Smart devices are everywhere, and they seem to be gaining in popularity. One such device would be the vide doorbell. In summary, the video doorbell is a device that is connected to the house Wi-Fi and alerts the homeowners of movement outside their door but is it necessary?
2021 Ring Doorbell 4 Update:
The new RING Doorbell 4 was released, and it is very similar to the Ring three-plus.
Pros: The only major update is it has a full-color pre-roll.
Cons: Not yet updated with the Windows Ring app.
The Ring Doorbell 4 is currently the same price, so it’s a no-brainer to get that instead of the ring three-plus.
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Well, there are some cases when there is nobody in the house. Expected packages can either go missing or haphazardly thrown around. Other times, talking to strangers is simply a daunting task.
Most video doorbells enable the homeowner to communicate with those on their doorstep from anywhere. Homeowners can comfortably talk to people without having to get up and open the door and they can do the same whether they are in the office or on vacation.
Though not advertised to used mainly for security video doorbells make good security devices. Any suspicious activity happening during the day or night would be recorded and an alert sent to the phone. It is nifty.
The very first video doorbell was created by Ring. Since then, Ring has become a household name among those who use video doorbells. Recently, their newest model, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus was released, and they have made notable changes.
Table of Contents
Advantages and Disadvantages
First and foremost, the pros and cons. As mentioned, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus comes with a few, newer improvements. However, despite these improvements and features, the ring doorbell is not one-hundred percent perfect. There will be some disadvantages, but rest assured, there are more advantages.
Wireless but can be hardwired to keep the battery charged
1080p quality video
Supports Alexa and IFTTT applets
Pre-roll feature
People Only Mode
Quite pricey at $199.99
Requires a Ring Protect Plan to have access to older footage
Despite the motion detection improvement, there is still a significant amount of false alarms
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Features
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is the third-generation model of the popular Ring Doorbell series. It is a small battery powered device equipped with a camera and microphone that lets homeowners view who may be at their doorstep and communicate with them. However, it does more than just that and these features will be discussed in more detail here.
Since the Ring Doorbell 2, there have been some improvements to old features and new features have been added.
Motion Alert
The most important one would be the Pre-Roll feature, which is exclusive to the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus. Before a motion is triggered and an alert is sent to the phone, the pre-roll feature makes use of a three, small, low-powered cameras that capture 4 seconds of video preceding the motion alert.
Why is This Important?
In the previous versions of the ring doorbell, the camera would only activate when motion has been detected. An alert would then be sent to the phone in the form of a push notification.
By then, the person who triggered the motion alert would either be standing too close to the camera, making it impossible to see their features clearly or they would have already walked away.
The pre-roll feature makes it possible for homeowners to clearly identify who is approaching their doorstep. These pre-roll cameras are always deleting and overwriting footage to lessen the impact on battery life.
As great as this feature is, it only works during the day. These four seconds of video are recorded at a lower frame rate and resolution than 1080p with no audio and in black and white.
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Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus includes enhanced features such as adjustable motion zones – including the added rear zone that reduces false notifications – and dual-band wifi connectivity. And with extended 4-second Pre-Roll that lets you see what happened before motion was triggered, you’ll always know who’s at your door.
Ring App Features
The Ring app is an application that one can download onto their Apple or Android devices. It connects to the doorbell and enables homeowners to change the settings.
Within the app is the option to activate the Person Detection feature. With this, the homeowner would be notified every time a person approaches the door. Even with motion detection set at its most sensitive, this feature would only alert the homeowner of people on their doorstep.
There is an option to turn this feature off. However, users of the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus may have issues with how many false alerts they get.
The app offers another feature that even the neighbors will appreciate. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has a Privacy Zone feature that allows homeowners to black out what the camera sees in certain sections.
The app features Disarmed, Home and Away buttons that will change the settings of the Ring doorbell depending on the homeowner’s status. Near these buttons are the Nearby Incidents and History button. The Nearby Incidents informs the homeowner of any criminal activity happening in the neighborhood.
