Should you go new or go Plus?
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
There are a lot of Ring Video Doorbells aren’t there? Choosing the right one isn’t all that easy, especially as most of them look the same, making it hard (basically impossible) to distinguish between them. Lucky for you, that’s where we come in.
Amazon quietly announced a new Battery Video Doorbell in the middle of August which replaces the previous Ring Video Doorbell (yes, it also doesn’t help that they all have the same name). It launches at the same price but with a few upgrades, putting it in line with the Video Doorbell Plus that sits alongside it in the portfolio.
We have compared the new Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) to the Ring Video Doorbell Plus (2023) below, but we also have a feature comparing the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro (also relatively new) to the Video Doorbell Plus in case you’re considering either of those.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) vs Ring Video Doorbell Plus: Price
The new Ring Battery Video Doorbell that was announced in August 2024 will cost $99.99 / £99.99 and it will be available from September 4, 2024. You can pre-order it now if you want to get ahead and it comes in Satin Nickel or Venetian Bronze color options.
The Ring Video Doorbell Plus arrived in April 2023 and it originally cost $149.99 / £159.99. It’s a little cheaper now though and at the time of writing, the Video Doorbell Plus was on sale too. It’s currently $119.99 / £99.99 which means it is the same price as the new Ring Battery Video Doorbell. It is only available in Satin Nickel but it is compatible with the faceplates sold separately.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) vs Ring Video Doorbell Plus: Installation
Both the new Ring Battery Video Doorbell and the Ring Video Doorbell Plus are battery operated, so they don’t need to be wired in and you should be able to fit both yourself in around five minutes, according to Amazon. We’d add a couple of extra minutes on to that as you will need to attach them to your door or wall, as well as download the app and follow the setup instructions but overall, it’s a simple installation experience for either.
Both are designed to operate in temperatures between -20°C to 50°C (-4°F to 122°F) and both are weather resistant, as you would expect given they live outside your home. It’s recommended you have a minimum upload speed of 2.5 Mbps for the Video Doorbell Plus, while the new Battery Video Doorbell requires a minimum of 2 Mbps to deliver optimal performance.
The Battery Video Doorbell and Video Doorbell Plus both support 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with neither supporting 5 GHz.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) vs Ring Video Doorbell Plus: Design
There is very little difference between the new Battery Video Doorbell and the Video Doorbell Plus in terms of design. Look very closely and you’ll see a couple of minor differences, but on the whole, the two video doorbells look very similar.
The camera lens is slightly bigger on the new Battery Video Doorbell and it doesn’t have the quick release battery so there are no ridges on the edge of the main body. The button is also a little more streamlined on the new Battery Video Doorbell compared to the Video Doorbell Plus but both have the blue LED ring around the button, delivering the signature Ring Video Doorbell look.
Dimensions are slightly different, with the new Battery Video Doorbell measuring 126.5 x 62 x 23mm (4.98 x 2.44 x 0.91-inches) compared to the Video Doorbell Plus that measures 128 x 62 x 28mm (5.1 x 2.4 x 1.1-inches), but we’re talking a matter of millimetres.
We mentioned the quick release battery on the Video Doorbell Plus and that’s probably the biggest difference in design between these two models. The new Battery Video Doorbell requires you to use the included removal tool to unclip it from your wall and bring it inside for recharging, while the Video Doorbell Plus allows you to simply release the battery at the bottom and swap for a spare while the other battery is charging with no need to remove the doorbell from your wall.
The Video Doorbell Plus is also compatible with interchangeable face plates, which the new Battery Video Doorbell is not.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) vs Ring Video Doorbell Plus: Features
When it comes to features, you get almost the same offering with the Battery Video Doorbell and the Video Doorbell Plus, with both missing out on a couple of the features you’ll find on the Battery Video Doorbell Pro for example.
Both the new Battery Video Doorbell and the Video Doorbell Plus have two-way audio with noise cancellation so you can talk to anyone at your door through the Ring app and they can talk back. Both also come with a Head-to-Toe field of view at 150-degree horizontal and 150-degrees vertical, which will allow you to see packages left on your doorstep, for example. That was one of the new features offered on the Battery Video Doorbell compared to the previous Ring Video Doorbell.
The two video doorbells also have Advanced Motion Detection with Customisable Motion Zones, along with customisable privacy settings and Quick Replies to help you answer the door when you’re busy. Elsewhere, there is Live View on both so you can see what is happening as it happens through the Ring app, and real-time notifications will appear on your connected devices when the either of these doorbells are pressed or motion is detected. They also both work with Alexa and you will be able to see their feeds on an Echo Show if you have one.
You’ll find color vision on both video doorbells too, and there are extra features if you have a Ring Protect subscription on both doorbells, including recording and capturing footage or getting person and package alerts. We have an entire separate feature that explains the Protect subscriptions, including how much they cost and what they offer.
Where the Video Doorbell Plus offers an advantage is it slightly higher resolution camera sensor at 1536p compared to the 1440p resolution offered by the new Battery Video Doorbell.
Ring Battery Video Doorbell (2024) vs Ring Video Doorbell Plus: Which one is right for you?
There’s barely any difference between the new Ring Battery Video Doorbell and the Video Doorbell Plus. You get a quick release battery, compatibility with interchangeable face plates and a slightly higher resolution on the Video Doorbell Plus compared to the new Battery Video Doorbell.
When the Video Doorbell Plus isn’t on sale however, the new Ring Battery Video Doorbell is cheaper and offers all the same features. You also get the option of two colours on the new Battery Video Doorbell and it is fractionally slimmer and smaller on the wall.
FAQs
No, you can still use the new Battery Video Doorbell and Video Doorbell Plus without a Ring Protect subscription but you won’t be able to record and save videos and you will miss out on features like person and package detection alerts.
The new Ring Battery Video Doorbell has a higher resolution at 1440p x 1440p, color night vision, person and package detection alerts and a removal tool to unclip the doorbell from the wall for recharging.
