A neat upgrade on the previous model, the Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) is a great entry-level doorbell. Its integrated battery means it has to be removed to be charged, but you can get around this if you use it with a doorbell transformer for trickle charging. Decent head-to-toe video and full integration with the Ring Home system make this a great entry-level choice, although those that need more advanced motion detection and higher resolution video will want to look elsewhere.
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Excellent value -
Works with wired transformers and chimes -
Head-to-toe video -
Seamless with Alexa
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Has to be removed for charging -
Same old design -
A bit chunky
Product name: Introduction
- Type: Battery (can also be Wired to existing chime)
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
- Ecosystems: Amazon Alexa
The entry-level, fixed-battery Ring doorbells have usually been a bit too basic for most, but the Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) changes that.
Sure, there are still some of the same limitations (basic motion detection and the doorbell has to be removed to be charged, for example), but head-to-toe video and full integration into the Ring ecosystem makes this a surprisingly good doorbell for the price.
I’ve been using it for a few weeks to find out just how good it is, and to find out who this doorbell suits.
How it compares:
Ring Battery Video Doorbell vs Ring Battery Doorbell Pro
Ring Battery Video Doorbell vs Ring Video Doorbell Plus
Read on to find out more…
Design and installation
- Wider than the regular battery products
- Can be connected to a wired chime
- No corner mounts in the box
As with the previous version, the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd-gen), the new model has an integrated battery, rather than using the Quick Release battery that comes with the other battery-powered models, such as the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro.
As a result, this model is less deep than its siblings, but it is quite a bit wider. That can cause issues if, like me, you have fairly narrow door frames.
There’s no corner wedge in the box to help, with just a flat mounting plate, although Ring sells one for around $20 / £18 if you need it.
This model has a USB-C port on the back for charging the battery.
When flat, the doorbell has to be removed to be charged, which requires the tool in the box to release the holding clip.
Removing the doorbell to charge isn’t always convenient, but other options exist. First, the doorbell has terminals on the back for connecting it to a wired chime and doorbell transformer.
In this configuration, your existing doorbell transformer will trickle charge the battery.
Assuming you’ve angled the doorbell properly so that it doesn’t detect too much motion, a trickle charge will mean that you don’t have to remove the doorbell, and it will constantly stay charged.
Do be careful, though. The wired terminals are connected to the back of the doorbell, not the mounting plate. If you do need to remove the doorbell, you’ll also need to unscrew the cables.
Ring also sells a solar mount, which will charge your doorbell automatically, although this option is only suitable for people whose front doors get enough sunlight.
In the right conditions, there are enough options so that the Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) doesn’t ever have to be removed.
Features
- Basic motion detection
- Requires a Ring Home subscription for more advanced features
The Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) connects to Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) and appears in the Ring app just like any of the company’s other doorbells.
Without a subscription, the doorbell will ping your phone when someone rings it, and you can view the live feed.
To get the full experience, the doorbell requires a Ring Home subscription, which ups the motion detection smarts and adds cloud storage for video recordings.
Ring Home is Ring’s new subscription plan for its video doorbells, security cameras and alarm system.
It replaced Ring Protect and is similar to Nest Aware that is the subscription service for Nest Cams and Philips Hue Secure, which is the subscription service for Hue’s Secure security range. Arlo also has a subscription service called Arlo Secure so it’s standard practice across user-installed security systems.
There are three Ring Home subscriptions:
- Ring Home Basic – £4.99/$4.99 a month or £49.99/$49.99 a year.
- Ring Home Standard – £7.99/$9.99 a month or £79.99/$99.99 a year.
- Ring Home Premium – £15.99/$19.99 a month or £159.99/$199.99 a year.
With a Ring Home subscription, video is automatically recorded to the cloud. Jump into the Live View section, and there’s a handy timeline below to scroll through past events.
This section can be filtered by event type and date, so it’s generally pretty quick to find an event that you’re interested in, and clips can be downloaded and saved to your phone’s gallery.
In its default configuration, the doorbell will send alerts for any motion it detects, but there are options to reduce these.
Activity Zones let me set areas of the image that I was interested in, ignoring motion outside of them; and, I could turn on Person alerts, so that the doorbell only warned me about people.
