© Phonlamai Photo / Shutterstock.com
Key Points:
- Ring offers consumer-focused security for your home. Their flagship product is the tech invention that put doorbell cameras on the map.
- Blink is a company that provides affordable smart home security cameras and systems. The range covers outdoor and indoor cameras for monitoring with a compatible phone app.
- Practically none of Ring’s or Blink’s cameras support anything higher than 1080p.
So you’ve made the decision that you need greater security to protect your home, office, or other premises. Fortunately, the ability to protect your home with a network of security devices has never been more doable and affordable. So, what next?
You’ve probably heard of a few names in the market, possibly including Ring and Blink. But who are they? They do exactly the same thing, don’t they? No, they don’t. However, did you know that they are both owned by Amazon?
But can they both provide the level of peace and security that you are looking for? There are lots of perceived similarities between the two but what makes them different? Let’s dive straight in and find out which one is the best system for you.
It is common knowledge that security cameras deter burglaries. When the average home burglary is costing homeowners in the United States an average of $2800, it makes sense to investigate how you can prevent it from happening to you. With this figure in mind let’s check out the affordability and efficacy of Blink’s and Ring’s camera offerings. They are both popular, budget-friendly security camera brands sharing more than a few similarities. But there are notable differences that will hopefully aid your decision-making process. Let us introduce the two contenders so that battle may commence.
©Phonlamai Photo/Shutterstock.com
Blink vs. Ring: Side-by-side comparison
Ring offers consumer-focused security for your home. Their flagship product is the tech invention that put doorbell cameras on the map. They are said to be the first company to integrate a video doorbell system into simple security solutions fully. They now offer security solutions for all parts of your home.
Blink is also an Amazon-owned company, that provides affordable smart home security cameras and systems. The range offers outdoor and indoor cameras for monitoring and with a compatible app, it enables you to keep track of the comings and goings at your home directly from your smartphone.
| Ring | Blink | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | A few screws and a Wi-Fi connection. More wired options are available than Blink. | A few screws and a Wi-Fi connection. |
| App and Smart integration | Works best with Amazon’s own platform Alexa. Provides detailed notifications to your smartphone. | Works best with Amazon’s own platform Alexa. Provides detailed notifications to your smartphone. |
| Video quality | Practically none of Ring’s cameras support anything higher than 1080p. | Practically none of Blink’s cameras support anything higher than 1080p. |
| Field of vision coverage | Ring’s indoor cameras have a narrow 110-degree field of view but its outdoor cameras offer a wider 140-degree field of view. | All of Blink’s cameras have a narrow 110-degree field of view |
| Sensitivity | Ring’s cameras have a ‘People Only’ mode, reducing unwanted alerts. Only notifies you when the motion it detects is caused by a person. | Blink’s security cameras can only offer more basic sensitivity settings. |
| Battery life | Ring’s non-wired cameras don’t tend to last as long. | Blink’s convenient mammoth battery is a key feature of the range. |
| Storage | Cloud-based storage options | Local storage of up to 265GB is provided. Cloud-based options are also available |
- Blink Outdoor is a wireless battery-powered HD security camera that helps you monitor your home day or night with infrared night vision.
- With long-lasting battery life, Outdoor runs for up to two years on two AA lithium batteries (included).
- Store video clips and photos in the cloud with the Blink Subscription Plan and save events locally to the Blink Sync Module 2 via a USB flash drive (sold separately).
- Outdoor is built to withstand the elements to help you protect your home inside or out, come rain or shine.
- Designed so you can set up yourself in minutes. No wiring, no professional installation required.
Blink vs. Ring: What’s the Difference?
The main differences begin with the breadth of the range. Blink’s range is a very simple, straightforward collection of cameras, covering all of the core features – 1080p sensors, motion detection, and two-way talk – but little in the way of fundamental extras. They are, in general, small and inconspicuous. If you are looking for a ‘set, forget, and move on’ system then this is for you.
It would be fair to say that the Blink range is somewhat more straightforward than Ring’s and accordingly easier to understand.
Blink holds the advantage in the storage stakes as it provides up to 265GB of local storage and is not purely a cloud-based option like Ring.
Another major difference between Blink’s and Ring’s cameras is that the latter’s output covers greater swathes of the security space. Their cameras come as wired, wireless, and even powered over ethernet. Ring also offers an extensive selection of video doorbells, where the company first gained its reputation in this field in the first place.
With Ring, there is even the option to purchase a full-on alarm system. They have infrared sensors for window and door openings available to complement their cameras. In addition, within their offering, you will find alarms, trackers, and other accessories such as extenders which afford the homeowner the ability to monitor even the furthest reach of their home. Furthermore, when it comes to detection functionality, Blink looks purely for motion. Ring also has person recognition, which helps prevent false alerts and wasted time and worry.
As most people are aware, both of these companies allow for self-monitoring. However, another major difference between the two is that it is only Ring that offers a 24/7 professional monitoring service. This covers the ring alarm security system but not the camera doorbells.
Blink vs. Ring: 5 Must-Know Facts
- Ring has more wired options available than Blink.
- Ring’s outdoor cameras offer a wider 140-degree field of view compared to Blink’s maximum 110 degrees.
- Ring’s cameras have a ‘People Only’ mode, reducing unwanted alerts.
- Blink’s convenient mammoth battery can be a draw.
- Blink offers local storage of up to 265GB as well as cloud-based options.
- See, hear and speak to people from your phone, tablet or select Echo device with Stick Up Cam Battery, a battery-powered camera that can be mounted indoor or out.
- With Live View, you can check in on your home any time through the Ring app.
- With a Ring Protect Plan (subscription sold separately), record all your videos, review what you missed for up to 180 days, and share videos and photos.
- Place on a flat surface or mount to a wall with the versatile mounting bracket. Add-on the Mount for Stick Up Cam (sold separately) for ceiling mount.
- Watch over your entire home by connecting one or multiple Stick Up Cams to all your Ring devices in the Ring app.
Blink vs. Ring: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Choosing between these two Amazon-owned contenders is not an easy decision. Blink dominates the low-cost, low-effort sector while Ring offers more advanced features and more complex hardware. They can both play their part in contributing to the security of your home and there is room for both to make their pleas heard.
The ability to up-level your Ring cameras security system into a full security system called Ring alarm is reassuring. Complete with a base station, keypad, contact sensor, motion detector, range extender and more at quite an affordable price is reassuring.
In our opinion, the conclusion to draw here is that, if it’s a full security solution you’re after, Ring is the way to go.
Up Next…
- What Does ‘Emoji’ Mean Anyway, Where Did It Originate? Join us as we trace the interesting history and development of the emoji.
- How Can You Invest in Tesla? Now that Tesla stocks are plummeting, you may want to get in on the bottom. Read this guide on how to invest in Tesla.
- iPad vs Samsung Tablets: Full Comparison, Specs, Which Is Better If you’re looking to invest in a new tablet, we’ve compared the features, prices, and more of the iPad vs Samsung tablets.
