Ring has just unveiled an update for its cheapest Video Doorbell model (known, simply, as the Ring Video Doorbell), which is available to pre-order now from Amazon for £89/$99/AU$199, and releases on June 3rd.
The headline upgrades are that it now has 1080p Full HD video (the last version was just 720p), it offers better night vision, new privacy blocking for sections of the video feed, and updated control over motion zones.
• Order the new Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) for £89.99 from Amazon UK
• Order the new Ring Video Doorbell (2nd Gen) for $99.99 from Amazon US
Video doorbells are hot stuff right now, while everyone's stuck doing most of their shopping online – you don't want to miss that vital package, and a smart doorbell tells you on your phone when someone's there no matter where you are.
The Ring Video Doorbell has two-way communication, so you can ask someone to drop off a package if you don't want to come face to face with them, and with its motion detection and night vision, it also acts as a security camera on the front of your house.
You'll need a Ring Protect subscription if you want to store cloud recordings of what it sees, but you can view live video and get alerts from the doorbell without any payments beyond what the doorbell hardware costs.
The new privacy mode enables you to literally black out portions of the video, such as your neighbours' windows, if you want to offer them protection from the camera's eye.
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As with all Ring doorbells, it can run totally wirelessly from a battery that lasts for months at a time in our experience, or you can power it from existing doorbell cabling.
If you've been looking for a smart video doorbell upgrade that doesn't break the bank, this looks ideal.
Be sure to check out our Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus review, which shares a lot of features and technology with this new cheap Ring Video Doorbell model, because it's impressed us a lot. And we've got our guide to the All-new Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen) vs Ring Video Doorbell 3, explaining the differences between the cheaper and more expensive models.
- More of the best video doorbells
- The best smart security cameras
Matt is T3's former AV and Smart Home Editor (UK), master of all things audiovisual, overseeing our TV, speakers and headphones coverage. He also covered smart home products and large appliances, as well as our toys and games articles. He's can explain both what Dolby Vision IQ is and why the Lego you're building doesn't fit together the way the instructions say, so is truly invaluable. Matt has worked for tech publications for over 10 years, in print and online, including running T3's print magazine and launching its most recent redesign. He's also contributed to a huge number of tech and gaming titles over the years. Say hello if you see him roaming the halls at CES, IFA or Toy Fair. Matt now works for our sister title TechRadar.
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