I upgraded to the flawless Ring Battery Doorbell Plus – it's impressively intuitive, long-lasting, clear, and well worth the investment

As a certified Ring doorbell lover, getting to test the brand new Ring Battery Doorbell Plus was a real treat, and I'm still loving using it.

It's a huge upgrade from my previous Ring Video Doorbell 4, with stellar video quality, brilliant audio, and even color night vision. What's more, the battery life is super competitive, and I haven't even had to charge mine once.

Here's why I think it's one of the best wireless doorbells on the market.

My one-minute verdict of the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

Since installing the Ring Video Doorbell a year and a half ago, I've been a big fan of their products, and the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus available at Amazon has proved to be no exception.

It's easy to use, easy to monitor, and the sound and video quality are second to none, and most importantly, a huge improvement on my previous model.

It's also an extremely reliable home security tip, with an exceedingly long battery life of six to twelve months on a single charge, depending on usage, motion detection settings, and outdoor conditions, like temperature.

The two-way talk feature is also amazing for feeling safe at home, as is the color night vision, and I really appreciate the ease of setting up customizable privacy zones and motion detection zones, as I live on a busy road. This means the camera is never set off randomly at night by people or cars passing by.

As I already had a Ring doorbell installed, I didn't find installation difficult at all, but without that, I did find the instructions a little confusing, to be honest. But once in place I've had no further issues, so it was worth the need for a few DIY tips in my opinion.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Specifications

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Installation and setup

When it comes to installation, I was coming at this from a slightly different angle, having already had a Ring doorbell installed at my door. That also meant I already had a spare battery charged and ready to go, but, if you don't, you'll need to charge up the battery included in the box for eight to ten hours, or overnight, before installing it.

Once that's done, you're ready to begin installation, which is where I found the included installation instructions confusing. That being said, if you have a Ring doorbell, you'll have a phone to go alongside it, and the instructions on there were much easier to follow. Even then, I was sometimes left confused.

For example, the instructions would state to use the screws from 'A,' referring to the labelled envelopes pictured above, but there were two 'A' bags and two 'B' bags. While it wasn't too hard to work out which the instructions meant, with included images, it was a bit tricky without much clarity at all, particularly as the screws are quite small.

For that reason, I'd say you really can't set this model up without using the online manual, and you'll also need another manual if you need information on how to use the wedge kit. You'll also need a Phillips screwdriver with a thin profile, which isn't included. Other than that, the box contains everything you need, whether you want to wire it in, or opt for the renter-safe home security option like me, and the Ring site deems the installation time to be approximately five minutes.

That being said if, like me, you're upgrading your current Ring doorbell, it was super handy that this model is the exact same size as my last, which meant I didn't have to make any more holes in my walls, or even change out the mounting wedge I already have installed. One thing to note, though, is that it was a little fiddly to get the old one actually off the wall, as you have to unscrew four screws from underneath the mount, but it wasn't too problematic.

And, once my doorbell was in place and up and running, set up on the app was incredibly simple and quick, including connecting the doorbell to the WiFi and installing an update.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Video quality

Daytime: In the daytime, I was seriously impressed with the quality of the 1536p HD+ Video. Faces are clear and easily recognizable, whether they're up close to the camera or standing side-on and facing the door, while the fish-eye lens means it's even possible to identify the size, details and branding of a package which has been left at the door. For that reason, I definitely consider this a smart-tech gadget that will transform your home.

The app will also notify you as to whether it's a person or a package detected at the door, although will usually send a notification of a person and then for the package they've left, which is no bad thing in my opinion. My house is slightly set back from the road, so I can't read registration plates, but can easily identify passing cars.

You can also select 'live view' on the app to get a visual of the outside of your home at any given moment, which is an amazing security measure for feeling safe at home, and view 'missed rings' easily, too. I have the motion sensitivity set to just slightly past the midpoint of minimum of maximum, adjusted on a sliding scale, just to make sure it doesn't go off every five minutes. I've also enabled 'Smart Alerts' which means I get recordings and alerts if a person is detected in my pre-set motion zone, but not if it's a vehicle or classified as 'other motion.'

