Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus - Smart Doorbell Camera

  AUTHOR: Carlos Paras
 UPDATED: January 28, 2024

Ring has become one of the most popular brands in smart home security. But did you know that early in its history, Ring’s founder got rejected on the TV show Shark Tank? Fast forward to today and Ring is a successful company competing with the likes of Nest, SimpliSafe, and Vivint.

Ring devices are a favorite among smart home enthusiasts, especially Ring’s line of smart doorbell cameras. The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus (link to Amazon) offers a variety of benefits and distinctions that make it an excellent choice for a doorbell camera.

One of the most notable features on the Video Doorbell 3 Plus is the addition of what Ring is calling “Pre-Roll technology”. This feature gives a “preview” of the video footage before the motion detector and video recording was actually activated.

In this article, we’ll go over the main features and benefits of the Video Doorbell 3 Plus. If you’re considering upgrading your home’s security, read on to discover all of the advantages that this doorbell camera can provide.

Smart Home Deals @ Amazon

Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus - New Features

What’s the difference between the Video Doorbell 2 vs. the Video Doorbell 3 Plus? The Video Doorbell 3 Plus can operate on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-fi bands. The Video Doorbell 2 can only connect on the 2.4GHz band.

The Video Doorbell 3 Plus has a “near” motion detection zone which detects motion only in areas within 5’ to 15’, effectively reducing irrelevant motion notifications which may occur from further away.

Additionally, the Video Doorbell 3 Plus has a Pre-Roll feature which gives you an additional 4 seconds of video before the motion detector was triggered.

Size and Color

Similar to past models, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is rectangular in shape. It is about 5.1 inches (128mm) tall, 2.4 inches (62mm) wide, and 1.1 inches (28mm) deep. The top portion of the camera is gloss black in color and houses the camera and microphone.

The bottom portion of the doorbell features a removable faceplate. The Video Doorbell 3 Plus comes with two different colored faceplates, Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze. Behind the faceplate is the battery compartment and a reset button.

The back panel contains wire terminals for optional connection to existing doorbell wiring.

Power and Connectivity

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus offers two options for power supply. It comes with a rechargeable, quick release battery pack. This means you can install the doorbell camera just about anywhere without needing to run wires for power.

The doorbell camera can also be hardwired to an existing doorbell system or transformer (8-24 VAC, 40VA max, 50/60Hz) for continuous charging.

The Video Doorbell 3 Plus can utilize both 2.5GHz and 5Ghz channels to connect to a Wi-fi network. This is great if you have multiple devices using one Wi-fi channel, you can set the doorbell to use the other channel.

Once connected to a Wi-fi network, you can connect the doorbell camera to a smartphone or computer using the Ring app, which provides greater customization of functionality. The Video Doorbell 3 Plus can also support Alexa voice commands and IFTTT applets.

Video and Audio

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is equipped with a 1080p HD camera that has a 160-degree field of view. This provides a wide view of your front door area or anywhere else you choose to install the doorbell camera.

In addition, the Video Doorbell 3 Plus has night vision which allows you to see images in low light conditions. The Live View feature provides an on-demand live video feed from the doorbell camera at any time.

The Video Doorbell 3 has two-way audio with noise cancellation so you can speak with whoever is at your front door through the Ring app on your smartphone.

Motion Detection

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus provides advanced motion detection and customizable motion detection settings. These custom zones can be set in the Ring app by going to Motion Settings and clicking on the Motion Zones option.

By selecting your own preferred motion zones, you’re able to focus on the specific areas you want the doorbell camera to cover while avoiding high traffic areas that might trigger “false positive” motion alerts.

The Video Doorbell 3 Plus also has a Motion Scheduling feature which can help reduce unnecessary motion alerts. For example, if you have routine deliveries (such as newspaper or mail delivery) on a set schedule every day, you can schedule coverage to avoid receiving alerts during that period of time.

Users can also customize the Motion Frequency settings. Three distinct settings can be chosen: Frequent, Standard, and Light. In high-usage periods, the device will stay fully operational, but in low-usage periods, the device will “sleep” and deliver less motion alerts.

What is Pre-Roll?

What makes the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus distinctive among other doorbell cameras on the market is the newly added Pre-Roll feature. This feature addresses one of the biggest issues found in standard video doorbells — namely, that by the time the motion sensor has been triggered and video starts recording, the person’s face may have already moved past the camera’s view.

How does Pre-Roll work? A small series of low-powered cameras record up to four seconds of video in a “rolling buffer” on the doorbell’s local memory. When a user answers a motion event or doorbell push with Live View, the video in the buffer is shown as a picture-in-picture to show what happened before the event was actually triggered.

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus can do this on battery power alone which separates it from other doorbell cameras with similar features. To conserve battery life, the Pre-Roll preview is filmed in low-resolution, black and white video without sound.

Ring Subscription Service

Do you need a subscription to Ring Protect to use the Video Doorbell 3 Plus? No. A subscription is not needed to operate the Video Doorbell 3 Plus. You can receive real-time notifications when motion is detected as well as respond to notifications to see, hear, and speak to your visitors in real-time from the app on your smartphone.

Without a subscription, you won’t be able to view any videos that you missed in real time. You won’t be able to save or share videos and photos will not be captured. You can learn more about Ring Protect and the different plans available by clicking here.

The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is a great option for homeowners seeking a device that offers unique features and high-quality video monitoring, particularly for those looking for a wireless option. Don’t wait to beef up your home’s security —a video doorbell camera is a simple yet effective step to take in order to ensure the safety of your home and all of those who live inside of it.

Recommended Products