What are the differences between the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam and the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen)?
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
Amazon-owned Ring has long established itself as a prominent player in the home security market, offering a range of great smart cameras that will not only keep an eye on your home and offer peace of mind whilst doing so, but without breaking the bank too.
The Ring smart camera offering is vast, with products like the Ring Stick Up Cam offering solid performance and placement flexibility, while outdoor options promise to keep an eye on the outside of your home.
When it comes to inside however, there are two notable contenders in the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) and the new Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam. To help you pick which is right for you, we’ve dived into a detailed comparison, exploring their design, performance, and features.
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs Indoor Cam (2nd Gen): Price
The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) costs $59.99/£49.99. It is available to buy now through Amazon.
The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera will be available to buy from May 30, 2024 and it will be priced at $79.99/£69.99.
- Buy Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) from $59.99 / £49.99 now
- Buy Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam from $79.99 / £69.99 on 30 May
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs Indoor Cam (2nd Gen): Design
The design of a security camera plays a crucial role in its usability and integration within a home environment – nobody is going to want to put up a traditional CCTV camera in the corner of their living room after all. Both the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) and the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam boast sleek and compact designs, not too dissimilar from each other, allowing them to blend into homes and offer versatility when it comes to placement options. They aren’t identical however.
The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) is slightly smaller than the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam, with dimensions of 49 x 49 x 96mm, including the ball joint plate and camera mount. It’s a compact form factor that you can choose to mount to the wall or place on a side table. It will also come in a range of colour options from July. Black or white have previously been the only choices, but if you’re happy to wait a couple of months, the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) will soon come in Charcoal, Blush, and Starlight, allowing it to blend more seamlessly with whatever home decor you might have.
The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam meanwhile, introduces a twist with its pan-tilt functionality at its base, providing you with a 360° view. It maintains a compact footprint, measuring 60.2 x 60.2 x 146.9mm, including the stand, though as you can tell from the numbers, this is slightly larger than the Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) model. The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam is also only available in white or black, so there’s no fancy pinks or golds on offer here.
Both models have a privacy shutter so you can physically cover the lens if you want to make sure they aren’t recording.
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs Indoor Cam (2nd Gen): Features
The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) and the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam offer a range of features aimed at enhancing the user experience and maximizing security capabilities. It’s worth keeping in mind that you will need a Ring Protect subscription for some so you’ll need to factor in that monthly cost to your decision if you want all the bells and whistles.
Many of the features are the same across both models, from Ring’s Live View that allows you to drop in on what’s happening in your home from the Ring app, to the Two-Way Talk feature that lets you talk to anyone and hear what they are saying back. You can also customize motion detection alerts so you don’t get a notification each time the ceiling fan spins and there’s a built in siren on both in case you need to scare off intruders.
Both devices are also compatible with Alexa and Alexa-enabled devices so you can view either of these cameras through an Echo Show for example.
If you want to record video and access record video, you will need a Ring Protect subscription for both devices, and that also applies if you want person detection notifications, home and away modes and richer notifications where you can see what triggered an alert.
Premium plans: Ring Protect costs and features
The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam of course boasts its 360° pan and 169° tilt coverage, which is the biggest differentiator between these two cameras.
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs Indoor Cam (2nd Gen): Performance
When it comes to performance, both cameras promise to deliver high-quality video footage and reliable functionality to meet the demands of what we now have come to expect from smart security systems.
The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) offers 1080p HD video resolution for clear and detailed footage and it is equipped with Color Night Vision technology for good visibility even in low-light conditions. It has a 143° field of view, with 115° horizontal and 59° vertical. With a simple plug-in design, installation of the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) is nice and easy, requiring only a standard electrical socket.
In comparison, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam takes performance up a notch with its pan and tilt functionality – something Blink (another Amazon-owned) company has offered for a while. There’s a complete 360° pan coverage and 169° tilt coverage, giving you better control over your viewing angle and a larger range of coverage compared to the Indoor Cam (2nd Gen). Like the Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) it too offers 1080p HD video resolution and Color Night Vision, allowing for good clarity and visibility whatever time it is.
In terms of installation, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam also requires a standard power outlet requirement, offering quick and easy installation.
Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam vs Indoor Cam (2nd Gen): Which one is right for you?
The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) and the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam offer many of the same features, from compatibility with Alexa devices, Two-Way Talk and Live View, to customizable motion alerts and a physical privacy shutter. They also both offer similar performance in terms of video recording, with both delivering 1080p HD video and Color Night Vision technology.
There are a couple of key differences however. The Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) is the slightly smaller of the two being compared here, making it a little more discreet when placed in the home. The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam meanwhile, offers a better view of your home thanks to its 169° tilt coverage and 360° pan coverage.
Ultimately, the choice between these two cameras depends on individual preferences and specific security needs. Whether you prioritize simplicity and ease of use or advanced features and comprehensive coverage, both the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) and the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam will deliver. It’s just that the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam option will give you that little bit extra in terms of coverage.
FAQs
Yes, a Ring Protect subscription is required to record and download videos from either the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) or the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam.
No, neither the Ring Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) or Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam are weather resistant so they cannot be used outside. They are both indoor use only.
