With Black Friday approaching fast, Ring doorbells and security cameras are always available for massively tempting bargain prices – half price or even better. That's pretty exciting, and can take the price of the tech down to the point anyone is prepared to experiment with it. My word of warning – and I say this from a house with Ring cameras – is that you do need to be prepared to commit, heart, soul, and wallet, to that experiment. Because, honestly, their best features only really work with the subscription...

The necessity of a subscription might not come as news to everyone. This is also a point in time to upgrade your Ring devices.

Many will be perfectly happy paying their subs for the security, but now feel that a higher resolution camera is a good idea and, frankly, that's fair enough. The cameras have advanced a good way since day and – although I'm sure very few people are used to upgrading their doorbell as regularly as phones or even cameras – this is a developing tech and there is something to be said for staying ahead of things, especially at points where the costs are lower.

But if you're not interested in paying a monthly subscription, the relative resolution of your camera – or any of the other benefits of the newer models especially, many of which are dependent on the cloud services that come with the subscription – will be a serious waste of money.

Remember the idea of checking what happened in your home when you're out of the house? That's a cloud service. You won't be able to do that unless you watch it live. That'll drive you mad. Nor can you download or share the footage, or capture snapshots that build up a stop-motion view of the day.

Motion alerts? Yes – you'll get told when the cameras see some motion, but you won't get any distinction between people and animals, so you'll just have to turn the alerts off if you have pets because the alerts will come so thick and fast they'll be useless.

Anyway, the answer is this – if you have one Ring doorbell camera, you'll need to spend £4.99 a month in the UK. You get one month free, so 13 months before the money you've saved in this deal is spent. It's $4.99/month in the USA.

You can also get a discount ($49.99 / £49.99) for buying a year at once, so that's potentially 15 months.

I'll leave you to decide whether it's worth it, but personally I've got two pieces of information – I find the features useful, but I'd also say that, ordinarily, I probably would not change my doorbell as frequently as every 15 months.

Never easy, is it?

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Check our guide to indoor security cameras.

In a market which doesn't always surprise any more, the new Reolink Altas PT Ultra's battery life really stands out.

This 4K pan-and-tilt camera boasts a whopping 20,000 mAh battery capacity which, if Reolink is to be believed, can deliver up to a weeks continuous recording, or around 365 days of normal use, despite being a wireless device which won't require wires through your walls.

That, frankly, is pretty special. I use cameras which have solar panels to top up their batteries and they don't manage anything close, and certainly cant also rotate to view 360-degrees.

The new camera also boasts ColorX night vision, smart tracking which can recognise people, cars and pets, and up to 512GB of local storage (or, more accurately, it is compatible with memory cards up to that capacity).

Alongside the launch of the PT Ultra comes the Reolink Battery Doorbell. It is a 2K (4 megapixel) camera, which Reolink calls 'Super HD'. The company describes the camera as having a "head-to-toe view" from a 180-degree diagonal field of view.

We have certainly seen similar concepts before, and a boost over traditional 1080P will definitely be appreciated with such a wide angle.

Here, for some reason, the local storage – although available – is restricted to a maximum of 256GB on the memory card, but smart detection offers alerts for "people, vehicles, and packages."

The cameras will go on sale on September 25, and while it remains to be seen if the doorbell is unique, the promised battery life of the PT Ultra could significantly change the experience of using battery cameras. It is especially interesting for a brand with a strong heritage in wired security systems, lending more support to the battery concept than consumer novelty.

On Tuesday this week, a multiple system outage on Amazon's cloud servers resulted in widespread outages to Ring doorbells, leaving users in the dark and worried about the security of their residences until the problem was resolved. 

For some, the Ring failures – which affected Ring.com, Ring Protect (Video Recording), Live Calls (Doorbell Dings & Motions), Video On Demand, and Partner Integration – only lasted a few hours, but for others it persisted long into the night. 

While the issues have now been fixed, many have been left asking questions about what happened and whether it might happen again – and whether their Ring cameras can still be trusted. 

I asked Lorex Technology, one of North America's leading home security system specialists for over 30 years, to explain what happened. 

In short, the issue boils down to failings in Amazon's cloud services to which Ring systems are connected. With feeds and recording based in the cloud, rather than being captured locally, once there's an internet outage then the devices cease to function. 

Crucially, Lorex offers cameras with local recording capabilities that continue to save footage to a local microSD card or hard drive in such a situation. In addition, its Fusion systems enable wired doorbells to be connected to an NVR (network video recorder) for continuous 24/7 recording – which will record to the hard drive even during an outage. 

While Ring is a reputable and generally reliable system, it's definitely worth considering a system with local storage options to ensure that you're protected should there be a problem connecting to the cloud. 

Here's a breakdown from Lorex's spokesperson about what occurred during the Ring failure on Tuesday. 

What actually happened?

Cloud-dependent cameras
Many modern security cameras rely on cloud services for storage, remote access, and other features. If these cameras use Amazon Web Services (AWS) for cloud infrastructure, an outage could disrupt their ability to store footage, send alerts, or provide live streaming. However, if the cameras have local storage (like an SD card or hard drive recorder), they may continue recording locally even if cloud services are down.

Remote access and notifications
For cameras integrated with smart home systems or accessed via mobile apps, an AWS outage could affect remote viewing, notifications and control features. Users might be unable to access live feeds or receive alerts about motion detection.

Dependent services
Some security camera systems rely on additional services hosted on AWS, such as AI-based analytics for identifying specific types of events or integrating with other smart devices. An outage might disrupt these advanced features, potentially reducing the effectiveness of the security system.

Recovery and redundancy
The impact of an outage also depends on the availability of redundant systems and backup plans. Some security systems may have failover mechanisms or alternative data centers that can take over in case of an outage, minimizing disruption.

Why did it happen?

As referenced above, many systems that are exclusively reliant on cloud storage will face interruptions within their service. 

Systems that have local storage backup will still face interruption within their access through their application but can recover the recordings directly through the local storage source.

Will it happen again?

Predicting the exact occurrence of future service outages for any cloud provider, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), is challenging. While it's impossible to guarantee that outages won't happen again, several factors are involved. 

While cloud providers strive for high availability and minimal downtime, occasional outages can still occur due to the inherent complexities of large-scale cloud infrastructure.

Take a look at the best doorbell cameras, along with the best CCTV cameras and the best outdoor security cameras. 

I review a lot of smart home tech – doorbells and cameras – and there has been a notable trend toward adding solar panels to help keep batteries charged on the security cameras. EZVIZ, however, are delivering one with their new premium doorbell, the EP3x Pro.

Of course a smart home doorbell is more or less the same thing as a smart home security camera – there is two-way talk, smart human detection, and the option to integrate with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa as you'd expect. There is no reason not to add the solar panel – and as a regular user of solar-boosted security cameras I must say I do appreciate less manual charging. It is, still, very unusual in doorbells, making this a remarkable product.

The EP3x Pro also boasts a dual-camera system, which is an approach we've seen before on some other smart home doorbells (like that from Eufy). In this case a 2K camera faces forward while an additional 1080P camera offers a view of the step.

According to EZVIZ, this is supported by smart human and package detection which "will recognise visitors and packages left on the doorstep but not passing animals or vehicles."

Another unusual feature for the privacy conscious – perhaps a person alone at home not wishing to be identified – is a voice changer, so when you speak to visitors you can disguise your voice.

Another feature more common on cameras than doorbells is color night vision; a small light in the device will illuminate visitors so they can be seen in color. 

Whether the device can live up to the standards it sets itself we won't know until we can test it, but this doorbell is IP65 rated and promises to be an easier install than many with an extensive feature set so we look forward to trying it out.

Perhaps, though, most impressive for a device which is being announced at a list price of £129.99 (around $165 / AU$250) is that EZVIZ has included 32GB of eMMC storage (which they say is good for around 6 months of clips), so you don't need to pay for a subscription, unlike many smart home devices.

We keep a guide to the best outdoor home security cameras and the best smart home doorbells here – will this make the list when we review it? Time will tell!

Ring has announced the first battery doorbell which incorporates the company's radar-based 3D Motion Detection and Bird's Eye View features; the Battery Video Doorbell Pro which the company is calling their 'most advanced battery-powered doorbell'.

This will make it possible for wire-free installations to take advantage of these features which can be especially useful in reducing false positives from the alert systems – even more so if your door is relatively near the street because the radar (3D Motion Detection) makes it possible to disable triggering from movement further away, not something a normal infrared camera can do.

We've already seen these technologies in other products from the Amazon-owned smart-home security company. It was first seen on permanently wired products like the Floodlight Cam Wired Pro (which carried a price premium of about $50/£50 over the Floodlight Cam Wired Plus which lacked the tech). Adding it to a battery-powred device, however, increases the possibilities for installation when it comes to doorbells as not everyone has power to their doorbell.

Ring doorbells with radar tech were first seen in 2021, but only those like the Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 which need a wired power supply.

The new Ring Battery Video Doorbell Pro will also boast 1536p HD video, and Ring are promising dynamic image processing and high-efficiency compression which they say will deliver life-like color. They even state a feature they call 'Low-Light Sight' will deliver color with nothing more than the light available from street lighting – without bathing visitors with white LED light.

The device will also boast color pre-roll, dual-band wi-fi, Alexa compatibility (it is Ring, after all!) and package and person alerts if you subscribe to Ring Protect.

The Battery Video Doorbell Pro will be available for purchase for $229 / £199.99 / AU$349 from March 20th.

I hope to review the device soon for our best smart doorbells guide, and check our  best ring cameras guide too if you're thinking of building a system.

You can't please all of the people all of the time – that is the dilemma Ring, the Amazon-owned video doorbell and security camera company, has found itself in the last few days. Ring's controversial decision, which pleased some and angered others, was to remove a feature called 'Request for Assistance,' from its Neighbors app.

Available only in the US, the Neighbors app lets local police & services send updates about crime in the area, and Ring customers might share details of local porch pirates. The feature which is being sunsetted, to use the jargon, allowed the police to directly request videos of illegal activities taking place outside people's homes – potentially powerful as a deterrent, but problematic for civil rights.

Although it didn't cite the extensive lobbying by privacy campaigners, nor mention the worries about whether Ring doorbells were inadvertently promoting racial bias, it's fair to assume the growing cloud of less-than-glowing publicity around the company will have influenced the decision to remove the feature which presumably was no longer helping sell Ring products.

It has led to disappointment amongst law enforcers though, who had already had to accept a certain level of disappointment in 2021 when the feature forced them to make their requests via the same public route as others, hence the name 'request for assistance'.

Can I still share video taken with my Ring camera?

Yes. The police can't describe a crime on the app and ask for footage of it, but if you have caught some footage you can do with it what you choose. In the devices I've reviewed, like the Ring Video Doorbell, it's been easy to share video using all the usual features of your phone.

Eric Kuh, Ring's Head of Neighbors, said in the statement that "Public safety agencies like fire and police departments can still use the Neighbors app to share helpful safety tips, updates, and community events."

Another treat in Ring's statement, if you have a minute, is a Bear relaxing in a pool, recorded on a Ring Floodlight Camera (see YouTube link below). Now that's a video that deserves to be shared!

See our review of the best smart home doorbells and the best Ring cameras.