The History button shows a timeline of events that occurred during the day. Users have an option to view or delete these motion events. If the homeowner has a Ring Protect Plan subscription, then the option to download the videos becomes available.
Wi-Fi Connectivity
Another added feature would be the dual-band Wi-Fi (either 2.4 or 5.0 GHz). In the previous versions the doorbells would only be able to connect to a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection and if there were many people in the house using the same Wi-Fi, it could “congest” the airwaves.
The dual band Wi-Fi reduces lag and makes viewing live footage smoother. Communicating with those standing at the doorstep would be a lot smoother too.
For those who want to extend the Wi-Fi range of their video doorbell, Ring offers the Chime and Chime Pro accessories each at $30 and $50, respectively. These accessories plug into an outlet in the home and extend the Wi-Fi range of the doorbell. It also has around 30 chime tones to choose from because it is after all, a doorbell.
However, for the dual-band feature, the Chime pro would be a better choice because of the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus’s dual-ban Wi-Fi capability.
Since the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is a wireless model, 24/7 recording would be impossible. However, Snapshot Mode makes up for it. Snapshot Mode takes snapshots at certain intervals during the day and with subscription, they will be saved to the Ring cloud. That way, homeowners can still have an overview of what is happening around their home for most of the day.
Although not common, it is still possible for the Ring doorbell itself to be stolen. Ring has designed this product in such a way that it would be difficult to physically remove the device without the proper tools.
However, if the device is stolen within one year, Ring would give out a free replacement. If the homeowner has a Ring Protect Plan subscription, the warranty is extended.
Design
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus does not look that much different from the previous models. Ring decided to keep the glossy black and silver finishes.
The device is divided into two parts. The smaller, glossy black, top part of the doorbell is where the cameras and microphone are situated. The bottom part of the doorbell is the silver cover where the button resides. The faceplate is silver by default but there is an option to change it into Venetian bronze.
Remove the cover and a battery compartment, a reset button and 4 mounting holes will be found.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is slightly larger than the Ring Doorbell 2. It stands at 5.1 inches long, 2.4 inches wide and about 1.1 inch thick. Unlike its predecessors, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is a wireless model. That being said, the reason for its bulkier size is due to the rechargeable, removal lithium battery.
It does have the option to be wired in. The back panel contains 2 wire terminals should the homeowner decide to keep the battery on charge at all times.
To get the full benefits of the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus, it would be advisable to invest in the Ring Protect Plan. Without this subscription, the most one can get from the doorbell would be live footage and notifications of activity. Pre-roll activity would just be shown as a picture within the picture of a live feed.
Subscriptions range from $3 to $10 a month depending on which benefits suit the homeowner the most. The $3 dollar subscription will enable videos from one camera to be uploaded onto a cloud drive. Within the next 60 days, homeowners will be able to access recordings. The $10 subscription enables homeowners to cover any amount of security cameras from anywhere.
Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus includes enhanced features such as adjustable motion zones – including the added rear zone that reduces false notifications – and dual-band wifi connectivity. And with extended 4-second Pre-Roll that lets you see what happened before motion was triggered, you’ll always know who’s at your door.
Installation
Installation is easy.
The box contains the doorbell and a couple of mounts depending where the doorbell would be placed. The mounts include a corner and wedge mount. A screwdriver and a small spirit level come in the package as well. However, there is a “no nails” option which would be a mounting plate.
It does come with a drill bit and screws needed for the mounting bits. In this case, the only thing the homeowner would have to provide is a drill.
Before mounting the device, it is best to first charge the battery and then set the device up in the Ring app. As mentioned before, the Ring app is compatible with both Apple and Android devices.
Once installed, there will be an option to either log in or sign up for an account. On the dashboard there will be an option to “set up a device”. Select “doorbells”.
