No drilling required: New Amazon Ring camera turns any peephole into a 2K security camera

Amazon is expanding its Ring lineup with two new security cameras starting at $99 in the US. The Ring Peephole Camera 2K is primarily intended for renters and anyone looking to turn an existing door peephole into a smart security system without drilling or wiring. It is joined by the new second-generation Ring Outdoor Cam, which monitors outdoor areas with 2K resolution, color night vision, and an integrated siren.

The new Ring Peephole Camera 2K is particularly relevant for apartment renters. It replaces an existing front-door peephole without requiring holes to be drilled or cables to be installed. According to the manufacturer, installation takes around ten minutes. The camera consists of a speckled gray exterior module and an interior module. One notable feature is its square 140-degree by 140-degree field of view, which captures visitors from head to toe. This also makes it easy to see packages left on the ground. Power comes from a removable Quick Release Battery Pack, while the Ultra version of the battery is also supported.

The redesigned second-generation Ring Outdoor Cam is intended to monitor yards, driveways, and balconies. Including its stand, it measures 2.76 x 2.76 x 5.39 inches and is available in black and white. The outdoor camera has a 140-degree horizontal and 85-degree vertical field of view. Its improved night vision reproduces natural colors in low light before automatically switching to a high-contrast black-and-white mode in darkness. Other features include two-way talk with active noise cancellation and a security siren that can be activated remotely through the app. The weather-resistant camera operates at temperatures from -4°F to 122°F.

Both new cameras connect to the home network over the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth Low Energy. For smooth video streaming from the outdoor cam, the manufacturer recommends an upload speed of at least 5Mbps. Custom motion zones and privacy zones can be configured in the app so that only relevant notifications are sent to a smartphone. In addition to one year of theft protection, the manufacturer guarantees at least four years of ongoing software security updates for both models from the start of sales.

Amazon Ring Peephole Camera 2K specifications

• Resolution: Ring Retinal 2K with 6x zoom
• Field of view: 140 degrees x 140 degrees (head-to-toe view)
• Power: Removable Quick Release Battery Pack
• Installation: Fits into an existing door peephole without drilling in around 10 minutes
• Dimensions: Interior module 2.07 x 5.08 x 1.20 inches, exterior module 2.20 x 1.64 x 5.55 inches
• Operating temperature: -4.9°F to 119.3°F
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 4 (2.4GHz), BLE