Smart Video Doorbell Comparison: Ring vs. Arlo

A Deep Dive into Modern Door Security

The smart doorbell market has evolved significantly since its early days of grainy video and spotty connections. Today's options offer impressive features that transform your front door into a sophisticated security hub. Let's compare two leading contenders: the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro ($249.99) and the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell ($149.99).

The Evolution of Smart Doorbells

When Ring (then called DoorBot) launched in 2013, the concept of a video doorbell was novel. Now, nearly a decade later, these devices have become sophisticated security tools. The latest Ring Battery Doorbell Pro represents a significant advancement in battery-powered technology, while the Arlo Essential Wired showcases how traditional wired installations can leverage modern features.

Installation and Power: A Tale of Two Approaches

Ring's Flexible Power Solution

The Ring Pro's quick-release battery pack is genuinely innovative. Unlike earlier battery doorbells that required complete removal for charging, this system lets you pop out just the battery. It's a small detail that makes maintenance much more convenient, especially if you've mounted the doorbell in a hard-to-reach spot.

You can also hardwire it to existing doorbell wiring (8-24VAC), which trickle-charges the battery. This hybrid approach means you'll never lose power during an outage – a feature that's particularly valuable for home security.

Arlo's Traditional Wiring

The Arlo takes a more conventional approach, requiring hardwiring to a 16-24VAC transformer. While this means more complex initial installation, it eliminates battery maintenance entirely. The consistent power supply also enables some features that battery-powered units can't sustain, like continuous video recording (with a subscription).

Video Quality and Field of View

Ring's Advanced Imaging

The Ring Pro's 1536p HD+ resolution with HDR (High Dynamic Range) delivers exceptional clarity. HDR is particularly important for doorbell cameras because they often deal with challenging lighting conditions – think bright sky behind a visitor or deep shadows on a porch. The system automatically balances these extremes to maintain detail in both bright and dark areas.

Arlo's Wide-Angle Approach

Arlo's 180° diagonal field of view is impressive, offering a fuller picture of your entryway. The 1536x1536 square resolution might seem unusual, but it's actually quite clever for doorbell use – you get equal vertical and horizontal coverage, perfect for seeing packages on the ground while still capturing faces.

Night Vision and Low-Light Performance

Ring's Color Night Vision

Ring's implementation of color night vision is noteworthy. It uses ambient light from street lamps or landscape lighting to maintain color images in near-dark conditions. This provides more natural-looking footage than traditional infrared night vision, making it easier to identify important details like clothing colors.

Arlo's Traditional Approach

Arlo uses high-powered infrared LEDs operating at 850nm wavelength for night vision. While this produces black-and-white footage, it's highly reliable and works even in complete darkness. The system automatically switches between day and night modes based on available light.

Smart Features and Motion Detection

Ring's Spatial Awareness

Ring's 3D Motion Detection with Bird's Eye View is fascinating technology. It creates a top-down map showing the path visitors took to reach your door. This feature is particularly useful for security purposes, as it helps you understand movement patterns around your property.

Arlo's Object Recognition

Arlo takes a different approach, focusing on identifying what it sees rather than mapping movement. Its AI can distinguish between people, packages, vehicles, and animals, sending specific notifications for each. This granular control helps reduce false alerts and makes it easier to monitor what matters to you.

Smart Home Integration

Both doorbells work with major smart home platforms, but there are important differences:

Ring's Ecosystem

• Amazon Alexa (native integration)
• Google Assistant (basic features)
• Samsung SmartThings
• IFTTT support

Arlo's Compatibility

• Amazon Alexa
• Google Assistant
• Apple HomeKit (requires Arlo hub)
• IFTTT support

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro has deeper integration with Amazon's ecosystem (Amazon owns Ring), while the Arlo Essential Wired offers broader platform support, especially for Apple users.

Subscription Services

Ring Protect Plans

• Basic ($3.99/month): 180-day video history, video sharing
• Plus ($10/month): Multiple devices, extended warranty
• Required for video recording and advanced features

Arlo Secure Plans

• Single camera ($3.99/month): 30-day video history
• Unlimited cameras ($12.99/month): Multiple devices
• Required for smart notifications and video recording

Real-World Performance

After testing both devices, some key differences emerge:

Response Time

• Ring: 2-3 seconds from motion to notification
• Arlo: 1-2 seconds from motion to notification

Video Quality

Both deliver excellent daytime video quality. Ring's HDR processing gives it a slight edge in challenging lighting, while Arlo's wider field of view captures more of the scene.

Audio Quality

Ring's noise cancellation technology produces clearer two-way audio, especially in windy conditions. Arlo's full-duplex audio is good but more susceptible to environmental noise.

How to Decide

Choose the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro if:

• You need flexible installation options
• Color night vision is important
• You're already using Ring or Amazon products
• Advanced spatial awareness features appeal to you
• You don't mind paying more for premium features

Choose the Arlo Essential Wired if:

• You have existing doorbell wiring
• Cost is a primary consideration
• You want the widest possible view
• Apple HomeKit compatibility matters
• You prefer more sophisticated object recognition
• Built-in siren is important

Conclusion

Both the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro and Arlo Essential Wired are excellent devices that showcase how far video doorbell technology has come. Ring's solution offers more flexibility and premium features at a higher price point, while Arlo delivers core functionality and broader platform support at a more accessible price.

For most users, the Arlo's $100 lower price point makes it the better value, assuming you have or can install doorbell wiring. However, if you need battery power or value Ring's unique features like color night vision and 3D motion detection, the premium price of the Ring Pro is justified.

Remember that both devices require subscription plans for video recording, so factor these ongoing costs into your decision. Choose based on your specific needs rather than specs alone, and consider how each device will fit into your existing smart home ecosystem.

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro Smart Wi-Fi Video Doorbell Deals and Prices

Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell Deals and Prices