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Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen, Retinal 4K) vs Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen)
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen, Retinal 4K) ranks higher (#2 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on video quality, app & reliability. Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) wins on smart alerts.
The biggest complaint about the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen, Retinal 4K) is no recordings without a subscription; for the Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) it's subscription needed to see recordings. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen, Retinal 4K) | Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in video doorbells | #2 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | Battery or wired | Battery or wired |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 11% | 19% |
| Overall score | 4.0 | 3.7 |
| Video quality | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Smart alerts | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| App & reliability | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Ongoing cost | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Easy install | 4.5 | 4.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $80 · $$ $80–180 · $$$ over $180. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen, Retinal 4K)
- No recordings without a subscription
Tom's Guide and PCMag both note that you must pay for a Ring plan to save or view any recorded video, and there's no local storage option. Tom's Guide calls it frustrating to subscribe after paying for the device, and says Familiar Faces isn't free.
- High price
PCMag calls it one of the more expensive doorbells it has tested at $249.99. Wirecutter says the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is too expensive for what it delivers. Amazon's summary says some owners feel it isn't worth the hefty cost.
- Night detail, bandwidth and Alexa-only limits
Tom's Guide says footage is good, not great, in complete darkness, and that Ring recommends about 15 Mbps upload for full 4K, so video suffers on slower connections. PCMag notes it doesn't work with Google Home or Apple HomeKit. Tom's Guide also warns its battery pack won't swap with older Ring batteries.
Source: Tom's Guide review, PCMag review
Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen)
- Subscription needed to see recordings
PCMag says local storage isn't an option, and you need an Arlo Secure plan to view recordings and unlock smart alerts. Consumer Reports says there's no free cloud storage and many smart features need a plan. Walmart 1-star reviewers complain about subscription charges.
- Connection, pairing and battery failures
Amazon's summary says some owners report frequent internet connection issues, faster-than-expected battery drain, and units that stopped working after a few weeks. Low-star Walmart reviews describe failed pairing, random disconnects, a battery that wouldn't charge, and no luck with an existing chime.
- Weak privacy, no color night vision
Consumer Reports gives it top marks for security but calls its privacy weak. PCMag notes there's no color night vision and no Apple HomeKit support.
Source: Consumer Reports, PCMag review
Who should pick which
Pick the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro (2nd Gen, Retinal 4K) if
Existing Ring or Alexa homes
Reading details like license plates (10x zoom)
Homes without doorbell wiring
Skip it if: You won't pay for a subscription; You use Google Home or Apple Home; Your upload speed is under about 15 Mbps
Pick the Arlo Video Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) if
Easy wire-free install
Fast, accurate person and package alerts (with a plan)
Alexa, Google, IFTTT and SmartThings homes
Skip it if: You won't pay a monthly fee; You want color night vision; Privacy is your top priority
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