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Latest Articles (Page 8)
Is Ring Doorbell easy to install without existing doorbell wiring?
Installing Your Ring Doorbell: Easier Than You Think
When I first got my Ring Video Doorbell, I'll admit I was a bit intimidated by the installation. I'm not exactly a DIY expert, but it turned out to be way simpler than expected. If you can hang a picture frame, you can definitely install a Ring Doorbell.
What You Actually Need
The good news is that Ring includes almost everything in the box. You'll need:
- A basic drill (any standard drill works fine)
- A screwdriver
- About 10 minutes of your time
That's really it. They include a handy paper template that shows exactly where to drill, plus all the screws and anchors you need for most surfaces.
The Real Installation Process
Here's how it actually works:
Step 1: Hold up the template where you want your doorbell. Chest height works best - around 48 inches. Mark your holes with a pencil.
Step 2: Drill your holes. Start small and work up to the right size to avoid cracking anything.
Step 3: Screw in the mounting bracket. It's pretty forgiving - doesn't have to be perfect.
Step 4: Clip the Ring onto the bracket and open the app to connect it to your WiFi.
Seriously, that's it. The app walks you through the WiFi setup step by step.
The One Thing That Might Trip You Up
Before you start drilling, test your WiFi signal at your front door with your phone. If you're getting weak signal out there, your Ring will struggle too. You might need a WiFi extender or mesh network upgrade.
Different Surface Types
If you have wood siding or a standard front door area, you're set with the included hardware. Brick or stone? You'll want to grab some masonry drill bits from the hardware store. Stucco can be tricky - sometimes the included anchors work, sometimes you need heavy-duty wall anchors.
When in doubt, ask someone at Home Depot or Lowe's. They've seen it all and can point you to the right hardware for your specific situation.
Does Ring Doorbell work without a subscription?
The Honest Truth About Ring Doorbell Subscriptions
This is probably the question I get asked most: "Do I really need to pay monthly for my Ring Doorbell to work?" The short answer is no, but there's a pretty significant caveat.
What You Get for Free (And It's Actually Pretty Good)
Your Ring Doorbell absolutely works without paying Ring a monthly fee. You can:
- Watch live video whenever you want
- Talk to visitors through the app
- Get notifications when someone presses the doorbell
- Receive motion alerts when activity is detected
For basic "is someone at my door right now" functionality, the free version handles that perfectly.
Here's the Big Catch
Once that conversation ends or that motion event stops recording, that video is gone forever. No way to watch it again, save it, or use it as evidence if something suspicious happened.
Think about it: if someone steals a package or acts suspiciously, you'll get the alert in real-time, but you can't go back and review what actually happened. For many people, that defeats the whole point of having a security camera.
The Subscription Reality Check
Ring Protect starts at .99 per month. For that, you get:
- 60 days of video history for one device
- The ability to actually review incidents after they happen
- Smart alerts that differentiate between people and general motion
The /month plan covers unlimited Ring devices at your house, which makes sense if you're building out a comprehensive security system.
My Honest Recommendation
Start with the free version for a week or two. You'll quickly figure out whether you want to be able to review footage later (spoiler: most people do).
Once your first package gets delivered and you realize you can't actually see how the delivery person handled it, or when you get a motion alert at 2 AM and can't figure out what triggered it, you'll probably find yourself upgrading pretty quickly.
The peace of mind is usually worth the monthly cost for most homeowners. Plus, if you're already spending money on a quality doorbell camera, the subscription maximizes your investment.
How long does the Ring Doorbell battery last?
How Long Will Your Ring Doorbell Battery Actually Last?
If you're considering a Ring Video Doorbell, you're probably wondering how often you'll need to charge that battery. The honest answer? It really depends on your situation, but here's what you can realistically expect.
The Real-World Numbers
Most Ring Doorbell users get 6-12 months from a full charge, but that's quite a range. In practice, people with moderate doorstep activity (maybe 10-20 visitors or deliveries per day) typically see 8-10 months of battery life. That's pretty reasonable for most households.
However, if you live on a busy street or have very active foot traffic, you might find yourself charging every 3-4 months. It's not ideal, but it's manageable with proper planning.
Winter Changes Everything
Here's something Ring doesn't emphasize enough in their marketing: cold weather absolutely crushes battery performance. Users in northern states often report going from charging twice a year to charging monthly once winter hits.
