Ring Spotlight Cam Review

The Ring Spotlight Cam has all the features you need in an outdoor security camera, including motion detection, battery power options, and an integrated spotlight. With the Ring Spotlight Cam's wide field of view, you’ll get an eyeful in HD with up to 30 feet of night vision.

This outdoor 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. All in all, we consider the Ring Spotlight Cam one of the best home security cameras on the market thanks to its blend of performance, versatility, and affordability.

• Ring Spotlight Cam (black or white)
• Battery pack
• Mounting bracket
• Wall screws
• Anchors
• Screwdriver
• Drill bit
• Setup guide

Most of the outdoor security cameras that dominate the market come with HD picture quality, night vision, sirens, and two-way audio. Ring Spotlight Cam helped spark a trend with a wider viewing angle and an integrated motion-triggered spotlight.

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The Ring Spotlight Cam 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 device is that it doesn’t prebuffer video like Ring Video Doorbell 4.

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 Cam will pick up almost every angle of your yard or around your home with a 140º 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 spotlights providing night vision of up to 30 feet.

If you have multiple Ring cameras like the Ring Video Doorbell or Ring Stick Up Cam, 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.

Data security options

Ring now offers end-to-end encryption for each of its cameras. It’s an opt-in feature for customers in the US, along with two-factor authentication, CAPTCHA, and support for authenticator apps.

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 Protect Basic plan for one device and a Ring Protect Plus plan for multiple cameras or devices.

Ring doesn’t technically require that you purchase a Ring Protect Plan, 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.

If you choose the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery, 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.

Amazon offers professional installation for a fee, but it’s unlikely you’ll need it. The Ring Spotlight Cam, especially the battery-powered model, is a cinch to install.

1. Charge the battery.
2. Download the app and set up an account.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Ensure the router is close to the camera so that it’s still picking up a clear connection from your Wi-Fi network.
6. Attach the camera, adjust the viewing angle, and tighten the clamp. You’re ready to go.

Need help with setup? Check out our Ring cameras troubleshooting guide.

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 smart speakers. Learn how to connect Ring with Alexa in our guide and video.

Ring cameras are also compatible with IFTTT devices, and of course, other Ring products like the Ring Alarm security system.

The Arlo Pro 4 is a better smart home alternative for the same price. It's compatible with two platforms that Ring doesn't support: Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.

The customer service we received through Ring is another bright spot in our Ring Spotlight Cam 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.

We can recommend the robust features and reasonable price of the Ring Spotlight Cam Plus (Battery) without reservations. It lives up to its reputation for long battery life, clear HD-quality picture, and easy installation. Not sold on it? Here are some other versions to consider:

• Ring Spotlight Cam Plus (Plug-in) (about $200) has similar features but wired power source that gives you a slightly brighter spotlight. 
• Ring Spotlight Cam Plus (Solar) (about $230) comes in a bundle with the Ring Solar Panel.
• Ring Spotlight Cam (Wired) (about $230) connects directly to an electrical box for a cleaner looking installation that you won't accidentally unplug.

We have more answers about Ring cameras and Ring Alarm on our Ring FAQ.

Want to learn more about Ring home security?

Check out our Ring Alarm security review and Ring equipment and compatibility guide.

For this review, we really got our hands dirty and both installed and rigorously tested the Ring Spotlight Cam. 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. If you're interested in more details, take a look under the hood and inspect our full home security methodology.

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