The instructions are straightforward and consist of specifying location and naming the device to differentiate it from other Ring doorbells in the area. Connect the device to the Wi-Fi and test if it works. If it does, then simply mount the doorbell onto a surface.
Performance
The camera quality is at 1080p with a 160-degree horizontal and an 80-degree vertical field of view – an improvement compared to the previous models of the Ring models. The app can help customize the size of the motion detection zone.
The Motion Wizard is a straightforward and simple way of configuring the settings but there are more options that one can manually adjust.
One such option would be turning the motion detection on or off for one of the three sections in the motion detection zones. It is possible for a tree or bush to blow in the wind and set off a motion trigger. Customizing motion settings could help avoid such a situation.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has Night vision. The camera makes use of four infrared LEDs for a black and white video. The quality decreases but not to the point where it would be difficult to identify the faces or features of people.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is impressive because it does not have to be wired in. As advertised, battery life is supposed to last around six months. Depending on the amount of footage the doorbell captures in a day, battery life may either last or get depleted quickly. Living in places where the temperature drops can also reduce performance.
Charging the battery would take approximately five to ten hours. During this time, if the device has not been wired in, then one would have to wait until the battery has been fully charged to use the doorbell again.
One suggestion would be to purchase a second battery for rotation, but this would count as an extra cost.
One subtle feature the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus has is their updated privacy and security controls. Previously, many users were worried about their cameras being hacked. Now, two-factor authentication is needed for all accounts and a Control Center where you can access privacy settings has been added to the app.
Answer the door from anywhere and watch over your home in 1080HD video full head to toe view with Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2. You’ll get mobile alerts when anyone comes to your door, so you can see, hear and speak to visitors from your phone, tablet, and PC.
Who Should Get This?
Those who are thinking of getting a doorbell that doubles as video surveillance, but may be new to the whole thing, this model is an excellent choice. Installation is easy and the rechargeable battery avoids the hassle of setting up wiring.
Although the default settings are good enough, homeowners have the option to customize the settings to tune the device and utilize its features to the fullest.
This device would be great for those who would not mind paying each month for the Ring Protect Plan. It is not needed as live footage will still be shown through the app, but the subscription enables homeowners to download video and snapshots.
One other thing that makes this device so good among those who have never used video doorbells before is that Ring has great customer service. Should any complications arise, simply call and they are willing to help.
The Bottom Line
As mentioned above, Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is quite pricey, but it does offer features that are usually found in more expensive models. One thing for sure is that this device does the job, so those who choose to purchase one will get value for their money.
There is also the option to connect it to Amazon’s Alexa and IFTTT applets. The only downside to this is that there is no compatibility with other virtual assistant AI such as Apple Homekit or Google Assistant, although an update was promised for the Apple Homekit.
It is easy enough to use, just set it up to the Wi-Fi and it will send alerts and live feed directly to the homeowner wherever they may be. Open the app and the most important information is showed.
Overall, there is a balance of user convenience and great design. The device is easy to install. The new features are handy, enabling homeowners to keep the privacy of their neighbors safe, detecting people so that there are less false alarms and an extra four seconds of video among other things.
With this device, homeowners no longer have to worry about whether their family members have gotten home safe or if they will ever find out who is stealing packages off the porch. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus handles it all.
With this device, homeowners no longer have to worry about whether their family members have gotten home safe or if they will ever find out who is stealing packages off the porch. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus handles it all.
Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus includes enhanced features such as adjustable motion zones – including the added rear zone that reduces false notifications – and dual-band wifi connectivity. And with extended 4-second Pre-Roll that lets you see what happened before motion was triggered, you’ll always know who’s at your door.
HOW DO I KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS AT THE DOOR IS THERE A BELL TO PUT INDOORS OR SHOULD IT GO TO THE PHONE? I PAYED TO HAVE SOMEONE INSTALL THE SYSTEM BUT I GET NO NOTICE SOMEONE IS AT THE DOOR WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
You should get the Ring Chime