Video doorbells have become enormously popular in recent years as a way to help keep households safer. These high-tech smart cameras can be a great way to give homeowners more peace of mind by deterring burglars and other unwanted guests.
But given all the options available on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is the best video doorbell for you. To help you make a better decision, this review compares the ring leader against three of the best alternative video doorbells on the market.
This article consists of the following sections:
- Why the Ring 4 is King
- Functions and Features
- Ease of Use
- Biggest Downsides
- What Are the Best Ring 4 Alternatives?
- Alternative #1 – Arlo Essential Video Doorbell
- Alternative #2 – Nest Doorbell Cam
- Alternative #3 – Eufy Video Doorbell Dual
Why the Ring 4 is King
Ring is the company that created the video doorbell market, which is why many people choose them over the competition.
The familiar design and sleek finish of the Ring 4 gives it a timeless appeal that isn’t too much different than the original video doorbell the company first released about a decade ago.
This is perfect because porch pirates are well-aware of Ring’s famous design and tend to avoid targeting homes where they see them installed.
Ring 4: Functions and Features
Inside the Ring 4 there is a 1080p camera with a 160-degree field of view, a motion detector, dual-band WiFi, and a two-way intercom system that connects to your phone, computer, or Amazon smart display.
Motion detection with the Ring 4 includes adjustable zones and full-color pre-roll alerts. Owners of the Ring 2 and Ring 3 are already familiar with pre-roll, however, the Ring 4 is the first one to deliver full-color capability.
The “Quick Replies” feature is also pretty neat. It’s like voicemail for your doorbell. As you’d imagine, this is perfect for accepting packages, food deliveries, or even contact information from door-to-door salespeople.
Ring 4: Ease of Use
Installation couldn’t be simpler as the Ring 4 is designed to work wirelessly or it can be hooked up to your current wiring.
Keep in mind that if you go wireless, that includes the added hassle of recharging the removable battery about once every six months or so. Connecting the Ring 4 to your existing wires means no more recharging, but it doesn’t trigger your home’s built-in doorbell chime as you’d expect.
To hear a sound, you’ll need to buy a Ring doorbell chime or link the doorbell to an Echo or some other Alexa-powered smart speaker. Alternatively, you can rely solely on your phone for the chime, if you prefer.
Configuring the Ring 4’s settings is fairly straightforward. The simplest way to make changes is via voice-based Alexa commands. For more in-depth control, you’ll need to use the highly intuitive Ring mobile app or connect via a web browser.
Ring 4: The Biggest Downsides
- Illogical 16:9 Aspect Ratio
Perhaps the biggest downside is the somewhat odd and illogical 16:9 aspect ratio they decided to use. While 16:9 is great for Youtube videos or movies, it’s not exactly great for fully capturing people (or animals) when they come up close.
In practical terms, this means you have to choose to position the camera pointing upwards to see full faces but not packages or downward to keep an eye on packages but not faces.
- Unsavory Relationship Law Enforcement
Ring has long had a questionable relationship with law enforcement, often empowering investigators to circumvent due process procedures and covertly access troves of personal information about the owner’s family, friends and neighbors captured on camera.
The company has tried to be more transparent in recent years by adding safeguards and input from users.
- Requires A Monthly Subscription
To get the full features and functions that the Ring 4 is capable of delivering, you have to pay an ongoing monthly subscription of $3 for one or $10 for multiple doorbells.
This is a huge bummer and a trend that we’d like to see go away.
What Are the Best Ring 4 Alternatives?
While we believe the Ring 4 is a great choice for anyone looking for the best video doorbell camera, there are several alternatives available that are also worth considering.
Ring 4 Alternative #1 - Arlo Essential Video Doorbell
Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Pros
The Arlo Essential Video Doorbell is a great alternative to the Ring 4.
Buyers can choose between the $200 wireless (battery-operated) version or the cheaper (and more capable) wired version.
Something the wired version offers that’s not yet available on the Wireless Arlo Essentials Video Doorbell is “foresight”, which works just like Ring’s pre-roll feature.
As for the camera, the Arlo records at 1536 x 1536 meaning it has a 1:1 aspect ratio so owners can see more of a person who is up close to the camera as compared to the Ring 4.
Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Cons
As mentioned above, more and more video doorbell companies are trying to squeeze additional money from customers by feature-locking certain capabilities unless you pay an ongoing monthly subscription.
Unfortunately, Arlo is no different. To unlock its full power, you’ll have to pay $3 for one or $10 for multiple devices (same pricing as Ring).
Also since Arlo is a newer company, they’re still working out certain kinks that Ring had figured out throughout its existence.
One such example is the non-intuitive app that requires its users to jump through hoops just for simple things like adjusting activity zones or reconfiguring smart notifications.
- Reliable Indoor & Outdoor Video Doorbell Wired/Wireless: Watch, listen and talk. Monitor your home, property and keep your loved ones safe with 2K video quality. A video doorbell home monitoring system that is IP65 weather resistant.
- Arlo protects your everything. Including your privacy: At Arlo, we are as passionate about privacy as we are about safeguarding your home & family. Arlo is designed to keep your personal information private and in your control.
