Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 review
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Which? verdict: Rings the Best Buy bell
We were impressed with the standard Ring Video Doorbell Pro, making it a Best Buy, and so it’s little surprise that its successor makes that grade, too. It’s a fantastic smart doorbell, but it’s a shame that some functionality requires an additional subscription.
- Good video quality
- Clear sound
- Easy to use
- Reliable notifications
- Good range of features
- Probably requires professional installation
- Video storage needs a subscription
Ring Video Doorbell 4 review
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Which? verdict: Say hello to your new smart doorbell
The fourth generation of Ring’s standard doorbell is an excellent and good value product. The Arlo doorbells are also Best Buys but, if you like the Ring brand, you can’t go far wrong with the Ring Video Doorbell 4.
- Simple to use
- Possible to install yourself
- Reliable notifications
- Good video quality
- Useful features
- Removable battery
- Video storage requires a subscription
Arlo Video Doorbell Wire Free review
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Which? verdict: Excellent alternative to the Ring
It’s a solid, functional and nicely designed smart doorbell that’s easy to use, looks good and can potentially be installed yourself. It’s a shame you can’t store videos free of charge, but that’s the only thing wrong with it.
- Good video quality
- Clear sound
- Easy to set up and use
- Reliable detection and notifications
- Video storage and advanced detection requires a subscription
- Unclear how long doorbell will be supported with updates
Arlo Video Doorbell review
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Which? verdict: Superb smart doorbell from Arlo
We’ve retested this Arlo smart doorbell and it’s now a Best Buy. It’s easy to use, has some good features and impressive video quality. You can rely on it as a digital assistant for your front door, but do bear in mind that some functions are locked behind a subscription.
- Great video quality
- Easy to use
- Responsive
- Good motion detection
- Well-designed app
- Not true multi-login option
- Probably requires professional installation
- Subscription required for cloud storage and notifications
- No clarity on updates
Ring Video Doorbell Pro review
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Which? verdict: A consummate pro
Alongside the Arlo Video Doorbell, the Ring Doorbell Pro is among the best video doorbells you can buy. It’s an excellent device packed with features, and the mains power means you won’t need to worry about battery life. There’s now also an updated model – the Ring Doorbell Pro 2 – which is also a Best Buy.
- Good video and sound quality
- Easy to use
- Great mobile app
- Accurate motion detection
- No need to worry about battery life
- Requires a wired installation
- Cloud storage needs a subscription
Ring Video Doorbell Elite review
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Which? verdict: Stylish smart doorbell for the design conscious
Without doubt, the Ring Elite is an excellent product, but whether it’s worth the money is down to your desire for a more stylish and discreet-looking doorbell. The Ring Pro and Arlo Video Doorbells aren’t exactly chunky, yet are a lot cheaper, so they could offer better overall value for money.
- Sleek and discreet installation finish
- Coloured face plate options
- Good video and sound quality
- Easy to use
- Accurate motion detection
- Useful features
- Expensive to buy
- Requires professional installation
- Cloud storage requires subscription
Ring Video Doorbell Wired review
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Which? verdict: Cheap and largely cheerful
Although it falls short of being a Best Buy, this Ring doorbell offers an awful lot for the price. There are a few limitations, such as the need for a subscription, but if you want a good, cheap smart doorbell, look no further.
- Simple to use
- Good daytime picture quality
- Cheap to buy
- Reliable detection and notifications
- Requires a wired installation
- Video storge locked behind subscription
Nest Doorbell (Wired) review
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Which? verdict: Good picture quality has flown the Nest
The Nest Hello was one of the best doorbells we tested, but the Nest Doorbell (wired) falls short of that level. This is largely due to the video quality, which has got notably worse. Better smart doorbells are now available.
- Responsive
- Accurate motion detection
- Useful features
- Simple to use
- Mediocre video quality
- Subscription required to access full functionality
- Requires professional installationv
Eufy Video Doorbell review
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Which? verdict: Shouldn’t be your first choice
With decent video quality, local video storage and an easy-to-use app, this Eufy smart doorbell is worth considering for your home. However, bear in mind that there are better options available from Ring and Arlo.
