Amazon has just announced its first-ever 4K Ring video doorbells with Alexa+ features – here's what we know so far

• Amazon has unveiled four brand new Ring cameras, including the Outdoor Cam Pro, Spotlight Cam Pro, Wired Doorbell Pro, and Floodlight Cam Pro
• One of the biggest upgrades to the new Ring cameras is its retinal 4K vision, which offers up to x10 zoom
• Additionally, the new Ring 4K range has also got new Alexa+ smarts, which includes Familiar Faces and a clever Search Party feature for lost pets

Amazon’s huge hardware event has kicked off, and we’re covering all of the company’s exciting new announcements in our live blog, and first on Amazon’s list is its brand range of Ring smart home products – welcome the new signature line of Retinal 4K smart home cameras.

Starting with the new Ring video doorbell, which is the company’s first since 2023, Amazon’s smart home security range has received a handful of much-needed upgrades, most notably its 4K vision which is a first for Ring.

“Ring Retinal 4K is powering our most advanced lineup yet with Wired Doorbell Pro, Spotlight Cam Pro, Floodlight Cam Pro, and Outdoor Cam Pro. Plus, for those who want Power over Ethernet devices, we are also introducing Spotlight Cam Pro POE, Outdoor Cam Pro POE, and Wired Doorbell Elite”, shares Amazon. But behold, there’s more.

As well as 4K vision, Amazon is improving Ring’s capabilities with the addition of AI smarts to reveal the tiniest of details. This includes a new x10 zoom and improved low-light performance, allowing you to clearly view your surroundings in poor conditions. However, it wouldn’t be an Amazon launch without mention of Alexa+, and you’re in luck.

Ring gets Alexa+ smarts

“Sharper vision is only the beginning”, Amazon says, and the other side of Ring’s new functions can all be attributed to Alexa+, starting with Alexa+ greetings.

Essentially, Alexa+ can act on your behalf as a doorbell assistant. For example, if someone arrives at your door, Alexa+ can talk to them and ask their reasons for visiting, and will keep you informed as the interaction progresses. It’ll even be able to assist with deliveries and provide instructions for visitors.

Another smart function coming to the new Ring 4K line is Familiar Faces, a feature that can identify familiar visitors and thus reduce notifications that are triggered by familiar people. Amazon delves into the feature even more:

'The feature enriches Ring notifications, video events, and timeline with personalized context of who is detected, eliminating guesswork and making it effortless to find and review important moments involving specific familiar people across the Ring App experience'.

Search Party joins Ring’s AI circle

Just when we thought that was it, Amazon hits us with another new AI feature – here’s Search Party.

This new addition to the Ring ecosystem aims to help reunite lost pets with their families following Amazon’s report that over a million posts about lost or found pets were shared to the Ring Neighbours app last year. It’s about to get even smarter.

When you report a missing pet in the Ring app, a Search Party will start with those nearby who have Ring outdoor cameras. From there, the new Ring cameras will use AI to identify possible matches, and notify camera owners if it detects the missing pet may be near one of your devices. A picture of the missing pet will then be sent to your Ring app as well as any relevant footage, which you can then report to your neighbors.

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