Ring has put a price and a ship date on its indoor security drone. The Ring Drone Cam is a $249.99 flying camera that launches from a charging dock, flies routes you set through your home, and records 2K video only while it is in the air. It ships in the U.S. on January 27, 2027, pending FCC authorization. Right now Ring is taking email sign-ups only, with no preorder.
Featured Specifications
- 2K video (1920 x 1920) with a 148° x 148° field of view
- Up to 8 minutes per flight, with automatic return to its charging dock
- Two LED spotlights for dark rooms
- AI Pilot mapping, custom patrol routes and saved viewpoints
- $249.99, shipping January 27, 2027 (U.S. only, pending FCC authorization)
Six Years in the Making
This is the product Ring first showed in 2020 as the Always Home Cam. It resurfaced at CES 2023 but never reached wide release. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff says the company scrapped two earlier designs, calling the cycle of adding sensors and weight “a vicious cycle.” The version shipping in January is much smaller than the CES unit and weighs 165 grams.
The Drone Cam launches under a new Ring Robotics label alongside the Ring Rover Cam, a $999.99 wheeled security robot for businesses built on Amazon’s Astro platform.
How It Works
Setup takes 5 to 10 minutes. You carry the drone through your home once, and Ring’s AI Pilot system builds a floor plan from what it sees. AI Pilot then suggests patrol points, and you can build custom routes and saved viewpoints that the drone returns to. Viewpoints can be renamed, moved or deleted in the Ring app.
There are three ways to send it out:
- Manual: launch a flight from the Ring app and watch live.
- Scheduled: set flight times, frequency and routes (requires Ring Protect).
- Triggered: when a linked Ring camera, doorbell, sensor or Ring Alarm goes off, the drone flies to preset points to investigate.
During a flight you can watch a real-time live view, fly closer to an area of interest and zoom in. Ring says the drone can fly upstairs, a notable change from the Always Home Cam, which was limited to a single floor. Siminoff says Ring has built in “guardrails” so it does not fly outside. It also works with Amazon’s Alexa Home Map.
Flight Time and Charging
Ring rates the Drone Cam at up to 8 minutes per flight with a new, fully charged battery. Reports from the launch event put real-world flights at 5 to 8 minutes, with roughly 8 minutes of dock time for every minute in the air. A 5-minute patrol needs about 40 minutes to recharge. The drone returns to its dock when a flight ends, or the battery runs low.
Night Use
There is no infrared night vision. Instead, two LED spotlights switch on to light dark rooms.
Privacy
Ring is leaning hard on privacy here. The camera stops recording when the drone docks, and it only records while flying. An LED shows when it is recording. Video is protected by Ring’s end-to-end encryption option (Throw Away the Key, or TAKE). The propellers are also audible, and Ring says plainly that they “aren’t quiet,” pitching the noise as both a deterrent and a signal that the camera is active.
What It Doesn’t Do
- No audio: there is no microphone or speaker, so there’s no audio recording or two-way talk.
- No siren.
- Indoor only: rated for 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C).
- Needs Wi-Fi: the drone depends on a cloud connection. Ring recommends at least 5 Mbps upload. Reports differ on what it can do offline, but it is limited to little more than taking off and landing safely.
- No Canada shipping at launch.
Ring Protect Subscription
The hardware works without a plan for manual flights and live view. A compatible Ring Protect plan adds scheduled patrols, up to 180 days of video history, and video search. Ring has not said which tier is required.
The FCC Caveat
The January 27 date depends on the FCC. Since December 22, 2025, FCC rules have blocked new authorizations for drones and critical components produced overseas unless an exemption applies. Ring says the Drone Cam is assembled in the U.S., and that certification is in process, but it has not said where the components come from. Until a grant shows up in the FCC’s equipment authorization database, treat the ship date as a target.
Pricing and Availability
The Ring Drone Cam is $249.99 and ships in the U.S. on January 27, 2027, pending FCC authorization. It includes a one-year limited warranty, and Affirm financing is offered. Sign up for availability alerts at Ring.com.
Specifications
| Spec | Ring Drone Cam |
|---|---|
| Price | $249.99 |
| Ship date | January 27, 2027 (U.S., pending FCC authorization) |
| Video resolution | 2K (1920 x 1920) |
| Field of view | 148° horizontal, 148° vertical |
| Night visibility | Two LED spotlights (no infrared) |
| Flight time | Up to 8 minutes per flight |
| Charging | Charging dock, returns automatically when a flight ends or battery is low |
| Power | Built-in rechargeable battery; dock uses 120V to 220V USB-C power adapter |
| Drone dimensions | 171.8 x 136.9 x 33.15 mm |
| Dock dimensions | 270 x 233.5 x 78.3 mm |
| Weight | 165 g (reported) |
| Color | Gray |
| Connectivity | Dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) |
| Internet | 5 Mbps minimum upload recommended |
| Audio | None (no microphone or speaker) |
| Siren | None |
| Recording | Only while flying; stops when docked |
| Encryption | Supports Ring end-to-end encryption (TAKE) |
| Operating temperature | 41°F to 95°F (5°C to 35°C), indoor only |
| Integration | Ring cameras, doorbells, sensors, Ring Alarm; Alexa Home Map |
| Subscription | Ring Protect required for scheduled patrols, 180-day history and video search |
| Installation | DIY, 5 to 10 minutes |
| Requirements | Wi-Fi, Ring app (iOS or Android), flat indoor surface, standard outlet |
| In the box | Drone Cam, charging dock, 2 m power cable with adapter, quick start guide, safety documentation |
| Warranty | One-year limited |
The Dialed In Take
For $249.99, the pitch is one camera that covers rooms a fixed indoor cam can’t, and that only records when you send it. The trade-offs are real: short flights, long recharge times, no audio, a Wi-Fi dependency, and a subscription for the scheduled patrols that make it most useful. It makes the most sense for homes already running Ring Alarm, where the drone can respond to a triggered sensor. We will know more once the FCC signs off and units ship in January.
This seems very futuristic for home security, and I’m sure we will see more drones being used for home surveillance since they don’t need to fly very high. Are you interested in adding a drone camera to your security system?