The Plus X Award sounds like it might go for someone who consistently wins big in eating competitions, or provides clothing for those who do, but in fact, it is a nearly two-decade old judged competition with the goal of promoting high-quality design in technology, sports, and lifestyle.

This year the Best Product of the Year was awarded to the EZVIZ HP7, first released in May 2023, which brings some of the concepts seen in devices like Ring doorbells and makes them available in a way designed to fit better with larger homes or mansions, in case the look of the DIY attached Ring Doorbell 3 doesn't quite fit your neighbourhood.

The HP7 "replaces a doorman for communication and smart of protection," in the words of EZVIZ. It does this using a 7-inch color screen indoors, and integration with an electronic lock. Users can also use their phones and an app to view the video and audio and unlock the door – in some respects, this is like any other smart doorbell, but here the integration with the locking mechanism (as well as any of EZVIZ's other camera tech) is the selling point. Residents (as well as staff, butlers, etc.) can be given swipe cards to open the doors much like an office). 

“We are extremely proud because the success of the HP7 confirms EZVIZ’s continued leadership in the home entry product category,” said Candice Tu, the leading product manager. “It’s an example of how we enhance the user experience of an everyday household device, by applying effective product design to integrate complex features to be easy, straightforward and pleasant to use for everyone.” 

That 'leadership' is literal too – the HP7 system acts as a home hub for an EZVIZ system, and the product integration is something which won favours and initially the Excellent Product Design category in the German Design Award 2024. Many users, it seems, are happy to pay for a more integrated experience rather than have to keep switching apps on their phone to control different cameras and other smart home devices (as the reviewer of a number of these devices I do understand, though of course few reviewers have mansions!)

“The HP7 is a vital piece of the puzzle for EZVIZ to build diverse and customized front door solutions for families with different needs, filling the special market void that’s not covered by our video doorbells and smart door viewers,” said Binghong Wang, “It shows EZVIZ’s commitment to building future-oriented easy smart homes with extensive product choices and user-centric designs.” 

I have to say that it is interesting that a doorbell which looks more like the kind of doorbell you'd expect to see on the kind of property it is pitched at is the design winner; from face-to-face discussions, I know a lot of people are hesitant about 'smart' doorbells; perhaps this is a solution – though it won't stop EZVIZ selling their other smart doorbells like the DB1 series.

If you're looking for an alternative – that perhaps would fit something other than a mansion – check our guide to the best video doorbells, or if you've chosen the brand, the best Ring doorbell.

In a pattern we've started to see in the last few Black Friday seasons, in the lead up, about a couple of weeks before, we see deals from a lot of the best security cameras and best smart doorbell brands. (You can find the best on our Black Friday security cameras deals page.)

Then, when Amazon declares its Black Friday sale has started – which, they year, it did the Friday before, there are suddenly some amazing deals on products from Amazon-owned companies – Ring & Blink – and even better bundles with Alexa products that integrate with them.

So it has been, so it is again – and this time the highlight bindles are the Ring Video Doorbell – perhaps the classic product in the space. Sure, there are newer models, like the Ring Video Doorbell 3, but the Ring Doorbell is still a popular choice because the battery means it can be installed without drilling if you don't already have wiring.

At the same time you can get an Echo Show 5 – which is a smart speaker with a screen. All this comes less than the list price of the doorbell, but the Echo Show can act as a remote monitor for the doorbell camera, which you place anywhere you like in your home. You can also use if for all your other favourite Alexa stuff (playing music, answering questions, setting timers etc).

Speaking as someone who ran cabling to his own doorbell (which isn't cheap and involves a lot of painting over damaged plaster), this looks like a very inexpensive option by comparison!

Another option, if you're not looking for anything with a screen inside the home, is a bundle with one of the Echo smart speakers:

Don't forget to check out our other Black Friday smart home security camera deals on our regularly updated page.

Think you might’ve captured an extraterrestrial life form on your ring doorbell? Or perhaps a mysterious UFO? Ring is on the hunt for any out-of-this-world footage captured on one of their doorbells and is offering a $1 million cash prize in return. 

Ring doorbells are a must in any smart home. They enable you to see who (or what) is at the door and in the past they’ve captured some pretty terrifying, naturally occurring events such as a lightning strike. But the Amazon-owned home security company now wants to see what unnatural, extra-terrestrial life forms have been caught on camera. 

• Check out the best Ring doorbell camera to ensure your home is extra secure just in case you get any unusual visitors

The Million Dollar Search for Extraterrestrials was launched on October 4 and, in just a few days' time, video submissions will open again. Ring is urging customers to adorn their front gardens and porches with alien-inspired decor to lure in creatures from another planet. 

Most Ring doorbells (except for 1st generation models) enable you to add a quick reply so that if an intergalactic guest should ring your doorbell they are greeted with a message of your choosing and there are plenty of Halloween and alien ones to pick. You don't even need a subscription to use the quick reply feature; as soon as the doorbell is pressed, you can watch the interaction live, start talking to the visitors, or share the recording but for that, you will need the Ring Protect Plan. 

See all of Amazon's Prime Day Ring deals - live now

Call it fate, call it coincidence, call it supernatural involvement, but not only could you win $1 million (paid out at $50,000 a year for the next 20 years), but some Ring video doorbells have been discounted massively thanks to Amazon's Prime Big Deals Day. The latest Ring doorbell model offers 1080p recording, improved motion detection (vital for catching alien movement) and offers easy installation and with a big discount, it's a good time to invest.

Oh, and if you're feeling entrepreneurial, we're sure Ring's owner Amazon can sell you an ET suit for Halloween too. On the flip side, it appears submissions can stop being accepted at any time so check Ring's blog here.

Whether you manage to glimpse a UFO flying up to your driveway or an alien acting unusually, you have until November 3 to submit your Ring doorbell footage to the Ring Million Dollar Siting website.

Also check out the best outdoor security cameras so you can keep an eye on your home no matter where you are.

Long-time Prime members can't have failed to notice the striking early Prime Day deals on Ring security cameras (and Blink cameras, also Amazon-owned, are also well discounted too). The problem is there is a catch; these cameras work best with a cloud subscription, and is Amazon discounting that?

It won't surprise you at all to hear that the answer there is a blunt no. That doesn't mean you're not saving anything though – obviously, there is a discount on the hardware. The question is whether the saving is quite as exciting as it first seems.

First, I'm going to identify a sensible complete security installation: a Ring smart doorbell, a Ring indoor cam, a floodlight camera for the outdoors, and an Echo Show to place in the kitchen and act as the other end of the video door phone. You can use just your phone of course – there is an app for Android and iOS, and any other Alexa devices. But this is elegant, and as an Amazon brand, well discounted this time of year too.

Individual device deals first... maths below

We have recently reviewed the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Generation), which can be placed around the home, perhaps as a baby monitor or perhaps in a hallway where you worry people might enter.

Outdoors a floodlight camera can have a great deterrent effect, as well as being useful to help you navigate your own property. Ring offer a powerful Floodlight Cam Pro which is even smart enough to detect distances, but the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus is more sensible most of the time. If you don't want to run cables, check our Ring Spotlight Camera Plus review.

Ring doorbells are in all practical senses just variants of the security cameras (which is why they have the same subscription fees).

Ring cameras also cooperate well with Echo show – which are in essence Alexa-with-a-screen. With one n your network you can easily ask Alexa to show you who is at the door or any of the other camera positions. Mercifully these don't require a subscription (except for some media), so any deal is a deal. And there are some over prime day. 

So, what are the savings, on day 1 and day 365?

As we come to Prime Day 2023, Ring Protect costs £3.49 a month per device. That means in the first year of any one device you'll pay £38.39 (you get 30 days free per device) for the cloud storage and some other additional features. Pay for a year in advance and that drops to £34.99.

If you have 3 or more devices you can take advantage of Ring Protect Plus, covering your whole home for £8/month or £80 a year.

I must admit I tend to choose monthly rather than annual fees, so the costs below are based on monthly costs, but they give a clear idea of how things work out. If you buy more than three cameras (the Echo Show doesn't have ongoing costs) the saving is still evident, plus the obvious hardware discount.

So, the maths shows that, in the first year, the percentage saving is still quite significant, especially with the more expensive equipment like the floodlights. Over time, of course, that will drop off, but not as fast as I first thought when I decided to crunch the numbers!

Ring, the Amazon-owned home security firm, has expanded from doorbells into a full range of devices to protect your home. They even have a surprising amount of choice within the floodlight niche, offering two variants of their 'Spotlight' series camera with smaller lights built into the housing as well as a 'Pro' variant of this shape with more sophisticated tech.

The key difference between this and the Floodlight Cam Wired Pro is that it lacks HDR video and what Ring call "3D Motion" – a sensor that detects range as well as the traditional PIR movement sensor this device sports.

For this review, I handed the device to my dad – equipped as he was with a garage in need of a floodlight and a suitable electricity supply. For that, too, is a factor here. Both Ring's floodlight options require mains electricity (110V in the US, 230v in the UK). The Ring Spotlight camera (which I have reviewed previously) can be powered entirely by batteries, significantly simplifying the initial installation but at the cost of long-term maintenance of that power supply.

I have tested and installed numerous Ring devices, and will offer comparisons as appropriate, but this review benefits too from my dad's first-time experience with the brand.

Key Features

The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Plus has a 1080P motion-triggered security camera flanked on both sides by 2,000 lumen floodlights which can be angled to cover up to 270-degrees of view. It draws power from a wire, and communicates by Wi-Fi.

As a Ring product, it has good integration with Alexa, including the option of audio announcements if motion is detected and the ability to ask an Alexa View (the screen) to show the live view and initiate two-way-talk. Of course alerts, live view and settings can also be monitored in the Ring app for iPhone and Android.

When it comes to recording, like other smart cameras, this camera records when a motion event is detected, but there is no on-board memory; after the first 30 days you'll need a subscription to Ring's Cloud Protect cloud service, which costs $3 / month.

Specifications

Video: 1080P
Camera field of view: 140˚ horizontal
Wi-Fi: 2.4GHz only
Two-way-talk: Yes
Siren: 105dB
Motion detection: PIR

Build and handling

The floodlight comes in a satisfyingly well-engineered carton which has compartments for the lamp, its backing plate, fixings (including spares), screwdriver/wrench tool, basic instructions, and window stickers. 

The unit has two adjustable lamps on either side of the camera/detector unit which can also be swiveled as required. This allows the device to be mounted either on a wall or under a horizontal surface, typically under the eaves of a roof.

Installation was simplicity itself. The cable is threaded through a grommet in the backing plate which is screwed to the wall with two screws. There was no light at the proposed site but 230v power was present in the garage and it was reasonably straightforward to add a fused spur to the existing circuit and thread it out through a 10mm hole. Only a short length of the cable needs to project through the wall so if you’re replacing an existing lamp there’s no need to worry if there’s not much to spare. A qualified electrician might be required to check this work.

The mounting holes are elongated to enable adjustment and Ring has been thoughtfully built in a tiny spirit level so that a fitter working from the top of a ladder can get the plate straight and level. Built-in seals look to offer a decent level of weather protection. With the backing plate secure the mains cable can be wired to a connection block then the lamp unit itself can be offered up. Here again, Ring has helped the fitter by incorporating a handy strap that clips onto the backing plate, taking the (not insubstantial) weight of the lamp while it is wired to the block.  The lamp then fits neatly onto two threaded rods and is secured with discrete white nuts, tightened with the wrench provided. The whole process took less than half an hour.

