Ring Spotlight Camera
- Records in 1080p HD video
- Easy to install
- Cloud video storage starts at $3/mo.
Secure Your Yard with the Ring Spotlight Camera
This outdoor home security camera has all the features you’ll need, combined with motion detection and an integrated spotlight. With Ring Spotlight’s wide field of view, you’ll get an eyeful in HD with up to 30 feet of night vision.
Pros
- Easy installation
- 1080p, high-quality HD video
- Night vision up to 30 feet
- Loud siren (110dB)
- Two-way audio
Cons
- Wireless comes with one battery
- Relies on cloud storage subscription
- Doesn't prebuffer video
Ring Protect Pricing
| Subscription Cost |
| Equipment Cost (Ring Spotlight Cam Wireless) |
| Warranty |
| Contract Length |
| Video Storage |
| Monitoring |
| Learn More |
| Basic | Plus |
| $3/mo. or $30/yr. | $10/mo. or $100/yr. |
| $199 | $199 |
| 1 year, limited | 1 year, limited |
| Monthly | Monthly |
| Up to 60 days | Up to 60 days |
| DIY monitoring for one device | 24/7 professional monitoring |
| Visit Ring | Visit Ring |
Prices effective 10/08/2019. Offers and availability subject to change.
Ring Spotlight Camera Equipment
Ring’s equipment is spot on, which you might expect from a well-established home security company whose bread and butter is cameras.
This outdoor security camera comes with an integrated spotlight, motion detectors, and a built-in 110-decibel siren as well as a mic and speaker for two-way audio. The siren can scare off would-be burglars, and the two-way talk lets you speak to visitors when you’re not home.
And Ring Spotlight’s IP55 waterproof rating means you won’t have to worry about exposure to the elements no matter where you mount it.
If you choose the Ring Spotlight Camera Wireless, your camera needs only one battery pack but can be powered by two. It comes with just one battery included, so you’ll have to purchase the extra if you want it.
We’d spring for that second battery so you can remove one battery pack to recharge using the USB port while the other battery keeps your camera online. With both batteries installed, you can count on a life of about 6–12 months depending on motion settings.
The Ring Spotlight Camera Wired has similar features and the added advantage of a slightly brighter spotlight. You can also choose a Ring Spotlight Camera Solar, but for it to power up, you’ll need to purchase the Ring solar panel separately.
What’s in the Box
- Ring Camera Spotlight (comes in black or white)
- One battery pack
- Mounting bracket
- Wall screws
- Anchors
- Screwdriver
- Drill bit
- Set-up guide
Ring Spotlight Camera Video Quality & Sensitivity
The Ring Spotlight Camera is programmed to record when the motion sensors detect movement, but you can adjust the sensitivity using the Ring app. One downside of the Ring is that it doesn’t prebuffer video. This process means there could be a short delay of one to two minutes (depending on your connection speed) between when you’re notified of an event and when the recording is available for viewing.
Daytime Video Quality
During the day, the Ring Spotlight Camera will pick up almost every angle of your yard or around your home with a 140-degree field of view and bright, HD-resolution picture quality.
Night Vision Quality
By night, the video feed reverts to black and white when motion is detected, with four infrared LED lights providing night vision of up to 30 feet.
Ring Spotlight Camera App
If you have multiple Ring cameras like the Ring Video Doorbell Pro or other Ring devices, you’ll be able to access and control them all from the Ring app on your phone, tablet, or computer. The intuitive, easy-to-use app aggregates multiple live-view feeds and provides event history, battery level, device health, motion settings, and more for each camera.
We recommend adjusting motion frequency and zones for your Ring Spotlight Camera from the app to cut down on notification overload and save battery life.
- The Frequent setting will pick up any motion in your yard, including the movement of trees in the wind.
- The Normal setting will still alert you to large objects like birds or other wildlife (hello to the mice scurrying around the back door every night), while the Light setting will trigger recordings for only sizable moving objects like humans or large dogs.
Setting up motion zones can save you from unneeded alerts as well. For example, you can set a motion zone that alerts you any time something crosses your yard but not when cars pass by on the street.
Ring Spotlight Camera Video Storage
Anytime we discuss home security cameras, we also have to talk about where to store all that recorded footage.
The Ring Spotlight Camera cuts down on the volume of video by archiving only event footage rather than continuous recording. Ring also offers cloud storage for all its cameras with a Ring Basic plan for one device and a Ring Plus plan for multiple cameras or devices.
Ring doesn’t technically require that you purchase cloud storage, but at a starting price of $3 a month for 60 days of recorded event history, it’s hard to pass up.
Without cloud storage, you’ll still get notifications, but you’ll be unable to access event history or share recorded footage. If you do experience a break-in or even package theft, saved recordings can help in a crime investigation or for alerting your neighbors.
