Ring Floodlight Camera Review

The Ring Floodlight is a combination security camera and floodlight. It can be motion / sound activated, scheduled, or manually turned on. Is it a good fit for your home? Let’s find out now.

Pros

• 270° motion-sensing double floodlights with brightness up to 1800 lumens
• Custom zones are easy to identify in the smart app
• 1080p HD video resolution
• Can replace an existing floodlight with a smarter alternative

Cons

• Requires hardwired installation to electrical boxes
• Bulkier size, not a great option for discreet surveillance

Quick Specs

• Dimensions: 11″ x 8.2″ x 7″
• Resolution: 1080p
• Operating Temperatures: -22°F to 120°F
• Field of View (camera): 140° horizontal, 78° vertical
• Field of Light (floodlight): 270°
• Light Output: 1,800 lumens
• Live Feed: Yes; need a subscription to record and save
• Subscription Cost: $3/mo and up
• Zoom: No

Performance

10 SECOND SUMMARY: The Ring Floodlight camera is a great performer, in my opinion. We did an extended 3-month test (which is still on-going) to really put this model to the test. Overall, this camera was easy to use, provided accurate motion detections, and the ultra-bright floodlights really were an asset to the overall clarity and video quality.

Video: Day vs. Night

During day and night, the video quality of the Ring Floodlight is exceptional. It has 1080p HD video quality and a wired connection for continuous power.

During the day, footage is high contrast and figures are very easy to see a reasonable about of detail.

Night footage is shot and saved in full color and the addition of the ultra-bright floodlight makes it easy to distinguish between different types of activity.

Ring makes one other security camera with a light on it, the Ring Spotlight. For comparison, here’s a side-by-side between the two models.

In the photo on the left, the Spotlight is installed on the upper right and there is a standard light fixture on the left.

In the photo on the right, the Floodlight camera and light is on. As you can see, the light output is substantially better on the Floodlight than it is on the Spotlight.

Audio

The 2-way audio of the Ring Floodlight Cam allows you to hear activity on-site as well as speak audibly through the camera from a remote location.

In addition to 2-way audio, there is also an audible siren approximately 110 dB, or about the same loudness as a car horn.

The Floodlight

One of the most unique features of this particular camera is the integration of the double floodlights on each side of the camera.

Together, these floodlights have an output of 1,800 lumens (roughly 5 times brighter than the output of the Ring Spotlight Camera).

In addition to sheer brightness, the use of two lights provides a wider beam of light, up to 270°, to detect or deter suspicious activity.

MORE: Click here to see all of the Best Home Security Cameras.

The Ring App

When activity is detected from the Floodlight Cam, it sends a push notification directly to your smartphone via the Ring App.

The same Ring App works to pair all Ring cameras, lights, or doorbells at any address.

Once installed, the Floodlight Cam allows you to set up custom motion zones. These zones help to prioritize more important areas and minimize the risk of false motion alarms.

When an important activity is detected, you can respond in a couple of different ways:

1. View the activity video and / or watch a live feed
2. Enable 2-way audio to speak directly from the camera
3. Turn on an audible siren which emits a 110 dB alert / warning

Using the Ring app, you can also:

• Review video footage
• Watch a live feed
• Adjust settings
• Share the camera with other users
• Connect and sync multiple Ring products
• And more

Ring Design

The design of the Ring Floodlight is pretty unique to other cameras in the Ring lineup since it has a double floodlight.

The floodlight emits approx. 1,800 lumens and illuminates 270° field of view. The camera has a 140° field of view.

The back of the camera has the mount and a reset button. There are also mounting holes for the solar panel, if you decide to opt for that accessory.

Power Source

The Ring Floodlight camera can only be powered using a hardwired connection into an electrical box. For some locations, this could mean hiring an electrician to provide a power source prior to install.

If you’ve already got power where you need it, install only takes between 15-25 minutes.

The benefit of hardwired power is that it is continuous and you don’t have to worry about a lost connection or intermittently charging up the camera.

RELATED: Want a powerful light without the wires? Check out our review of the Arlo Ultra for a battery-powered camera with 4K video resolution.

Features

Some of the top features of the Floodlight Cam include:

• Motion Detection: sends a push notification to your smartphone when the camera detects motion in the camera’s view
• Exterior Use: designed to outdoors to illuminate dimly lit areas
• 2-Way Audio: lets you hear what’s going on in the video as well as the ability to talk back, using audio output on the camera itself
• 24/7 Live Video: can record footage for 24/7 live video playback
• App Control: view the camera footage from your smartphone or other device using wifi pairing and cloud video storage
• Multiple Pairing: pair multiple cameras together (indoor or outdoor) for whole-home security
• Motion Zones: customize up to 6 different zones to ensure that the camera is focusing on areas that are most important

How far can the Ring Floodlight see?

Similar to the Ring Spotlight Cam, the Ring Floodlight can detect motion from about 30 feet away. The camera essentially creates an arc and it will alert you when motion is detected within that range.

When significant motion is detected with the confines of the arc, a few steps take place, to keep you in-the-know.

1. Send a push notification to your smartphone
2. Turn on the lights
3. Start video recording activity

As mentioned above, the lights are 5 times bright than the lights on the Ring Spotlight Cam which really enhances the visibility in dimly lit environments.

