Ring Battery Doorbell Plus review

Verdict

The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is a video doorbell for people who cannot or will not wire a doorbell. The battery-powered design means you can fit it without an electrician, which is the main reason to choose it over a wired model. The 1536p HD camera has a head-to-toe field of view, so you can see a visitor and a parcel on the step rather than just a face. Two-way talk, motion alerts and Alexa integration are included, and the app is mature and easy to use.

The catch is the subscription. Without a Ring Home Plan, you get live view and alerts but not recorded video history, which is the feature most people actually want from a doorbell camera. That ongoing cost needs to be part of the buying decision. Battery life depends on traffic and settings; a busy street will drain it faster than a quiet close, and you will need to recharge the pack periodically. Motion alerts can be frequent until you tune the zones. The doorbell also depends on a decent Wi-Fi signal at the front door, which is not guaranteed.

If you rent, if your door has no wiring, or if you are already in the Alexa ecosystem, the Battery Doorbell Plus is a sensible, well-supported choice. If you refuse a subscription or want local storage, look elsewhere. Check the subscription price in your region before buying, because the total cost over two or three years is very different from the headline price, so factor it in before you commit.