Why I Bought the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
After having two packages stolen from my porch last fall, I decided it was time to get serious about a video doorbell. The Ring Pro 2 caught my eye because of the head-to-head reviews, but I wanted to test it myself before recommending it to anyone.
I’ve had this thing installed for about six weeks now, so here’s what I actually think.
Installation Was Surprisingly Easy
I’m not particularly handy - ask my wife about the ceiling fan incident of 2023 - but I managed to get this installed in under an hour. The hardest part was honestly just getting the old doorbell off because the previous owner had painted over it.
Ring includes these little angled mounting plates which helped because my doorframe isn’t perfectly level. The wiring was straightforward if you’ve ever replaced a light switch. If you haven’t, you might want to watch a YouTube tutorial first or pay the $100 for professional installation.
One thing nobody mentions: you need a pretty strong WiFi signal at your front door. My router is in my office at the back of the house, and I had to add a mesh node to get reliable video.
Video Quality and Detection
The 1536p resolution looks great - definitely sharper than my neighbor’s older Ring doorbell. The 3D motion detection is the real selling point here, and it mostly works as advertised. I can set detection zones so it doesn’t alert me every time a car drives by.
That said, it’s not perfect. Sometimes it misses people who approach from the side, and there’s about a 2-second delay from when someone rings until I get the notification. Not a huge deal, but worth knowing.
Night vision is solid. I can clearly see faces even when it’s pitch black outside.
What I Like
- Setup was genuinely straightforward for anyone with basic DIY skills
- The 3D motion detection cuts down on false alerts significantly
- Video quality is crisp enough to identify faces and read license plates
- Two-way audio works well - delivery drivers can actually hear me
- Integrates nicely with my Echo Show in the kitchen
What Could Be Better
- You basically need a Ring Protect subscription ($4/month) to get the most out of it - without it, you can’t review past footage
- The doorbell itself runs pretty warm, which concerned me at first (apparently normal)
- App can be sluggish, especially when pulling up live view
- No local storage option - everything goes to Amazon’s cloud
The Subscription Thing
Let’s talk about this because it matters. The Ring Protect Basic plan is $4/month or $40/year. Without it, you can only see live video - no recording history, no person detection alerts, no package alerts.
For most people, the subscription is basically mandatory if you want this to function as a security device. Factor that into the total cost.
Would I Recommend It?
For most homeowners who want a reliable video doorbell with solid detection, yes. The Pro 2 handles the basics well and the setup is manageable even if you’re not technical.
If you’re on a tight budget, the regular Ring Video Doorbell (the $100 one) does 80% of what this does. But if package theft or porch pirates are a real concern, the better motion detection on the Pro 2 is worth the upgrade.
Just remember to budget for the subscription and make sure your WiFi reaches your front door.
Prices change frequently - check current deals before buying.