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Ring's $249 (£195, AU$330 converted) Floodlight Cam is a definite improvement over your typical outdoor security light. In addition to being equipped with two LEDs, this Wi-Fi device also comes with an integrated 1080p HD security camera. Sign up for motion alerts in the related Ring app, where you can also set activity zones, create schedules and control the built-in 110-decibel siren. Starting at $3 per month, you can view saved video history on a contract-free basis.
There's clearly a lot of functionality packed into this thing, but I can't give it full marks for the following reasons:
- Ring should offer free cloud storage, even if it's just 2 hours of saved motion clips.
- Ring has a ton of smart-home partners in the works, but none of them work with the Floodlight Cam today.
While these limitations make Ring's clever floodlight-security camera hybrid slightly less recommendable, it's still well worth your consideration.
Lights, camera, Ring Floodlight Cam!
Netgear's Arlo was one of the first products to popularize modern, DIY outdoor home security. Since then, plenty of other manufacturers have followed suit with related devices like the Nest Cam Outdoor and the Canary Flex. Weatherproof security cameras integrated into outdoor lighting is one subcategory that has developed slowly, but is now becoming an industry trend.
Take a look at the Ring Floodlight Cam's specs versus its main competition:
| Ring Floodlight Cam | Netatmo Presence | Kuna | Toucan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $249/£195/AU$330 | $300/£235/AU$400 | $199/£155/AU265 | $199/£155/AU265 |
| Color finish | Black or white | Black | Black or bronze | Black |
| Power source | Hardwired | Hardwired | Hardwired | Plug-in |
| Resolution | 1080p HD | 1080p HD | 720p HD | 720p HD |
| Live streaming | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Continuous recording | No | No | No | No |
| Cloud storage | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Local storage | No | Internal microSD card | No | No |
| Mobile app | Android, iPhone and Windows | Android and iPhone | Android and iPhone | Android and iPhone |
| Web app | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Night vision | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Alerts | Motion | Motion | Motion | Motion |
| Activity zones | Yes | No | No | No |
| Third-party integrations | None | IFTTT | Amazon Alexa | Amazon Alexa |
Create activity zones and then you'll start to receive related motion alerts.
Screenshot by CNETRing's Floodlight Cam costs more than Kuna and Toucan, but less than Netatmo's Welcome. At the same time, the Floodlight Cam has 1080p HD video resolution compared to Kuna and Toucan's 720p HD. The Floodlight Cam's $3 per month cloud storage fee is also less than Kuna and Toucan's. The Welcome camera, on the other hand, has internal local storage so you don't have to worry about a monthly expense at all.
The Ring Floodlight Cam tacks on some additional features like activity zones and night vision (which Kuna and Toucan don't offer). Ring also promises to add Floodlight Cam support for IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, Wink and even Apple HomeKit soon. (A Ring representative told me Floodlight Cam's are already outfitted with the Apple MFi chips needed for HomeKit, it's just a matter of activating them.)