Ring Video Doorbell 4

Verdict

Ring Video Doorbell 4 adds color pre-roll, quick replies, and smooth Alexa integration, but ongoing firmware quirks, grainy pre-roll clips, and limited night vision make it a cautious pick best for people who specifically need a battery-powered Ring doorbell and accept some compromises versus wired models like the Pro 2.

Pros

  • Smart-home integration (Alexa, Google, Siri, HomeKit, Matter, Thread) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.5
    Integrates smoothly with Alexa, automatically linking in the app so Echo smart displays can quickly show live view and announce doorbell events.
  • Notifications ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.3
    Rich notifications are generally reliable and arrive quickly, with snapshot previews and short cooldowns.
  • Pre-roll buffer ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 4.0
    Full color pre roll captures several seconds before motion so you see the whole approach, but current firmware makes exported clips choppy because clips inherit the low pre roll frame rate.
  • Battery & Charging ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
  • Motion detection performance ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0
  • Quick-reply / pre-recorded message usefulness ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 4.0

Cons

  • Video resolution & detail ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 3.3
  • App, software & firmware ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.0
  • Subscription ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 3.0
  • Recommendation for new buyers ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 2 reviews 2.5
    Quick replies, full color pre roll, and solid 1080p video are appealing, but the narrow vertical field of view for packages, privacy concerns, and the availability of better performing wired options like Ring Pro 2 mean this is a cautious recommendation best for buyers who specifically need a battery powered Ring doorbell.
  • Reliability (general) ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.5
    Battery powered design and lingering firmware bugs mean it feels less dependable day to day than Ring's wired doorbells, which reviewers describe as relatively trouble free.
  • Audio ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
    Two way audio works but can suffer from noticeable delay and low volume, making conversations with visitors harder to follow.
  • Complete kit in box ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
    Packaging is minimalist, including only a single faceplate, basic mounting hardware, and a corner mount while omitting extras like a wedge kit or multi bit driver that shipped with some earlier Ring doorbells.
  • Delivery package monitoring ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
  • Faceplate/accessory inclusion ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
    Ships with just one satin nickel faceplate and relies on separate purchases for most alternate colors or wedges, with any digital coupon for an extra plate easy to miss.
  • Field of view & framing ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
  • Low-light & Night vision ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
  • Object & person detection ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
  • Price & value ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 2.0
    At around $200 it covers the basics, but narrow vertical framing, strong competition from Arlo, and the fact that many reviewers would rather pay a bit more for the wired Pro 2 or even choose a cheaper wired Ring make its overall value feel cautious.
  • Privacy ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 1.0
  • Security policy history ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 1 review 1.0