• Smart home security seller Ring has launched its second-generation indoor camera in the South African market.
• Improvements over the previous generation include a new privacy cover that automatically stops the camera from recording.
• Like other Ring cameras, the device is app-activated and automatically alerts you when movement is in sight – especially when you’re not at home.

Smart home security system vendor Ring has announced that its latest indoor camera is now available in South Africa for online shoppers. Unlike Ring’s offer for outdoor cameras, this indoor cam will serve people with small children well, or in office buildings as they are cheaper than installations of extensive security systems.

According to a release sent to Hypertext, the new camera, which is the second generation model, is Ring’s first-ever security camera with a manual removable privacy cover that turns off audio and video recording when placed over the camera lens. The company hopes that this will give customers even more peace of mind when it comes to customising their privacy and security at home.

You can even access the live camera footage from a smartphone via the Ring app, so if you for example want to check if your teenage kids are throwing a rager in your home while you’re away, you can do so.

Otherwise, the second generation Indoor Camera is a compact security camera made for inside the home, with two-way talk, 1080P HD video, live view, customisable motion and privacy modes, and new Colour Night Vision. For even more security, Ring says that the posable camera supports end-to-end encryption, a feature becoming more and more vital as threat actors continue to target smart home systems in South Africa, gaining access to private information, according to a recent Trend Micro report.

It will also help stop hackers from accessing the two-way talk feature to play cruel or bizarre practical jokes on you or your family.

A blue LED indicator light will glow when the Indoor Camera is capturing video or when night vision has been activated. Automatic Light Sensing technology means that the camera will switch on the night vision mode when it feels like the room has darkened sufficiently.

“Our customers value peace of mind, but they also prioritize their privacy,” says Mohammad Meraj Hoda, Vice President – Emerging Markets, Ring.

“The second-generation Indoor Camera, with its manual privacy cover, is another step towards giving our customers greater control of their security. It not only allows them to enjoy the benefits of smart home security without compromising their privacy but also demonstrates Ring’s commitment to continuously ensuring our customers have complete peace of mind.”

Pricing and availability

Ring’s second generation Indoor Camera will be available from October 2023, from Takealot, Leroy Merlin, Incredible, Builders Warehouse and ClearAccess, at a retail price of R1 199.00.