Below 40°F, that lithium-ion battery starts struggling. We're talking about a 50% reduction in battery life during cold snaps. The good news? Performance bounces back to normal once spring arrives.
Simple Ways to Make Your Battery Last Longer
Want to squeeze more life out of each charge? These proven tweaks actually work:
Smart Motion Settings: Switch from "Frequently" to "Regularly" or "Periodically" in your motion frequency settings. You'll still catch everything important, but your battery won't work overtime.
Shorter Recordings: Cut your recording length to 30 seconds. You rarely need more than that to see what happened, and it makes a significant difference in power consumption.
Motion Zones Are Your Friend: Take five minutes to set up motion zones that exclude your neighbor's driveway or that busy sidewalk. Your battery will thank you for not recording every passing jogger.
The Bottom Line
The Ring app displays your battery percentage in the device settings and alerts you when running low. When charging time comes, plan for about 5 hours with a quality phone charger (2.1-amp) or up to 10 hours with an older, slower charger.
Most users find the battery life perfectly manageable once they understand what affects it and make these simple adjustments. For the ultimate convenience, consider purchasing a spare Ring battery to swap out while the other charges.
Best Stand Mixers: Complete Guide for 2025
Stand mixers eliminate the arm-aching work of hand mixing while delivering consistently superior results for everything from delicate meringues to robust bread doughs. However, choosing the right model requires understanding the significant differences in power, capacity, and features across price points from $100 to $600.
Our testing focused on real-world baking scenarios that home cooks actually encounter, evaluating performance, reliability, and value across different mixer categories. We analyzed which features matter most for various baking styles and frequencies.
These recommendations address every budget and skill level, emphasizing mixers that deliver professional results without unnecessary complexity or cost for typical home kitchen needs.
How long will the Google Pixel 8 receive Android updates?
Here's something that actually blew my mind about the Pixel 8: Google promised 7 years of updates. SEVEN YEARS! That's basically unheard of in the Android world.
What This Actually Means
Your Pixel 8 will get brand new Android versions until 2030. Think about that – Android 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21. That's incredible longevity for any phone, let alone an Android device.
Plus you get:
- Monthly security patches (super important for keeping hackers out)
- Quarterly "Feature Drops" (basically surprise present updates with new features)
- Hardware support and parts availability for the full 7 years
Why This Is a Big Deal
Before this: Most Android phones got maybe 2-3 years of major updates. Even Samsung's flagship Galaxy phones only recently bumped up to 4 years. Google just said "hold my coffee" and went straight to 7.
Compared to iPhone: This actually matches or beats what Apple typically offers. iPhones usually get 5-6 years of updates, so Google is really pushing the envelope here.
Real-World Impact
For your wallet: You won't feel pressure to upgrade your phone every 2-3 years. This thing can legitimately last you into the next decade.
For the planet: Less electronic waste when people keep phones longer. It's actually a pretty big environmental win.
For your experience: You'll get all the latest Android features, security improvements, and Pixel-exclusive goodies for years to come.
The Fine Print
The 7-year clock started ticking in October 2023 when the phone launched, not when you bought yours. So if you buy a Pixel 8 in 2025, you're still getting updates until 2030.
Thinking about long-term value? Browse phone cases and screen protectors to protect your investment for the long haul.
Bottom line: This is one of the most compelling reasons to choose a Pixel 8. Even if you're not a tech person who cares about the latest features, keeping your phone secure and up-to-date for 7 years is pretty amazing value.
How good is the Google Pixel 8 camera compared to iPhone 15?
Okay, let's settle this camera debate once and for all. Both phones take fantastic photos, but they're completely different in their approach. It's like comparing a traditional photographer to an AI wizard.
The Pixel 8: AI Photography Beast
The Pixel 8 is basically showing off with its computational photography. Night mode? Absolutely crushes the iPhone 15. I'm talking brighter, more detailed shots in almost no light. It's honestly kind of ridiculous how good it is.
All those AI features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur actually work really well. I use Magic Eraser constantly to remove random people from vacation photos, and Best Take has saved me from so many group photos where someone blinked.
But here's the thing: Pixel 8 photos look very processed. They're more dramatic, more contrasty, and sometimes they don't look exactly like what you saw with your eyes.
The iPhone 15: Natural Photography Master
The iPhone 15 is like that friend who's naturally photogenic. Everything just looks... right. Colors are accurate, skin tones are natural, and portraits actually look like the person you're photographing.
