Ring’s Entry-Level Video Doorbell Gets A Hardware Upgrade And Sleek Solar Charger Option
Like the original, the new Video Doorbell can be run off your existing wired doorbell connection, which makes setup a breeze. Or you can rely on the removable battery pack for power, which will last between 6 months to 12 months per charge depending on the number of alerts you receive per day. It can be easily removed and recharged via an included microUSB cable.
With regards to specifications, the new Video Doorbell seemingly takes the place of the Video Doorbell 2, which has since been discontinued. You get all of the hardware capabilities of the Video Doorbell 2 -- including two-way talk, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and 1080p video recording -- for just $99 instead of $199. Other features that are carried over include Privacy Zones that allows you to designate "off limits" areas within the camera's viewing area and Modes, which is a newly introduced software feature that provides three operating modes (Home, Away, and Disarmed).
The second-generation Ring Video Doorbell will ship on June 3rd (preorders are now open) and will be available with a new version of the Solar Charger accessory. Ring offered a Solar Charger with the first-gen Video Doorbell, but this latest revision is only compatible with the second-gen model (likewise, the Solar Charger for the first gen is not compatible with the second-gen). Ring says that the Solar Charger for the second-gen Video Doorbell will ship in July priced at $49.
