When it comes to Ring’s lineup of home security cameras, there’s certainly no shortage of models to choose from. Whether you’re thinking about adding surveillance to a few rooms in your home or want to create a cohesive net of Wi-Fi-powered monitoring for every room, along with a few outdoor locations, there’s a Ring camera that will get the job done.
Like many others DIY home security solutions, it can be a bit daunting to sift through the many types of cameras and other security peripherals that Ring offers, but that’s where we come in. We’ve been writing about and testing Ring products for years, so when it comes to adding a Ring camera to your home, we know exactly what we’re talking about.
To help you pick You can have one, two or eight Ring cameras installed in your domicile, as well as on any adjoining acreage. we’ve gone ahead and created this Ring security camera buying guide, covering each of the seven major Ring cameras. Read on to learn about the company’s impressive tech, and don’t forget to check out the FAQ at the end.
Ring Spotlight Cam Pro
Versions:
The key features 1080p HDR, Color Night Vision, 3D Motion Detection, Bird’s Eye View
Field of view: 180 degrees (horizontal), 80 degrees (vertical)
Available colors: Black and white
For: Property owners who are looking for the best motion-tracking, recording, lens and lens capabilities to monitor outdoor environments.
The Spotlight Cam Pro is one of Ring’s newest outdoor camera releases, and it’s the company’s most advanced camera to date. The footage captured by Ring cameras of any type is stunning, with 1080p HDR (High Dynamic range) recording and live footage. This is especially important for property surveillance, especially at night.
HDR angles are easy to grasp. HDR is a picture standard that can be found in everything, from TVs and cameras to streaming devices. It allows for brighter and more vibrant imagery. Nothing is more important when it comes home security than getting the most clarity from your camera(s).
Features like 3D Motion DetectionAnd Bird’s Eye ViewYou can also have peace of mind about your home and the surrounding land by adding an add-on that uses radar technology. The Spotlight ProTo initiate a recording, a subject must be within reach of your property. The latter feature uses that same radar tech to create a bird’s eye “breadcrumb” trail of a subject’s pathway onto and off of your property, with both 3D Motion Detection and Bird’s Eye working in unison with whatever customizable motion zones you create to keep things under lock and key.
That’s on top of two powerful LED spotlights, Color Night Vision, two-way talk, and dual-band connectivity for bandwidth-starved Wi-Fi networks.
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus
Versions:
The key features 1080p HD Video, Color Night Vision and Advanced Motion Detection
Field of view: 140 degrees (horizontal)
Available colors: Black and white
For: Homeowners that need a solid HD outdoor camera but don’t want to splurge on a full floodlight model.
Equipped with many of the same features as the phenomenal Spotlight Cam Pro, if you don’t want the extra-laborious job of mounting and installing one of the Floodlight Cam variants, the Spotlight Cam Plus is an excellent alternative for properties that require outdoor monitoring.
Available in black and white finishes, the Spotlight Cam Plus comes in wired, battery, and solar configurations, allowing you to choose the Cam Plus that’s best for your security needs. Mounting the camera in a location where external wiring isn’t available? You have two options: either the battery or the solar version. If you have access to indoor wiring, would you rather not have to recharge a battery every once in a while? The wired unit is the best option.
The Spotlight Plus features a 140 degree horizontal field of vision and 1080p HD recording. Live views are also available to provide crystal-clear footage to the Ring app. You can also add two-way communication, color night vision and motion-triggered LED lights to your purchase.
Unlike the Spotlight Cam Pro though, the Spotlight Plus is only compatible with 2.4GHz network bands and does not include 3D Motion Detection, Bird’s Eye View, or colorized Pre-Roll footage.
Ring Floodlight Cam Pro
Versions:
The key features 1080p HDR, Color Night Vision, 3D Motion Detection, Bird’s Eye View
Field of view: 140 degrees (horizontal), 80 degrees (vertical)
Available colors: Black, graphite, graphite, and dark bronze
For: A floodlight system is required to effectively light the path from the car to your door. It also provides top-quality home security features.
If you’re looking for Ring’s most heavy-duty outdoor camera, look no further than the formidable Floodlight Cam Pro. The Floodlight Pro comes in both plug-in and wired configurations. There are four color options.
Two floodlights with a luminous output of 2,000 lumens form part of an advanced motion trigger system. The Floodlight Pro is ideal for mounting in dark areas or outside areas. The Floodlight Pro detects motion and immediately goes to work with the 1080p HDR camera, which delivers sharp, arresting footage day or night.
Other great add-ons include 3D Motion Detection, Bird’s Eye View, and the ability to connect to either a 2.4GHz or 5GHz network band. You’ll also be able to use two-way talk through the Ring app, and the onboard 115-decibel siren is enough to scare away intruders within any distance of your property.
Keep in mind that the Floodlight Pro as well as the Floodlight Plus require more work to install. Require some kind of in-home power, whether that’s existing wiring or an AC outlet (no battery or solar options here).
Ring Floodlight Cam Plus
Versions:
The key features 1080p HD Video with Color Night Vision, Advanced Motion Detection, and 105 decibel siren
Field of view: 140 degrees (horizontal), 80 degrees (vertical)
Available colors: Black and white
For: Ring floodlight arrays are a great option for those who need the reliability and power, but also want to save money.
