The Ring Video Doorbell 2 is weather resistant – it’ll handle rain, snow, and sleet without complaint. Ring hasn’t published an official IP rating for it, but years of real-world use confirm it survives normal outdoor conditions just fine. What it won’t survive: direct submersion, a sustained blast from a pressure washer, or flooding. For the average British (or Midwestern) rainstorm, you’re fine.
Quick note: Ring pulled the Doorbell 2 from sale around 2020. If you’re already installed, everything below still applies. If you’re shopping for a new unit, skip to the bottom – the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is the current equivalent and a genuine upgrade.
What “Weather Resistant” Actually Means
Ring describes the Doorbell 2 as “weather resistant” but deliberately avoids publishing a specific IP rating. In practice, based on independent testing and user reports, it performs in line with a mid-range weather resistance rating – protected against dust and water jets from any direction, but not designed for prolonged submersion or extreme exposure.
Translation: normal rain, fine. Snow accumulation on the device, fine. Direct garden hose blast at close range or flood-level water, not fine. If you’re in a region that gets genuinely extreme weather, an overhang or rain cover is worth the three minutes to install.
One thing Ring is clear about: the battery door and the USB charging port cover must be properly closed and seated for any weather protection to hold. A poorly closed port cover is the most common cause of water ingress on these units.
How to Make Sure Yours Is Properly Protected
The Doorbell 2 is reasonably durable out of the box, but a few installation choices make a real difference in how long it lasts.
Close the battery door completely
Press the battery door firmly until it clicks. A partially seated door leaves the internals exposed – this is the single most common way moisture gets in.
Keep the USB port cover sealed
The micro-USB charging port has a rubber cover. When you’re not actively charging, it should be fully pressed in and seated. Check it any time you remove the battery.
Mount under an overhang where possible
Ring recommends this in their installation guide. Even a shallow overhang – a porch ceiling, a wall bracket positioned to shade the unit – keeps driving rain off the face and significantly extends battery life in cold weather.
Add a rain cover bracket if you’re fully exposed
If your mounting location has zero overhead cover, a compatible rain cover bracket clips on without drilling and gives the lens a visor against both rain and sun glare.
What About Condensation?
This one catches people off guard. If the doorbell sits in a very humid environment for extended periods – particularly if it’s cold overnight and warms up sharply in the morning – you can get fogging on the lens or minor condensation inside the unit. The device handles it, but it’s not pleasant to look at.
If you notice fogging: wipe the exterior with a dry cloth and give it a few minutes in direct (but not scorching) sun. A hairdryer on low from a foot away works too. It’s rarely a sign of damage – just physics doing its thing.
Mounting under an overhang also helps with this, since it limits the temperature swings the unit experiences.
The Doorbell 2 Is Discontinued – Here’s What to Buy Instead
Ring stopped selling the Doorbell 2 around 2020. If yours is working, keep using it – the weather resistance hasn’t changed and it still connects to the Ring app fine. But if you’re replacing it or buying for a new installation, the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is the direct successor. It’s battery-operated like the 2, shoots in 1536p HD+ with a head-to-toe field of view (you’ll actually see packages on your step), includes colour night vision, and has the same weather-resistant build. Around $150 retail.
If you’re hardwiring, the Battery Doorbell Plus supports that too – same unit, just plugs into your existing doorbell wiring to keep it charged without manual battery swaps.