The next step was to open an account with Ring, a process that includes the usual 2-step verification, and then to set up the device. The instruction leaflet included a QR code which enabled the Ring app to provide a series of steps to follow. The third step was to remove the protective film over the camera (some of us need reminding!) The process then creates a temporary network between the camera and your mobile device before finally accessing your home wi-fi network. The process was short, despite its misgivings about the quality of my wi-fi signal.

Performance

The smoothness of the step-by-step installation extends to the customising of software features which follows mounting and establishing a connection. It should be said that the connection to my home router, some 20m (60ft) away and hiding behind two substantial masonry walls, wasn’t going to be reliable. However, there was enough of a signal to complete the set-up and transmission only failed briefly in the first few days of operation, despite the app's warnings.

The default screen once the device is connected shows the image being recorded, or last recorded, by the camera. It’s in landscape format under a row of 4 editable buttons which can be customised to bring up the controls that the user finds most useful. There’s a scroll bar below the picture so that the user can easily navigate to recently recorded video. The definition of the still pictures displayed on this screen is reasonable, but a license plate about 8m away was not easily deciphered. 

A gearwheel icon in the top right corner of the image brings up a more detailed menu of which the most important options are:

Event History: showing a still from each occasion the camera has been triggered, with a time stamp. Device Schedules: enabling the user to define times and days when the motion sensor and lights are active. Motion Snooze: allowing motion alerts to be paused for a defined period from 30 mins to 12 hrs, a sort of ‘do not disturb’ feature. Device Health: which checks several functions, including a report on wifi signal strength. Motion Settings: where the sensitivity of the detector can be adjusted and the area of the field of view which it detects can be limited to a defined polygon. I found this useful to avoid the device being triggered by movement on my neighbour’s driveway and reducing the number of recordings set off by passing traffic. Privacy Zones: a feature enabling part of the field of view to be wholly excluded from recordings and for audio to be disabled.

Verdict

In my dad's words: "First impressions were largely favorable. Considering I had no previous experience with Ring devices or, indeed, any similar technology, the setup and operation proved reasonably straightforward. After a couple of days’ experience, I was able to turn down the sensitivity of the motion detector and restrict its field of view to prevent a plethora of triggers. I also reduced the intensity of the lights which, at their default setting, could’ve resulted in complaints from the nocturnal wildlife (although I’ve not yet managed to record the badgers or foxes which haunt the area at night).

He also noted, however, "The sound recording is not great – it is barely possible to interpret what is being said near the microphone, even when the chirruping of the local sparrows – which seems to monopolize the soundtrack – is absent. The frequent ‘dings’ from my phone and iPad when m movement was detected got irritating once the novelty had worn off but the app allows them to be silenced.

The other issue seemed to be a tendency for the lights to remain on well beyond the expected time occasionally – perhaps if it loses its internet connection in this period. We can't be sure it wasn't done by a neighbor annoyed by the light or the high wind, but the lamps did re-position themselves over a very breezy weekend.

Overall, though, this – the more sensibly priced of Ring's two floodlight cameras seems a wise investment, offering both light and good quality video for noticeably less cash than the "Pro," the primary benefit is to be able to reduce the motion detection distance. Great if you put it near the road, but not offering a lot on a garage.

Though some might still associate the name only with smart doorbells, Amazon-owned Ring has augmented that range with such an extensive variety of security cameras that they have offerings for indoors and out, with and without lighting, and many – including the Indoor Camera – have reached a new generation.

The Ring Indoor Camera (2nd Gen) faces extensive competition, from the Blink Mini (also from an Amazon-owned firm), Wyze, and others on our list of best indoor cameras, so the question is, what makes this stand out. If you're already a Ring fan, does this offer enough more for you to want to upgrade?

Specifications

Resolution: 1080p Full HD
Field-of-view: 140 degrees
Two-way audio: Yes
Battery: No
Night vision: Yes
Configurable motion sensing: Yes
Privacy Guard: Physical, built-in

See our Ring vs Blink guide

Key features

The Ring Indoor Cam was never about feature overload, but it covers the basics as part of the well-established Ring ecosystem. Ring's phone app (which works with all Ring devices) is easy to set up and use.

The camera captures and records at 1080P, which is more-or-less standard now, in color when there is adequate light and in monochrome at night. It supplies a small amount of invisible infrared light for this purpose, enough to illuminate an average room. The big physical change from the previous generation is the incorporation of the privacy shield.

There is also 'two-way-talk' – a microphone and speaker which you can use to communicate live from your phone to your kids, your pets, or whomsoever you catch as you watch. A motion alert on your phone (which is optional, and can be set to areas) will grab your attention so you don't have to keep watching all the time.

It's always important to remember that if you want to view events later, save, and share recorded videos you need to subscribe to Ring Protect. There is no onboard storage alternative here, so be prepared for a subscription starting at $3/£2.50/AU$4.95 a month. This does now include Advanced Pre-Roll – capturing a bit more of events than before. Without the sub though, it's live video only.

Build & handling

The indoor cam isn't the smallest in the category – and certainly not in the dubious 'spy cam' camp – but it isn't big either. It draws power from a Ring-specific flush-fitting microUSB cable which we've seen on previous models too. The aesthetic hasn't really changed; the privacy cover isn't too loose, but reassuring and made of quality plastic. 

It usually appears say on a surface, but it can actually be mounted several ways. There is a swivel mount where the base of the cylindrical body meets the circular foot, and the foot can be re-positioned as a wall mount or even used upside-down for a ceiling mount. You'll have a trailing cable whichever way you go.

Setup is as simple as downloading the Ring app and following the on-screen instructions. It's even easier if you've done so before as the app will remember your Wi-Fi password; you'll still need to point your phone camera at the QR code on the back of the camera, so at least start setup before you mount it.

Performance

Video quality is impressive in a typically challenging room (bright window, shadowy areas, or uneven artificial light). There is a clear fish-eye effect thanks to the wide-angle view, but that is far from a complaint; it certainly isn't harsh enough to prevent you making out detail.

Perhaps what was more striking was how the camera begin recording thanks to the inclusion of what Ring calls 'Advanced Pre Roll'. The fact clips no longer start several seconds after the action is much appreciated.

Sound quality is acceptable, though obviously at this size the internal speaker isn't going to win over any audiophiles. The addition of a siren option lets you surprise less welcome visitors, which saves thinking of anything to say when you just want to deter folks.

If we were looking for irritations, it was how easily the person sensor was triggered – make sure there isn't a TV screen in the view or use the zone to count it out. The only problem with zones for a camera which is so portable is that you'll need to reset them every time you re-position the camera.

Verdict

We liked its predecessor and the Ring Indoor Camera 2nd Gen is only an improvement. The software features, including privacy zones and the pre-roll are excellent, and we know plenty of people who would find having devices like these around a lot easier to stomach with the privacy shield so easily in reach. Note, though, that is effectively a clip-on, and can be removed entirely – that's why it feels a tiny bit flimsy compared to the rest of the device.

It is a testament to the attention that Ring has paid to real-life experience that, when setting up, the app asks you if you've placed the camera looking out of a window. This can be a problem as reflective glass can block images and cause all kinds of issues with the night light. Instead of chastising customers, however, the app warns them, lets them take the risk, and offers to disable features that will be unreliable in that context.

The only real hesitation we have in recommending this camera is because of the ongoing subscription, which is essential to get the best from it. But if you are already familiar with the Ring system (and especially if you have a multiple-device plan) then this is a great choice. Even if you're not, it's fair to say that Ring's cloud system is one of the best implemented you can find.

Read more: If the Ring caught your eye but you'd like to check out the alternatives, see our guides to the best indoor cameras and the best security cameras.

Arlo is a leader in smart wireless security devices, covering everything from smart doorbells to floodlight cameras and a range of the best security cameras to suit almost every budget, from the entry-level Arlo Essential up to the top-of-the-line Arlo Ultra 2.

Arlo is now on the fifth iteration of its popular Arlo Pro line of cameras, these cameras serve as Arlo's cameras for homeowners who want simple to set-up security cameras that also come packed with the latest powerful and easy-to-use features.

For reasons only known to the Arlo marketing team, the latest camera is named the Arlo Pro 5 in the UK and Europe and the Pro 5S 2K in the US, but both are the same camera, evidenced by the Arlo Pro 5S 2K being printed behind the battery in Europe-bound models.

Specifications

Resolution: 2K
HDR: Yes
Field of View: 160°
Features: Spotlight, Built-in Siren, Two-Way Audio, Colour Night Vision
Battery: Up to 8 months
Connectivity: WiFi 2.4 & 5 GHz
Cloud Storage: Yes (Subscription)
Local Storage: No (optional base station)

Key Features

The new camera packs in some amazing new features including advanced 2K color video 24/7. That is color recording 24 hours a day, even at night. Arlo claims the Pro 5 can record 68 billion colors, which is over 100 times more than the human eye.

The Pro 5 can record six times the amount of color than its predecessor, the Arlo Pro 4. The camera also has advanced night vision features, combined with the 12x digital zoom and 2K quality, the Arlo Pro 5 can produce 'mugshots' with much higher clarity, identifying and clearly capturing the faces of anyone caught by the camera for easier identification later by law enforcement. 

The Pro 5 has added deterrents including a spotlight and sound to ward off potential burglars. The Arlo Pro 5's spotlight can illuminate faces from up to 7m away and the camera's built-in siren can help to scare away intruders.

The Arlo Pro 5 offers up to 30% more battery life than the Pro 4, which is a huge win for security cameras that are often put up in hard-to-reach places. A brand new low-power mode will debut on the Pro 5, which can give up an to 50% battery life by streamlining notifications and video previews. The Pro 5 will also offer for the first time both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi frequencies for wider router compatibility.

The Pro 5 will also debut alongside the new Arlo Secure app, which offers a new streamlined app for monitoring and securing your home, with more options for personalization. With the additional Arlo Secure Subscription, you can unlock even more advanced features like people and car recognition, and video recording can be synced and saved to the cloud for every instance for up to 60 days.

Build & Handling

The Arlo Pro 5 is not a big departure from the rest of the Arlo range, especially the styling of its predecessor the Pro 4. The Arlo Pro 5 is a small and minimalist white box, while the black oval front houses the camera lens, microphones, speakers, and spotlight. The design is almost reminiscent of the case for the Apple AirPods. The Arlo Pro 5 is sleek and sophisticated looking and is a camera that you mind seeing mounted above your front door when you come home.

The camera is very light, weighing roughly 50g less than the rival Google Nest Cam. The camera comes with a mount that can be screwed into a wall using the included screws and rawl plugs, with a total of three drill holes required. This requires some confidence in knowing exactly where you want the camera to be before you start taking a drill to your brickwork.

The battery compartment is cleverly tucked away inside the case, and although is not immediately obvious how to access it, pressing the little white button on the base offers a satisfying click as the front of the camera comes away. Although you won't need to remove the battery often, with an estimated 6 months of battery life and a magnetic charger on the base of the camera, charging is quick and easy. Although try not to lose the included charging cable, as it is specific to Arlo cameras.

