Which Ring doorbell should I buy? A simple guide to the different options

Ring is the brand behind many of the best video doorbells on the market. The brand makes a range of hardwired and battery-powered doorbells, but most of them look roughly the same, so figuring out which one you need can be tricky. Below you'll find a straightforward guide to your options, including the key differences to look out for, whether hardwired and battery is better, and how the specs compare across the models.

These doorbells are widely available to buy from various retailers, but Ring's parent company is Amazon, so that's generally your best bet for the lowest prices. There's an Amazon Prime Day coming up (June 23-26) and we're pretty confident we'll see some strong discounts across the Ring range, so now's a good time to shop.

Read on for a closer look at your Ring video doorbell options, and all the information you need to figure out which one's right for your home.

US — Ring doorbell options

UK — Ring doorbell options

Battery vs hardwired Ring doorbells: which should I buy?

The first thing you'll need to decide when picking up a Ring doorbell is whether you want a battery powered or hardwired model. There's also the option of using a plug-in adapter with one of the hardwired doorbells, which lets you connect it to a regular power outlet if you don't have doorbell wiring already in place.

The general consensus online is quite strongly in favor of hardwired options. Although these are slightly more involved to install than a battery powered bell, if your have a standard doorbell/transformer setup (with 16-24V) already in place, swapping in the Ring model should be relatively straightforward. Many people will be able to do it themselves, but you could also get a professional in.

The main complaint around the battery options is that they're slower to respond and the video clips are shorter than on the hardwired versions, in a bid to save power. That, and you'll have to remember to charge them up every few weeks. Ring does sell solar charger mounts ($44.99 / £39.99), but they will need to be in a relatively sunny spot, with 3-4 hours of direct sunlight a day, to make a difference.

What's the difference between the different Ring doorbells?

Once you've decided on battery or mains-powered, your next decision is which model to opt for. There are standard, Plus and Pro options to choose from, as well as a super-pricey Elite wired option. One key difference is the image quality — cheaper models offer 2K picture, whereas the pricier models will serve up the much clearer and more zoomable 4K. More expensive models also have more advanced night vision, which might be important if you're dealing with nocturnal disturbances.

Also look at the Wi-Fi setup — the basic Ring doorbells only support 2.4GHz connection, whereas more advanced options will work with 5GHz Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi 6. That could mean a more reliable connection.

Key specs compared

Below, I've pulled all the main specs into tables for you to compare. Yes, that is tables plural, because the US and UK ranges are ever-so-slightly different. I'll start with the US specs.

Note that all options have two-way talking, head-to-toe view, a weather-resistant build. With a subscription, all offer package alerts.

Now for the UK Ring Video Doorbell models and their main specs:

What's a Ring subscription and do I need one?

With any of the Ring doorbells, you have the option of upgrading your experience with a monthly subscription. The primary features this adds are video playback for up to 180 days, and smart alerts (for people / packages / vehicles). There's a Ring Multi subscription if you have more than one device to support, and a Pro subscription that offers video descriptions. You can find out more at Ring's Subscription plan page.

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