Smart devices are here to stay, providing unrivaled convenience at a high price point. Among these is the Ring Doorbell, allowing you to communicate with people at your door no matter where you are – as long as you have a smart device with you! The price of these devices has many people wondering: why is the Ring Doorbell so expensive?
Ring Doorbells aren’t actually the most expensive doorbells out there, but they might be one of the best. With a cheap subscription, night vision, and 2-way audio communication, the price is rather low compared to the peace of mind you receive from having the doorbell.
This article will go more in-depth about the Ring Doorbell, its pros and cons, and whether it’s worth the upfront investment to get the device ordered and installed.
What Is the Ring Doorbell?
The Ring Doorbell is a doorbell device that allows you to see and talk to people at your door via a camera and a built-in speaker and microphone.
Unlike a regular doorbell, the Ring Doorbell doesn’t alarm you about visitors with an actual chime. Instead, it can directly send push notifications to your phone or smart device to alert you that someone’s at the door.
This doorbell device has some handy features besides the basics. For example, you can change your doorbell’s settings to alert you when someone comes close to your door, thanks to the built-in motion detector in the camera.
By default, you’ll only receive an alert when someone presses the button, so this may be handy to look out for possible intruders or unwelcome guests.
Two-way communication is limited to audio, though you can, of course, see the person standing at your door. They can’t see you, which may be either a good or bad thing depending on your circumstances.
Pros of Ring Doorbells
Safety
The Ring Doorbell is a reliable device that warns you about unknown visitors to lessen the risk of physical harm or a robbery.
Many people have them in lieu of security cameras for the security aspect, although they won’t ever really replace a full security camera set-up.
The ring doorbell is fantastic for someone who just wants a bit more security and peace of mind than what they have now.
A huge bonus is that the Ring Doorbell’s camera boasts a night vision feature! If you’re concerned about possible nighttime dangers around your home, this doorbell cuts through the dark and shows you what’s going on outside.
If you need to scare off an intruder, simply access your Ring app and yell into the microphone. Hopefully, that should be enough to scare off opportunistic thieves looking for a quick payday.
Before, you’d peek out the peephole or even side window to see who was at your front door, and you wouldn’t be aware at all if you weren’t home.
It can be easy to understate, but a constant video stream at your front door that’s accessible from anywhere is a remarkable technological achievement.
Don’t get up to answer that late-night knock – just pull out your phone to see who it is. Ring provides peace of mind, and that doesn’t have a price tag!
Night Vision
Not all doorbell cameras have night vision capabilities, but Ring does.
After dark, the sensors will kick in, and your camera will begin using infrared night vision to enhance the camera’s picture – 1080p and night vision. You’ll have a crystal clear video feed, whether it’s day or night.
Compatibility
Not all smart doorbells feature compatibility with all smart device models, but Ring does.
Doorbell apps are available on Android, macOS, iOS, and Windows devices. Plus, you can access your account from a browser on a computer to view your camera feed in glorious 1080p high definition.
Cons of the Ring Doorbell
Like any device these days, the Ring Doorbell has its drawbacks. Thankfully, these caveats are relatively mild compared to some that cheaper competitors feature.
Nonetheless, it’s important when getting a safety device like camera doorbells to be aware of the weaknesses.
While these look like a lot, we’re only nitpicking slight negative points worth thinking about that might change your mind about Ring.
Thieves Might Want It
I know, I know, it’s kind of funny that thieves would want a device that helps you look out for thieves, but it happens.
Ring isn’t the most expensive device out there, but it’s still an electronic device that can be sold or repurposed by enterprising thieves who can uninstall them quickly.
Thankfully, thanks to Ring’s superb customer service, a replacement comes at no charge!
You Need Strong Internet
Ring Doorbells stream 1080p HD video. This requires a strong home WiFi connection that can keep up with the other internet demands in your household and still be capable of streaming Ring’s video and possibly audio from talking with visitors.
Without a solid WiFi connection, your Ring Doorbell might not perform seamlessly as designed.
Ring Could Lead to WiFi Hacking
While the company insists it’s an unlikely and challenging process, it’s technically possible that a skilled thief could access your WiFi via your Ring Doorbell.
A small orange button on the doorbell connects the device to your WiFi, which a thief can technically use to access your network.
No Two-Way Video
Two-way video communication would be ideal for a smart doorbell as pricey as the Ring line-up, but that would diminish its usefulness on platforms like a desktop PC or a Mac.
If you’re looking for a convenient two-way video feature, Ring may not be your ideal doorbell.
Installation
Ring Doorbells sometimes have specific power requirements that aren’t standard in some homes.
That means you might have to hire a professional to come out and install the doorbell, which not only costs extra but also means that repairs could also require professional servicing too.
Subscription Model
Ring uses a monthly subscription to facilitate your camera’s data storage, but they still work without paying the subscription. $3 a month or $30 a year isn’t that bad, but some people are opposed to subscription models since they seem to be everywhere nowadays.
Battery Life
Ring Doorbells use a built-in battery to power themselves, and the battery should last several months to a year. However, defective batteries can lessen this timeframe, as can using Live View often.
The more activity your Ring Doorbell records, the more battery it’ll use. Keep your battery’s estimated lifespan in mind because you don’t want to check your doorbell from work one day to see that the battery is dead!
Is Ring Doorbell Worth It?
The Ring Doorbell is absolutely worth it. While it can be easy to look at the negative sides of the device and say, “Ehhh, maybe later, or maybe another device,” it’s tough to oversell the security, convenience, and peace of mind that Ring brings to the table.
You never really understand why a Ring Doorbell is worth it until you’re checking your camera at work and telling the delivery man to leave the package on the step – Ring just saved you the pain of retrieving the package from the post office later! On and on, you’ll realize how much time and worrying that Ring can save your household.
Why Are Ring Doorbells So Expensive: Final Thoughts
While Ring may appear expensive at first glance, it helps to realize that the upfront cost of the device and installation is actually rather cheap compared to the extensive usage you’ll get out of the doorbell. You really can’t put a price tag on security and peace of mind, after all.