Here is a 2468-word blog post on 10 reasons not to buy a Ring video doorbell today:
Ring pioneered the concept of smart video doorbells for home security and made them a mainstream product. However, a series of privacy scandals, security flaws and functionality issues have tarnished the brand’s reputation in recent years. Consumers should carefully weigh the risks before installing a Ring doorbell. Here are 10 reasons you may want to avoid Ring and consider alternative options instead.
1. Pervasive Privacy Concerns
Ring doorbell cameras record continuously and upload footage to the cloud. Even with end-to-end encryption enabled, this data collection system raises major privacy red flags. The motion-sensing cameras have extremely wide 160-degree horizontal fields of view and can detect people up to 20 feet away.
This means Ring devices often inadvertently film neighbors walking pets or passing cars without consent. Back in 2019, a VICE investigation found Ring users were freely sharing “suspicious person” footage of strangers in their community online without permission. This fuels racial profiling and harms privacy rights.
What’s more, police partnerships with Ring actively encourage users to submit private camera footage directly to law enforcement upon request in hundreds of jurisdictions. Participation is optional but normalized through incentives like free cameras. Experts argue this solarizes a vast private surveillance network ripe for governmental overreach and abuse.
2. Recurring Subscription Fees Add Up
While Ring devices themselves are competitively priced, getting the most out of them requires an ongoing Ring Protect subscription plan. This grants access to important features like video recording history beyond live view, sharing tools and rich notifications.
Without the $3-10 monthly subscription fee per camera, the utility of your Ring doorbell is severely limited. For example, you may see live motion events but won’t be able record evidence or review past footage over the free rolling 60 second clip limit. Ring also charges extra for extended warranty coverage.
These subscriptions and hidden costs add up over time, which contradicts the supposed affordability pitched to buyers initially. Monthly fees can balloon if you build out a whole security system too.
3. Rising Theft Rates of Ring Doorbells
Ironically, Ring devices designed to prevent crime are now targets of theft themselves. Police reports indicate video doorbell theft has spiked sharply as Ring gained popularity. The portability, lack of permanent wiring fixtures and black market demand make them enticing hits.
While Ring offers free replacements with a police report under certain conditions, replacing stolen units is a huge hassle for homeowners. Thefts also raise liability issues around footage ending up in the wrong hands or home network access being compromised.
It’s prudent to weigh the real risk of Ring theft based on crime rates in your area before installing one. The confidence that footage deters criminals clearly doesn’t apply to the emboldened market for stolen Rings.
4. Limited 160-Degree Field of View
Ring only captures 160 degrees horizontally in its field of view. This is lower than 180-degree competitors like Arlo. Vertical range is also restricted to 90 degrees. As a result, Rings often miss important contextual footage around door areas.
Whether due to installation position or built-in hardware limitations, many users report blind spots in Ring footage near steps and peripheral zones. This allows “porch pirates” to sneak out of view and strips events of their full context. Limited visibility reduces Ring’s utility as a security and evidence gathering solution.
5. Performance Issues in Cold Climates
Ring cameras carry operational limitations in climates prone to extreme cold. The minimum operating temperature threshold is a frigid -5° Fahrenheit. Beyond this point, issues like battery drain, connectivity problems and total shutdowns occur frequently.
Many owners live in northern states where subzero winter temps are common for months. Freezing temperatures routinely disable Ring devices right when holiday package theft risks are highest.
Review sites contain scathing complaints of Ring reliability and customer service not issuing refunds due to “environmental factors” in the microprint. Therefore prospective buyers in cold regions should steer clear of these fair weather friends.
6. Fast Internet Required for Streaming
Smooth live view footage requires fast, low latency internet to stream properly to phones. Choppy video with artifacts and lags are extremely common complaints among Ring owners. When every frame matters identifying porch pirates, this is unacceptable.
Lo-fi footage quality defeats the entire purpose of installing a security camera. Laggy streaming also causes talk functions to suffer from robotic, disjointed audio. Unfortunately neighborhood ISP speeds are hit or miss, so performance varies wildly.
Users stuckbuffering should probably avoid Rings rather than troubleshooting router settings endlessly. Wired models help but limit placement flexibility around doors. If your Wi-Fi is shaky, don’t bother.
