Though most units aren’t expected to ship until May, the initial reviews for the Ring Car Cam have begun to roll in. Critics are slightly divided, as praise for the camera’s Ring app integration seems to universal, but some wish that so many features weren’t locked behind a subscription paywall. Still, the reception for the camera’s hardware is mostly positive, and the device seems to be a great starting point for the company’s first car security camera. We’ll keep you updated as more reviews come in upon the full-scale launch. Here’s what people are saying:
From Car and Driver (Collin Morgan):
The Ring app is incredibly powerful with the Car Cam; almost too powerful, and it allows for the intrusion of privacy easily. Akin to accessing your Ring doorbell remotely, with a Ring Protect Go subscription, you can access the Car Cam’s interior camera and built-in microphone at any time from your phone and see inside the vehicle. You can also talk to anyone inside the vehicle using the Two-Way Talk function. This could potentially be helpful for parents of new drivers. (MORE@CAR AND DRIVER)
From Engadget (Andrew Tarantola):
I was not at all a fan of the camera’s wired power connection to the vehicle’s OBDII port, which also monitors the battery’s voltage so that the camera can turn itself off before fully exhausting the power supply. For one, that physical requirement limits the vehicles this system can work with to only those with OBD ports located to the left of the steering column. For another, I now have a 6-foot long cable snaking its way across my previously immaculate dashboard, draping down my driver side door panel to connect with the OBDII port just over my brake pedal. (MORE@ENGADGET)
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From PC Mag (John R. Delaney):
The Ring Car Cam does a good job of recording what’s going on ahead of and inside your car, and we especially like its simple setup process. Clear two-way communication capabilities and a full-featured companion app are also advantages, though the omission of driver-assist features common on other dash cams and poor third-party device support limit its appeal. We also wish that Ring locked fewer features behind a subscription, but you might not mind these extra costs if the idea of a dash cam gives you peace of mind on the road. (MORE@ PC MAG)
The following was originally published February 17, 2023:
After much fanfare and several delays, Ring’s aptly named Car Cam is now available for purchase, though shipping isn’t expected to begin until July. The camera is actually two cameras in one, with one facing towards the outside of the car, and one pointed at the interior. The camera includes several features standard among the Ring ecosystem, including connectivity to the Ring app, two-way talk, and the ability to connect to your home’s Wi-Fi. These inclusions position the car cam as more than just a car security device, and more of an extension of your home’s security system.
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Both cameras are wide-angle, and record in 1080p resolution. The cameras both automatically turn on to record audio and video inside and outside the vehicle when the car is being driven. If the car is turned off, recording will begin whenever the sensors are triggered. You can also use voice control to toggle recording on if you’re inside the vehicle by telling Alexa to record. The Ring Car Cam also has the unique ability for the user to begin recording or even speaking remotely through the Ring app, giving the user a leg up against any unwanted intruder. This use case turns the Car Cam into a pseudo-Ring doorbell, alerting you if your sensors are tripped while you aren’t present, and allowing you to communicate to whomever tripped them.
Unfortunately, being so closely connected to the Ring ecosystem carries some hurdles in addition to benefits. While you can check the live view from the cam and view recent videos whenever the Car Cam is connected to Wi-Fi, downloading recordings remotely from the cloud is locked behind a paywall. As with other Ring devices, this feature requires Ring’s Protect Go subscription, which is $6 a month or $60 per camera. This means if the device is tampered with or removed, you’re going to need to pony up for the subscription to have access to your recordings.
The Ring Car Cam is available for purchase for $249.99, and shipping is estimated for July.
