Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) review: a first-class security camera for keeping eyes on your property

The Amazon-owned Ring is a brand name that you'll quickly come across when you're researching the best home security cameras on the market, and this second generation Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is immediately one of the most capable models in the Ring range.

Compared to the various iterations of this model that came before it, it ups the video resolution to 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), and the dual LED spotlights have been boosted to 600 lumens. There's also a taller and slimmer design here, compared to older versions.

What you don't get this time around (at least not yet) is a battery version. This camera can be hardwired, connected to Ethernet, or plugged into a standard mains socket – and it's the last of those three options I've been testing. Find out what I thought of it below.

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Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) review: price and availability

You can buy the 2nd gen Ring Spotlight Cam Pro right now from Ring or Amazon: the official retail price is £219.99 / $249.99, but if you check the widgets embedded on this page, you'll find the best deals for the camera currently available on the web.

We also have to mention the subscription, as with every Ring camera. That will set you back from £4.99 / $4.99 a month, and is needed for features like video history, smart alerts, and 'home' and 'away' modes – everything besides the basic alerts and live view, really.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) review: design and setup

As previously mentioned, the new Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is taller and slimmer than previous versions: it measures 152 mm tall by 76 mm wide by 52 mm deep (5.98 inches x 2.99 inches x 2.05 inches), so in size it's similar to a portable bluetooth speaker that you can hold in one hand.

You get all the brackets and screws needed to mount it, plus the plug and power cable – it has to be mounted on a ceiling or a wall (there are connector sockets available on the back near the top and in the centre), and won't stand on its own because of the curved bottom speaker. You could mark the camera down for a lack of versatility in this regard, but this is very much an outdoor camera (it's officially "weather resistant"), so you don't really want to leave it perched on a ledge anyway.

As usual, the Ring app for Android and iOS takes care of installation, and I was up and running in just a few minutes. The app includes a tutorial for screwing the camera into its mounting brackets and then into a flat surface somewhere, and during the setup process you'll also be asked if you want to configure motion settings and privacy zones as well (you can always do this after if you prefer).

This isn't really the most aesthetically pleasing security camera I've ever seen, and you could argue Ring could've made this a little smaller and more stylish – though I don't mind a slightly bigger size if it means a better camera and brighter lights. Ultimately, it's the video and motion performance that matters most.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) review: video and features

Given the price of this camera and Ring's product history, you won't be surprised that all the core features are included here: two-way audio, lights, a siren, customisation options for which parts of the 'frame' motion is detected in, instant voice warnings that can be played automatically and so on. It holds its own against any other camera for features.

When it comes to the 4K video quality, it's hard to fault. Every time I checked in on the camera or reviewed one of the motion alerts, I was met with video that was crisp, clear, and bright – so there are no problems there. The night vision really impresses too, whether illuminated by the built-in lights or using the infrared mode.

There's a decent 140-degree horizontal and 85-degree vertical field of view here, which is ideal for back gardens and front yards. All but the biggest properties will be well covered. The camera also offers a 10x enhanced zoom feature: it's digital (so is essentially cropping the original 4K image), but it's good enough to get a closer look at faces and license plates if you need to.

Another feature I liked was the radar-powered 3D motion detection, which can plot the movement of unexpected visitors across your property and appears to be more accurate than the standard 'in-camera' motion sensing. You do lose some range with the 3D radar option though, so it's best for smaller areas (like my back garden).

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) review: performance and app

You get 30 days of a Pro subscription when you buy the camera, which meant I was able to try out some of the extra features available for a monthly fee. They include AI-powered descriptions of what the camera is seeing, and in my experience they worked flawlessly – identifying me walking to and fro, carrying a shopping bag, and even using a phone.

Every time I tried doing something different in front of the camera – including simply crossing and uncrossing my arms – the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro spotted it. Perhaps this level of accurate analysis shouldn't be surprising given where AI is up to now, but it's still helpful to have – we're a long way from the basic 'something's happened' alerts of the first security cameras for smart homes.

More broadly, the Ring app is the usual polished and intuitive experience. If you're upgrading from another Ring camera or adding additional cameras from the brand, you'll be well used to it. You can quickly customise notifications and alerts, for example, and set up familiar faces for people you don't want alerts about.

While a battery-powered option would give you more flexibility with positioning, I think I actually prefer not having to worry about battery life or recharges (with 4K video and constant recording events, that battery is likely to deplete pretty quickly). There's something to be said for the reliability that comes with a plugged-in solution.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) review: verdict

I've reviewed a lot of smart home security cameras down the years, and there's no doubt that the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) is one of the best. It offers top-tier video quality and motion sensing, as well as stacks of features that are genuinely useful and not just gimmicks – including the AI-powered descriptions of events.

It's solidly built, it's easy to set up, and the Ring app for smartphones works really well (which applies as a benefit to any Ring camera of course). If you're already invested in the Ring ecosystem with other cameras and doorbells then this is a no-brainer if you're in the market for an extra camera or an upgrade.

However, it's not quite perfect: I understand that Ring is just one of many smart home manufacturers using subscriptions to pay the company bills, but when there are alternatives on the market that do have local video storage capabilities, it seems a shame that Ring never includes the option. I would also have liked to see the option to mount this on a stand as well as a ceiling or wall.

All things considered, the 2nd-gen Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is going to do an excellent job of keeping eyes on your property and letting you know what's happening, day or night, from wherever you are. You just need to be prepared to sign up for yet another monthly subscription to make the most of it.

Ring Spotlight Cam Pro (2nd gen) review: alternatives to consider

As good as this Ring camera is, there's no shortage of worthy competitors. The Arlo Pro 6 is another model I've reviewed recently, and it offers something similar to the 2nd gen Ring Spotlight Cam Pro – specifically a long list of features and excellent video performance, but also a relatively high price and a subscription that you really need to take out to make the most of your purchase.

For more of a contrast, you might consider the Eufy Security eufyCam C35. It's easier on your bank balance than the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro, and it offers local storage options that mean you don't have to take out a subscription or connect to the cloud. You can get two cameras and a hub for less than the Ring model I've reviewed here, though the video quality tops out at 1080p rather than 4K.