Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Smart Home
  3. Guides

Ring Battery Doorbell Pro vs. Aqara G4: Which is the better video doorbell?

By

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is one of the newest and most popular additions to the Ring lineup, but it’s also quite expensive at $230. If you’re looking for an affordable alternative, you may have stumbled upon the Aqara G4. This device offers similar features as the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro yet clocks in at nearly half the price. But is it a good companion for your front door, or should you opt for the expensive Ring video doorbell?

From design and pricing to installation and available features, here’s a look at the Aqara G4 and Ring Battery Doorbell Pro to help you decide.

Recommended Videos

Design

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro installed near a door.
Ring

Ring has a pretty standard formula for its video doorbell designs, and that continues with the Battery Doorbell Pro. The device has a chassis split into black on top and silver on the bottom, with the top half housing the camera unit and the bottom housing the doorbell button (which is surrounded by a blue LED).

Related

The Aqara G4 isn’t quite as sleek, with an all-black design and massive doorbell button. The camera housing is also large and circular, so the device essentially looks like a black rectangle with two large circles contained inside. It’s not bad-looking — but it doesn’t compare to the premium look of the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro.

Winner: Ring Battery Doorbell Pro

Installation

The battery and faceplate removed from Ring Battery Doorbell Pro.
Jon Bitner / Digital Trends

The Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is a wireless video doorbell, so you won’t have to deal with wiring or electrical connections. Simply charge its battery pack, decide where you want to mount it, and then link it with your smartphone. If you’d like continuous power, the unit does include connections for a traditional wired power source. It’s a similar story for the Aqara G4, as it offers both wireless and wired support, allowing you to choose the better option for your property.

Winner: Tie

Features and specs

The Ring Birds Eye app showing how a person approached a door.
Ring

Ring loaded the Battery Doorbell Pro with premium specs. Along with a 1536p resolution and 150-degree viewing angle, it offers two-way audio with enhanced noise cancellation, support for Quick Replies to respond to guests, Pre-Roll to capture extra footage during each motion event, and a quick-release battery pack that’s easy to charge. It also supports Bird’s Eye Zone, which is typically reserved for wired Ring products. This allows you to get detailed information about how motion approached your property.

The Aqara G4 isn’t quite as loaded, but it’s still ideal for most households. Its spec list includes a camera that captures 1080p footage, support for a local microSD card, custom ringtones, and a built-in siren.

Winner: Ring Battery Doorbell Pro

Pricing and subscriptions

The Aqara G4 installed near a door.
Aqara

This is where the Aqara G4 starts to shine. The doorbell clocks in at just $120 and is often on sale for much less. That’s leagues better than the $230 of the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro. The Aqara G4 also doesn’t require a monthly subscription, offering seven days of free cloud storage along with support for local storage on a microSD card. Ring users will want to pick up a Protect Plan, which starts at $5 per month and offers 180 days of video history along with several other features.

Winner: Aqara G4

Verdict

If you’re looking for a premium video doorbell, the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro is hard to beat. Along with its high-end specifications and easy installation process, it’s a good-looking video doorbell and leaves a great first impression on guests.

The Aqara G4, by comparison, is missing out on some key features — including an enhanced resolution and Bird’s Eye View. However, the lack of a monthly subscription is mighty compelling for frugal shoppers, and support for local storage via a microSD slot is a big selling point. So, if you’re interested in saving money and don’t mind missing out on some cool features, the Aqara G4 could be a great (and cheap) alternative to the Ring Battery Doorbell Pro.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner
Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs. Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In (3rd Gen): Which is better?
The Stick Up Cam installed on a wall.

Two of Ring's most popular security cameras are the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam and Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In (3rd Gen). Both are relatively affordable, yet packed with premium features that make them great for guarding your home. But which one is better for your needs -- the newer Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam or the classic Stick Up Cam Plug-In (3rd Gen)? Here's a closer look at both to help you decide.
Pricing and monthly fees

Despite being the newer product, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is cheaper than the Stick Up Cam Plug-In. It costs just $80 compared to the Stick Up Cam Plug-In at $100. Additionally, if you'd like to pan and tilt the Stick Up Cam, you'll need to bundle it with the Pan-Tilt Mount for a total of $145. Regardless of which camera you choose, a Ring Protect subscription is all but a necessity. The lowest tier costs $5 per month and unlocks key features like 180-day video history, rich notifications, snapshot capture, and more.

Read more
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs. Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen): Which is the better security camera?
The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam on a wooden shelf.

One of the newest members of the Ring family is the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, offering a 360-degree view of your home. It's certainly a nifty indoor security camera, but since it’s a bit more expensive than the existing Indoor Cam (2nd Gen), you might be wondering which is best for your smart home.

Thankfully, it's hard to go wrong with either. Both products are great at protecting your home, and both are likely to last for years before running into issues. But if you're trying to get the most out of your purchase, here's a complete look at the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam and Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) to help you decide which is better for your needs.
Pricing and monthly fees

Read more
Blink Mini 2 vs. Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: Which budget security camera is best for you?
The Blink Mini 2 placed on two books.

Blink and Ring are two of the best-known security companies, and they're responsible for many of the best security cameras on the market. The Blink Mini 2 and the Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In are popular choices for frugal shoppers, as they carry reasonable price tags, yet offer most of the features you'd expect from a well-rounded camera. But if you only need one, which is right for you -- the Blink Mini 2 or the Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In? Here's a look at both to help you decide.
Pricing and monthly fees

The Blink Mini 2 is one of the most affordable security cameras money can buy. It clocks in at just $40, though Blink often slashes its price to just $30. If you'd like to use the camera outside, you can bundle in the Weather Resistant Adapter for a total of $50.  The Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In is more expensive at $100, though with the launch of the Stick Up Cam Pro, it's typically available for $70.

Read more