Pros
- Quick and easy set up
- Multi-functional security device
- High-quality images
- Packed with useful features
- Long-lasting battery life
- Responsive motion sensor
Cons
- Requires cloud subscription if you want to use all of its functionalities
- Problems can arise with a slow or poor internet connection
- Not as waterproof as other outdoor cameras
Adding a few security features to your property is always a good thing to do. As they say, prevention is better than cure so it’s ideal to have safety measures in place before anything bad can happen to you. With the great number of security devices available in the market today, you won’t have a hard time protecting your property with ease.
The Ring Spotlight Cam Battery is a solid option if you’re looking for a multifunctional home device that will help you add protection to your home. As a motion-triggered spotlight and surveillance camera in one package, it will help you monitor your property and even spook intruders enough to derail their plans.
Is this product the right pick for you, though? We’ll help you find out in our review below.
Ring Spotlight Cam Battery: A Detailed Review
Design and Features
One glimpse at the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery and you’ll immediately know that it’s a Ring product. It has the signature design as the other cameras in the range so you won’t mistake it for another manufacturer’s item. It has the same orb at the bottom which is common among Ring outdoor cameras. What gives it a more distinct look, however, is the two LED light strips on either outer side of its boxy unit.
Small in size and with a modern silhouette, this product will not stick out like a sore thumb in contemporary homes. It also helps that this item is black in color so it can blend in with more architectural styles. It has a more minimalist appearance compared to the white variety.
Meant to be mounted on a wall, this device comes with a mount that is circular in shape. It’s designed to be drilled into a wall or a soffit and has a movable stem to let you position the camera in the angle you need it to be in.
With an IP55-rated housing, this item isn’t as weatherproof as other outdoor cameras. This is why you’ll find quite a few reviews noting that condensation and moisture were able to seep into their units. It’s quite unfortunate since this item is made for outdoor use. To avoid serious issues, you might want to place it somewhere that’s still somewhat protected during inclement weather.
Setup and Usage
Like other Ring cameras, this item boasts of a painless setup. Connecting the device to your smartphone app and wireless connection will only take a couple of minutes as it comes with step-by-step prompts. If the signal of your wireless network is strong, connecting the device won’t take long.
Since this is a battery-powered device, you also don’t have to worry about wiring and cable management. You just need to charge the battery until it’s full and you can already count on it to run for a few months until you need to recharge it again. As it’s designed with a quick-release battery slot, you can also easily access the batteries when you need to.
As you can also use this device with the Ring Solar Panel, you don’t have to struggle to connect the two. The new design will just need you to plug in the connector to the camera unit and that’s it. It will only take you a couple of minutes to finish setting up.
Using the camera itself is also very simple, thanks to the intuitive Ring app. You don’t need to fuss with the camera unit if you don’t need to change its angle or if you don’t have to take out its battery as everything can be tweaked in the app.
Video Quality
As expected from a Ring product, the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery has clear and crisp video quality. It has a true 1080p resolution that is not hindered by low-quality materials and components. Combined with a 140-degree field of view, you can be sure that you’ll be able to see exactly what is happening in the footage or live feed.
The night vision of this camera is also bright and clear. It can be automatically coupled with the LED spotlights so you can have a better look at what’s in front of your camera.
Track and Zoom
While the Spotlight Cam Battery can’t track movements, you can zoom into the details of the footage using the app. It has an 8x digital zoom so you’ll be able to look closer at what you want to close in on.
Audio Quality
You can be sure that you will be able to make full use of the audio features of this camera as both the sound recording and 2-way talk produces clear and audible sounds. Both directions produce sharp audio so you can also get a good understanding of the background sounds and conversations recorded and transmitted through this device.
The remote-controlled siren function of this camera is also reliable and loud. The 110-decibel siren will definitely alert everyone in the vicinity and scare away intruders with its sheer loudness. It doesn’t automatically goes off, however. You will need to turn it on if you need it to go off.
LED Spotlights
While the LED lights of the Spotlight cam isn’t as bright as the Ring Floodlight Camera’s, it’s still pretty bright at 700 lumens. This means that it can significantly illuminate an area. However, it’s not too bright that it can affect the exposure and picture quality of your videos.
Motion Detection
Like other home security cameras, the Spotlight Cam only starts recording when its motion sensor gets tripped. Because of this, you can’t get a continuous recording from this device just yet.
In any case, you can count on its motion sensor to do a great job in detecting movement. It will automatically inform you of the event and start recording a clip.
Different users have varying opinions and experiences with the sensor so it’s a good thing that its sensitivity is easy to adjust and customize. As a result, you can better ensure that your unit will help you catch the movements that take place in your property.
Cloud Storage Costs
Cloud subscription is pretty much a must for the Spotlight Cam as you won’t be able to use all of its features without it. Luckily, Ring made recent adjustments in their pricing so they’re more affordable now.
For example, the Protect Basic plan now only costs $3 monthly or S30 annually while the Plus plan only costs $10 monthly or $100 annually. These two have significant differences so they’re quite reasonable for their offerings.
Smart Home Compatibility
If you have other Ring products at home, you can connect them to create a Ring smart home environment. You can also use this device with Alexa devices as well as IFTTT-enabled devices.
Mobile Apps and Web Portals
One of the strongest charms of the Spotlight Cam is the Ring App. With its great design, it’s very easy to work with and will not give you a hard time in getting the most out of your security camera. Ring also has a web console, so if you want to access your camera and other Ring products on your PC, you can do so with great ease.
Lifetime Theft Protection
Another nice feature this product has is its Lifetime Theft Protection. So in case your Spotlight Cam gets stolen, Ring will replace your unit.
FAQs
How long does the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery lasts before you need to recharge it?
When fully charged, the manufacturer says that the battery of this item should last up to 6 months with normal use. However, it will still depend on how often the device is activated and triggered to start recording. To know if your battery needs recharging, check the battery while it’s inside the camera unit. A blinking red light indicates that your battery is low on power.
How do I recharge my Ring Spotlight Cam Battery?
Recharging this camera’s batteries is very easy to do. You just need to take out the battery from the compartment then plug it into a micro USB charger. It has an indicator light that will turn solid green when the battery is fully charged.
Can you use this camera without a cloud subscription?
Yes, it’s possible to use the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery even without a subscription. However, the features will be very limited. You’ll only be able to receive motion alerts, view the live feed, and use the 2-way talk at the most. You can’t save videos without a cloud subscription.
Do you need to buy an additional battery for this device?
It comes with one removable battery but it has two battery slots so you can get an extra battery for backup. Doing so will keep your camera running even while you charge the other battery.
Does the Ring Spotlight cam have a siren?
Yes, the Spotlight cam has a siren.
Can I hard wire a Ring Spotlight cam?
This is not necessary as Ring already made the wired version available known as the Ring Spotlight Cam Wired.
What is the difference between the Ring Spotlight and Floodlight?
As their names would suggest, the Floodlight is equipped with a brighter light with a large coverage while the Spotlight is dimmer and only illuminates a small area. Their night vision modes are also different as the Floodlight provides color images while the Spotlight has a more basic technology.
Can you use a solar panel with the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery?
There’s a Specific solar panel accessory that you can use with the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery so the answer to this question is yes.
Conclusion
Despite its steep price tag, its multi-functionality and solid performance make the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery worth considering. If you’re thinking of installing an motion-triggered outdoor light and a security camera anyway, this 2-in-1 device can be the perfect pick for you.