Nighttime: The color night vision of this doorbell is seriously good – in fact, it's almost as good as that during the day. As the night vision kicks in automatically when a person or motion is detected, you can still easily recognize faces, handy if packages or food deliveries arrive late, and it does pick up motion just as quickly as during the day, which is a real win for me.

Dynamic light: I haven't had any issues with my Ring Battery Doorbell Plus struggling to balance bright and dark areas, or washing out faces, and have found it to work well in all weather conditions, from bright and sunny days to rainy, dreary conditions.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Audio quality

Thanks to the clever noise-cancelling feature of this doorbell, when people come to the door, it's easy to hear them clearly, without any interference from the busy road where I live, or the wind in bad weather conditions. It's amazing in action if you watch back the footage – as soon as someone rings the doorbell, all other noise is diminished completely, focusing solely on their voice, which is a huge pro if you live in a busy city like me.

I also live under a flight path and next to a busy railway, and this has never affected my doorbell, either.

It works both ways, too – people at the door can also hear me clearly, and I haven't experienced any echoes or delays when trying to answer the door quickly on the app. This is particularly handy if you're upstairs at home and don't have the time, or the health, to run quickly to the door and answer for a package, or see who is at the door.

All of these are reasons that video doorbells are smart-home features designers love, and I can totally see why.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: App and smart features

I'm not particularly tech-savvy at all, but the Ring app is easy to navigate, intuitive, simple to use, and reliable, without any crashes or bugs.

All of the menus, including devices, history, settings and Ring plans, are easy to find via the top left corner hamburger menu, but you will sometimes need to click through a few to find exactly what you're looking for.

The best part of the app is how easy it is to click straight to live view from the main dashboard, and how easy it is to check a past event from the past 180 days and download clips straight from the app to your camera roll, even if you're not tech-inclined. I have an iPhone, although I'm sure it works just the same if you're an Android user.

The Ring Doorbell Battery Plus only works with Alexa, unlike models like the eufy e340 video doorbell, which works with Google Voice Assistant devices too, but as I'm someone who's yet to set up a smart home, and isn't particularly clued up on the ways voice assistants can be used, this wasn't an issue at all for me, but might be something to keep in mind.

In the three weeks I've been using this doorbell, the real-time app alerts have always been accurate and extremely punctual, and I love the way the notification shows a mini preview of who is at the door, so I don't have to actually click through the app at all if I don't need to, although this is only included on the higher band of subscription models, and not the basic one.

It also pings on my Apple Watch, which is helpful if you have one, and features package detection and quick replies.

Ring Doorbell Battery Plus: Motion detection and notifications

As mentioned, the motion sensor sensitivity of the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus can easily be altered according to your preferences. Mine is set to 'regularly' check for motion, which means it takes a short break after each motion alert, and therefore offers a medium battery life. If you opt for 'frequently' the motion detection will always stay active, significantly reducing the battery life, whereas 'periodically' will take a longer break after each motion alert, and provide the maximum battery life.

You can also snooze notifications for a selected period of time, which can be handy if it's busy outside.

As part of the setup, I also altered the motion zones to cut out the busy road next to my house and stop my doorbell from going off whenever anyone or any car passes, which was super simple and easy to do, and didn't impact the quality of the video at all.

I've also never experienced a false alarm with my doorbell, meaning it has only notified me with reason, like if there's someone at my door or a package being delivered. When there is someone there, my phone buzzes instantly, and my Ring Chime, available at Amazon as an additional extra, goes off at the same time, playing round the house to let me know there's someone or something there, even if I don't have my phone on me. This is handy as I tend not to carry mine around the house at all times.

The doorbell also begins recording before a person actually reaches my front porch, as seen in the image above, which is ideal if you're looking to secure your home without a security system. For me, this was an add-on as I already have a system, but I still appreciate the feature. Once I do click on a notification, it opens very promptly, both on the preview version and on the app.