Set-up is all completed via the Arlo Secure app, which has just undergone a bit of a facelift. However, initially connecting the Arlo Pro 5 to a WiFi network was a bit of a nightmare. The Pro 5 requires a 2.4gHz connection on your phone to connect, although the camera is capable of connecting to 5gHz after setup. Sounds simple enough, but I attempted to set the Arlo Pro 5 up using a mesh network with a combined band router, which proved to be too much for the Pro 5.

In the end, to connect the camera I was forced to shut down all my mesh WiFi points, while also walking far enough away from the main router hub with my phone and the camera to be kicked into 2.4gHz bandwidth. After setting up hundreds of devices on my network with no issues or additional steps, this is very strange and dated behavior from Arlo. Once set up, however, the WiFi connection remained stable. 

Performance

The headline feature of the Arlo Pro 5 is its new ability to shoot full-color video at night in 2K resolution, and I can happily say that it is very very good. The spotlight provides a good amount of light to illuminate subjects, not quite the 7m that Arlo claims, when tested outside of my 2-3m test area, my face was not clearly visible, but naturally, even this was much better than with no illumination at all. The 2K resolution is excellent and would be immediately helpful to authorities in identifying suspects.

The Pro 5 did exceptionally well at recognizing any significant movement both from humans and animals, with it picking up a few adventurous foxes and squirrels that made their way onto my roof. The Arlo app will ping you with a notification when it detects motion and is even smart enough to recognize the source if you pay for the Arlo Secure subscription.

The newly revamped Arlo Secure app, available from the App Store and Google Play is easy enough to use, with the live view from the camera front and center on the app, and the feed of previous recordings is easy to access and sort through. Notifications are also instantaneous when tested on an Android phone, with a useful little GIF of the activity displayed right in the notification bubble, and a quick action to sound the inbuilt siren or call the emergency services.

Recordings (if you have an active paid Arlo Secure subscription) load from the cloud very quickly, and a little swipe in from the right gives options to share and download. The app also holds numerous options for the video, spotlight, and audio settings, so you can fine-tune the Pro 5 to your specifications. 

There is a very useful zoom and track feature, which simulates moving the camera around to follow suspected intruders, all very CSI and more fun to watch back, but you do lose the ability to shoot in 2K as the digital zoom will cut into that pixel count. You can also set 'activity zones', so the Pro 5 will only alert you when it detects motion in particular areas, which is very useful if the field of view meets a busy street.

The only negative I have to the Arlo Pro 5's performance is that almost all its best features are locked behind a paywall, with any cloud recordings and AI smarts requiring a continued subscription to Arlo secure. I am not opposed to optional subscriptions, but when there is not an easy way to do local recordings (without buying a separate Arlo Hub), it does severely limit the camera for anyone not wanting to spend an additional $3.99 / £2.99 a month.

Verdict

The Arlo Pro 5 enters as one of the best security cameras available right now, and one of the best looking too. The 2K night vision recordings offer a really high-quality way to monitor and secure your home. With a longer-than-ever battery life that means less battery anxiety and less charging time. 

The Pro 5 is compatible with all the major smart home platforms, including the notoriously fussy Apple HomeKit. The revamped Arlo app is very easy to use, with instant security notifications, as well as fine-tuned controls.

The only downside is no board memory forces you into buying an additional costly local hub or cough up every month for Arlo's subscription service.

Users of Amazon-owned Ring's range of security cameras using the basic free plan will lose access to mode settings from March 29. This will apply not just to new customers but existing owners of existing Ring cameras and doorbells in the USA and Canada. In addition, the Ring Alarm system will now require a Ring Protect plan for all new customers.

The Home and Away Mode enables users to disable motion sensors when at home to prevent being overloaded by multiple alerts from their device(s). This will now belong to the package of features only enabled via a subscription (this shift will not affect UK users). Ring currently charges $3.99 / £3.49 / AU$4.95 per month per Ring camera or device, or $39.99 / £34.99 / AU$49.95 a year, for this 'Ring Protect Basic' plan. 'Ring Protect Plus', accommodating unlimited devices, comes in at $10 / £8 / AU$15 per month, or $100 / £80 / AU$150 a year.

• These are the best doorbell cameras to keep your home safe and secure

The principal advantage of what Ring call 'an optional subscription' is automatic cloud recording of events captured by the cameras. By default, this is set to 30 days but can be increased to 180. Without it, the camera and doorbell's main functionality is live view; you see an alert (triggered by motion or a doorbell press), view the live video, and talk using two-way chat.

In fairness to Ring, the optional subscription approach is very much the industry standard, with similar approaches taken by the likes of Arlo, Google Nest, and others. It is also true of the other Amazon-owned company in this space, Blink, but it also offers the option of local storage via a modestly priced hub.

What is unusual, however, is a retrospective shift in the user experience. Sadly this gives a clear idea of the power imbalance in these subscription plans.

The same 'freemium' model was also applied to the Ring Alarm. This device, now in its second generation, works via the Ring app and is made up of traditional alarm devices – like a keypad (to arm / disarm), a siren, motion sensors, and contact sensors.

Here, too, the modes feature is being put behind the subscription paywall. At the moment you can use the app to switch modes and receive alerts when the system is triggered. That will not be true for new Ring Alarm customers, who will get no 'smart home' utility from the app without a subscription. Unlike the cameras and doorbells, however, existing owners won't be forced to cough up, for now. Instead, existing Ring Alarm base stations will be grandfathered.

Ring has a history of provoking rage from its customers. The previous price increase, in July 2022, took a monthly subscription from $3.00 to $3.99, and £3.50 to £3.49. This above-inflation rate increase to the current pricing incited a significant backlash.

The Ring price plans are the same across the devices, however, from the cheapest doorbell to floodlight cameras. 

If you enjoyed this article, you might want to check out our guide to the best Ring cameras and the best outdoor security cameras, and see which system fares best in our Blink vs Ring head to head.

The proliferation of new security camera tech taking advantage of digital networking – including wireless – and batteries has marched on apace in 2022, with some exciting new developments and others becoming established.

1: Software Improvements

One aspect which doesn’t get a lot of coverage is the subtle changes in the software which underpins security cameras. For the large share of the market which are wi-fi enabled ‘smart cameras,’ new features can now sneak in this way, or issues disappear and this is happening all the time. It’s worth noting that software has gone a long way to mitigating what might have been seen as the key problem with smart cameras that only record when they detect motion. Functions like Ring’s snapshot build timelapse-like video which can be easily swiped through on the app and this is found even in their battery cameras and video doorbells.

Google and Apple both continue to try to offer a single point of control of all smart devices, including cameras. Both including a similar ‘Home’ app on their platforms (and, in Google’s case, on a browser if needed). These allow browsing and creation of integrations between connected cameras, and both saw refreshes and improvements in 2022.

2: Feature integration

More integrations mean people will want smarter devices, and a great example of that is the Aqara 2K Security Indoor Camera Hub G3, which includes almost too many abilities to mention. One is that it can serve as an IR blaster, meaning it can be setup to control your TV. Since it also has AI gesture recognition and a pan/tilt ability to follow subjects, you can conceivably use it to turn on your TV with a ‘peace out’ gesture.

3: Cheap pan and tilt indoors

The Aqara is just one of the many pan and tilt indoor cameras which have established themselves in 2022. The latest is the Blink Mini (which already existed in static form). There is now extensive choice in cameras designed to sit discretely in a room and look around on demand. Some also have programmable patrols, and ever-improving AI can scan the room and ignore 4-legged friendly invaders. 

4: Apple’s HomeKit is finally a contender

Apple’s history with the iPod and iPhone have no doubt helped them establish themselves in the music streaming market, but even then Apple Music is a distant second to Spotify there. With no similar background, the HomeKit – including the cloud HomeKit Secure Video service – was always going to be harder to establish.

Finally in 2022 enough third party products have emerged to provide an option in every major category (indoor, outdoor, floodlight).

In addition there is Homebridge, a software platform which calls itself “HomeKit support for the impatient” which provides plugins for geeks to hack other brands like Ring into a HomeKit system.

5: Light and floodlight cameras

There were cameras with built-in lights and floodlights before 2022, but this year has seen growth in the area. There has also been a real trend toward lights designed to look good on a property with the smart camera functionality being almost secondary. Since they tend to include two-way-talk, they can be used in place of (or with) a camera doorbell, but mounted to provide the view and illumination you choose.

A great example of the style is the EVE Outdoor but lighting has also become a significant part of the offering of many cameras. It makes sense because battery LED-powered sensor lights are popular, but if you include a camera you get more security for the holes drilled in your home.

6: Batteries everywhere

The trend toward batteries to prevent wired being required in installation has continued apace. This has perhaps been mastered by Ring, who have a standard battery design

Where more power is needed for a device like their 2022-launched Spotlight Cam Plus (review) or Pro, they’ve designed the system with dual battery bays. This seems designed to reward loyalty since you can use the battery across Ring devices. 

Batteries also mean solar power is becoming more widespread and, in 2022, more discrete, with cameras like the new EufyCam S330 4K devices able to keep themselves charged indefinitely even without large satellite-dish like panels. It still depends on the direction, and other firms like Ring offer separate panels so the camera angle isn’t influenced by concerns about power, but visually Eufy have made a step in the right direction.

7: Inflation

Despite the much-discussed rise in prices around the world, security cameras (especially smart wi-fi ones) hardware prices seem to have been held in place, or even pushed down, in 2022. For many that is only half the story, however; no firm has reduced the prices for their cloud service and for some brands – for example Ring – some features are dependent on this being paid up. Ring prices rose to $3.99/£3.49 a month per camera in 2022 and while that is at the high end, it’ll always be a concern.

8: Local storage has had a bumper 2022

A year ago it might have seemed that traditional security systems with NVR boxes, plugged into TV monitors and recording to hard drives were drifting into the past. In 2022 major players Eufy and Swann have released devices which instead suggest that many customers want to take charge of their own data.

Perhaps because consumers expect a friendlier experience, and perhaps because of major player’s legal woes, innovation has shone out here in 2022. There have also been more and more cameras with built-in storage, either via a microSD card or embedding. 

It is also common to find typical NAS RAID systems like those from Synology are able to store camera data and perform AI video analytics to generate alerts. (A ‘Surveillance Station’ tool has long been available in the Synology ‘Package Centre’ from which IP cameras can be monitors without needing a separate NVR, and the 2022 models certainly have the power to provide a full feature set.)

9: Legal issues, trade restrictions… and anti-trust?

The wider security camera market is still reeling from sanctions placed on Chinese firm  Hikvision by the US in May, and that is just the tip of the iceberg; this is already pushing many to reconsider their equipment choices and might yet be fatal to the firm (not to mention US/China relations).  

We also can’t help but wonder whether at some point soon the clear and obvious influence that Google exerts on Nest and Amazon on Blink/Ring will come under scrutiny. There seems no good reason why Nest supports Google Assistant, Blink/Ring support Alexa and none of those brands work with Apple’s HomeKit save for company ownership.

Privacy in general is always an issue. This year Eufy was caught including software that could upload to the cloud even when it said it was working locally.

10: Moving into 2023

There are a few things we’d like to see next year, not least 4K – or at least 2.7K – becoming more prevalent on cloud-friendly cameras. There are enough 4K cameras from traditionally security-focussed brands that it is clear even battery power and wi-fi are enough, so it feels as if the constraint is the profit margin on the cloud storage. 

