Doorbells play a crucial role in fostering a welcoming atmosphere, enhancing your awareness of any activity outside your home, and providing an extra layer of security and peace of mind.
There are many brands to choose from in Australia. But if you want a Ring doorbell, I’ve handpicked the best available for various use cases.
My Top Picks
Here are my top three Ring video doorbells in Australia:
Ring Video Doorbell Pro
Best wired Ring doorbell with 1536p head-to-toe video resolution, hardwire connection, operating temperature of -20 to 50° C, and 150° field of view.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell
Best value doorbell with 1440p resolution, rechargeable battery or hardwired connection, and a 150° horizontal and vertical field of view.
Ring Video Doorbell Elite
Best premium doorbell featuring 1080p HD resolution, powered by Power Over Ethernet, weather-resistant, with a 160° horizontal and 90° vertical field of view.
Top 4 Ring Doorbells for Australians: Reviews & Comparisons
In the following reviews, I considered each doorbell's power source, installation type, video quality, audio quality, and motion detection to help you select the best Ring doorbell for your use case and budget.
1. Ring Wired Video Doorbell Pro
Best Wired Ring Doorbell
Power source: Hardwired
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ring app
Operating conditions: -20 to 50° Celsius
Field of view: 150° vertical and horizontal
Ring Wired Video Doorbell Pro has a 1536p head-to-toe video that provides a complete image of anyone in front of your doorway. It includes an HDR (high dynamic range), which ensures shadows and highlights are more visible during the day and colour night vision for evenings. In addition, the doorbell's lens has a much wider viewing angle, so you can see when someone is standing on the side or you have a package on the ground.
The wired doorbell has excellent 3D motion detection and recording, capturing movements that approach it thanks to its pre-roll video preview feature. This functionality, coupled with the Quick Replies, two-way talk, and noise cancellation feature, means you can respond to anyone at your door when you’re too busy to answer or don't deem it safe.
The Ring Wired Video Doorbell Pro is compatible with Alexa and the Ring app. Through the app, you get an aerial view that lets you track movements or use the Bird’s Eye Zones to customise where and when to get alerts, allowing you to focus on specific areas of interest. This convenience, combined with its wired connection, means you never miss a thing.
The main drawback of the wired video doorbell is to record and review videos, you need to buy a Ring Protect Plan. Unfortunately, this is very common with most security devices. Its cloud storage also means you lose or get limited access to footage when the Cloud or internet is down.
Pros
- 1536p head-to-toe video
- 3D motion detection and pre-roll video preview
- Two-way talk and noise cancellation
- HDR plus colour night vision
Cons
- No local storage
- Requires Ring Protect Plan for video recording
- Boxy shape isn’t the best design
2. Ring Battery Video Doorbell
Best Value Ring Doorbell
Power source: Built-in rechargeable battery/ Hardwired
Connectivity: Wireless
Operating conditions: -20°C to 50°C
Field of view: 150º
The Ring Battery Video Doorbell is my best value pick. It allows you to monitor your home from your mobile device, enjoy colour night vision, and an advanced motion detection feature for less than A$150. Like the Ring Wired Video Doorbell Pro, it also has two-way talk, Quick Replies, and provides timely alerts through the Ring app. For extra convenience, it’s compatible with Alexa and includes a built-in rechargeable battery to move it around easily.
The third-generation Ring Doorbell has a resolution of 1440p, closer to the 1536p of the Doorbell Pro. So you get good video quality and sharper images. The doorbell's lens also has a wide angle, i.e., 150° horizontal and vertical, for a good view of your doorstep. That aside, you get high motion, good-quality person detection with alerts and adjustable sensitivity.
However, the Doorbell has a few drawbacks. One is the mounting process, especially on uneven surfaces like brick—typical for most doorbells. Charging the battery is also less convenient; while previous models allowed for easier removal from the mount, the 3rd-Gen Ring Doorbell requires the entire device to be taken down, which is tedious if hardwired.
Pros
- 1440p resolution
- Night vision and motion detection
- Two-way talk with Quick Reply feature
- Built-in rechargeable battery
- Alexa compatibility
Cons
- Requires Ring Protect subscription for advanced features
- Battery recharge is less convenient
3. Ring Video Doorbell Elite
Best Premium Ring Doorbell
Power source: Power Over Ethernet
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet
Operating conditions: Weather resistant
Field of view: 160° horizontal, 90° vertical
Ring Video Doorbell Elite is a professional-grade PoE doorbell. This means you can configure the device over a single cable for electrical power and a network connection for reliable and consistent performance. The premium doorbell has the highest price tag on my list, but it backs it up with advanced features and superior performance. For starters, it has a 160° horizontal and a 90° vertical field of view—the widest horizontal field on my list.
You get the essential Ring doorbell features such as Quick Replies, app connectivity and Alexa compatibility, real-time notifications, two-way audio with noise cancellation, motion detection, and live view. The doorbell also packs a resolution of 1080p HD.
You also get infrared night vision instead of coloured. The latter is not necessarily better and largely depends on your use case and surroundings. Infrared vision is ideal for environments with little to no ambient light where stealth is essential and nightime activity needs to be monitored without alerting intruders. However, its monochrome images offer little detail in identification.