Ring Spotlight Camera Smart Home Compatibility
Because Amazon now owns Ring, you might not be surprised to hear Ring security devices are compatible with Amazon’s Alexa and can be voice-controlled through Amazon Echo home hubs.
Ring cameras are also compatible with other IFTTT devices such as Wink home hubs and, of course, other Ring products like the Ring Alarm security system.
Ring Spotlight Camera Installation and Setup
Amazon offers professional installation for a fee, but it’s unlikely you’ll need it. The Ring Spotlight Camera, especially the wireless model, is a cinch to install.
- Charge the battery.
- Download the app and set up an account.
- Follow instructions to set up a new device and load a charged battery into the camera. It’s important to connect the camera to the Wi-Fi before you try to mount it, so follow directions in the app to connect and pair it to your router and smartphone.
- Decide where to mount the Ring Spotlight Camera. This is probably the hardest part because you’ll have plenty of options. The versatile mounting bracket even allows you to install the camera upside down if necessary.
- Double-check that your camera is close enough to the router that it’s still picking up a clear connection from your Wi-Fi network.
- Attach the camera, adjust the viewing angle, and tighten the clamp. You’re ready to go.
Ring Spotlight Camera Customer Service
The customer service we received through Ring is another bright spot in our Ring Spotlight Camera experience.
When we first received the camera and installed it, it worked wonderfully. But about a week in, after trying to update firmware, the camera software suddenly crashed and refused to come back online.
Ring customer service couldn’t have been more accommodating: they rushed us a free replacement camera, and we’ve been using and testing it hiccup-free ever since.
Compare Outdoor Security Cameras with Ring Spotlight Camera
| Brand |
| Cost |
| Video Quality |
| Wired or Wireless |
| Field of View |
| Cloud Storage |
| Learn More |
| Ring Spotlight Camera | Arlo Pro | Nest Cam Outdoor |
|
 |
 |
| $199 | $249 | $199 |
| 1080p HD Night vision |
720p HD Night vision |
1080p HD Night vision |
| Both | Both | Wired only |
| 140-degrees | 130-degrees | 130-degres |
| $3/mo. | 7 days free | 3 hours free |
| Visit Ring | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Prices effective 10/08/2019. Offers and availability subject to change.
Most of the outdoor security cameras that dominate the market come with HD picture quality, night vision, sirens, and two-way audio. Ring Spotlight differentiates itself with a wider viewing angle and an integrated motion-triggered spotlight.
Ring Spotlight Camera FAQs
What’s the difference between Ring Spotlight and Ring Floodlight Cameras?
The Ring Floodlight Camera has some serious illumination, clocking in at 1800 lumens versus the Spotlight’s 300 lumens for the battery and solar-powered models and 350 for the Ring Spotlight Wired.
Because of the extra power required for the dual LED lamps, the Floodlight is a wired camera and needs to be connected to a junction box.
Will my pets trigger the Ring Spotlight Camera?
Even small dogs and cats are likely to set off the motion detectors on the Ring Spotlight Camera unless you reduce it to its lowest setting or severely restrict the zones within the field of view.
If you’ve got a large pet and are planning to use the camera to survey your backyard, prepare for your smartphone to light up repeatedly. You may want to disconnect the camera from the Ring Chime or snooze notifications until your favorite four-legged friend comes inside.
What is Ring Neighborhood?
If you had an older version of the Ring app, you’ll recognize this feature called Ring Neighborhood as the community platform that was integrated as a separate tab. It prompted lots of notifications and oversharing, and some Ring doorbell and camera videos even went viral online.
These days, Ring Neighborhood is known as Neighbors by Ring. It’s a free app (independent of the Ring security app) where customers can opt into getting and sharing real-time crime and safety alerts and connect with the police. Think of it as a virtual neighborhood watch.
Illuminate and Secure Your Property with a Ring Spotlight Camera
We can recommend the robust features and reasonable price of the Ring Spotlight Camera without reservations. It lives up to its reputation for long battery life, clear HD-quality picture, and easy installation.
How We Reviewed the Ring Spotlight Camera
For this review, we really got our hands dirty and both installed and rigorously tested the Ring Spotlight Camera. We noted any difficulties with installation and tracked service concerns and responsiveness.
But don’t take our word for it. We also researched online and considered advice from experts in the field. Ring Spotlight Camera ratings from other customers and reviews from the Better Business Bureau also informed our process.¹ If you’re interested in more details, take a look under the hood and inspect our full methodology.
Related Pages on SafeWise
- Best Outdoor Security Cameras of 2019
- Ring Security System Review
- The Best Smart Video Doorbells of 2019
Sources:
1. Amazon, “Ring Spotlight Camera Customer Reviews”; Best Buy, “Ring Spotlight Camera Ratings & Reviews”; Better Business Bureau, “Ring Online Retailer”
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