Ring announced security camera upgrades on Wednesday that add higher Retinal 2K resolution to its Ring Spotlight and Ring Floodlight models. These cameras now feature LED-powered panels for illuminating outdoor areas, with higher resolutions and two distinct designs. All other main Ring camera devices have already been upgraded to 2K resolution.
First, the Ring Floodlight Cam ($200) uses two LED lights for a total of 2,000 lumens. Brightness and motion zones are fully customizable, so you can keep the lights from turning on too easily. The 2K resolution includes a 6x time zoom option as well. Since this light is wired (floodlights drain batteries fast if they aren’t wired in), you’ll need a junction box to install it properly; otherwise, it’s DIY.
The second upgrade is the second-gen Ring Spotlight Cam ($170), available as either a battery- or plug-in model, giving you more placement options. This smaller cam, also with a 2K resolution and 6x zoom, has 550-lumen LED lights, a siren, two-way talk features and the same motion detection options.
Both cameras are available for preorder now and will ship in early June. Both cameras also offer more advanced AI features if you’re willing to pay a subscription starting at $5 per year, including descriptions of captured video when you get an alert, cloud storage for videos, face recognition and more.
The Spotlight cam is smaller, cheaper, more versatile and my personal favorite.
According to a Ring spokesperson, the Floodlight Cam would work well in larger outdoor spaces, such as driveways or backyards, while the more compact Spotlight Cam could be used for entryways, patios, or other smaller areas.
I’ve been testing out Ring’s latest upgraded cameras and doorbells, including the latest AI technology. (Ring is now backing away from the “AI” term on these new product pages, but the technology is still there.) I’ll be testing the latest version of Ring’s spotlight camera, which does appear on some of my lighted camera recommendations.
Are Ring devices safe to use?
Ring has provided camera footage to law enforcement in the past and allowed police to request users’ camera footage. As of 2024, the company has stopped sharing data with the police without a warrant and has canceled its impending partnership with the surveillance company Flock.
However, Ring still offers features that make some users uncomfortable, leading some to shut off their Ring devices. One Ring feature, Community Requests, lets public-safety agencies ask Ring users in a certain area to share footage that might help with an investigation. The Ring Search Party feature, which uses AI to identify missing pets, has also drawn attention, particularly in light of leaked email reports suggesting that similar technology could be applied to crime-related detection.
You can turn off and opt out of all these features, and I have a guide showing you how to do it.