These can help a lot, but if you live on a busy street, it’s hard to filter out events taking place beyond your front yard.
With the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro’s radar-based 3D Motion Detection, you can limit motion detection to within your yard, which cuts down on the number of alerts you get and helps prolong battery life.
Incoming rings come through quickly, with an alert sent to your phone. Clean audio and video make it easy to have a conversation with a caller, but there are also Quick Replies so you can send a fast, canned response, such as, “Hi! We’ll be right there.”
This doorbell is compatible with Amazon Alexa only, and Echo speakers can be used as wireless chimes; if you’ve got the likes of an Echo Show 8 or Show 5, you can answer the door directly without having to take your phone out.
Performance
- Sharp daylight video
- Colour night vision is a bit hit and miss
- Useful head-to-toe picture
The main issue with the previous version of this product was that it shot video at a resolution of 1920×1080 in landscape mode, so you didn’t get a very clear view of callers.
With the Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024), there’s the same number of pixels, only the video is shot at a resolution of 1440 x 1440 (150° horizontal and vertical viewing angles), giving a more useful head-to-toe view.
Although a budget doorbell, the quality is pretty good. During the day, callers are sharp and in-focus, although image quality and resolution does tend to drop off into the distance.
There’s an option for full-colour night vision at night, although I found that this needed more ambient light than was available, despite a bright streetlight outside my house.
Rather than full-colour, my night footage had a strange green tinge to it and the video was quite soft.
I preferred the option of standard IR night vision.
I didn’t get much range with this mode, but for close-up callers, I could see them clearly.
Final thoughts
It’s all a matter of what you want, and your setup. If you have an existing wired doorbell, and other security cameras that cover your front yard, the Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) is a cheap upgrade that you can wire into place so you don’t have to remove it to charge.
It shoots good-enough video, and callers are clear and sharp. If you need more control over motion detection and higher-resolution video, the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro is a better choice. If you don’t want to pay for alerts, the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual might be a better choice.
How we test
When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.
Smart video doorbells usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a security camera for a week and deliver a verdict.
Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular video doorbell compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.
Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.
Read our guide on our review process for a video doorbell to learn more.
FAQs
The 2024 model introduces several enhancements, including a Head-to-Toe HD video with a 150° by 150° field of view, providing a taller and more comprehensive view of visitors and packages. It also features Color Night Vision for clearer low-light footage and boasts up to 23% longer battery life compared to its predecessor. Additionally, the mounting system has been redesigned for easier installation and removal, facilitating more convenient recharging.
While the doorbell can function without a subscription – offering live view, motion alerts, and two-way talk – a Ringsubscription unlocks additional features. These include video recording and storage for up to 180 days, photo capture, and smart notifications like person and package alerts. The subscription enhances the device’s capabilities but is not mandatory for basic operation
The 2024 model features an all-new push-pin mount design, simplifying both installation and removal. Users can securely attach the doorbell to the wall mount with a simple push, and when it’s time to recharge, the device can be easily released by inserting the provided push-pin tool. This design eliminates the need for special tools and streamlines the maintenance process.
Specifications
| UK Price | £99.99 |
| US Price | $99.99 |
| Dimensions | 6.19 cm x 2.30 cm x 12.65 cm (4.98 in x 2.44 in x 0.91 in) |
| Colour | Satin Nickel, Venetian Bronze |
| Video | 1440 x 1440 HD Video, Head-To-Toe View, Live View, Colour Night Vision |
| Motion Detection | Advanced Motion Detection with Customisable Motion Zones |
| Field of View | 150° horizontal, 150° vertical |
| Audio | Two-way audio with noise cancellation |
| Power | Runs on a built-in, rechargeable battery. Can be hardwired to an existing doorbell system or transformer for continuous charging (8-24 VAC, 40VA max, 50/60Hz) |
| Internet Requirements | 2Mbps for optimal performance. |
| Connectivity | 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi 2.4GHz |
| Operating Conditions | -20°C to 50°C (-4°F to 122°F) |
| Wiring | Standard doorbell system with 8-24 VAC, 40VA max, 50/60Hz doorbell transformer |
