Logitech Circle View Doorbell vs. Ring Pro 2 vs. Ring 4

Video doorbells are becoming more and more popular with every passing year. What we once achieved using a peephole is now achieved digitally using a video camera attached to the doorbell. Some cameras are motion detectors that start recording before the bell is even rung. 

Newer technology has synced our video doorbells up with our phones. So, it’s easier than ever to answer your door. You can see who’s at the door, unlock the door, and even have a two-way voice call using your cellphone! 

Two of the most popular video doorbells on the market are the Circle View from Logitech, which connects to Apple devices, and the Ring, which connects to Alexa and other compatible devices. 

Today we’re going to look at three video doorbells, the Logitech Circle View Doorbell, Ring Video Doorbell 4, and Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2. Here’s the scoop. 


~~~ Check Price: Logitech Circle View Doorbell ~~~

~~~ Check Price: Ring Video Doorbell 2 Pro ~~~

~~~ Check Price: Ring Video Doorbell 4 ~~~


A Quick Comparison 

At first glance, the doorbells have a very similar appeal. They function as a sort of “caller ID for your front door,” in the words of the wife of Jamie Siminoff, creator of the Ring Doorbell. However, some notable differences in the units need to be considered when purchasing one.  

We’ll start by giving the specifications outright; then, we’ll have an in-depth section on each metric and what that means for the individual unit’s performance. 

Unit Size 

[Ring 4]

The Ring Video Doorbell 4 has the largest surface area of the three, measuring 5.9″×2.4″×1.1″. The smallest is the Logitech Circle View Doorbell which measures 4.68″×1.65″×1.10″. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is the middle man here, with measurements of 5.1″×2.4″×1.1″.

Connectivity 

[Logitech Circle View]

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell connects to your Wi-Fi to transmit data between your iPhone and the unit using a 2.4/5 GHz a/b/g/n/ac 2 x 2 MIMO Wi-Fi setup. The Video Doorbell Pro 2 uses 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac at 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz. Lastly, the Video Doorbell 4 uses an 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connection at 2.4GHz & 5GHz. (We’ll explain what all those letters and numbers mean down below!) 

Video Quality 

All of the cameras feature HD video but to different degrees. The Logitech Circle View Doorbell features the smallest aspect ratio on their video with a 1200×1600 aspect ratio. The Video Doorbell 4 uses a 1920×1080 (1080p) video feed, putting it in the middle. The Video Doorbell Pro 2 has the biggest aspect ratio at 3076×1536 (1536p). 

Sound Quality 

Sound quality is, of course, essential for any two-way calling. The Logitech Circle View Doorbell features a digital MEMS array microphone mono speaker and includes acoustic echo cancellation in two-way calls. Detailed information about the microphone included with the Ring doorbells is unavailable, but they both feature noise cancellation. 

Pre-Roll Footage 

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell doesn’t mention pre-roll footage, and the Video Doorbell Pro 2 only offers pre-roll with the subscription plan. The Video Doorbell 4 records up to four seconds of black and white pre-roll footage with no audio. 

Night Vision 

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell features a 4000K LED strip that can illuminate up to six feet away when unobstructed. All three cameras have color night vision, but the Ring cameras do not provide extra information about the lighting. 

Operating Conditions 

It makes sense to want your doorbell to function no matter the weather, and when your doorbell includes an expensive camera, you’ll want to protect it all the more. All three cameras are weather-proof and can operate in conditions ranging from -5°–120°F (-20°–50°C.) 

Installation 

[Ring Pro 2]

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 and Logitech Circle View Doorbell require you to wire the doorbell directly into your house. Therefore, you will need a drill for these products. The Ring Video Doorbell 4 can be used as a wired or wireless doorbell and includes a quick-release battery. 

Smart Home Connectivity 

These doorbells are meant to work as part of a smart-home unit. However, they’re not compatible with all smart homes. The Ring Doorbells are compatible with Alexa, Android, and iOS devices. The Logitech Circle View Doorbell is compatible with iOS and iPadOS devices.  

The Details 

Connectivity 

The Winner: Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 & Logitech Circle Pro 

802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi means it’s the fastest and most accessible Wi-Fi setup. 802.11 is a fancy-pants term for Wi-Fi that can support the highest speed levels before the introduction of Gigabit speeds.  

The letters refer to the different types of Wi-Fi bands the connections use. There are two Wi-Fi bands, the 2.4GHz band, and the 5GHz band. 5GHz Wi-Fi runs faster than 2.4GHz Wi-Fi because it has more power. 802.11a, 802.11n, and 802.11ac use the 5GHz band, and 802.11b and 802.11g use the 2.4GHz band. Which type of internet connection will determine the maximum speed your internet could potentially run at. 

802.11 connectors support MIMO natively. MIMO allows 802.11 connections to reach higher speeds by running all of the information through multiple antennae to enable the unit to process higher volumes of data simultaneously. 

Both the Logitech Circle View Doorbell and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 have the full spectrum of internet connections. However, the Ring Video Doorbell 4 does not have Wi-Fi ac connectivity.

For further discussion of Ring connectivity, see here for a comparison between Ring & SimpliSafe.

Video Quality 

The Winner: Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 has the highest resolution video with a 1536p live video. Higher resolution means a sharper video quality when viewing live or recorded footage. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 features video resolution that is just sharper than 2K video footage. It’s not quite able to project a 4K video, but it’s moving in that direction, making it the clear winner. 

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell only has 1200×1600 video, which is still HD but is on the lower end of HD in modern times. The Video Doorbell 4 is between the two but distinctly better than the Logitech Circle View Doorbell. 

If you are on the fence between the Ring 4 and older models such as the Ring 3, see here for a detailed comparison.

Pre-Roll Footage 

Winner: Ring Video Doorbell 4 

The Ring Video Doorbell 4 features included pre-roll. You don’t need a subscription plan to use the pre-roll feature. (For our review of the top video doorbells that don’t require a subscription, click here). We expect this feature to be rolled into the Ring Video Doorbell Pro eventually as Ring irons out the kinks in the feature, but the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 does not feature pre-roll. The Logitech Circle View Doorbell might feature pre-roll, but they’re certainly keeping it close to the chest if it does! 

Night Vision 

The Winner: Logitech Circle View Doorbell 

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell takes home the decisive victory in this category by including the LED strip. While the Ring cameras almost certainly feature lighting for night vision, they don’t give any information about that specific component. It’s a bit of a downer for us since we’re super interested in the tech side! 

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell’s camera also features an enhanced camera sensor that allows it to operate better in low-light conditions, making it a clear and decisive victor in this category. 

Smart Home Connectivity 

The Winner: Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 & Ring Video Doorbell Pro 4 

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell is only compatible with iOS and iPadOS devices, making it the decisive loser in this category. The Ring — Always Home application is available for all phones that can access the Google Play or Apple Stores. So, the Ring Doorbells are compatible with iOS and iPadOS devices, but not the other way around. 

Final Thoughts 

If you’re thinking about getting a new video doorbell, there are plenty of options out there! Of course, the Logitech Circle View is a great option for any die-hard Apple fans who want to show their allegiance to the tech giant. But the Ring Doorbells are more versatile and offer more overall specification features, like Pre-Roll footage. All three doorbells get our seal of approval!