So, if you’re thinking about getting a doorbell to expand your existing home security system, there are two options: wired and battery-powered. Both have their own unique pros and cons. Which one should you choose? It depends on what you are looking for.
To help you answer those questions, we’ll break down the major differences between them here. Welcome to the wired vs. battery-powered doorbells guide!
Table of Contents
Ring Doorbell: Wired VS Battery-Powered
First, what is a ring doorbell?
A ring doorbell is a smart doorbell that you can install right outside your front door. It comes with a camera and an intercom. It allows you to keep an eye on what’s happening outside your home and even speak with people from a smartphone, tablet, or computer using the Ring app.
This smart home device is also easy to use—you can simply connect it to your WiFi network, download the Ring app on your phone, and then sync it with your doorbell. Place it on your front porch, then when someone rings the bell, it will send an alert to your phone, tablet, or computer so that you can see who’s there in real-time. You can always check the camera’s status with Alexa Devices, Google Assistant, and Nest App, depending on the model and brand you have.
When it comes to Ring Doorbells, there are two main types: wired and battery-powered.
Wired Ring Doorbell
The first thing to consider is whether your doorbell will be hardwired or not. If you choose to hardwire it, you won’t need to worry about batteries dying or running out of juice.
Wired means the doorbell is hardwired into a power source with a plug-in adapter. The Wired Ring Doorbell is basically connected to your home’s electrical system. It is connected to a wall outlet, which does not require batteries or charging. It works by sending signals through your home’s existing wiring.
Pros of Wired Ring Doorbells:
- They’re easy to install—and they’ll work flawlessly for years!
- Wired doorbells are more secure because they don’t use batteries that can potentially run out or be removed by burglars.
- You don’t have to worry about changing batteries or charging them up; just connect them to an outlet, and they’ll work continuously.
Cons of Wired Ring Doorbells:
- More expensive than wireless models because of installation costs. Plus, it requires more work because of that wiring. If you have a lot of experience with electrical work, you can do the installation yourself; if not, it’s best to hire an electrician.
- If your wiring needs updating or replacing, then installing a wired Ring Doorbell might only be possible after making significant changes to your home’s electrical system first or your existing doorbell chime.
- If your home is old and has old wiring, it might be difficult to get the necessary installation done.
To install Wired Ring Doorbell, here’s a video for your guide.
Ring Doorbell Battery-Powered (Wireless)
If you’re looking for an affordable and portable option, a battery-operated doorbell might be your best choice, unlike wired doorbells, which require wiring up to your home’s electrical circuit. This is suitable for you if you’re living in an apartment or renting a house. Wireless doorbells are easy to install as they don’t require any additional hardware or tools. You just place them over your existing doorbell button, and they work immediately!
Pros of Ring Doorbell Battery-Powered:
- It’s easy to install—just stick them on your wall with some double-sided tape (or screw them into place)
- They’re more durable than wired versions because they don’t have fragile cables attached that can easily break off during installation or use.
- They’re more environmentally friendly since there’s no need for messy wires running along your walls indoors or outdoors.
- Wireless doorbells are often cheaper than wired ones because they’re smaller and lighter than most wired models, meaning fewer materials are needed to make them!
- In addition to being lighter, some battery-powered models include built-in solar panels that charge in sunlight for added convenience (so long as you have enough sun exposure).
Cons of Ring Doorbell Battery-Powered:
- If something happens to the battery (like it goes dead or drains), then your doorbell will stop working until it gets replaced again – which could be inconvenient if someone rings your doorbell while you’re away from home, for example.
- Batteries are expensive and need to be replaced every six months—usually more often if you live in an area where temperatures regularly drop below freezing (or below 0 degrees), affecting lithium-ion batteries.
A wireless ring doorbell is much easier to install than a wired ring doorbell; if you want to see how it is done, watch the video below.
Features: Ring Doorbell Wired and Ring Doorbell Battery-Powered
Feature-wise!
Both the Ring Doorbell Wired and Battery Powered are equipped with almost the same wide range of features. These include:
- Two-way Audio– You can speak to anyone who rings your doorbell, and they can talk back. This makes it easier for you to communicate with your visitors or delivery people who may be standing at your doorstep but are too far away to hear you call out.
- Motion Detection– If there’s any movement detected on the porch where you placed the Ring Doorbell, an alert will be sent to your phone and/or tablet so that no one sneaks into your house while you’re busy inside doing other things!
- Live View– You can see and hear what’s going on outside your home or business from anywhere in the world on your smartphone and Nest smart display as long as there’s a WI-FI connection. This feature is great for checking up on your pets while you’re away, staying connected with friends and family when they come over, or even just keeping an eye on packages when they arrive.
- HD Video Resolution– The security cameras come in 1080p HD quality to take beautiful pictures and videos even under low light conditions (think early morning). The cameras also have a wide-angle field of view which cover most areas outside near the front door (and sometimes even inside!). You can have the video clips available on your cloud storage.
- Night Vision– Ring Doorbells have built-in infrared LEDs that allow them to see in the dark. This can help prevent burglaries or other incidents by letting you see if someone is suspicious before opening the door.
- Device Notification –Receive instant alerts when people press your doorbell or trigger the built-in motion event sensors (perfect for home security). This way, if someone shows up unannounced, you’ll know about it immediately!
In addition, the Wired Ring Doorbell has a few features that the battery-powered version doesn’t. For example, it has customizable motion zones like people-only mode and a customizable chime volume and duration.
Cost: Ring Doorbell Wired and Ring Doorbell Battery-Powered
Cost is a major factor in deciding which doorbell to buy. Although wired models cost more than battery-powered ones, you may save money by going for the cheaper model without losing too much quality.
Ring LLC offers cheaper but good quality Wired Ring doorbells like the Ring Video Doorbell Wired and Ring Video Doorbell (2nd gen), which you can buy on their website or on Amazon for $59 and $99, respectively.
On the other hand, Wireless or Battery-Powered Ring Doorbells cost only around $59.99 to $199. However, since it runs on batteries, you’ll have to eventually replace it after months of use.
The battery-powered version of the Ring Video Doorbell comes with a backup battery that can be swapped out for charging if necessary. So you’ll never have to worry about being without your doorbell if the power goes out or your battery dies.
And as mentioned above, some wireless doorbell rings are powered by solar panels for quick charging and cost around 44.99.
The more expensive model for wired and wireless ring doorbells, like Arlo, will offer additional features and options. Still, everyone doesn’t need to have all those extras.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, many different types of doorbells are available on the market. While it can be overwhelming to choose which is right for you, a few things should be considered before making a choice.
What type would be best suited for you: the wired ring doorbell or the battery-powered doorbell?
Take some time before making any decisions, so they don’t bite back later down the road!