Smart Doorbells

Ring Video Doorbell 2: Get Home Security for Less

The Ring Video Doorbell 2 is one of the most advanced home security products available in the UK. Capable of providing crisp HD video and sound, this nifty little video doorbell supplements or replaces traditional doorbells, taking access control to another level. If you've ever wanted more awareness about who's at the door, or you're worried about elderly relatives, this could be the ideal product to purchase.

However, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 doesn't always come cheap, and finding deals is always advisable. That's where this hotukdeals buyer's guide comes in. We'll run through all of the best ways to save money on Ring Video Doorbells, discuss alternatives, and introduce a few aspects of how to use this innovative security device. But before all of that, let's take a quick journey into the past, to understand where Ring comes from.

A Brief Look at the History of Ring

Ring itself is a relatively new brand. The company was founded in 2013, and quickly gained a reputation as a trend-setter, attracting seed capital from basketball superstars, and appearing on nationwide American TV shows. But unlike some faddish companies, Ring didn't burn brightly, only to fizzle out. It took its early success and created the Ring Video Doorbell. In the process, it captured a huge chunk of the growing market for smart alarms and entrance systems.

The original Ring Doorbell also captured the attention of Amazon, which was on the lookout for ways to complement its Alexa smart home system. With its wifi-based connectivity, HD video, and customisation options, Ring's security products were the perfect fit, and the companies merged in 2018.

Since then, the company has diversified, adding a Pro version of the original Ring Doorbell, and also introducing the Ring Video Doorbell 2. Responding to the proliferation of smart home tech, the new Ring Doorbell improves on its less sophisticated little brother in many ways, providing a totally new way to secure UK homes. But how does it work and what exactly does it have to offer?

The Ring Video Door Bell 2: Core Features

At its core, the Ring Video Doorbell series is quite simple. All models in the family include a camera and two-way microphones, which attach to existing doorbells or replace them entirely. The whole ensemble resembles a traditional doorbell, albeit with a camera visible above the button. But when you dig into the system's features, a range of aspects emerge that sets the Ring Video Doorbell 2 apart.

• 1080p Video – Unlike the original Ring Video Doorbell, the 2nd iteration has upped its video resolution to 1080p – ensuring absolute clarity about who is ringing the doorbell, and whether they are known to the occupants of the property involved. Cameras can be rotated through 160 degrees, and also include night vision systems, so owners will be protected 24 hours a day.

• Live View – If you want to see what's going on outside your home, you can use your phone or issue Alexa with a voice command to access the Ring Video Doorbell's camera at any time. That's really handy for taking deliveries, or when you're running late and need to know when visitors arrive outside.

• Two-way Microphones – The Talk setting on the Ring Video Doorbell 2 allows users to chat with visitors, even if they are miles away. Clear audio allows you to understand why visitors are attending your property and makes it easy to ascertain whether access should be allowed.

• Motion Sensing – The Ring Video Doorbell 2 comes with high-tech motion sensing components that can tell if someone is in the area around your doorway. Unlike the earlier version, the 2nd Ring Doorbell allows users to set motion sensing zones, making the risk of false alarms much lower. Alerts can be sent to laptops or phones as desired, keeping you in the loop at all times.

• Smart Compatibility – Ring Video Doorbells now work seamlessly with Amazon Alexa (not to mention Samsung SmartThings and Google Home). They are ideally suited to slip into an Echo setup, allowing you to issue commands and check your external view whenever the need arises.

• Easy charging – Batteries can easily be removed from underneath the Ring Faceplate, and with fast charging technology, your doorbell can be back in action in minutes. Batteries are long-lasting as well with ratings of 6-12 months, so you should only need to recharge every year or so.

• The Ring Video Doorbell 2 App – The standard Ring App lets you use your smartphone to set custom motion-sensing zones and chat via the two-way microphone. But it can also be enhanced via Ring Protect. This subscription-only service allows users to store 30 days of video on Ring's secure Cloud servers. A 30-day free trial is available for all Ring owners, so be sure to give it a try. It could make the difference between identifying an intruder and falling victim to property crime.

Video: Introducing the Ring Video Doorbell 2 [Ring UK & Ireland]

Ring Video Doorbell 2 Specs

The best way to assess any tech products is to take a quick read through their basic specs, and this is definitely true of Ring's Video Doorbells. For comparison, here are the specifications for both the Ring Video Doorbell 2 and its cheaper predecessor, the original Ring Video Doorbell.

