Ring Wired Doorbell 4K Pro (Newest Model), Retinal 4K with wide-angle video, 10x Enhanced Zoom, and Night Vision, Deep Silver

Why it's worth it

Ring's 4K Pro is the most capable wired doorbell here, with 10x zoom that actually resolves a license plate or a package label. You'll need a Ring subscription to get the features that justify the price.

Resolution matters at a front door in a way it doesn't elsewhere. You're often trying to read something small at a distance — a delivery label, a plate, a face at the sidewalk. Retinal 4K plus 10x enhanced zoom gives you something to actually work with. Owners upgrading from older Ring Pros describe the zoom in particular as the clearest step up.

The 3D Motion Detection cuts down on junk alerts. Instead of pinging you every time a car passes, it maps where the motion happened on your property and filters accordingly. If you've ever muted a doorbell app out of frustration, this is the feature that keeps you from doing it again.

From our review of 7 smart home devices, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +Resolution matters at a front door in a way it doesn't elsewhere
• +The 3D Motion Detection cuts down on junk alerts
• +Ring's own consumer research found 74% of doorbell owners felt safer after installing one, with 62% citing package theft as the…
• +Low-Light Sight keeps color video going with just a bit of ambient light — a porch bulb or a streetlamp is enough

What to know

• –It's wired, so you need existing doorbell wiring or a transformer
• –Several owners report trouble on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi specifically, with video and connection problems that clear up on 5 GHz
• –The subscription isn't optional in practice