If you’re looking to protect your home, you can’t do better than installing outdoor cameras. Entry sensors and indoor cameras are good, but they don’t detect home invasions until someone’s already inside your house. And the only thing more effective than an outdoor camera is an outdoor camera that includes lighting options. There’s nothing like shining a light on a potential burglar to make them think twice about breaking in.
Almost everyone knows Ring’s reputation for video doorbells. Fewer people know that Ring now offers whole security systems and a broad range of cameras, including outdoor cameras with – you guessed it – lights: the Ring Spotlight Cam, and the Ring Floodlight Cam.
The Ring Floodlight Cam
Before you rush off to the Ring website, though, it’s important you consider which of these cameras is going to work best for you. Despite the fact that both include lights, those lights function in different ways.
- The Floodlight Cam illuminates large spaces with bright light. That makes it great for protecting wide, open areas like entire yards.
- In contrast, the Spotlight Cam provides softer, focused illumination, great for lighting up specific areas of your property, such as a pathway or a set of stairs.
Do you want a blinding spotlight that’ll stop burglars in their tracks, or do you prefer the wider illumination of a floodlight to help you carry in groceries at night?
There are other considerations as well: How do you plan to charge the device? Do you want something wireless, or would you prefer hardwired or maybe solar? And how many of these devices do you need?
It’s a lot of questions. We have the answers.
Ring Floodlight vs Ring Spotlight: Similarities
Despite their different functions, these cameras have some important similarities. After all, they’re both made by Ring, so they share a number of basic components. For instance, their recording components are similar. As a result, both offer the same video quality, the same basic quality you’ll find in all Ring cameras (read our full roundup of Ring Cameras and pricing if you want to know more).
Both pieces of equipment offer two way communication, live views, and cloud storage that will help you keep track of what's going on around your property. There are also “Plus” and “Pro” models of both cameras, as well as a variety of options for running power to the devices.
It’s also noteworthy that both cameras offer color night vision – a perk of having integrated lights. The lights on both can also be controlled remotely via the Ring app, plus you can set them to turn on only when the cameras detect movement. That’s a great way to catch burglars on the wrong foot without having to worry about false alerts.
Ring Spotlight Cam at Twilight
Ring Spotlight vs Ring Floodlight: Differences
We’re going to get into the nitty gritty of the technical differences between these cameras in the features section, but first we want to step back and look at them holistically.
Pro Tip: Regardless of which product you choose, you can’t go wrong with adding additional lighting to your property. Security lights are one of the best ways to fend off burglars, after all.
The Spotlight is the more universal of these two products. Its onboard lighting is intended for you, to help you do things like get from the car to the door when you come home at night with groceries. It’s for making visitors more comfortable and lighting up your front porch so you can see it’s just the neighbors’ dog that’s snooping around outside. Would it startle a potential intruder? Probably. Intruders prefer darkness, and any light is going to frustrate their plans. Startling people isn’t the spotlight’s first job, though.
The floodlight, on the other hand, is all about security. When those 2000 lumens kick on, they light up your backyard like the Vegas strip. And the 105 dB siren sounds like a jet landing at Harry Reid International. You really wouldn’t want to install this piece of equipment on your front porch, unless for some reason you want to be blinded while bringing in the groceries. This is a camera you put in your backyard because, after all, no one has any business back there but you.
As important as the lights are to both of these cameras, they have plenty of other features as well. Let’s turn to those next.
Features
Each of these cameras comes with a distinct set of features. Some overlap, and some are unique. Here's the breakdown, and we included information on both Plus and Pro models to help with comparison.
Spotlight Cam Plus
- Color Night Vision
- Customizable Motion Detection
- Two-Way Talk
- Motion Activated Notifications
- Built In Siren
Spotlight Cam Pro
- 3D Motion Detection
- Enhanced Audio
- Dual-Band WiFi
- Two-Way Talk
- Built-In Siren
Floodlight Cam Plus
- Color Night Vision
- 2000 Lumen Floodlight
- 105 dB Siren
- Motion Activated Notifications
- Two-Way Talk
Floodlight Cam Pro
- Color Night Vision
- 3D Motion Detection
- Dual-Band WiFi
- Enhanced Audio
- 105 dB Siren
Besides those variants, both the Spotlight and Floodlight Cams offer different power options, from battery to hardwiring. However, the Spotlight Cam is more flexible. It has battery, solar, and plug-in options, while all Floodlight Cams require some type of wiring. It’s available only in plug-in (plugged into a power outlet) and hardwired (wired into a junction box in lieu of a traditional floodlight). That may limit your placement for the Floodlight Cam, but again, it’s not as universal as the Spotlight Cam anyway.
Pricing
As you’d expect, the pricing on these devices differs based on which model you select and which power source you want to use. Here’s a quick breakdown of what that looks like:
| Camera | Battery | Hardwired | Plug In | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spotlight Cam Plus | $169.99 | $199.99 | $169.99 | $199.99 |
| Spotlight Cam Pro | $229.99 | $249.99 | $229.99 | $249.99 |
| Floodlight Cam Plus | N/A | $199.99 | $219.98 | N/A |
| Floodlight Cam Pro | N/A | $249.99 | $269.98 | N/A |
While we’re on the subject of prices, you should know that Ring has developed a reputation for running frequent sales and discount deals. None of the Spotlight or Floodlight Cam models are currently on sale, but we’d advise checking frequently. Whether it’s an Easter sale or a Mother’s Day discount, you can be sure to find some cheaper prices in the next few weeks and months. You can also bookmark our guide to Ring’s sales and discounts; there, you’ll find all the most up-to-date information on Ring systems, all in one place.
What We Think
When it comes to home security, it’s tough to go wrong with Ring. They offer some of the best security cameras on the market today, and some of the most affordable as well. If you’re looking specifically for a security camera with an illumination option, both the Spotlight and Floodlight camera are great choices, depending on how you’re going to use them.
If you need straight up security, go with the Floodlight Cam. Its extra bright lights and super loud siren are perfect for warding off would-be intruders. If you’re looking for something a little less severe and a little more universal, the Spotlight Cam might be the better option.