- Don’t miss a moment with the Arlo App: Get real-time notifications with motion activation & live video streaming in the Arlo app. Includes remote siren activation, night vision, built-in camera spotlight & large field of view (180 degrees).
- Get more with an Arlo Secure plan (paid plan required): Share & store video for up to 60 days, know more with personalized alerts for Person & Vehicle Recognition, plus get alerts for Packages, Animals, and Fire Detection.¹
- Expert support at your fingertips: Access help through the Arlo app and connect with our community to learn and share. 24/7 chat support available via app or website. Product use & support for United States only.
Ring 4 Alternative #2 - Nest Doorbell
Nest Doorbell Pros
Another great alternative to the Ring 4 is the Nest Doorbell, Google’s latest entry into the video doorbell market.
The latest Nest Doorbell takes everything that made the last Nest model great and builds upon it. Similar to the Arlo, the Nest Doorbell has a wired version and a battery-powered wireless model. For the most part, both devices are the same except that the wired model is capable of 24/7 video recording and is smaller when compared to the battery-powered model.
One of the coolest features that separates the Nest Doorbell apart from the competition is its “Familiar Faces” feature.
As the name implies, this allows the Nest to recognize friends and family and send out alerts that include their names This “magic” relies on powerful AI behind the scene, a domain that Google specializes in.
Other powerful AI-based features of the Nest Doorbell include package drop off and pick up notifications as well as robust image recognition powers that vastly reduce the number of false positive alerts compared to Arlo and Ring.
The Nest Doorbell packs an HD camera that delivers a 145-degree field of view and a portrait mode 3:4 aspect ratio.
Nest Doorbell Cons
As for the downsides, there aren’t many.
Perhaps the biggest letdown is the camera’s poor night vision.
Also, considering this is a Google product, we found the app interface to be subpar, especially compared to Ring’s simple, straightforward mobile app.
Lastly, they also follow that pesky feature-locked subscription model like the other video doorbells on the list. Nest’s pricing is different, charging $6 per month for unlimited cameras through its Nest Aware subscription service. However, to unlock the full power, which includes 24/7 video recording with 10 days of history, the price is $12 for unlimited devices.
- The wired Nest Doorbell can tell the difference between a person, package, animal, and vehicle; get alerts about the things that matter most to you, no subscription required[1].Field of viewe : 145° diagonal with 3:4 ratio
- Get peace of mind knowing you can check your video doorbell 24/7 without having to recharge batteries[1]
- See what you missed with 3 hours of free event video history included in the Google Home app; watch 2-second previews and 5-minute clips of important activity
- The Nest Doorbell requires the Google Home app and a free Google account; it’s not compatible with the Nest app or the Nest site
- Get up to 30 days of event video history and familiar face detection with a Nest Aware subscription, or choose a Nest Aware Plus subscription for even more benefits, like up to 10 days of continuous video recording[2,3]
Ring 4 Alternative #3 - Eufy Video Doorbell Dual
Eufy Video Doorbell Dual Pros
With a price close to $260 for the wireless model, the Eufy Video Doorbell Dual is at the higher end of the video doorbells on the market. And it’s also one of the few video doorbells that boasts a dual-camera array.
The main, front-facing camera has a 4:3 aspect ratio and 2K resolution. Meanwhile, the downward-facing camera is 1080p and is there to keep an eye on your packages.
Having two cameras eliminates that fish-eye image distortion that video doorbells are known for.
Another plus is the fact that the Eufy comes with Homebase, a hub that empowers the device to record videos locally rather than in the cloud.
During our testing, we noticed an average delay of 7 to 10-seconds between an event and the alert. Keep in mind that all video doorbells have some amount of lag. Ring devices tend to be the quickest with an average delay of 5 to 7 seconds during our tests.
Considering the steep price, we had hoped that the Eufy’s lag would at least be on par with Ring devices.
And this brings us to the downsides of this device.
Eufy Video Doorbell Dual Cons
The first and biggest downside for most buyers is the sky-high price.
Another downside is the lack of video quality despite the 2K resolution camera. This is mostly a problem with the main camera at distances greater than 10 feet or so. Beyond this point, details can be hard to make out versus some other video doorbells we’ve tried.
And similar to the Nest, which has bad night vision capabilities, the Eufy is equally as bad, if not worse. Even during the daytime if conditions are cloudy or overcast, the images are less than ideal considering it has 2K resolution.
- Dual Cam Technology: The view offered by ordinary cameras is just too limited to provide complete protection. With the Porch View Camera, blindspots are eliminated and your doorstep is in full view.
- Dual Motion Detection: The advanced PIR and radar motion sensors are able to distinguish both near and far subjects and reduce 95% of false alarms.
- Delivery Guard*: Get instantly notified when your package arrives with Delivery Guard. Plus, you'll receive pick-up reminders and alerts if someone approaches your package.
- 2K with HDR: 2K HD surveillance ensures visitors can be identified from the details. And thanks to high dynamic range, visitors who are backlit by the sun can be seen in perfect color and clarity.
- Note: Wi-Fi only connects to 2.4GHz networks. Compatible with Homebase 3 already.
In Closing
After reading this article, we hope you have a much better idea of the different types of security doorbell cameras available and which one might be right for your home.
So, which video doorbell camera is right for you? Let us know in the comments below.
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