We’d like to see that change – and for HomeKit Secure Video to store higher than 1080P. Failing that one workaround that we expect to increase is the number of cameras storing higher-res video locally even if only 1080P is sent cloud-wards.

We wonder if, since indoor PTZ has grown, we might see some outdoor devices from consumer brands to take on the security traditional (perhaps, though, the need for wired power is off-putting for too many).

Finally, of course, as processing power gets higher, we’d like to see fewer false positives through better on-board AI (and simple measures like PIR sensors). Ring’s Spotlight Cam Pro with ‘3D Motion’ radar – a tech they first introduced in 2021 – is definitely something we’d hope to see being developed.

Other useful buying guides: 

Best outdoor security cameras 

Best indoor security cameras

Best PTZ camera

Best floodlight cameras

Best PoE cameras

Best pet cameras

The best doorbell cameras

The best body cameras for personal security 

Owners of Amazon Ring doorbells have become the latest victims of "swatting" attacks across the United States. 

Swatting may be a new term for many, but it is a familiar one to those in the gaming and online streaming communities. In simple terms, it is the act of making a false police report dispatcher, in order to send a large number of armed officers (SWAT teams) to a person's home address. Such hoax calls could include a hostage situation, bomb threat or homicide. 

This form of emergency service deception is a highly criminal offense, though it has become a common prank in instances where the occupant may be live streaming via Twitch or YouTube, unaware of what's about to happen, so that the viewers and online pranksters can watch it happen in real-time. 

• These are the best doorbell cameras!

Sadly, the act of Swatting is nothing new and has been ongoing for a few years, but in more recent events it appears that Amazon's Ring doorbells and smart security devices are the latest to be targeted by swatters and hackers. 

Two men have been charged in Wisconsin and North Carolina for hacking Yahoo! email accounts and gaining unauthorized access to these cameras, taunting police officers, and placing 12 hoax calls through these devices in what reports are calling a weeklong swatting spree that took place in 2020.

The perpetrators have been named as 21-year-old Kya Christian Nelson from Racine, Wisconsin, as well as 20-year-old James Thomas Andrew McCarty from Charlotte, North Carolina. According to Fox News the pair have been charged with one count of conspiracy to intentionally access computers without authorization, as well as two counts of aggravated identity theft charged to Nelson.

An indictment was returned on December 16 2022 from the federal grand jury in Los Angeles, which stated that McCarty and Nelson gained access to home security door cameras sold by Ring LLC between November 07-13 2020, acquiring unauthorized access to the usernames and password information for Yahoo! email accounts belonging to victims throughout the United States.

In an announcement, the US Justice Department has revealed that the pair "determined whether the owner of each compromised Yahoo! account also had a Ring account using the same email address and password that could control associated internet-connected Ring doorbell camera devices. Using that information, they identified and gathered additional information about their victims."

The pair of young hackers during the week-long swatting spree allegedly placed hoax phone calls with the intent to elicit an extreme armed police response, then live-streamed several of these responses from the hacked doorbell cameras onto social media, and verbally taunted law enforcement and police officers that arrived at the scene through the Ring cameras.

The statement from the Department of Justice also revealed that on November 08 2020, Nelson and an accomplice accessed accounts including a Ring doorbell from a victim in West Covina, California, and made a hoax call to the local police department originating from the victim’s residence, posing as a minor child reporting that her parents were drinking and shooting guns inside the home. 

Having reportedly gained access to a dozen Ring home security door cameras across the US, can we trust that even the best home security cameras can keep us safe and protected from hackers such as McCarty and Nelson?

The FBI back in 2020 was forced to issue a public service announcement that urged users of smart home devices to enable the security measure of two-factor authentication, and to use more complex and dissimilar passwords to protect against any potential swatting attacks. 

The indictment and DOJ statement also revealed that similar swatting incidents have occurred in areas that include Flat Rock, Michigan; Redding, California; Billings, Montana; Decatur, Georgia; Chesapeake, Virginia; Rosenberg, Texas; Oxnard, California; Darien, Illinois; Huntsville, Alabama; North Port, Florida; and Katy, Texas.

Update 21 December 2022: Ring has since released a statement pertaining to the issue, suggesting that: “Swatting is a serious crime, and those responsible for it should be brought to justice. In this case, we learned bad actors used stolen customer email credentials obtained from external (non-Ring) services to access other accounts, and took immediate steps to help those customers secure their Ring accounts. We also supported the FBI in identifying the individuals responsible.

"We take the security of our customers extremely seriously—that’s why we made two-step verification mandatory, conduct regular scans for Ring passwords compromised in non-Ring breaches, and continually invest in new security protections to harden our systems. We are committed to continuing to protect our customers and vigorously going after those who seek to harm them.”

• You may also want to take a look at our guides to the best outdoor security cameras, as well as the best cheap security cameras, plus the best fake security cameras to act as a deterrent, the best body cameras, and not forgetting also the best dash cams to capture the action on the road.

Monitoring your home or business outside, day or night, without running cables is the promise of the Ring Stick Up Camera Battery. Like other similar devices, it is motion-activated, and is at its best when used in conjunction with a subscription service. You can always see a live view via your phone (iOS / Android), but the subscription provides storage letting you review past ‘events’ – recordings automatically triggered by motion.

Ring is one of the two security camera companies Amazon own, the other being Blink. Ring has the broadest play with its signature doorbells joined by cameras like this and alarm systems and entry sensors. It won’t surprise you to read that all Ring cameras offer compatibility with Alexa, for example letting you ask an Alexa Show screen to let you see the view from the camera in the garden. It’s also possible to get voice alerts via other Alexa devices – but (as cynics will predict) there is no similar integration with Apple’s HomeKit or Google Nest Hub smart displays.

Ring Stick-Up Camera Battery: Specifications

Video resolution: 1080P

Field of view: 130˚ (diagonal)

Audio: Two-way

Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz

Dimensions: 60 x 60 x 97 mm (2.36 x 2.36 x 3.82 in) plus stand

Build and handling

Ring has opted for a cylindrical design with twist-off base, which has a nice aesthetic. The camera and infra-red lights are merged relatively subtly with a single piece of glossy black plastic, a similar look to other Ring devices. The rubber seals on the back conceal a barrel-style power connector (for the optional solar panel) and a tripod-style thread for attaching the foot/wall mount. The base itself can be tilted a little so the camera isn’t pointing entirely horizontally. Alternatively, for wall mounting, the foot can be removed altogether with cross-head screw and screwed into the tripod-like thread. This separates it from the now-flat camera bottom.

There is also a removable rubber cover where a screw can be used to make the base tamper-proof.

Setup is guided elegantly by the app (iOS or Android), and it even has the sense to ask if you’re positioning the camera inside or out, and – if inside – will it be looking out of the window. Presumably, it can then avoid reflections at night from the infrared light. Obviously a battery-powered camera can be easily re-positioned, so settings would need revisiting, but this is still a very friendly approach to setup that novices will appreciate.

Performance

Given Ring choose to restrict the system to 1080P, we have no complaints about the video quality day or night and the field of view gives a good view of a large room or space. In good light color is fine, and at night the infra-red lighting doesn’t over-expose near subjects.

In both cases it is adequate for the person detection feature (which requires the cloud subscription) to work well. The speaker and two-way talk is also impressive, with room-filling sound.

Video sample: A person in the margins of the shot is enough to trigger the person warning (though in retrospect we should probably have angled the camera down a bit).

Ring’s app is well designed and makes setup a painless process. It includes features like privacy zones and the ability to temporarily turn off only indoor or all connected Ring cameras. 

We especially liked the ‘Snapshot Capture’ feature, which captures images every 14 or 60 minutes (you choose depending on battery preference); these are used to make swiping through the event history a little like a timelapse which has an overall benefit on the experience.

Ring Stick-Up Camera Battery: Verdict

The Ring Stick-Up camera is a well-realised device, and benefits from a few years of refinement when it comes to the app, which – even for non-Alexa users – is one of the best in the market. The simple explanations with each function (including potential effect on battery) are welcome and clearly tightly edited.

We find it frustrating that integrations are only offered for Alexa, not HomeKit or Google Assistant, but Ring are Amazon-owned. Moreover Ring have their own system which integrates nicely, including a Chime/range extender which can play different notes depending on whether a camera has a motion trigger or the doorbell is pressed. Given Ring is at the higher end of cloud subscription pricing, and the cloud is needed to get anything other than live view, it becomes more efficient if you have 3 or more devices.

Admittedly we’d have like to have seen 2.7K or 4K options for a camera which can be mounted outdoors, but the solid usability is probably more significant. If you’re looking for exclusively indoor use it might be overkill, but with good person sensing (so low false alerts) this is a good choice anywhere you want to place it.

Read more:

Best indoor security cameras 

Best outdoor security cameras

Best dash cam

The best pet cameras

The best video doorbell cameras

The best body cameras for personal security

Best camera phones

Best VPN for photographers

Amazon have two plays in the smart camera and doorbell space; Ring and Blink. Both work with iOS or Android phones, and keep back a few extra features for Alexa and Alexa Show devices. The Blink system seems to place most emphasis on value for money, and this is the company’s only doorbell (Ring, by comparison, have six on sale, and none this cheap).

Blink’s technology – so far, anyway – leans on a couple of guiding principles; firstly most of their products can be used without subscription if you opt for a $30/£30 ‘Sync Module 2’ that records to a USB stick. Secondly two of their cameras, and now the Blink Doorbell, operate using long-life disposable lithium batteries. Other smart cameras & doorbells tend to rely on rechargeable batteries which require more regular attention, so a big question for a potential blink customer is “Are the disposable batteries more efficient?” 

Specifications

Video: 1080P 

Field of view: 135˚ horizontal

Wifi: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz 

Size: 130 x 42 x 34mm (5.1 x 1.65 x 1.34 inch)

Operating temp: -20 to 45˚C (-4 to 113˚F)

Build and handling

The Blink Video Doorbell looks nicely understated, with simple design that doesn’t look a million miles from other blink devices (thanks to the rounded corners and lens in gloss-black rectangle), or from a typical doorbell. Size-wise the fact it uses Lithium AA batteries rather than rechargeable means it seems less chunky than competitors, while the actual button has a good click to it (not to mention loud speaker providing a ding-dong). Visitors definitely won’t be left wondering if they’ve pressed properly!

You’ll need to download and install the Blink app on iOS or Android to begin an automated setup process (the batteries, included, will be needed early in this!) Installation can either be battery-only or to a traditional doorbell power supply, however, the later will not charge the batteries; it instead gives the doorbell access to an existing chime. 

Unlike most doorbells, the package doesn’t include an angled wedge shape for mounting sideways. There is a wall mount which the doorbell clips into, and can then be removed either by inserting the supplied tool or, oddly, a MicroSD card (though we wouldn’t recommend this approach). Angled mounts are available. Do remember to mount it somewhere sheltered, though, as it is water-resistant rather than waterproof.

Performance

We found setup a breeze; admittedly we already had a Sync module installed but that, too, is a straightforward device to install guided by an excellent app. A nice touch is that any Blink Mini cameras in your home can serve as chimes, or (inevitably) an Alexa device can help (but, ahem, for some reason – we’re looking at you, Amazon – not Google Assistant).

If you don’t have it, we’d recommend adding the Sync Module 2, which is inexpensive (circa $30). Without it the doorbell will only provide two-way communication when pressed, but with it you can check into live view any time and record clips to a USB stick rather than having to pay a subscription for cloud service. 