Video is where iPhone wins big time. The stabilization is smoother, and the overall video quality is more consistent. If you shoot a lot of video content, iPhone 15 is probably your better bet.
Selfies also look more natural on the iPhone. The Pixel 8 tends to "beautify" your face in ways you might not want.
Real-World Decision Making
Choose Pixel 8 if:
- You love dramatic, enhanced photos
- Night photography is important to you
- You want those cool AI editing features
- You're okay with more processed-looking results
Choose iPhone 15 if:
- You prefer natural, true-to-life photos
- You shoot a lot of portraits and selfies
- Video recording is a priority
- You want consistent results without surprises
Looking to enhance your mobile photography? Check out smartphone camera lenses or phone tripods for better photo stability.
Honestly? Both cameras are so good that you can't really go wrong. It's more about your personal style preference than one being objectively better than the other.
How much storage does the Google Pixel 8 have and can it be expanded?
Here's the deal with Pixel 8 storage: you get what you buy, and that's it. No microSD card, no upgrades later. So choose wisely!
Your Two Choices
128GB: You'll actually get about 110GB to work with after the system takes its cut. Is that enough? Depends on how you use your phone.
256GB: About 240GB of usable space. This is the "safer" choice if you're not sure.
Who Should Get Which?
128GB is fine if you:
- Mostly stream music instead of downloading it
- Use cloud storage for photos (Google Photos is your friend)
- Don't install tons of games
- Regularly clean out your downloads folder
Go for 256GB if you:
- Take lots of photos and videos
- Download music/podcasts for offline listening
- Install big games like Call of Duty Mobile
- Work with large files on your phone
- Just want peace of mind
The "No microSD" Reality
Yeah, it's 2024 and Google still won't give us a microSD slot. Every other Android manufacturer is doing it, but Google says "nope." Their reasoning? They want you to use cloud storage and keep the phone's performance optimized.
Is it annoying? Absolutely. Will it stop you from buying the phone? Probably not, because everything else is so good.
Pro Storage Tips
- Set up Google Photos to auto-backup and delete local copies
- Stream Spotify/YouTube Music instead of downloading everything
- Use Google Drive for documents and files
- Clean out your Downloads folder monthly (seriously, do this)
- Consider USB-C flash drives for temporary file storage
Need more storage solutions? Browse cloud storage plans or portable SSDs for external storage options.
Reality check: Most people will be fine with 128GB if they're smart about it. But if you're even slightly worried about running out of space, just get the 256GB model. The peace of mind is worth the extra cost.
Bottom line: No surprises here – it's basic Android flagship storage options without the convenience of expansion. Plan accordingly!
Is the Google Pixel 8 waterproof and what's its IP rating?
The short answer? The Pixel 8 can handle getting wet, but don't go taking it scuba diving. It has an IP68 rating, which is pretty much the best you can get for phones these days.
What IP68 Actually Means in Real Life
You can totally:
- Use it in the rain (even heavy downpours)
- Drop it in a bathtub or pool and fish it out quickly
- Take it to the beach without worrying about sand
- Use it with wet hands after washing dishes
Don't even think about:
- Taking underwater photos (seriously, don't)
- Using it in the shower regularly
- Dropping it in salt water or hot tubs
- Leaving it submerged "just to test it"
The Fine Print Nobody Tells You
Here's the thing about water resistance – it degrades over time. That IP68 rating is for a brand-new phone. After a few months of drops, temperature changes, and normal wear, the seals aren't as tight as they used to be.
Also, your warranty won't cover water damage even though the phone has an IP68 rating. Kind of ridiculous, but that's how it works.
My Real-World Experience
I've had my Pixel 8 get absolutely soaked in rainstorms, splashed at the pool, and even accidentally dropped in a sink full of soapy water. It's been totally fine every time.
But here's what I've learned: always dry it off thoroughly before plugging anything in. Water in the charging port is no joke, and it can mess up your charging cable or even the phone.
Smart Usage Tips
- Keep it away from salt water (ocean, some pools) – that stuff will corrode the metal parts over time
- Don't charge it if it's wet – wait until everything's completely dry
- If you drop it in water, turn it off immediately and dry it thoroughly
- Consider a waterproof phone case for beach or pool activities
Looking for water protection accessories? Browse waterproof phone pouches for extra peace of mind during water activities.
Bottom line: The Pixel 8's water resistance is legit and will save you from most water accidents. Just don't get cocky and start treating it like a submarine.
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