Ring, Amazon, and Nest Hello, Google are locked in battle for video doorbell dominance. Ring appear to be leading the market with a 90% market share, according to Forbes.

Amazon and Google aside there are a few other smaller players, for example Sky Bell, but none that stack up to the two powerhouses. That was until now, Silicon Valley startup Arbor Home have released their video doorbell – Arbor Video Doorbell. After working on it for 2 years!

The team behind Arbor have an impressive pedigree including; Hiroki Asai former VP of Marketing at Apple and Patrick Lazar former VP of Engineering at Netgear.

The video doorbell has the standard spec: 1080p HD, two-way audio and customisable motion zones. Where it gets clever is it boasts a super capacity rechargeable battery that, they claim, will last one year on a full charge. It can also be installed easily in 5 minutes, without an electrician or specialist unlike Ring Pro or Nest Hello. They even supply double sided tape to stick it up for ultimate easy install, great if you rent your property.

The video doorbell comes with its hub that performs three functions:

WiFi Extender

This gives the doorbell its impressive 700 ft range it boasts. This is an interesting move as anyone who reads video doorbell reviews will know this is the most common complaint. So much so Ring have released their own extender that can be purchased separately.

Digital Doorbell Chime

The extender doubles as a chime, alerting people without the app someone is at the door. Unlike market leader Ring where a separate purchase is required or Nest Hello where a separate chime is required.

Alarm

The Chime also doubles up as an alarm. This is designed to be activated via a left swipe in the app, in case of any unwanted visitors.

The final point where Arbor is competing is price point, the video doorbell costs $199 including the hub and free 48-hour cloud storage. Arbor Video Doorbell is available in black and silver and on pre-order now via Indiegogo. They have already raised 216% of their goal of $50,000 with a view to officially launch in August 2018.

For more information visit their website: https://arbor-home.com

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Ring, the video doorbell experts, much anticipated whole house alarm system will go on sale in the USA on July 4th 2018.

The product launch was delayed by legal disputes with alarm giant ADT over the technology. We assume Rings acquisition by Amazon assisted with the situation.

Ring Alarms base package includes a base station, range extender, door sensor and motion sensor. It is priced at $199 / £150.

Ring Alarm – Home Security System

Additional components, that most likely will be needed to cover anything other than a flat, are available as additional purchases. These range from $20 – $30 / £15 – £25.

In the USA they have an option of a monitored alarm for a very cost effective $10 / £8 a month.

Ring alarm will connect to existing products, for example Ring video doorbell and Ring flood lights. It’s not known if it will integrate into all generations of products, for example Ring Video Doorbell 1.

When Ring will release the alarm in the UK is not currently known. However based on Rings previous release strategy for the U.K. we don’t expect it soon.

We have asked Ring for a comment on the UK and will update if we receive one.

For more information on Ring read our Ring Video doorbell review.

Update 15/6/2018

Ring responded and commented:

“We do not have an international availability date at this time”

In response to the question about integrations they replied:

“Ring Alarm will seamlessly integrate with an unlimited number of Ring security devices, including Ring Doorbells and Ring Cams, at one location for no extra fee via the free Ring app”

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A door bell is a very simple part of nearly every home and no longer does it need to be just a doorbell – now it can be a video doorbell.

Big household names like Amazon and Nest are now battling for a share of this ever growing market, not to mention the smaller manufacturers like Skybell and VueBel.

In this guide we talk you through the biggest of the market and help you choose which smart doorbell is right for you!

What is the point in a Video Doorbell?

The doorbell was invented back in 1831, believe it or not, since then it has came a long way. However the most common form of doorbell is still a simple button that makes a sound inside the house. The doorbell at first was a simple bit of tech to tell you someone is at your door. It worked perfectly for many years until criminals realised they could take advantage of the homeowner not knowing who was at the door. This sparked the invention of the intercom doorbell, initially only audio but then video allowing you to see and communicate with the person on the other side of the door.