Video sample: clip caught via the IR light in auto mode – motion triggered.

The camera provides a good wide-angle view and copes well with good and bad light, but the horizontal mounting is perhaps less ideal than vertical (as seen on Nest or Wemo). It does negate the need perfect angle mounting, and since there is no package detection AI isn’t much of an issue.

Where we did have an issue, though, was with the motion detection. Obviously not an essential aspect of a doorbell’s duty, but a big part of why video doorbells stand out. Where we mounted, about 2 meters from the pavement (6ft), we were not able to find a configuration of the (admittedly Beta) Zones feature which wasn’t triggered by passing car headlights. This has potential to burn through the battery in well under the suggested 2 years.

Verdict

Even taking price out of the equation, the Blink Video Doorbell is a good product. It looks and feels better than many pricier alternatives – much more respectful to most home designs (and you can choose black or white versions). We’d see the Sync Module as essential, and even buying a Blink Mini at the same time costs less than Ring’s standard doorbell. (The Blink Mini can serve as a chime if you’re neither using wiring nor have an Alexa to hand.) 

We haven’t had chance to test the whole battery life, but can entirely see the appeal of using Lithium batteries. A rechargeable might only last a few weeks (or less) in a busy location – we’ll get months before we need to spend circa $5 (£4) for what is a much quicker, easier replacement (no charging time without functionlaity).

The only real weakspot of the device is the only-OK motion detection options. If your door is set back from the road – or you’re only planning to use this as a doorbell – then as long as you can provide dependable Wi-Fi it seems such a sensible choice it’s hard to understand why other doorbells cost so much more (and often add a subscription atop that).

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Smart doorbells like this provide a dual function; they let you answer your door wherever you are via a phone app (at least as a disembodied voice) and they provide a discrete security camera. Ring, owned by Amazon, is a leading brand with the advantage that they also provide accessories like a Chime (which we tested alongside this doorbell) to save internal wiring, as well as security cameras and devices which will pair with the same phone app.

The Video Doorbell 3 has been superseded by the pricier but similar-looking Video Doorbell 4, and faces a good deal of competition from other Ring products as well as an ever-growing army of competitors. As such it remains the sensible mainstream choice for those looking to take the smart doorbell route without paying the ‘tax’ for cutting edge.

Specifications

Video: 1080P

Field of view: 160˚ horizontal

Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz and 5GHz

Dimensions: 128 x 62 x 2.8mm (5 x 2.4 x 1.1 in)

Temperature range: -20 to 48˚C (-4 to 118˚F)

See Ring vs Blink: which Amazon security system is best?

Build and handling

The Video Doorbell 3 (like its near-identical predecessor and successor) is a good looking two-tone design with a gloss black around the camera and a silver plastic faceplate. It’s chunky, to accommodate the battery, and Ring provide one free alternative faceplate in a different tone if you choose. This is done via a digital voucher, so avoiding plastic waste, which is to be applauded. In fact, the packaging in general is impressively efficient (perhaps pleasing Ring’s parent company). 

Installing the doorbell involves popping the faceplate off and following the clear instructions. If you need to mount at an angle a wedge is included. You can attach the doorbell to existing low-voltage wiring in the UK or US, or simply charge the battery and install without wires. The battery has a MicroUSB socket built in and a charging cable is included. While the cover is off, you can see Ring’s ring of LEDs which provide animated visual feedback – your home will be able to give visitors a spinning beachball!

Once installed, the app will – assuming you pay the $3.99 / £3.49 monthly subscription – store motion clips. The doorbell can also act as a kind of answering machine, with a choice of messages (including some fun seasonal options).

Performance

In general, the Ring Video Doorbell 3 served more reliably than many competitors. It’s clear that time has been spent refining the app and we appreciated that choices were clarified in clear English and their likely effect on the battery life made plain. We also really liked The breadth of features that arguably counterbalance the one weak spot: the main camera.

It’s not a bad camera, handling lighting conditions well, but it is mounted horizontally which means that – unlike, for example, WeMo or Nest’s offerings – the view doesn’t extend as far down to the step as you might hope (or as far up if you’re mounting low). The wide-angle balances this to some extent, and most of the time it isn’t an issue, but it does seem to render the package detection feature somewhat redundant.

Video sample: In glaring sunlight the camera still produces clear video.

A slight irritation is the seemingly entrenched Ring battery design. It’s great that the battery is interchangeable with so many other Ring devices (like the Stick-Up Cam or Spotlight Cam Plus), but MicroUSB does seem a little retro now. Charging is slow and, unless you keep a spare battery, means several hours with your doorbell out of action. 

Verdict

The Doorbell 3’s camera provides good quality video which makes it easy to view visitor’s faces, and the app (as well as decent mic and and speaker) make communication clear. We weren’t concerned about the camera quality (it copes well even when the sun is on it) but the horizontal mount feels a bit outdated. The one thing that can be said for it is that it looks in keeping with other cameras in a multi-camera install.

Some might find the automated replies a little inhuman, but for those who take time answering the door it could be a godsend. 

The Ring ecosystem has some nice touches too – we liked the Chime, and the fact it could make different sounds for motion alerts on other cameras as well as being the main doorbell. You can also have one camera (or doorbell) activate others for better coverage. All of this goes some way towards making up for the $100/£80 a year cloud subscription for unlimited Ring devices.

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Amazon has admitted to handing over ring doorbell recordings to law enforcement without permission eleven times in the last year. The multinational technology giant has a policy in place that states it will not share footage or audio recordings without the permission of the owner unless a judge has granted a search warrant. 

While your Amazon ring doorbell could land you in trouble with the law over infringing on neighbors' privacy rights, they have also managed to capture some pretty epic moments such as a tree being struck by lighting. However, it looks like Amazon has been a little lawless too as US Senator ED Markey discovered that in the last year, Amazon has shared ring doorbell footage with law enforcement without the permission of the doorbell owner.

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Amazon started as an online bookstore but it’s now a multi-billion dollar company that sells its own range of virtual assistants, electronic reading devices and smart doorbells. Its range of Ring doorbells is hugely popular as they feature motion detectors, 2-way speech and a built-in camera for added security - but while the people who purchase them think their data is private, it turns out there are loopholes in the policy. 

US Senator Ed Markey has questioned Amazon’s vice president of public policy, Brian Huseman over its relationship with law enforcement and the extent to which it has shared data without the owner's permission. In response to a letter sent to Amazon by Markey, Biran Huseman replied that there have been 11 cases ring has provided video to law enforcement and each time Ring made a good-faith decision that there was imminent danger, death or serious physical injury.

When questioned about Ring-specific internal policies in regard to what constitutes an emergency, Huseman responded, “Emergency disclosure requests must be accompanied by a completed emergency request form. Based on the information provided in am emergency request form and the circumstances described by the officer, Ring makes a good-faith determination whether the request meets the well-known standard, grounded in federal law, that there is imminent danger, death or serious physical injury to any person requiring disclosure of information without delay.”

In 2021, ring sold over 1.4 million doorbells which is more than Nest, SkyBell and ADT combined according to Silicon. While they do offer additional home security, the ability to see who’s at your front door from anywhere in the world and can even make deliveries easier, it’s worth bearing in mind that they may not be as secure as you think - at least not if law enforcement gets involved. 

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Last week, multiple UK residents submitted footage online that shows what appears to be a meteor-looking big green ball of fire hurtling across the sky, captured from various devices including dash cams, CCTV and ring doorbells. 

The Somerset and south west areas of the UK beared witness to this phenomenon on the 12 May at 00:39 GMT, with over 250 people having so far reported the event to the UK Meteor Network (UKMON) to help track its trajectory.

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During the late night of Thursday 12 May, a green streak of light was seen darting across the night sky, witnessed no doubt by thousands of South West England residents, with confirmed sightings in Hertfordshire, South Wales, Hastings, Devon, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Dorking, and West Sussex. Multiple reports of the sighting were shared to networks including the UK Meteor Network, the UK Fireball Alliance and of course, social media. 

According to Twitter, it's being speculated that any fallen remains of the meteor have likely ended up in the Bristol Channel, with hobbyists and the UKMON attempting to calculate the predicted trajectory of the meteorite fall. The green color of the fireball may assist in deciphering the composition of the meteoroid, with UKMON suggesting its color may imply a higher magnesium content.

People have reported the event through UKMON's website, after capturing images and footage most commonly on their video doorbells, with few instances recorded using vehicle dash cams (see video below).

The astronomical event was also detected by Fripon (Fireball Recovery and InterPlanetary Observation Network) and the GFO (Global Fireball Observatory) camera systems. The below tweet from @ShamBaig shows an amazing video of the green meteor captured by a doorbell camera in Slough, Berkshire.

The meteor's brief Wednesday night through Thursday morning flightpath is said to have panned across an area as wide as from Manchester all the way down to Cornwall. UKMON say the meteor actually entered the Earth's atmosphere over areas of Somerset, UK. UKMON founder, Richard Kacerek, said that their cameras picked up "a very large meteor event that we call a fireball".

The UK Meteor Network runs 153 detection cameras to detect and record the passing of fireballs and meteors all over the UK, it said the fireball was picked up by fifteen of its cameras.

Preliminary analysis gathered so far from UKMON data shows the terminal altitude of the fireball was around 30km above the ground, and had a velocity of 6.9km/s.

An alternate angle shows outdoor security camera footage from Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, uploaded to YouTube captured from what is presumably a residents back garden. 

Wow! Were you lucky enough to witness this green fireball in action? Check your devices for footage from Thursday 12 May 2022 at 00:39am GMT, and if you happen to capture the phenomenal sighting on video then be sure to report your findings to the UKMON by submitting a fireball report to that will be sent to the International Meteor Organisation's Global Fireball Database.

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While Apple had their own way with the iPod, and got a very big boulder rolling for the phone era, the world of smart homes, digital assistants and their accessories is far more muddled. It’s not that Siri doesn’t have mind-share, but Alexa was created with a very open platform for developers and consequently is compatible with plenty of accessories. In the world of smart doorbells it certainly doesn’t hurt that Amazon own the big name, Ring, either.

Apple have stuck to a walled garden approach, keeping a watchful eye on the options in the toolshed, and so only a few accessory makers have seen fit to make accessories for Siri / HomeKit. In theory, at least, the compliance with Apple’s rules should make for a simple user experience and – in theory – a lot less troubleshooting. Apple’s HomeKit hub establishes itself automatically around a HomePod speaker, AppleTV or iPad (so you’ll need one of these in the home, but might have the hub without knowing it).

Apple provide cloud storage for HomeKit cameras (and doorbells) to anyone who is already a subscriber to their computer cloud service iCloud ($0.99 or £0.79 a month for 50GB and one camera, $2.99/£2.49 for 200GB and 5 cameras).

The Apple-like experience begins at setup, which can be initiated by NFC once the doorbell is hooked up to the power. That explains why a brand like Belkin, known for accessories rather than security cameras, is early into the HomeKit doorbell space (one of the few others is Logitech).

