The most prominent aspect of Ring’s newest offering is undoubtedly its cost. It’s a key consideration. Priced at $60, it represents a $40 savings compared to the standard Video Doorbell – and costs increase considerably beyond that, with the “Elite” model priced at $350.

The company may be responding to increasing competition in the smart home hardware market, particularly concerning price points. Wyze, in particular, has introduced a $30 doorbell, alongside a range of other products, launching this initiative in September. However, as of now, this particular device remains available only for pre-order.

The availability of the Wyze doorbell was initially anticipated this month, but has now been rescheduled for February. Similarly, the Ring Video Doorbell Wired is also planned for release next month, with shipments beginning on the 24th. As its name indicates, this new product is exclusively a hardwired model – a factor that may not suit all potential buyers. Standard capabilities include 1080p video resolution with night vision, customizable motion zones for notification control, and two-way audio featuring noise reduction technology. Furthermore, this is currently Ring’s most compact doorbell design.

The Amazon-affiliated company has faced its share of scrutiny. Earlier this month, a security vulnerability was identified that potentially revealed the locations and residential addresses of users of its Neighbors app. Concerns have also been raised regarding the company’s collaborations with law enforcement agencies. In 2019, a group of civil rights organizations published an open letter expressing these concerns. Earlier this year, Ring implemented end-to-end encryption, though it requires users to actively enable the feature.

This new doorbell will be sold through Amazon, as expected, and will also be available exclusively at Home Depot stores through the end of March.