A backyard spotlight camera impressed me in the best way (and it’s at its lowest price ever)
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Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source was released in 2022 as part of the company’s high-end product lineup. It has since been updated from 1080p to 2K resolution and is currently on sale. Ring cameras from the Pro line tend to support more advanced video qualities, dual-band Wi-Fi, and bonus app features, like Bird’s Eye View and 3D Motion Detection.
In addition to these features, the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro also has Audio+, 2K HDR video quality, and two LED panels on either side of the camera lens that light up when motion is detected.
Setting up the Spotlight Cam Pro is as easy as finding a spot for it. Because it’s battery-powered, you don’t need to install it near a power source or a place with direct sunlight access — though you can get a separate solar panel
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
I already had an Arlo Pro 5S covering this area but decided to swap it out for the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro to get more light on that side. I also have a Blink Outdoor 4 Floodlight Camera covering a large part of this side of the yard, but the area where I installed the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is further back and one that the Blink doesn’t reach.
The Spotlight Cam Pro’s spotlight has two small LED panels flanking the camera that come on when motion is detected. I prefer a stronger spotlight feature for the price, but this isn’t a floodlight camera, so I can’t complain about 375 lumens as a secondary feature on a battery-powered device. The lights on this Ring Spotlight Cam Pro cover no more than 30 feet of area during the night.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
The high-quality audio is one of this camera’s best features, bar none. I used it to talk to my husband from 40 feet away and could have a normal conversation without yelling or struggling to hear him, with no background noise interruptions.
Some Ring Spotlight Cam Pro features are only available with a Ring Protect plan, which you can’t get around by using your microSD card like you can with other brands. The Ring Protect subscription gives users access to cloud storage to view and share recorded video clips and past events, along with additional features such as color pre-roll video, Bird’s Eye View, and 3D Motion detection.
The Ring Protect plan ranges from $5-$20 monthly, and aside from the mentioned features, it includes person alerts, the ability to arm and disarm the Ring system digitally, rich notifications, snapshot capture, and video history stored in the cloud for up to six months.
Maria Diaz/ZDNET
After using the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is currently on sale for $140, a $90 discount from its original retail price and the lowest we’ve ever seen for this camera.
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