You’ve heard of video doorbells, but what about video drones patrolling your home? It might sound like something from the future, but that’s exactly what Ring’s latest security system, which was unveiled at a recent consumer tech show, offers. The Always Home Cam provides surveillance from every corner of your home with a flying camera, and we think that’s pretty cool.
If your mind conjures up the kind of futuristic technology out of a sci-fi movie, you wouldn’t be far off. And yet, far from being scary or menacing, this security camera is designed to protect your home and its contents. From robot vacuums to voice-controlled smart speakers, we’re all incorporating more technology into our so-called smart homes, but this latest piece of kit takes things to a whole new level. Could it be the best home security system yet?
Of course we wanted to know more. From the best features of this new home security system to the expected price and release date, here’s everything we know so far about the Rings Always Home Cam.
Lilith is an expert in following news and trends in the interior design world. She is committed to helping readers make the best decisions for their home by sharing practical tips, guides and answering all their technical questions. In this article, she examines Ring’s new home security system, which comes in the form of a drone.
How does the Ring Always Home Cam work?
(Image credit: ring)
Ring’s Always Home Cam works just like any other drone, except it flies autonomously, rather than remotely, by following preset flight paths. The drone uses a quadcopter design with a 1440 x 1440 HD camera that has a 120-degree up and down field of view and a built-in LED to assist in low-light illumination.
Unlike indoor security cameras that only monitor a single room, this drone camera moves through your entire home when you’re away – whether you’re on vacation or just on a shopping spree. Even if you’re just worried that you left a window open or the stove on, you can just tap and check your real-time video in the Ring app. It follows a set path using navigation sensors and can be mapped to up to 50 different routes and also triggers a notification in your app if it notices suspicious activity. At first glance, it sounds like a dream come true for anxious patients.
Drone enthusiasts might be excited, but it’s worth noting that unlike a traditional drone, the Always Home Cam doesn’t allow users to manually intervene during flight. However, during flight, you can use the Ring app to command the camera to pause, resume, rotate, exit, or return to the charging station.
Does the Always Home Cam work with other Ring devices?
(Image credit: Ring)
If you’re a fan of the Ring Doorbell or Alarm System, you might be wondering if your devices can be paired. While the Always Home Cam cannot be used with your video doorbell, it is compatible with the Ring Alarm security system and the Ring Alarm Pro security system.
You can train the Always Home Cam to fly on specific flight paths when your Away Mode alarm goes off. So when your Ring Alarm contact sensors or motion detectors are triggered, the Always Home Cam can automatically fly there to see what happens.
Are there any negatives?
It’s certainly an exciting innovation and the first smart home device of its kind, but there are a few notable downsides to the Always Home Cam. While it easily navigates back to the docking station when it needs to be charged, it only has a flight time of up to five minutes, suggesting the battery could use some work.
On the Amazon site (opens in new tab), it also says you need two Always Home Cams if you want flight paths on multiple floors of your home, suggesting it can’t go upstairs. The site also notes that the device could be quite noisy. While Ring is quick to state that the drone isn’t intended for home use, it states that the volume is equivalent to that of a vacuum or blender, which we think is pretty loud. However, these are all traits that will likely be ironed out in future generations.
When will the Ring Always Home Cam be released and how much will it cost?
If you’re itching to get your hands on this clever device, you’ll need to be patient. Although the Always Home Cam was originally announced in late 2020, it has yet to be sold to the general public and has only been open for invite orders since 2022, which could indicate some design or manufacturing issues. However, it was spotted a few days ago at the CES 2023 tech event, so progress is looking promising.
So what about the cost? It’s fairly cheap for a new piece of tech at $249, but that’s subject to change. It’s currently offered on an invitation-only basis, but check out this space – we’re sure we can all expect some exciting things from Ring in 2023.