Quick summary: Amazon's Ring has announced the Ring Drone Cam, a small indoor drone that flies around your home to check on things when an alarm goes off. It costs $249.99 and ships in the US on January 27, 2027. It is the comeback of an idea Ring first showed back in 2020. Here is how it works, what it can do, and the privacy questions you should think about before buying one.
What is the Ring Drone Cam?
Most home security cameras are fixed to a wall, so they have blind spots. The Ring Drone Cam tries to solve that with one flying camera that moves from room to room. It lives in a charging dock. When you need it, or when your Ring alarm detects something, it takes off, flies a route you have set, records video, and then returns to its dock to charge.
Ring says you could use it for everyday checks too, like making sure the stove is off or a door is locked while you are away.
Ring Drone Cam features and specs
- Camera: 2K square sensor (1920 x 1920) with a 148-degree field of view.
- Rotation: the camera can turn 360 degrees to look in different directions.
- AI Pilot: navigation uses the camera, onboard sensors and cloud processing to map your home and avoid obstacles.
- Alexa Home Map: you can plan and control flight paths using the house map Amazon introduced with the Echo Show 16.
- Automatic patrols: it can launch on its own when motion is detected or a Ring Alarm sensor is triggered.
- Charging: after a patrol it returns to the base and recharges in about one hour.
- Price and launch: $249.99, shipping in the US on January 27, 2027.
How Ring handles privacy
A flying camera inside your home naturally raises privacy questions. Ring has added some protections:
- The camera is switched off while the drone is docked, and only records when it is flying.
- LED lights show when recording is happening, and the drone is noisy enough that you will hear it in flight.
- It only flies along paths you approve, so it should not wander into rooms you have excluded.
Still, think carefully if you live with family members, guests or house staff. Tell everyone in the home that the device exists, turn on two-factor authentication on your Ring account, and review who has access to the app.
Ring Rover Cam: the business version
Alongside the drone, Ring also announced the Ring Rover Cam, a $999.99 wheeled patrol robot made for businesses such as shops and offices. It borrows the roaming security idea from Amazon's Astro home robot. Both products are part of Ring's new "Ring Robotics" line.
Didn't Ring announce this before?
Yes. In September 2020, Ring revealed the Always Home Cam, an indoor security drone with a very similar concept and the same $249.99 price. It was promised for 2021 but never became widely available. The new Drone Cam is Ring's second attempt, now with better AI navigation and integration with Alexa's home mapping.
Should you buy the Ring Drone Cam?
Good for: people who already use Ring Alarm, have a medium to large home, and want one camera that can check many rooms instead of buying several fixed cameras.
Maybe skip if: you have pets that might chase it, a very small apartment, or you are uncomfortable with a cloud-connected camera moving through private rooms. Also remember that it is a first-generation product, so waiting for early reviews in February 2027 is a smart idea.
Availability outside the US has not been announced yet.
FAQ
How much does the Ring Drone Cam cost?
$249.99 in the United States.
When is the release date?
January 27, 2027 in the US.
Does it record all the time?
No. The camera is off in the dock and only records while flying.