Ring Pro Video Doorbell Gets Better Motion Detection, Video

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On Wednesday, Ring revealed the Ring Pro, a refreshed version of its popular video doorbell. The Pro corrects two of the previous generation product's biggest problems: wonky motion detection and mediocre video quality. The company, led by serial entrepreneur James Siminoff, recently scored some $61.2 million in Series C funding. It needs the cash to keep up with the more than 50,000 orders per month.

The Ring Pro offers what Ring calls advanced motion detection. It allows homeowners and small businesses to fine-tune the shape of the areas scanned for motion. The idea is to help reduce the number of false positives, or motion readings from things that aren't of concern, such as passing cars or neighbors walking the dog. (This is an issue my original Ring doorbell struggled with, forcing me to turn off motion detection entirely.) The motion zones are managed through the Ring mobile application, which is available for Android, iOS, and Windows 10 devices.

Ring Pro ups the video ante as well, and now captures video at 1080p HD resolution. The improved video clarity provides a better look at the person or persons who've rung the bell, and a cleaner recording of motion events. The Ring Pro includes LEDs for improved night vision. The camera captures a 160-degree angle of view, which means it can see almost everything in front of it.

The new video doorbell features a revised design. The unit is 1.8 inches wide, which is significantly narrower than its 2.45-inch predecessor. Moreover, Ring Pro includes four exchangeable faceplates (in black, silver, white, and brown) to allow for a greater degree of personalization. It is weatherproof and can handle temperature extremes between -5°F and 120°F, as well as driving rain, sleet, and snow. Ring claims the unit is theft-proof, and will replace any Ring Pro that is stolen for free.

The Ring Pro ditches the (rechargeable) battery of the original in favor of power provided by a wired doorbell. The kit includes a bracket that slides over the existing doorbell wires. The Ring Pro offers bank-grade encryption and operates on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi networks. When the doorbell is rung, or motion is detected, the Ring Pro alerts homeowners via the mobile app. Homeowners can then view who's at the door via the video feed and "answer" the door from their phone via a two-way voice call.

[Read IoT Reality: Smart Homes Not Smart Enough Yet.]

The Ring Pro does not record video for free. Ring offers a 30-day trial, after which users need to pony up some cash. At $30 per year, which includes six months of recordings, it's hardly expensive. For comparison sake, the Nest home security camera costs $100 per year for 10 days of recordings or $300 per year for 30 days of recordings. Another difference is that the Ring Pro only records motion events and doorbell activity, while the Nest records 24/7.

The Ring Pro is available for preorder via Ring.com. The smart home device costs $249.99 and ships in late April.