Additionally, the app connects quickly to the doorbell anywhere I am around the house, although it is important to note that I have invested in particularly quick Wi-Fi, which may play a big part.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Power and battery life

According to Ring, with normal, day-to-day use, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus will last for between six and twelve months on a single charge. You can also wire it in, if you prefer.

I charged my old model roughly every two months, and this one uses the same battery, so I'll be interested to see whether it really does last as long as they state. I do live in a very busy household, though, which could play a part, with lots of people coming and going at all times of day and night.

It's very easy to recharge – all you have to do is remove the two security screws with the included screwdriver, pinch either side of the faceplate and pull it off, then pull the battery out the bottom.

I actually keep a spare battery on hand and charged up, so I don't have to spend any extended periods of time without my doorbell up and running, but it's not a problem if you have to wait – you'll just have to listen out for your door in the traditional way. You can buy a Ring Rechargeable Quick Release Battery Pack available at Amazon, which is compatible with the Ring Video Doorbell 2, 3, 3 Plus, 4, Plus, Pro, Peephole Cam, Solar Floodlight, as well as the Stick Up Cam Pro, Spotlight Cam Plus, and Spotlight Cam Pro.

You can also power your doorbell with a solar panel, which is a great feature if you prioritize features of sustainable design.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Connectivity and reliability

In all the time I've been using my Ring Battery Plus Doorbell, I haven't had any issues with it disconnecting from the Wi-Fi, or had any frequent dropouts.

I also haven't had any issues with it not working when far away from the Wi-Fi router, although, as mentioned, my Wi-Fi connection at home is strong.

I've also not had any issues getting notifications via 5G when I'm out and about, so I haven't missed any events or activity at any time.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Privacy and security

You can set up a password, passkey, or two-factor authentication on your Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, for extra login protection, and set privacy zones to block out your neighbor's property.

In my case, I actually used this feature to block out the road, as I don't need notifications from that, but don't have any neighbors directly where my doorbell faces. If I did, I would definitely block out their home, to protect their privacy.

It's super easy to drag the privacy zones on the app, and very customizable in terms of how you want the shape to be, meaning you can adjust it fully based on your surroundings.

The videos are stored in the cloud on Ring's services, provided you have a subscription plan. If you don't, it won't store any videos, as there isn't any local storage, which is a downside for those who don't want to deal with monthly fees.

It's very easy to share access to your doorbell with people in your family, for example, and all you need is their email address to send them an invite.

The app is very transparent about how your data is handled, and you can also customize it based on your preferences. For example, under the 'Privacy information' menu, you can click through to 'Data management' and request a copy of your data, manage third-party access, and even delete your data.

Ring Battery Doorbell Plus: Price and value

The Ring Doorbell Battery Doorbell Plus comes with everything you need to set it up, including a wedge kit, mount, charging wire, and a sticker that you can pop on your window to alert people that they're being recorded.

The cost of the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus, when not on sale, is $149.99 at Amazon, or you can opt for a bundle which includes a chime for $179.99 at Amazon.

Importantly, I pay for the 'Home Standard' subscription, which is $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year, for my ring doorbell, which stores up to 180 days or video event history, and boasts extended live view, video preview alerts, multi-cam view (if you have more than one Ring doorbell set up) and even doorbell calls.

Most of these features are included in the Home Basic plan, which is $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, and you'll still get person, package, and vehicle alerts, and 180 days of video event history, but it's something to consider. You also don't have to pay any subscription costs at all, and you'll still receive instant notifications, be able to use Live View to see what's happening in real-time, and be able to conduct two-way conversations with visitors, but you can't record video or review previous footage, which I suppose aren't necessarily essentials.

Alternatively, you can pay $19.99 a month, or $199.99 a year for the Premium plan, which includes everything in the 'Home Standard' subscription, plus the ability to search for videos with Smart Video Search, video descriptions, SOS emergency responses, and more.

Overall, I would definitely consider the Ring Doorbell Battery Plus good value for money, particularly if you're able to snap it up on sale, and would certainly recommend it to others who are in the market for one.

Wondering about how other smart-tech gadgets will transform your home? Investing in smart bulbs, smart blinds and robot vacuums can all make a real difference to your space.