- Good video quality
- Easy to set up
- Simple to use
- Various useful features
- Free local storage
- Online storage requires subscription
- No clarity on software update support period
Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus review
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Which? verdict: Good, but pricey, smart doorbell
Now that the Ring Doorbell 4 is out, there’s no clear reason to buy the Ring Doorbell 3 Plus. It has been superseded by other models and will soon go off sale.
- Removable battery pack
- Easy to use
- Excellent mobile app
- Accurate motion detection
- Clear sound quality
- Customisable motion alerts
- Subscription required for video storage
Ezviz DB1C review
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Which? verdict: Falls short in several areas
Although the Ezviz DB1C has fared better in our testing than the DB1, it still falls far short of the level at which we would consider recommending it. There are better, and cheaper, doorbells available to buy, such as the Ring Video Doorbell Wired.
- Local storage for video clips
- Fisheye distortion on picture
- No clear update policy
- Clunky app
- Requires a hardwired installation
Ring Video Doorbell Gen2 review
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Which? verdict: Lags behind newer rivals
The Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen) is now looking rather long in the tooth. The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is better and, even if you still want a battery-operated doorbell, there are superior options available.
- Simple to install yourself
- Easy to use
- Excellent mobile app
- Accurate motion detection
- Video and sound quality could be better
- Battery isn’t removable so need to factor in recharge time
- Subscription required for video storage
Marmitek Buzz LO review
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Which? verdict: Marmitek misses the mark
On one hand it’s a simple, straightforward and affordable smart doorbell; on the other, it’s clunky to use and picture quality is nothing to shout about. The Ring Doorbell Wired is better and half the price.
- Local video storage option
- Tricky to install yourself
- Clunky to use
- Artificial picture quality
- Weak audio
- No clarity on software updates
Netatmo Smart Video Doorbell review
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Which? verdict: Fails to justify the high price
Considering that this is one of the most expensive smart doorbells that we’ve tested, you would expect a lot more quality for your money. It’s best to look beyond this mediocre smart doorbell and go for a better option.
- Local and cloud video storage don’t require a subscription
- Mediocre picture quality
- Weak sound
- Overly basic app
- No clarity on software update policy
Ezviz DB1 review
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Which? verdict: Not a doorbell worth ringing
Although there are aspects to like about this Ezviz doorbell, such as the choice of free local storage, setup is awkward, the app is clunky to use and video quality is mediocre. This doorbell was reviewed under our old test programme. We are confident in the results, but the score and star ratings should not be directly compared with newer tested models.
- Crisp details in video view
- Local SD storage
- Noticeable fisheye on video
- Some infrared reflection at night-time
- Awkward to set up
- App rather cluttered
- Online storage requires a subscription
Swann Wire-Free 720p Smart Video Doorbell review
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Which? verdict: Slow, hard to use and unreliable
Although the presence of local storage is a positive, there’s no reason at all to buy this smart doorbell from Swann. You pay more for this slow, laggy and hard-to-use doorbell than the Ring Doorbell Wired, yet you get nowhere near the same level of quality. This doorbell was reviewed under our old test programme. We are confident in the results, but the score and star ratings should not be directly compared with newer tested models.
- Local storage doesn’t require a monthly subscription
- Slow response speed
- Hard to use
- Limited motion detection
- Mediocre video and sound quality
- Easy to steal
homeguard GuardianEye Pro review
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Which? verdict: Not fit to guard your home
What do you call a smart doorbell that doesn’t ring? The Homeguard GuardianEye Pro, it appears. Almost everything about this smart doorbell has a problem of some description. This doorbell was reviewed under our old test programme. We are confident in the results, but the score and star ratings should not be directly compared with newer tested models.
- OK video quality at day and night-time
- Motion detection and alert system appears broken
- Cloud storage works only intermittently
- Local storage basically doesn’t work
- Dreadful to use
- Some security concerns