Specifications

Video resolution: 1200 x 1600px HDR (4MP camera)

Field of view: 223˚ diagonal

Sensors: Motion via pixel movement

Compatible Smart Home: Apple HomeKit 

Recording: iCloud

Weatherproof: IP65

Battery: Backup only

Charge: n/a 

Dimensions: 1.4 x 1.7 x 4.9 inches (36 x 43 x 125mm)

Weight: 110g

Key features

Because the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell uses Apple’s secure iCloud storage – the same place photos are kept with their face identification AI – the Wemo can actually tell you who is at your door (assuming they’re named in your photo collection). Anyone new and it’ll ask you to name them for the future.

That integration extends to being controlled entirely through the Apple Home app, and the feed can be viewed & reviewed on Mac as well as iOS devices. If you’re watching your Apple TV, the live video feed will near-instantly pop up in the corner, or you can pop it up full-screen if you fancy.

Ultimately, though, this is a two-way-talk doorbell first and foremost, allowing you to talk to visitors from anywhere. The doorbell itself uses your wi-fi. It can also send alerts when it detects movements and these are in keeping with Apple style, including images of the event. You can choose to get these, and whether to initiate a recording.

The design is elegant, slightly smaller than the relatively few HomeKit competitors, but raised a little further from the wall, especially at the top, which angles the camera to ensure it’s already-wide view included the doormat. It’s also visitor friendly, using texture to highlight the button.

As a powered doorbell, installation requires connection to an existing wired circuit of 16 to 24v AC and the insertion of a ‘Power Kit’ into the chime box. (Plug in transformers can be found online, but despite this Belikin haven’t rushed to sell in markets beyond the USA). The doorbell has a small battery to protect against brief fluctuations in supply, but nothing else. Sensibly a Torx screw at the base to stop opportunist thieves; a Wemo green driver is included.

Performance

Once up and running, the video’s 30fps frame rate is super-smooth and HDR seemed able to handle bright sunlight from behind the visitor with no problem though some minor fringing was visible (nothing compared to the compression artefacts on some competitors though). Night vision wasn’t quite up to scratch though; the wide field of view didn’t help and picking out more than face shape wasn’t as easy as it could have been.

The system was relatively quick to initiate a call when pressed, and call clarity was excellent over cellular; the best such device we’ve tested. On occasions visitors don’t have the decency to wait, looking back through videos is as simple as scrolling though a timeline; the only oddity is why, should you want to export a clip, you need to press the share button in the lower right then the ‘Next’ button in the top right (which appears greyed out, but works) to get the share bar to appear. Only one extra tap, but why?

There were a few anomalies like this in the user experience, and a few occasions where our iPhone struggled to connect to the doorbell while on home wi-fi (it had no problem on 5G). Navigation was aided immensely by clear notes next to the options, and better design for features like the Activity Zone (mask) than we’ve seen elsewhere.

The fact this is all within the Home app also means the camera can act as a sensor for an Automation – we set ours to turn the door light on for ten minutes after sensing motion. This was practical with the wemo more than other devices as it wasn’t over-sensitive like some cameras we’ve tested – perhaps this comes of not including a PIR detector but with a short path and nearby road that seems to be a benefit.

It does seem that only one or perhaps two devices can enjoy the live feed at once; the app will invite you to wait and try again if someone is watching the feed on the Apple TV. 

Verdict

This camera’s greatest virtue is also its curse – that it is so dependent on the feature set Apple choose to offer security cameras. The great news is that Apple seem to have sorted out all the key functions a doorbell needs, like Activity Zones, so there is no major reason not to choose from the HomeKit selection.

There is still a solid argument to be made for a Ring Pro 2 and its app if you have no interest in other Apple-friendly smart home integrations; HomeKit is really about the opportunity to take advantage of integrations, which still needs a little faith in Apple.

Within the world of HomeKit the few alternative contenders are similarly priced – the Logitech Circle, Netatmo, and Arlo with SmartHub accessory. Many have suggested that the Logitech option is overly sensitive, while the Netatmo is more expensive for a lower resolution, making the already very appealing choice seem to come out on top regardless of the resolution.

Perhaps because the resolution, while good, could be better and the night images were certainly a little lacking, we did found one of the more exciting sounding features – facial recognition – less than reliable in practice. We also can’t really imagine it being very useful; distinction between people, cars, animals and parcels was better (though not perfect) and more useful since it’s better to set events based on people but not animals disturbing the sensor, for example.

Attractive and easy to install while offering a lot of functionality and integration through the HomeKit app and – since we already paid for iCloud – for no extra monthly cost, it’s hard not to like this device; hopefully this is the way HomeKit is going.

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Digital doorbells are growing in popularity, with the brand Ring (owned by Amazon) being the ‘Walkman’ of the market but others, including security brand Swann, turning their attention now too. 

The big internet brands have seemingly engineered a heavy reliance on their own cloud services for doorbells and security cameras, and even rely on Alexa-type devices for the chimes. By including an on-board MicroSD card, the SwannBuddy gives owners the chance to keep control of recordings made by their doorbell, even if they choose not to pay a subscription. At the same time the box includes a simple wireless chime, like many cheap push-button doorbell kits, making installation a straightforward process and again not dependent on being committed to a smart home assistant. 

You will need to attach (stick or, more likely, screw) a plate to the wall which holds the doorbell. In addition there is a small anti-tamper screw so thieves can’t simply lift the camera from the wall – a sensible feature though Arlo achieve something similar with a recess similar to a SIM card tray.

SwannBuddy specifications

Video resolution: 1080p 1:1

Field of view: 180˚ (1:1)

Sensors: Motion (heat), PIR

Compatible Smart Home systems: Hey Google, Alexa, IFTTT

Recording: MicroSD, Cloud

Weatherproof: IP56 (Splashed or heavy jets of water – effectively Rainproof)

Battery: 6,500mAh (Chime: 2 x AA)

Charge: MicroUSB

Dimensions: 55 x 32 x 140 mm / 2.1 x 1.25 x 5.5 inches

Chime dimensions: 67 x 28 x 67 mm / 2.6 x 1 x 2.6 inches

Weight: 213g (chime 47g)

Key features

In the era of porch pirates or of dubious delivery services), the benefits of a doorbell which shares its heritage with a security camera are obvious. When the SwannBuddy detects motion it can alert you and record a clip, button push or not, and has built-in motion detectors which can detect motion, day and night, within a range of around 5m.

Wireless video doorbells are far from unique, but Swann have tackled some key concerns which other brands miss with their, including ensuring a very wide field of view and a square (1:1) view for the video – this makes seeing right down to the step (and a potential parcel) possible.

The firm have also sidestepped the sometimes-costly muddle that is the install, where many are often forced to resort to professional help. That the doorbell battery-powered (but able to use traditional wiring too), is the easy end of matters – competitors often require adding a device inside the original chime box (if there is one) or changing the transformer, but the standalone chime prevents such wire-tweaking.

In some regards, the doorbell’s feature set as much as you’d expect; two-way talk (which can also work when you’re away from home) and the option of longer-term cloud storage. As for integrations, there is an ordinary Alexa connection, Swann also offer IFTTT for the more creative smart home enthusiast.

Performance

In terms of functionality, the SwanBuddy lives up to its promises. In practical terms, though, there is a very noticeable lag in operation, both when it comes to the two-way-talk (something we see a lot) and, more weirdly, the chime. While it’s easy to understand that an HD video feed might need a few moments to initiate, it’s harder to forgive the chime which is entirely within Swann’s control – there is no such delay on a typical $20 wireless doorbell kit. On the plus side, it offers six different tones and voice notifications during the setup process.

On which subject, setup in general was a painless process thanks to combined Quick Start Guide and device voice prompts. Next we found ourselves in the SwannSecurity app and here is where things are on less firm ground; the SwannBuddy appears just like another camera if you’re already using a Swann Xtreem and we’ve got some concerns about the stability and clarity of this app. If a potentially welcome visitor is pressing your doorbell, this kind of issue is even more significant.

Sample footage shot with the SwannBuddy

The camera itself produces a fine image, coping adequately with challenging light, especially given the price bracket. Like Swann’s security cameras it records a jerky frame rate, but the detail is rich and both color and night imagery are crisp and contrasty. Weirdly a lot of the clips we recorded seemed to miss a lot of frames between the ten and 14 second marks.

If you operate the camera without the subscription, even with a narrowly defined mask and the sensitivity set to low the alerts do seem to come very frequently. Here the value of the $2.99/£2.99 a month subscription is apparent, making the distinction between a person and other items, though we found that ours still didn’t seem to detect parcels placed right on the doorstep despite the software implying that was a possibility.

SwannBuddy: Verdict

The SwannBuddy is versatile, but by trying to do too much, doesn’t quite master its principle task: being a smart doorbell. The momentary pause between push and chime feels a bit weird, but isn’t serious. The constant need for refreshing pages of the app (like using an older website) makes tweaking settings a painful chore, but these aren’t frequent tasks. The delay between button push and 2-way-talk initiation, never less than ten seconds, is a problem though – delivery drivers never wait as long as it takes for your phone to alert you and for you to successfully initiate a two-way chat. This isn’t a unique issue with the SwannBuddy, but the lag is a little worse than most and can’t be ignored.

That said, it’s great that, even without a subscription, you’ll be able to find out who visited (what many video doorbells end up being used for) and that recordings will be made even without a power supply or wi-fi. It’s a shame that the camera, even when connected to a 16V AC power supply, doesn’t offer 24/7 recording like the Nest Hello (but that costs $10/£10 a month, which mounts up).

Ultimately that is where the SwannBuddy is still a rational choice; it’s a security camera in the shape of a doorbell, it’s relatively cheap to buy and install and can sit well with Swann’s range of home security cameras. The software could be much slicker, but the features impress.

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The spooky season has brought out the worst in some people, with a doorbell camera recording a thief stealing pumpkins from neighborhood porches in Benton County, Washington, USA ahead of Halloween.

An unidentified woman was recorded getting out of a car and running across the front lawn of the Benton County home, before snatching a giant pumpkin from the front porch and re-entering the car, which sped off into the night. The incident was captured on the homeowner's SimpliSafe Home Security System. 

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The car was witnessed driving up to a neighboring home, with the pumpkin thief committing further acts of Halloween larceny. The original victim pursued the getaway vehicle, with the robber(s) responding by hurling pumpkins out of the window while driving "recklessly".

Footage of the incident was shared on Facebook by the West Richland Police Department. 

"Pumpkin thief! WRPD needs your help identifying the female seen on this home surveillance video," starts the post. "A smaller dark colored sedan parked in front of a residence in West Richland. A female passenger is seen getting out of the car, run up to the porch of the residence, takes a pumpkin, then runs back into the car. Owner of the house observed the same car go up to the neighbors home and take some of their pumpkins too.

"The owner was able to follow the small vehicle down Keene Rd. The occupants of the vehicle began to throw the pumpkins out the window as they drove with lights off and recklessly. The vehicle was described to be a smaller, possibly GEO Metro style, vehicle and black in color. Anyone who recognizes the female in this video, please call WRPD case #21-04769. 509-628-0333"

Whether it was a lighthearted Halloween prank or a theft with more sinister motives, it's a timely reminder to make sure you protect your home with a security camera!

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Amazon has made the news again for its privacy concerns, but this time it's not related to Alexa's eavesdropping. No, it's the humble Ring doorbell camera causing upset, in the UK at least. A court ruling has fined a Ring user £100,000 (around $137,300 / AU$184,872) for illegally surveilling his neighbor's property with CCTV cameras including Ring doorbells which overlooked his neighbor's house and garden. The accused claimed this camera coverage was not malicious and the cameras were only installed for the purposes of crime prevention.