Serving as the “runner-up” to Ring’s Floodlight Cam Pro, the Plus iteration of this outdoor system delivers many of the same features as the Pro version, with a couple of missing add-ons resulting in a lower price.
The Floodlight Plus is available in both wired and plug–in configurations. It captures 1080p HD video for live and recorded views. It covers a 140 degree field of view with 80 degrees vertical adjustment. The Floodlight Plus features two-way audio and noise cancellation, two 2,000-watt LED lighting, and a loud, proud 105-decibel siren. The Floodlight Plus, like other Ring cameras, is compatible with Alexa. This allows you to use Echo Show devices to view live footage from your outdoor camera.
Similar to what’s missing on the Spotlight Pro versus the Spotlight Plus, the Floodlight Plus doesn’t include HDR recording, 3D Motion Detection, Bird’s Eye View, or dual-band connectivity options.
Ring Stick up Cam
Versions:
The key features Night Vision, HD Video 1080p, Night Vision
Field of view: 130 degrees (diagonal), 110 degrees (horizontal), 57 degrees (vertical)
Available colors: Black and white
For: A camera that can be used indoors or outdoors to monitor pets, children, rooms with heirlooms or other valuables, and even the outside world.
One of Ring’s most versatile camera options is the Ring Stick Up Cam. The Stick Up Cam can be placed on a flat surface, or mounted to a wall. It is available in solar, plug-in and battery configurations.
The Stick Up offers 1080p HD recording, live views and two-way chat for chatting with anyone on the front stoop. Other must-haves include Color Night Vision and customizable motion zones for adjusting the radius around your property that the Stick Up will react to, which is especially convenient if you’re mounting the camera outdoors.
Speaking of which, Color Night Vision is a major selling point with this model, as the Stick Up Cam doesn’t feature any kind of onboard LED lighting and can only be connected to a 2.4GHz network band. That being said, though, if you’re looking for a bite-sized and affordable Ring camera that can function rain or shine, the Stick Up Cam is a great choice.
Ring Stick Up Cam Elite
Versions:
The key features 1080p HD Video and Night Vision, Two-way Talk, with Noise Cancellation
Field of view: 150 degrees (horizontal), 85 degrees (vertical)
Available colors: Black and white
For: Homeowners who want constant power for their Ring camera(s).
You may not be familiar with the Ring Stick Up Cam Elite, a less traditional Ring camera. The Elite version of the Stick Up Cam Elite has a similar lens and recording capabilities to the original Stick Up Cam. It can be powered using either an a or b. Power over Ethernet adapterOr an indoor/outdoor power adapter. If the former is what you’ll be using, you’ll need to make sure the Elite is located close to a router so that you can run Ethernet to and from the camera, networking peripherals, and the included PoE adapter.
The Stick Up Cam is more expensive than the standard Stick Up Cam, but it has a greater vertical axis. (85° vs. 57° with the regular Stick Up Cam), dual-band connectivity, and dual-band connectivity, if you want to add the Elite to your Wi Fi network.
Ring Indoor Cam
The key features 1080p HD Video and Night Vision, Two-way Talk, with Noise Cancelling
Field of view: 140 degrees (diagonal), 115 degrees (horizontal), 60 degrees (vertical)
Available colors: Black and white
For: Ring cameras are needed by homeowners who need to monitor indoor areas.
Last, but not least, we have Ring Indoor Cam. It’s the most basic Ring camera of the lineup, but don’t let “basic” turn you away. You’re still getting 1080p HD recordings and live footage, two-way chat, and the ability to either mount the camera on a wall or place it on a flat surface. You’ll also be able to pull up real-time footage from the Indoor Cam using an Alexa-powered smart display, and features like Color Night Vision and customizable motion zones are available with this model, too.
The Indoor Cam’s connectivity capabilities are the least. It requires an AC outlet to supply power and a Wi Fi network to pair up (2.4GHz only). But if you’re looking for a cost-efficient way to monitor multiple rooms in your home, the Ring Indoor Cam is the company’s cheapest option and can be purchased in two- three- or four-packs.
Frequently Asked Questions
To use Ring cameras, do I need a Ring subscription?
No, although you’ll be quite limited in what you’ll actually be able to do with your Ring cameras. A Ring Protect PlanYou can take advantage of motion-triggered recordings from your Ring cameras. This gives you access to a cloud library with up to 180 days video history, person alerts, rich notifications, and the ability to download as many as 50 videos through Ring.com all at once. Ring Protect Plus offers extended warranties on all of your Ring devices. The Protect Pro tier includes 24/7 professional monitoring, cellular backup and Alexa Guard Plus addons.
Without a Ring Protect Plan subscription, you can still use your Ring cameras for live footage, as well as use motion alerts and two-way chat, but you won’t be able to view recorded footage.
Is it possible to hack my Ring cameras?
Yes, most Internet-connected hardware can be hacked. Despite this, To effectively deter hackers from jumping onto your network, it’s always a good idea to change your Wi-Fi password on a somewhat regular basis. Investing in a solid VPN is another great way to safeguard your home’s Internet connection.
Can Ring cameras be used without Wi-Fi?
No. While your Ring camera can literally be powered as long as there’s power around, in order to capture footage and transmit video to your phone, tablet, or smart display, Ring cameras require some kind of Internet connection, whether wired or wireless.
Recommendations of Editors
