Ring launches its cheapest connected doorbell yet
$60, but requires a wired doorbell connection.
Amazon-owned Ring is today launching its cheapest smart doorbell, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired, for just $60. The device has an all-new body, which takes design cues from the pricier Video Doorbell Pro, albeit in a much shorter body. Despite the low price, the camera packs a 1080p wide-angle camera, two-way audio and the same customizable motion zones as its siblings.
Naturally, the big omission here is the lack of a built-in or swappable battery, a common feature on the regular Ring range. Given the size, effort and cost of including a cell, it makes sense for the company to offer a bare-bones option, especially given how many people retrofit onto their existing wiring. Plus, at such a low entry price, you may feel encourage to sign up for a Ring Protect Plan subscription.
Unfortunately, Ring is still suffering from a number of privacy issues which it’s working to tackle as fast as it can. In mid-January, just a day after announcing the advent of end-to-end encryption for some of its bells, reports emerged that the Neighbors app exposed people’s precise addresses. Similarly, the company spent much of 2020 dealing with reports of high-profile hacking attempts and third-party app trackers.
The Ring Video Doorbell Wired is available to pre-order from Amazon, Best Buy and Ring right now, and is expected to ship on February 24th. It’ll also be exclusively available at Home Depot from February 24th through March 25th.