If you determine that the activity is threatening, you can:

1. Speak through the camera using the 2-way audio
2. Activate the audible siren
3. Enable an SOS call for help

What is SOS?

Using the SOS feature will sound the Ring Alarm siren and send an immediate signal to the monitoring center requesting dispatch of local authorities.

The monitoring center will call your first emergency contact, and if the call is answered, the contact can either confirm the emergency or cancel the request.

RELATED: Ring vs. Nest Comparison

What’s in the Box?

The Ring Floodlight comes with the basics you need for a seamless exterior installation.

In the box, you will receive:

• Floodlight Cam
• Mounting bracket
• Screwdriver handle
• Installation hardware
• Hook for hanging Floodlight Cam while wiring
• Installation instruction guide 

Setup & Usability

The Ring Floodlight camera is a little trickier to install, but once it’s up and going, this camera is very user friendly.

How easy is it to setup?

Setting up this camera takes between 15-25 minutes, depending on the field conditions. As mentioned above, the Floodlight can only be powered by a hardwired connection into an electrical box.

Once the power is secured, there are a few items you’ll need to do to complete the digital setup.

The exact steps are listed below:

1. Download the Ring app to your smartphone or another device.
2. Select “Create Account”. If this isn’t your first Ring device, you can simply log in.
3. Select “Set Up A Device”
4. Tap “Security Cams”
5. Follow in-app prompts to complete setup. (The spotlight may flash during setup, which means the camera is updating. When it stops flashing, that means that it is ready to move on.
6. Test the Live View in the Ring App. If it looks good, take the camera outside and prepare for install.

How easy is it to install?

To install this camera, you’ll need to select the best location. It needs to have three features:

1. Existing hardwired power or close enough to electrical box that you can run a wire
2. Close enough to your wifi router for strong signals
3. At an appropriate vantage point for the best visibility and coverage

If you find your wifi signal too weak you may need to upgrade your router or invest in a wifi externer, like these.

Use the mounting plate provided to install the mount to an exterior wall. Adjust the camera as needed until you have the right view in frame.

How easy is it to use?

The usability of the Floodlight camera is pretty straightforward. Once install is complete, simply pair the camera to the wifi network and you’re ready to go.

Daily camera functions can be monitored directly from the Ring app, sending push notifications as people come and go.

With any notification, you have a couple of different options.

You can:

1. Ignore the notification
2. Use 2-was audio to speak audibly from the camera
3. Engage the 110 dB siren

If you opt into Ring’s subscription plan you can enroll in 24/7 monitoring or the SOS feature which automatically calls for help, if ever needed.

Does Ring require a subscription?

You can use the Ring Floodlight Camera without a subscription and still do basic features, but to store or save footage, you’ll need to opt into one of their monthly subscription packages. The Ring subscription offers two different tiers:

1. Ring Protect Basic
2. Ring Protect Plus

Let’s see exactly what each plan type comes with.

Free Ring Plan: No Fees

Without a subscription, you’ll have access to all of the following:

• Motion detect: detects motion from about a 30′ radius away
• Push notifications: alerts your smartphone via a push notification to keep you in the loop of any activity
• 24/7 Live Video: you can view the feed from the Ring camera at any time on the smartphone app
• 2-way audio: enables you to speak remotely from your smartphone and have it output out of the camera
• Spotlight: when motion is detected a 375-lumen spotlight will shine a 270° beam to light up the activity
• Siren: for emergencies, you can engage a 110 dB siren directly from your phone, whenever needed

Ring Protect Basic: $3/mo or $30/year

With Ring Protect Basic, you’ll have all of the features of the free plan as well as:

• All-in-One security coverage: seamlessly integrates all Ring devices under the same plan (includes indoor cams, outdoor cams, lights, doorbells, security system, etc.)
• Cloud video storage: provides access to every motion detected activity or live event from the last 60 days
• Review, share, and save videos: save the videos to a separate location or share with others

Ring Protect Plus: $10/mo or $100/yr

With Ring Protect Plus, you’ll have access to all of the benefits in the free plan and Ring Protect Basic as well as:

• Ring Alarm: provides professional monitoring of your system so if there’s an emergency, your Ring can make sure first responders are alerts, even if you don’t respond to the push notification immediately

Ring Floodlight Camera Specifications

Should You Buy the Ring Floodlight Camera?

I would recommend the Ring Floodlight if you’re looking for the following in an outdoor security camera.

• Hardwired connection: If you don’t want to worry about charging up a battery, the Ring Floodlight may be appealing for its electric wired connection. It takes a little more time upfront, but could easily save you time in the back end.
• Ultra-bright: For exceptional brightness, this camera has you covered. It has more than 5 times more lumen output than the Ring Spotlight camera which allows it to illuminate more area and at further distances for better clarity.
• Pairs well with other Ring devices: If you have other Ring devices or want to build your own whole-home surveillance system, the Floodlight is a great option for exterior use. For the full system, consider pairing it with a Ring 3 doorbell or the Ring Stick Up indoor/outdoor camera.

Click here to learn more about or to buy the Ring Floodlight Camera.