Ring vs. Blink: I tested the two most popular security camera brands, and here's the winner

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Amazon owns not one, but 2 information camera companies, overmuch to the vexation of galore astute location enthusiasts. Ring and Blink are some Amazon brands that integrate seamlessly with Alexa's astute location ecosystem, making them cleanable for Alexa users. Beyond that, they're fantabulous options for location security, featuring battery- and plug-in cameras designed for some indoor and outdoor usage that enactment unrecorded viewing, two-way audio, and question alerts.

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There are, however, marked differences betwixt Ring and Blink devices. Since some brands connection a ample fig of products, I'll interruption down the cardinal differences betwixt the broader Ring and Blink ecosystems, alternatively than focusing connected idiosyncratic products. 

You should bargain a Ring instrumentality if...

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1. You'd similar much choices successful video doorbells

The biggest quality betwixt Ring and Blink is that the second offers a smaller lineup of much affordable products compared to the former. Blink lone offers a azygous video doorbell model, and its merchandise lineup is much constricted compared to Ring's. 

As a brand, Ring offers a scope of six antithetic video doorbells, including HD and 4K models, arsenic good arsenic wired and battery-powered options, catering to some entry-level and high-end users. You tin get a Ring Video Wired Doorbell with HD solution and precocious question detection for lone $50, each the mode up to a Ring Wired Doorbell Pro with 4K video seizure and high-quality low-light nighttime imaginativeness for $260. 

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There are besides fantabulous battery-powered Ring Doorbells, including models with a removable rechargeable battery, specified arsenic the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus for $150 and the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro for $200.

2. You privation much future-proof hardware

Both Ring and Blink person kept their information cameras connected the marketplace for years -- they're not brands that regenerate their products each year. Ring is 1 of the pioneers successful the video doorbell market; however, it has been known to occasionally see existing and adjacent discontinued devices. 

Most recently, Ring upgraded immoderate existing cameras from HD to 2K solution done a escaped bundle update, including the Floodlight Cam Pro and Spotlight Cam Pro. New Ring devices besides diagnostic the upgrade to 2K and 4K resolution, a archetypal for the brand, offering immoderate of the highest representation resolutions to Ring users.

3. You privation a whole-home information system

Blink offers less video doorbell models, but its halfway products are information cameras. Ring, however, has honed its afloat scope successful the location information marketplace with Ring Alarm. This is simply a location information strategy that works seamlessly with Ring information cameras and Alexa devices. 

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The Ring Alarm strategy has aggregate types of sensors, including interaction and question sensors, and features a Base Station that connects the information devices, serves arsenic a 104-dB siren, and acts arsenic the system's backup battery.  You tin acquisition the Base Station separately and grow with individually purchased sensors, oregon opt for a 5-, 8-, 10-, oregon 14-piece kit that includes a assortment of sensors, keypads, and a Base Station.

You should bargain a Blink instrumentality if...

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

1. You'd alternatively prevention immoderate wealth connected startup costs

Blink is simply a decidedly much affordable marque of location information devices, offering a Video Doorbell and Sync Module Core for $70 (and adjacent cheaper during income events), arsenic good arsenic Outdoor 2K+ information cameras for $100 and the indoor/outdoor Blink Mini 2K+ for lone $50. 

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Many astute location enthusiasts often wonderment wherefore Amazon maintains 2 abstracted location information companies that nutrient the aforesaid types of devices. The superior crushed is that each marque caters to 2 chiseled audiences: Ring is an established information camera marque renowned for its precocious prime and longevity, portion Blink is an affordable marque that is perfect for entry-level and modular setups. 

2. You privation the enactment of section retention (and nary monthly fees)

A Blink Subscription Plan starts astatine $4 per period for the Basic option, which supports 1 device, and tin outgo up to $12 per period for a Plus subscription that supports unlimited devices. Blink, however, gives users the enactment of section storage, alternatively than limiting them to unreality storage. The summation of a Blink Sync Module XR to a location information setup enables section signaling connected a microSD paper of up to 256GB, successful summation to extending the sum country for up to 2 Blink Outdoor 4 cameras by 400 feet. 

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Ring offers subscription plans that cannot beryllium bypassed with section storage. A Ring Home subscription starts astatine $5 per period for a Basic program that supports 1 camera, portion a Standard program costs $10 per period for each devices. Ring offers a Premium program that provides devices with much precocious AI features, including Video Descriptions, Smart Video Search, AI Single Event Alerts, and 24/7 Recording, for $20 per month. 

ZDNET writer's choice

While choosing betwixt Ring and Blink is highly subjective, I compared video quality, section retention options, the convenience of lithium batteries implicit wired setups, and up-front costs versus affordability. Ultimately, I'd take a Blink setup for a smaller location oregon apartment, wherever I'd prioritize casual installation. For a larger home, I'd opt for Ring, provided affordability isn't a important issue.