Firstly, the Ring Video Doorbell 2:

• Dimensions – 12.83 x 6.35 x 2.74 cm

• Video capture – 1080p HD, with night vision capabilities

• Field of Vision – 160 degrees

• Motion detection included? - Yes, with the option of creating custom fields

• Wifi required - 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection @ 2.4 GHz

• Recommended internet speed – 1mpbs minimum, 2 mbps recommended

• Temperature range - -20 to 50 degrees centigrade

• Colours – Venetian bronze and Satin nickel

• Battery life - 6-12 months

And the original Ring Video Doorbell:

• Dimensions – 12.65 x 6.17 x 2.21 cm

• Video capture – 720p HD, with night vision capabilities

• Field of Vision – 180 degrees

• Motion detection included? - Yes

• Wifi required - 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection @ 2.4 GHz

• Recommended internet speed – 500kbps minimum, 1mbps recommended

• Temperature range - -20 to 50 degrees centigrade

• Colours – Venetian bronze and Satin nickel

• Battery life - 6-12 months

What Can the Ring Video Doorbell 2 Actually Be Used For?

By now, we've got a pretty good idea of what the Ring Video Doorbell 2 has to offer, but what can it really be used for? Is it the essential security tool that Amazon tells us it is? Well, there are certainly a range of potential benefits of installing smart, video doorbell technology.

• See and speak to visitors – The vast majority of people simply open their door when the bell is rung, and that's usually absolutely fine. But what if the person on the other side didn't have your best interests at heart? A video access system gives you a good heads up regarding the identity of any visitors, so you can tell whether they are friends and relatives, strangers, sales professionals, or anyone else.

• Protection for vulnerable individuals – Access control is a handy feature for anyone, but that's especially true for people with physical vulnerabilities. Many people install systems like the Ring Video Doorbell 2 to help elderly or frail individuals protect themselves. If nothing else, it provides peace of mind.

• Track deliveries – One of the handiest aspects of video doorbell technology is the ability to call up Live View and see whether a delivery has been made. That's great for instances where delivery companies literally fail to deliver, but you can also use the voice microphone to provide instructions about where packages can be left if you aren't around.

• Make it easier to hear the doorbell – For many people, traditional doorbells just don't work. It's easy to place yourself in locations just out of earshot or play music too loud to hear when people arrive. With a video doorbell installed, you can receive smartphone alerts, or use a Chime accessory to feed audio alerts to your attic, shed, or anywhere else.

Ways to Purchase a Ring Video Doorbell 2

Ring Video Doorbells don't tend to come in a wide range of styles. There are two colours (Venetian bronze and satin nickel), and that's about as far as the buying options go – at least for the video doorbell itself. Customers do have the option of adding extra products to their purchases, and that can be both cost-effective and a way to enhance the product's capabilities.

Most importantly, you may want to hunt around for a Ring Video Doorbell 2 and Chime bundle. The Chime is also a Ring product and integrates with Video Doorbell technology seamlessly. These compact accessories are essentially a kind of smart speaker, which extends the range of Ring Video Doorbells. Using standard wifi networks, the volume of Chimes can easily be altered with the Ring App, and the “Do not Disturb” setting turns them off entirely. You can also schedule this to kick in after a certain time, ensuring that your nights aren't disturbed by alerts.

Aside from bundles, buyers will need to decide where purchase their Video Doorbell 2. Amazon is obviously a good place to start, particularly if you have a Prime subscription (and especially when Prime Day is in full swing). But plenty of UK retailers cater for the video access market, and all of the major merchants will be covered by the hotukdeals Ring Video Doorbell 2 listings.

What Has Ring Video Doorbell 2 Review Feedback Been Like?

Before you rush to Amazon to purchase a Ring Video Doorbell, why not consult the experts to make sure that Ring's product is among the best in the business? As usual, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 has been put through its paces by the tech media, and – as you'd expect from Ring – the outcome has been plenty of positive feedback.

PC Magazine surveyed the video doorbell scene and highlighted the Video Doorbell 2 as one of the best around. It praised the ease of installation, the ability to use hardwired or battery power, the customised motion detection settings, and the ease of hooking up Ring doorbells to Alexa. The magazine wasn't so excited about the need to take out Ring Protect subscriptions to access video storage, but the bottom line was clear: the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ideal for users who want a simple, wireless access management option.

Expert Reviews also took on the Ring Video Doorbell 2 and came up with a very similar judgement. Awarding the new Ring Video Doorbell 5 stars out of 5, the website was enthusiastic about the device's easy installation, video quality, audio options, and “reasonable” price point – at least compared with alternatives from Nest. On the negative side, there wasn't much to say, beyond noting that Chimes may be needed for larger homes and a few gripes about motion detection. But overall, the magazine was very positive.

That's the most common response from industry journalists. But what about customers? Feedback at Amazon ranges from glowing to damning – as with almost any product you can imagine. On the debit side, some commenters note lag between the doorbell ringing and video kicking in (which may be due to the speed of local wifi networks), and unreliable performance. Some users report very short battery times, some criticise the quality of motion detection, while some report that video recording doesn't actually start when visitors arrive – so they only receive footage of people leaving.

