable announcements to be alerted when your doorbell is pressed or motion is detected. Talk to visitors through compatible Echo devices by saying “Alexa, talk to the front door”.
- Lets you see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet and PC
- Sends alerts as soon as motion is detected or when visitors press the Doorbell
- Powered by the rechargeable battery pack or connects to doorbell wires for a constant charge
- Monitors your home in 1080HD video with infrared night vision
- Lets you check-in on your property at anytime with Live View on-demand video
- Includes Lifetime Theft Protection: If your Doorbell gets stolen, we’ll replace it for free
The Ring 2 is the best choice if you don’t have existing or compatible doorbell wiring.
The simplicity of installing Ring 2 using the battery only option can’t be beaten. However, you will have to invest in a Ring Chime or Amazon Echo if you want a doorbell notification other than your phone. Also, while the Ring 2 motion detection is customizable, it is not as robust as the Ring Pro.
PROS
- Extremely simple battery only installation
- Good looking with 2 color options
- 1080P video with 2-way talk
- Customizable PIR motion detection
- 6-12 month battery life
- Lower price
CONS
- Ring Chime or Amazon Echo needed for battery only installation
- Lower battery performance in temperatures under 40 degrees Fahrenheit
- Does not work with a 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection
Ring Pro Review Summary
- Connect your Ring doorbell with Alexa then enable announcements to be alerted when your doorbell is pressed or motion is detected. Talk to visitors through compatible Echo devices by saying “Alexa, talk to the front door”.
- Lets you see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet and PC
- Sends alerts as soon as motion is detected or when visitors press the Doorbell
- Requires hardwired installation to existing doorbell wires. Compatible with ios, android, mac and windows 10 devices
- Monitors your home in 1080HD video with infrared night vision
- Lets you check-in on your property at anytime with Live View on-demand video. Connectivity - 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection at 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz. Wi-Fi Speeds - Requires a minimum upload speed of 1Mbps, but 2Mbps is recommended for optimal performance
- Includes Lifetime Theft Protection: If your Doorbell gets stolen, we’ll replace it for free
The Ring Pro is a great choice if you plan to hardwire your video doorbell.
A hardwired doorbell will give you the best performance especially in colder climates. The Ring Pro can also utilize your current doorbell chime with additional options of using the Ring Chime or Amazon Echo devices. Ring Pro also has the most advanced motion detection, which will help eliminate false alerts.
PROS
- Easy wired installation
- Use existing doorbell chime
- Extremely slim and modern with 4 color options
- 1080P video with 2-way talk
- Advanced video based motion detection
- Works with a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection
CONS
- Higher price
- Must hardwire the installation
My Recommendation
I use the Ring Doorbell Pro in my home and that is the device I recommend for anyone with a hardwired installation. The Ring Pro is slimmer, has more color options, works with more Wi-Fi routers, and has more advanced motion detection than the Ring 2.
I also recommend that you hardwire your video doorbell if possible. This ensures the best performance and reliability of your device. This is especially important in cold environments.
Ring Doorbell Projects:
- How to Connect Ring to Alexa – Why this is a great combination.
- Create a Ring Doorbell Alexa Chime – Your Amazon Echo is a doorbell chime.
- How to view Ring Doorbell on Your TV – View your doorbell on TV.
P.S. Please leave a comment below to ask a question, help someone else or share your experiences. Thanks!
Great comparison! We have the Ring 2 and don’t like it as much as the original Ring. Considering buying a certified refurbished Ring Pro. Thoughts?
I really like the Ring Pro. If you have power for a doorbell, then the Pro is my recommendation.
Your thorough comparison and contrast of all aspects of these devices is impressive! Thank you for your expertise and clarity.