But there is a big drawback, what if you are not home?

This is why Video Doorbells were invented, allowing you to answer your door, see who is there and communicate with them wherever you are via your smartphone!

What do I need to think about?

Smart doorbells come packed with features which will definitely tempt you to get one. Install one in your home and eliminate the need to get to the door to open it. Simply get live footage of the person on your doorstep on your smartphone as well as voice interaction. From there on if you need to open the door some devices will even do that for you with a simple command from your phone. Also the video doorbell is multipurpose, you have the camera for surveillance not just in the day but with night vision technology even in the darkness.

There are various devices on the market now and some even have voice recognition intelligence, but first there is one main thing to consider, installation. If you are already using a wired doorbell then installing the smart doorbell will be an easy task. However if you are using a wireless doorbell which is battery operated, you would have less options to choose from.

Once you have the basic requirement right we still have one more thing to consider, storage.

Cloud storage is vital for a smooth smart device experience as you need a place to store the ‘missed rings’ as well as having a look at who has been at your door.

This storage feature costs around £20 per year with most brands.

Ring Video Doorbell

Ring, or Ring 2 if looking at the latest model was formerly known as Doorbot.They first came to market back in 2013 and appeared on the USA hit show Shark Tank.

Ring has a HD camera and offers a 160 degree view.  The design of the Ring 2 is not as sleek as other devices out in the market. The device is battery operated (rechargeable) which justifies the bulky look. However if you had wired doorbell you can attach the wires to Ring avoiding the need to recharge.  Unlike traditional doorbells Ring Wi-Fi doorbell does not make a sound inside your house. The notification is all via their app installed on your phone. If you would like to sound in your home you need to purchase a separate Ring Chime. They also have a range of Chimes that include Wi-Fi extenders, designed for large houses with Wi-Fi issues.

For more details read of Ring Doorbell review.

SkyBell

Priced same as Ring 2 at £149 we have its competitor SkyBell. It offers the same video quality but with an additional option to zoom in as well as take pictures. Security wise if someone lures around your door for more than 10 seconds it will record it. SkyBell has free storage and intelligent security system.  Design wise it is round and looks a little dated. The main problem with Skybell is it only works with a hard wired connection, meaning you need a professional and it can be expensive.

August Doorbell Camera

Another Competitor at the same price is August Doorbell camera. Like the other two devices it has two way audio option and motion sensing feature. What sets it apart is the floodlights which will aid night vision of the camera. When integrated with August Smart Lock you can open or close your door using the app from your sofa.  This doorbell is also wired and its battery is only for backup.

Nest Hello

The most expensive option at the moment is Nest Hello priced at £229 slightly higher than its rivals. The price is justified by higher resolution offered by the camera but depends on the user if they really need it. Even though the field view is the same as Ring there are a few more interesting features. Not only is it sleek and slim it will sense human presence by body heat and start recording It also comes a wireless chime which you have to purchase separately for Ring.

What is the best Wirelss Doorbell?

Overall Ring and Hello seem to be a tie when comparing features and price. Personally Ring is our favourite due to the Amazon integrations.

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Just in time for the sunshine – Ring, video doorbell and security camera manufacturer, have updated their UK product range. The range now includes a solar mount for their video doorbell ring and ring 2. Each model has its own corresponding mount – due to the different shape and size of the different models.The video doorbell mounts onto the solar panel and with just a few hours of direct sunlight the doorbell will stay charged removing the need to remove and charge it.

They claim even in the UK and on cloudy days the sunshine will be sufficient to charge the doorbell.

The solar panel is weather resistance and easy to install. The panel has been cleverly designed to use the same holes as the doorbell meaning no additional drilling is required.

The solar mount has been on sale internationally previously and finally has arrived in the UK. It’s available now from Amazon or direct from Ring.

All-new Ring Video Doorbell | 1080p HD video, Advanced Motion Detection, and easy installation (2nd Gen)

To read more about Ring, have a look at our Ring Doorbell review.

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