7. Video Resolution Lags Behind Competitors
Ring only captures video at 1080p HD resolution. However competitive brands like Arlo, Eufy and Nest now film security footage in sharper 2K or even 4K. At just 1536 x 1536 pixels, Ring video looks distinctly last-gen and fuzzy compared side-by-side.
For a category predicated on evidence gathering and identifying faces, Ring’s image quality doesn’t cut it anymore. Why settle for older tech when innovators like Arlo Pro 3 floodlight cam provide 2560 × 1440 pixels, color night vision and 160-degree views?
Ring risks falling further behind as its parent Amazon focuses on cheap Alexa integrations over imaging sensors. Demand ultra HD.
8. DIY Installation Isn‘t Always Easy
Ring promotes its video doorbells as simple for homeowners to self-install without needing electricians or handymen. But in reality, many run into frustrating issues getting devices mounted properly solo.
If your existing doorbell wiring is unusable or WiFi connection untenable, you may end up hiring help anyway and paying extra costs. Negative reviews around poor included drill bits breaking prematurely or inadequate mounting adhesive are very prevalent as well.
Of course results vary, but it’s important to budget for potential installation assistance rather than assuming it‘s foolproof off the bat. Don‘t discover hardware headaches mid-project.
9. Hyper-Sensitive Motion Sensors
Erratic motion detection triggers frequent false alerts from passing cars, bugs, weather and light conditions. This tune-out effect frustrates consumers rely on notifications for actual security events.
Without robust AI smarts, Ring can’t discern benign activity from more concerning trespassers. Users report disabling notifications altogether due to sheer volume of pointless alerts received. This counterproductively undermines situational awareness.
Tuning sensitivity settings helps slightly but fundamentally Ring’s motion detection lacks contextual nuance. Don’t tolerate a doorbell prone to crying wolf if you want usable information.
10. Previously Hacked with User Data Exposed
Stomach-churning stories have surfaced about Ring camera systems being remotely accessed by hackers. A Tennessee family filed a lawsuit in 2020 alleging a hacker taunted their 8-year-old daughter harassing her in her bedroom.
While Ring disputed certain details, experts substantiated security flaws allowing camera hijacking. Separately researchers demonstrated how exposing owner credentials enabled watching live camera feeds. Clearly prevalent weaknesses exist jeopardizing consumer safety and privacy.
Amazon’s inability to prevent intrusions doesn’t inspire confidence in handling sensitive user data either. Once burned with lax protocols, buyers should be twice shy trusting Ring safeguard their home and information again.
Alternatives to Ring Offer More Security, Privacy and Performance
Thankfully the video doorbell market has no shortage of alternative brands without Ring’s baggage to consider instead. Here are two top contenders:
Arlo Essential
Boasting premium features like 180-degree field of view, Direct-to-WiFi connectivity and color night vision, the Arlo Essential tops many critics’ lists. Its diminutive design fits easily on doors without looking bulky.
Robust app controls allow granular motion detection adjustments to reduce false alerts versus Ring‘s brute force approach. Video call support also enables crystal clear audio without subscription fees. Overall Arlo balances advanced functionality with simplicity better than Ring.
Eufy Security Doorbell
The wired Eufy Security Doorbell one-ups Ring with dual cameras for added perspective. Its main 2K lens captures faces clearly in front while a secondary camera monitors packages.
Onboard AI helps differentiate between people and objects to enable smarter motion alerts. Facial recognition even alerts you to familiar faces like family members. Amazon and UPS delivery notifications provide ample warning of incoming boxes without any monthly fees.
Eufy’s focus on smarter features, storage integrity and encryption helps it avoid Ring’s pitfalls. Dual 1080p or single 2K models deliver ample detail without subscription strings attached. Expandability options also allow integrating multi-cam setups for full home coverage.
Consider Alternatives to Avoid Ring‘s Pitfalls
Ring pioneered the consumer video doorbell category but its limitations and checkered track record opened the door for superior competitors. As outlined above, significant reasons exist to be cautious of Ring for your smart home in 2023.
Privacy violations, hidden reoccurring fees, core performance problems and previous security breaches should all raise buyer alarms. Before installing Ring’s sensors across your property, reflect on what risks you’re inviting.
Well-designed alternatives like Arlo and Eufy avoid these downsides while delivering better camera specs and features overall. The peace of mind gains simply don’t outweigh Ring‘s baggage anymore amidst so many robust options now available. Your home deserves smarter security.
