The Wyze Video Doorbell is not better than the Ring if your primary concern is quality, software (Ring app), support, and functionality. Wyze is making strides but remains a young company with a new device competing with Ring’s years of upgrades, improvements, and longevity in the marketplace.
It is a bit disingenuous to compare Wyze’s newly released video doorbell to Ring’s lineup until Ring releases its own, budget-friendly doorbell on February 24. Until then, the Wyze Video Doorbell’s closest comparisons are the Ring Video Doorbell (2020) and possibly the Ring Peephole.
Wyze Video Doorbell vs. Ring Video Doorbell (2020)
The original Ring Video Doorbell—upgraded to the 2020 version—is the closest product to the Wyze Video Doorbell. Almost all of the standard features are the same, except most notably, the price.
Wyze’s doorbell is an amazingly low $30 bargain for a video doorbell camera; Ring’s closest comparison is three-times that, with Gen 2 and 3 even pricier. The advantage of the Ring Video Doorbell lies in the additional features and a more user-friendly smartphone app.
Early reviews for the Wyze Video Doorbell center on false alerts and phantom detection, an issue not nearly as common on the Ring. The Ring also doesn’t need to be hardwired into your existing doorbell and has a noise-canceling feature absent on the two-way audio for the Wyze doorbell.
Wyze Video Doorbell also comes with a Chime device that communicates directly with the doorbell, plugs into an electrical socket, and can be placed anywhere inside your home. Ring also has a Chime Pro, but it must be purchased separately at $49.99.
Wyze Video Doorbell vs. Ring Peephole
The Ring Peephole is an interesting device that functions like a doorbell but is placed around an existing peephole on your door. Like the Wyze doorbell, it is very small––1.9 x 3.8 x 0.8 inches—compared to other Ring doorbell devices. In relation, the Wyze Video Doorbell is 3.25 x 1.5 x 0.625 inches.
The Wyze Video Doorbell is designed to be a quality product that is competitive and remarkably well-priced. The Ring Peephole is $100 more but doesn’t suffer from the issues mentioned above with phantom alerts and false alarms. Future updates to the Wyze doorbell may help mitigate that difference.
The Ring Peephole is also battery only, with a cover plate that drops out, allowing you to press the release tab and remove the battery for easy charging. The Wyze Video Doorbell is hardwired to your existing doorbell. Unfortunately, despite essentially replacing your doorbell, the Wyze doorbell doesn’t interact with your existing doorbell sound.
Wyze Doorbell vs. Ring Doorbell Subscriptions
Without a Wyze subscription, you will still get 12 seconds of recorded video for an event. The recordings are held for 14 days and will be deleted after that time has elapsed. There’s a five-minute cooldown between events and detected motion where nothing is recorded. Of course, that could become problematic. Also, without a subscription plan, person detection is inoperable.
Without a Ring subscription, you get alerts, motion detection, visitor interaction, and live video, but no recordings. However, for $3 per month, you can access recordings, share videos, and download videos. At $10 per month, all of your Ring devices are covered, including professional monitoring and Ring product discounts (Source: Ring).
Wyze has the Basic Plan (free) and Cam Plus plan. The Cam Plus Plan adds person, vehicle, and package detection, as well as member discounts and smoke alerts. According to Wyze Services, pet and facial recognition are on the way.
Final Thoughts
There are many things to like about the Wyze Video Doorbell. It has all of the standard features and is very competitively priced. There is definitely room to grow, and Wyze is a young business with plenty of potential. Ring is a more premium, established brand with a large consumer base and excellent product and app reviews.
Overall, Wyze is on the right track, but it will take some time to play catch-up.
Curious to see if it’s worth investing in a Wyze camera instead for outdoor use? Check out this article!
