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Amazon owns not one, but two security camera companies, which has many smart home enthusiasts upset. Ring and Blink are both Amazon brands that integrate seamlessly with Alexa’s smart home ecosystem, making them perfect for Alexa users. Plus, they’re excellent choices for home security, with batteries designed for both indoor and outdoor use, and plug-in cameras that support live viewing, two-way audio, and motion alerts.
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However, there are notable differences between the Ring and Blink devices. Since both brands offer a large number of products, I’ll break down the main differences between the broader Ring ecosystem and the Blink ecosystem rather than focusing on individual products.
Specifications
| Speciality | ring | blink |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Doorbells $50-$260, Cameras $60-$280 | Video doorbell at $70, camera at $50-$100 |
| product line up | Video Doorbell, Indoor/ Outdoor Camera, Mount, Floodlight Camera, Alarm System and Sensor | Video Doorbell, Indoor/ Outdoor Camera, Modular Mount |
| power options | Plug-in, Wired, Rechargeable Battery, Removable Battery | Plug-in, Lithium Battery, Wired Floodlight Camera |
| storage options | Cloud | local, cloud |
| Membership Plans | Basic: $5/month, Standard: $10/month, Premium: $20/month | Basic: $4/month, Plus: $12/month |
You should buy a Ring device if…
1. You would like more options in a video doorbell
The biggest difference between Ring and Blink is that the latter offers a smaller lineup of more affordable products than the former. Blink only offers one video doorbell model, and its product lineup is more limited than Ring’s.
As a brand, Ring offers a range of six different video doorbells, including HD and 4K models as well as wired and battery-powered options, for both entry-level and high-end users. you can get one ring video wired doorbell All the way, with HD resolution and advanced motion detection for just $50 Ring Wired Doorbell Pro With 4K video capture and high-quality low-light night vision for $260.
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There are also excellent battery-powered Ring Doorbells available, including models with removable rechargeable batteries Ring Battery Doorbell Plus for $150 more Ring Battery Doorbell Pro For $200.
2. You want more future-proof hardware
Both Ring and Blink have had their security cameras on the market for years – they’re not brands that change their products every year. Ring Video Doorbell is one of the leaders in the market; However, it is known that this sometimes includes existing and even discontinued devices.
Recently, Ring upgraded some existing cameras from HD to 2K resolution via a free software update, including floodlight cam pro and Spotlight Cam Pro. The new Ring devices also feature upgrades to 2K and 4K resolution, a first for the brand, providing Ring users with some of the highest image resolutions ever.
3. You want the perfect home security system
Blink offers fewer models of video doorbells, but its main products are security cameras. However, Ring has expanded its reach into the home security market with the Ring Alarm. It is a home security system that works seamlessly with Ring security cameras and Alexa devices.
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Ring alarm systems contain a variety of sensors, including contact and motion sensors, and feature a base station Which connects security devices, serves as a 104-dB siren, and serves as the system’s backup battery. You can purchase the base station separately and expand with individually purchased sensors, or opt for 5-, 8-, 10-, or 14-piece kits Which includes various types of sensors, keypad and a base station.
You should buy a Blink device if…
- You’ll want to save some money on startup costs
Blink is a decidedly more affordable brand of home security devices, offering Video Doorbell and Sync Module Core For $70 (and even cheaper during sale events), as well Outdoor 2K+ $100 and up indoor/outdoor security cameras Blink Mini 2K+ For only $50.
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Many smart home enthusiasts often wonder why Amazon maintains two separate home security companies that produce the same types of devices. The primary reason is that each brand caters to two different audiences: Ring is an established security camera brand renowned for its high quality and longevity, while Blink is an affordable brand that is ideal for entry-level and modular setups.
2. You want the option of local storage (and no monthly fees)
Blink subscription plans start at $4 per month for the Basic option, which supports one device, and can cost up to $12 per month for the Plus subscription that supports unlimited devices. However, Blink gives users the option of local storage instead of limiting them to cloud storage. Blink Sync module in home security setup
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Ring offers subscription plans that cannot be bypassed with local storage. Ring Home subscriptions start at $5 per month for a basic plan that supports one camera, while a standard plan for all devices costs $10 per month. Ring offers a premium plan that provides devices with more advanced AI features, including video description, smart video search, AI single event alerts, and 24/7 recording, for $20 per month.
ZDNET Writer’s Choice
While choosing between Ring and Blink is a highly subjective matter, I compared video quality, local storage options, the convenience of using a lithium battery over a wired setup, and affordability versus upfront cost. Ultimately, I will choose one blink Setup for a small house or apartment, where I would prefer easy installation. For bigger house, I would choose option ringProvided affordability is not a significant issue.