That's not a universal experience, by any means. The quality of the user experience will often depend on how well the Ring Video Doorbell 2 is setup, and speed is a major issue. But it's worth bearing in mind that Ring's products aren't perfect, and buyers should always weigh up alternatives.

Comparing the Ring Video Doorbell vs Ring Video Doorbell 2 Models

With a price difference of £50 between the two devices (or more in some cases), some customers will gravitate towards the original Ring Video Doorbell instead of its successor. But is this a good idea?

As you can see from the specification sheets quoted above, there are some obvious technical differences between the two devices. The original Video Doorbell provides 720p video, compared to 1080p – and that's a noticeable difference. The Ring Doorbell 2 has more comprehensive smart tech compatibility, so you'll have a much better chance of syncing it to Google Home, the night vision is considerably enhanced, and the removable battery makes charging much easier.

Basically, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 offers improved video and ease of use, while the original model is cheaper. Both deliver excellent performance compared to older video access systems, and both work well with Alexa and conventional smartphones. So think a little before choosing the more recent model. The older model, with an additional Chime speaker on the side, could represent better value for money.

Ring Video Doorbell 2 Installation: Is It Simple Enough for Most Users?

When setting up smart security systems, nobody wants to wrestle with complicated circuit diagrams and run the risk of shorting their home wiring. With that in mind, many users will want to know, does Ring Video Doorbell 2 have to be hardwired? If so, this adds complexity to the operation, and would probably necessitate the use of professional electricians.

However, as we've noted already, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 can be powered by its removable rechargeable battery or run via mains electricity. There have been reports that Ring Video Doorbell 2 battery life isn't as long as it should be, so users may prefer to hardwire their doorbell. And if so, it's a good idea to bring in the experts.

On the other hand, Ring offers demonstration videos regarding physical installation, and if you follow these closely, there's no reason why you can't succeed.

In any case, users will need to configure their Ring Video Doorbell 2 with their smartphone and smart tech systems. Doing so is very simple.

• When the battery has been charged, users need to download the Ring App onto their phone.

• Next, place the charged battery in the doorbell casing, and press the connection button on the right-hand side of the case.

• Now, you can use your phone to choose the Ring Wifi Network. After that's done, you'll need to enter your wifi password to allow the Ring Doorbell to communicate via your home wifi.

• If you have an existing wired doorbell, you'll also need to make sure that it's been properly disconnected. After that, your Ring Video Doorbell 2 is ready to use.

• If you want to set up the Ring Video Doorbell 2 with Chime accessories, setups will become a little more complex, but overly so. Adding Chimes is very simple, and almost certainly won't require expert help.

Finally, when installing the device, you may want to consider the question is Ring Video Doorbell 2 waterproof? There's a good reason for this. While the Ring Video Doorbell 2 has been engineered to handle extreme temperatures, it's not so adept at handling torrential rain, and there have been reports of devices failing during periods of very wet weather.

Because of this, it's best to assume that the Video Doorbell is less than 100% waterproof. It may also be wise to attach some kind of metal or plastic hood above the doorbell (without obscuring the camera), providing an effective shield for the doorbell's fragile components.

How and When to Secure the Cheapest Ring Video Doorbell 2 Deals?

In recent years, homes have been provided with a host of new security tools, including Ring's hugely successful Video Doorbell series. So why not take the plunge and replace your tired old ringer with a slick, super-smart Amazon entry management system? Well, there's one good reason that deters many people, and that's price.

The Ring Video Doorbell 2 retails for well over £100, and when you add in installation costs, Chime speakers, and subscriptions to Ring Protect, that cost can increase significantly. But that doesn't need to be the case. If you shop smart, you can smarten up your home security at a Ring Video Doorbell 2 sale, and the hotukdeals Ring Video Doorbell 2 listings is the place to do so. Our listings feature the latest deals from merchants like Currys, Argos, John Lewis, AO.com, BT Shop, Toolstation and Amazon.

When you shop, bear in mind that timing your order can make a difference. Unsurprisingly, Amazon Prime Day is a good time to find Ring bargains, so waiting until mid-Summer could make sense. Black Friday/Cyber Monday in November is another prime bargain-seeking occasion, and the New Year could be worth a look as well.

Install an Affordable Smart Security System with the Ring Video Doorbell 2 Offers at hotukdeals

The Ring Video Doorbell 2 can be wireless or hardwired, provides 1080p HD video, allows owners to talk to visitors without opening the door, offers motion sensor alerts that can be precisely tailored to individual needs, and even lets you check footage from your doorway while you are taking a break at work. In short, it's a cutting edge home security product, and anyone who wants to boost their domestic security can find the very best Ring Video Doorbell 2 prices at hotukdeals.