Ring launches battery-powered 4K video doorbells with advanced AI capabilities

Ring Finally Goes Wire-Free for Its Latest 4K Video Doorbells

Expertise Smart home | Smart security | Home tech | Energy savings | A/V Security company Ring on Wednesday announced a significant expansion of its video doorbell line, notably battery-powered versions of both its 4K and 2K models, priced from $80. Both Amazon's Ring and Google Nest debuted high-resolution video doorbells with new AI features in the fall of 2025. But they were wired only, and in my tests, I kept thinking, "I sure wish there were battery models available." Wireless video doorbells are far better for most front doors than models that require connecting to your existing doorbell wiring, which is often poorly positioned for a security camera. Mine, for example, is located on a wall beside my door that's useless for any kind of video views, no matter how you angle a lens. "Enhancing image quality in battery-powered doorbells means customers can enjoy reliable performance with the flexibility to install devices in a way that suits their space, whether renting or living in homes without existing wiring," a Ring spokesperson said. At first, I wondered whether the higher 4K resolutions and more advanced AI features would use too much power to support batteries. If so, Ring is the first to fix that issue with this suite of doorbells, including these models available for preorder right now: There's also a new version of a Ring wired doorbell with 2K resolution, starting at $80. It wouldn't be Ring without a plethora of doorbell devices to confuse newcomers, which is why I have a guide specifically for Ring video doorbells that will need some updating once I finish testing these new models. Ring's ordinary subscriptions of the Ring Protect plan give you cloud video storage and intelligent alerts for people, packages and vehicles, which are important but not really advanced AI. But spring for the $20-per-month Ring AI Pro cam, and this new generation of cameras opens up other capabilities. Ring's AI features include AI video descriptions, so if you get an alert, you can also get a summary of what the doorbell saw, including people and activities. A similar feature lets you search your video history with specific terms, such as "bike," "truck" and so on. You also get the beta version of Ring's Familiar Faces feature, which can ID logged faces of people who approach. If these AI features make you uneasy and you'd rather protect your privacy, the best option is to avoid a subscription altogether or choose a lower-tier plan that gives you cloud storage without AI. I also have a guide on how to turn off Ring's detection and data-sharing features that might make you nervous, so you can keep what you like while ditching what you don't.

Ring's new doorbells bring 2K and 4K video to battery models

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. In a nutshell: Ring is moving its wireless doorbell lineup to higher video resolutions and more advanced AI processing, expanding what its battery-powered models can deliver without wired connections. The Amazon-owned company has unveiled new versions of its Battery Video Doorbell range, including its first 2K and 4K battery-powered cameras, scheduled for release on April 29. The most advanced of the new models, the Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro 2nd Gen, is priced at $249.99 and features 4K video and a 10x digital zoom. The Battery Video Doorbell Plus 2nd Gen, at $179.99, offers 2K video resolution and 6x zoom. A third model, the $99.99 Battery Video Doorbell 2nd Gen, also records in 2K but differs in design - it includes a built-in battery, while the others use removable ones. These additions mark a notable upgrade for Ring's wireless cameras, which until now topped out at 1080p HD. The company says the new video quality was made possible by "a redesigned internal architecture" that supports the power demands of high-resolution recording and AI features. The wired doorbell model is also getting an update: the Wired Video Doorbell 2nd Gen now includes 2K video for $79.99, bringing the same sleeker industrial design introduced with Ring's wired 4K models last year. Ring's latest emphasis is clearly on improving video performance while deepening its use of AI. Higher-resolution footage will feed new software capabilities, including the company's Retinal Vision feature, an AI-driven tool that fine-tunes captured images to enhance detail and clarity. Each camera will ship with a trial of Ring AI Pro, a $19.99 monthly subscription service that grants access to advanced detection and recording options. Among the notable features are AI-generated video descriptions, which automatically generate short text summaries of recorded activity. The system's Familiar Faces tool adds facial recognition, while a new video search lets users query recorded clips with prompts like "kids on bikes" or "black cat on porch." Single Event Alerts, another addition, groups repetitive motion, such as someone mowing a lawn, into a single notification. Ring says the AI is designed to reduce notification fatigue and streamline how users receive relevant information, a growing issue among smart home devices that send multiple, often redundant, alerts. The company's heavier reliance on cloud-based AI processing comes amid ongoing scrutiny over data privacy. Some users have expressed concern that video clips are analyzed on Ring's servers, a worry amplified by backlash to the company's previous "Search Party" feature, which also used AI to classify footage. For those sensitive to cloud processing, competitors such as Reolink and Eufy offer cameras that store and analyze video locally, eliminating ongoing subscription costs and external data transfers. Alongside the new products, Ring is releasing accessories to help keep cameras powered longer. A $49.99 Ring Solar Charger integrates directly with the doorbell mount, while a $59.99 Ring Solar Panel provides supplemental charging through a separate attachment. All the new models and accessories are available now for pre-order on Amazon ahead of their April 29 launch.