Pros
- Interchangeable faceplates
- Single cable for power and network connection
- Wide horizontal field of view
- Infrared night vision
Cons
- 1080p resolution
- Limited vertical view
- Most expensive option
4. Ring Video Doorbell Plus
Best Battery-Powered Ring Doorbell
Power source: Battery-powered
Connectivity: Wi-Fi
Operating conditions: -20.5 to 50° Celsius
Field of view: 150° horizontal and vertical
Ring Video Doorbell Plus has features similar to Wired Video Doorbell Pro—the difference is their power source. The Plus model is battery-powered and portable, whereas the Pro model is hardwired and not easily movable. In addition, the Plus model lacks 3D motion detection and the pre-roll feature. The pre-roll feature allows the Pro model to capture video four seconds before a motion event is triggered, which the Plus does not have.
That aside, both models have a head-to-toe HD video with 1536p resolution and 150° horizontal and vertical field of view. You also get coloured night vision, Quick Replies, package alerts through the Ring app, motion detection with customisable zones, live video, and a two-way talk with noise cancellation.
The Ring Pro Doorbell runs on a removable battery that recharges in 5-10 hours. The recharge time depends on whether the USB cable is plugged into a USB port or a wall outlet. This makes it easier to move around and install without an external power source. However, both devices allow for hardwiring if you find the constant need to recharge too much work.
Pros
- Easy relocation and portable
- 1536p resolution with head-to-toe view
- Removable rechargeable battery
Cons
- No 3D motion detection
- No pre-roll feature
Which Ring Doorbell Should You Choose?
Each Ring doorbell differs in features and performance. Here’s how to decide which model best suits your home’s security needs.
Battery-Powered vs Hardwired
Ring doorbells can be battery-powered or hardwired or battery-powered and/or hardwired. The Pro is hardwired into your home’s power source and connects to your router over Wi-Fi. In contrast, the Elite is hardwired to your ethernet through a CAT cable to supply power and internet connectivity.
Hardwired doorbells are more complicated to install than battery-powered ones. However, they perform better with the constant power supply. Due to their continuous power supply, motion detection, and other advanced features work better with hardwired doorbells.
The 3rd Gen and Plus models are battery-powered, but you can hardwire them to provide a low-voltage trickle charge. When not hardwired, the recharge time can take up to 10 hours for a full charge. To be honest, that’s incredibly long for your home to stay without a functioning doorbell.
3rd Gen vs. Elite vs. Pro vs. Plus
Ring doorbells have the same general features, albeit at varying depths or sophistication. These include motion-activated recordings, two-way audio and noise cancellation, snapshot capture, live view, people-only notifications, quick replies, and Alexa compatibility.
For example, while all Ring doorbells offer motion detection with adjustable or customisable zones, the Pro model includes a bird's-eye view feature that maps your visitors' movements within your property. I’ve summarised all their key features and specifications in the table below:
Pro |
3rd Gen |
Elite |
Plus |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Category |
Best wired |
Best value |
Best premium |
Best battery-powered |
Dimensions (mm) |
114 x 49 x 22 |
619 x 230 x 126.5 |
119.4 x 69.8 x 55.1 |
128 x 62 x 28 |
Power |
Hardwired |
Battery-Powered/ Hardwired |
Hardwired |
Battery-Powered/ Hardwired |
Resolution |
1536p/HD+ |
1440p/HD |
1080p/HD |
1536p/HD+ |
Field of View |
150° Horizontal, 150° Vertical |
150° Horizontal, 150° Vertical |
160° Horizontal, 90° Vertical |
150° Horizontal, 150° Vertical |
Head-To-Toe |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Dual-Band Wi-Fi |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Amazon Alexa |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Video Storage |
Subscription |
Subscription |
Subscription |
Subscription |
Motion Detection |
3D with Bird’s Eye View |
Advanced with Customisable Motion Zones |
Advanced |
Advanced with Customisable Motion Zones |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about Ring doorbells.
Is there a monthly subscription for Ring video doorbells?
Yes, Ring offers optional monthly subscription plans called Ring Protect that provide additional features and functionality for Ring video doorbells and security cameras. Without a subscription, Ring video doorbells still provide basic functionality like live view, instant alerts, and two-way talk, but many advanced features are locked behind the Ring Protect paywall.
Do I need Wi-Fi for Ring video doorbells?
Yes, you need a stable Wi-Fi connection to set up and use Ring video doorbells. Without a stable Wi-Fi connection, you won't be able to receive security alerts or stream live video and audio from your Ring doorbell. While Ring doorbells can still record and save footage locally even when disconnected from the internet, you won't be able to access this footage until the device is reconnected to Wi-Fi.
Do Ring doorbells record footage all the time?
No, Ring doorbells do not record footage continuously or 24/7. They only record video clips when motion is detected or someone presses the doorbell. In addition, without a Ring Protect subscription plan, the doorbell will not record any footage. With a subscription, the doorbell will record short video clips of 15-120 seconds when triggered and store them in the cloud for up to 60 days.
Wrapping Up
The choices are apparent at each price point if you’re in the market for a Ring doorbell. The wired models are pricier than the battery-powered ones, with an uninterrupted power supply that ensures the best performance. In contrast, battery-powered Ring doorbells are less expensive and easier to install.
Deciding which Ring doorbell is best for your home's security depends primarily on your budget and preferences. I recommend the Ring Video Doorbell Pro or Elite for the best Ring offers.