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What's perhaps most surprising about this court ruling - apart from the sheer size of the fine imposed on one individual - is that it's happened in the UK. According to Comparitech, London is the third most surveilled city in the world with approximately 73.31 CCTV cameras per 1000 people living in the capital - only two cities in China can top that figure.

Consequently, you could be forgiven for thinking Brits had become used to such widespread Big Brother surveillance, and objecting to it wouldn't necessarily result in tough penalties for those using home CCTV cameras. But evidently not.

The full 49-page court judgement dives into more detail about the case, but I'm here to consider the wider issues and questions that arise from it. For starters, home surveillance - or CCTV (closed-circuit television) - is nothing new, so why the sudden uproar with this Ring doorbell camera court case?

The key difference here appears to largely be due to the recording not just of video, but also audio, from up to 40 feet away - a feature many conventional home CCTV set-ups don't come with as standard, or would require additional microphones to enable. Given the limited use of audio capture in such crime prevention, versus the potentially huge breaches of personal privacy for an unsuspecting neighbor being eavesdropped on, it becomes more understandable why the judge in this case ruled against the Ring user.

Amazon has since made it possible to disable Ring's audio recording feature, but the potential for a doorbell camera to visually overlook neighbouring property remains. Whereas more traditional CCTV cameras tend to be located high up and directed downward to record a pathway or porch, therefore minimising the peripheral coverage of neighbouring property, a doorbell camera's perpendicular view of its surroundings makes it much more likely that neighbouring properties will be covered by its field of view.

Even so, it's important to remember that doorbell cameras have an extremely wide field of view, which in turn severely limits their telephoto range, meaning any neighbouring property is highly unlikely to be recorded in significant detail. Amazon has also added the option in Ring to blur out areas of the camera's field of view which could overlook a neighbour's property.

That's good news for Ring users concerned about being the unwitting recipient of a potential law suit. However, when it comes to video coverage of a neighbor's property, need this necessarily even be a bad thing? Sure, nobody wants a CCTV camera directed right at their bedroom window, but having the exterior of your property at least partially covered by a video doorbell - or indeed any other form of CCTV camera - could in fact be advantageous from a security perspective, as it can potentially prevent crime and at no financial cost to you.

In the end, as with so many things, if you're thinking about installing a doorbell camera or CCTV system, use common sense. Mounting an audio-recording security camera so it directly overlooks a neighbor's back garden could easily cause tension. Whereas installing a doorbell camera next to your front door where it'll only record the brief activities of those passing by is much less likely to offend.

And let's not forget doorbell cameras can also be a great source of entertainment, as well as catching porch pirates in the act! A quick YouTube search can reveal hours of weird, wonderful and hilarious things captured by doorbell cameras - from passing meteors to amazing animal antics.

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Though they weren’t the first into the smart doorbell camera market, this is already Arlo’s third; their first was a traditional button device which made it relatively low on features for a lot of the smart home community, while their second brought with it a square-framed camera offering perhaps the greatest viewing angle in the market. By adding battery-only operation as an option, the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wire-free makes it possible to install the doorbell without running cables, then just topping up the rechargeable battery every 3-6 months (according to Arlo). If they’re available to you (or you choose to fit them) you can also fit standard 8-24V power and the bell will keep itself charged from the mains and ring your pre-existing chimes.

For many who share the more modern solution – a battery powered button and chime box plugged into a spare power socket – Arlo also offer a similar solution (or at least will by the end of July); a wireless chime which can be plugged into a convenient socket. Some will note that the chime, a separate upgrade, costs more than most wireless doorbells but that’s not so much Arlo’s issue as the price gulf between smart doorbells and their traditional counterparts. If you’ve already decided you want the power of a smart doorbell which possesses a camera, then the question is more what features you’ll be getting with your investment, and that’s where Arlo seem to have considered the user very well.

Arlo Essential Doorbell: Specifications

HDR: Yes

Video: 1536 x 1536

Viewing Angle: 180˚ diagonal

Battery: 3-6 Months

Recharge: Remove and USB

Connection: Wi-Fi

Dimensions: 47 x 143 x 37 mm

Weight: 249g (with battery)

Operating Temp: -20 – 45˚C

Arlo Essential Doorbell: Key features

The Arlo doorbell is designed to be connected to an existing system, or installed as a new doorbell, and can provide full calls with 2-way audio (and one way video) or take messages like an answer phone. Visitors are detected by the motion sensor, which illuminates a ring of LEDs around the button so there’s no chance of them overlooking it. Once they press your phone rings and you can answer them like any other call (voice) or as an Arlo video call.

The doorbell is supplied with three months of AI, beyond which it becomes a subscription service. This can detect packages left on the ground by the door as well as ignoring non-humans in your defined areas and people beyond your land altogether, meaning testing in my small pathway was no problem. 

Arlo Essential Doorbell: Build & Handling

The Arlo looks a lot like its earlier cousin (which insists on direct current), a very pleasing shape for a doorbell. It certainly seems to be a perception Nest share; the Hello Smart Wi-Fi doorbell looks very, very similar (white rim, black face, circular button at the bottom, camera lens at the top). Ring, the Amazon brand, have adopted assorted looks, all rather more like bloated traditional doorbells. Of the three, the Arlo and Nest are both comfortable winners for me, but you can form your own views from the manufacturer’s photography. 

Looking at your new doorbell is one thing – installation is also a vital stage. In this area Arlo have done well, providing a thorough description of the steps in the app and an optional angle bracket. My only disappointment was the need to wait overnight to charge the battery before first use, after which it dropped in and setup was little harder wafting a QR code on the phone screen in front of the doorbell. Connecting to an existing circuit might prove more rational in the long run – you get a traditional chime and reliable power – but I had neither.

Once installed, things passed into the software’s realm. You do not need an Arlo base unit; the Essential doorbell connects directly to your Wi-Fi. Assuming that’s all good, this connection becomes the means you find out if you have visitors, and tweak doorbell settings. The Arlo has a generous range of settings, plus compatibility with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT and Samsung SmartThings – a noticeable gap here is Apple HomeKit, which will only work when wired and with the base station for reasons not fully explained. 

Arlo Essential Doorbell: Performance

The Arlo’s video quality is noticeably better than many other security cameras and the 1:1 image frame makes more difference than I’d anticipated; it really is possible to see the doormat (the package-leaving space, if you like). Set at maximum 1536 x 1536 the resolution is so sharp I can see the bricks in my path and HDR so good the details in the clouds too. Even 1080 and 720 modes are OK.

The automatic person detection and alerts are reasonably prompt in its response and appear on my Apple Watch as well as my phone. The menu includes sensitivity adjustment if the leaves are blowing too strongly or people are being missed (it was at 80% by default).

If you see misbehaviour through the camera, you have the option of switching on (and off again) a surprisingly loud siren to discourage vandals. I was a little disappointed that I didn’t seem to be able to trigger this by trying to vandalise the device, but perhaps I’m not aggressive enough. 

Depending on how you set up your detection, it’s possible you’ll get alerts (iOS or Android) before the button is pressed, but when it is activated it acts like a speakerphone making a voice call to your chosen (and any added) handsets. If you’ve installed the Arlo app, you can choose to switch to the video call but I did find that once or twice a call seemed to be misplaced at this point. At the visitors end the speaker is loud and effective; in the app it is important to check it is muted or not – auto mute isn’t a bad idea, but is only subtly labelled.

My first visitor to try the Arlo unprompted was a courier who was already engaged in a hunt for alternative means of attracting my attention by the end of the five seconds that it took for the bell’s call to get through to my phone. Sure, he wasn’t the most patient of people, but the latency isn’t ideal; it feels noticeably slower than the alerts from my Nest Indoor, for example. On the other hand, in general I am going to feel more freedom leaving the home alone on days I can safely tell couriers to leave the thing or where to try, and it’ll be nice having a clip nearly immediately available to show if they did as requested.

After some messing around, and despite highly discouraging comments on the support forums, I found I was able to set up an old Alexa Echo to act as a chime. There is a little latency there too, but the delay, around 3 seconds, is only from button press to chime, so if you’re home there is no delay with your phone. An alternative approach is to part with roughly the price of a small smart speaker for an Arlo Chime 2 when it comes out in July. In either case, the Arlo is well equipped with options for flexibility but the less complicated the access to power or a chime, the better! 

Arlo Essential Doorbell: Verdict

The Arlo doorbell looks great and can be installed with or without wiring; of the smart video doorbells on offer – assuming you’re happy with the terms of the subscription – then it’s an appealing choice. For many these devices as a category are still slightly surreal; it’s very hard, as a visitor, to wait an extra few moments after pressing before even your potential host knows you’re there. To combat this, in the long run, you’ll likely find yourself looking to install wiring and a chime which will, at a stroke, give you all the sound and instantaneousness of a traditional bell plus the extra features. A good half-way house is to fork out for a spare battery and charge alternately, meaning at least you’ll have no ‘off days’. In any case, the Arlo gives you the option of experimenting with all these possibilities, as well as handling the job itself.

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If you're security-minded and keen to protect your home, video doorbell cameras are the next logical step. Functioning like a home security camera, video doorbells are able to stream and record footage of what's happening on your doorstep so that you can always feel confident that your home is being kept safe. Luckily, one of the best doorbell cameras on the market, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, is currently on offer. 

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro is currently being sold in a bundle with the Chime Pro for just $179, which is a $120 discount from its original price of $299! With 1080p video resolution, night vision functionality and a 160º field of view, the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is a fantastic piece of tech that's now available for an equally fantastic price.

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Meanwhile the Chime Pro functions as a Wi-Fi extender for Ring devices, which means that you can link compatible Ring devices together for better Wi-Fi coverage and instant notifications. It offers multiple alert tones, volume control and a do not disturb mode.

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Ring has launched its first indoor-only  home security camera. Best known for its doorbell cameras, that allow you to see is at your door without getting off the sofa (or even without being in the country) - the new wifi-enabled Ring Indoor Cam is designed to help you keep an eye on what is going on in your home, rather than what is outside it.

Ring has made security cameras before, but they have been designed for outdoor use (even if people did actually also use them indoors). But this is a non-weatherproof and mains-operated model that is designed for use in your living room or kitchen – and which also becomes the cheapest smart home security device in the Ring range, costing $59.99 / £49.

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Ring Indoor Cam can be mounted just about anywhere in the home and features up to 1080p HD video, motion zones, night vision, two-way talk, and motion-activated recording. The device also includes privacy features that enable users to disable motion and audio recording right from the app, and an indicator light that displays whenever the camera is recording.

Ring, which is now owned by Amazon, also announced Ring also its third-generation Ring Stick Up Cam.  The new Stick Up Cam can be installed indoors or outdoors and comes in three power options: Plug-In ($99.99), Battery ($99.99 / £89), or Solar ($148.99 / £129). Featuring up to 1080p HD video, motion detection, night vision, two-way talk, and a wide viewing angle, Stick Up Cam provides flexible home security and privacy wherever it’s needed most.

As with previous Ring devices, you have the option to record the footage shot by these cameras using Ring's cloud storage subscription service ($3 / £2.50 a month for one device, or £8 / $10 per month for unlimited Ring cameras).

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