Is the Ring Stick Up Cam waterproof?
Best answer: The new version of the Ring Stick Up Cam is "splashproof" — IPX5 water-resistant — so it should be able to stand up to thunderstorms, but it is not completely waterproof.
Amazon: Ring Stick Up Cam ($180)
What "weather-resistant" means for the Ring Stick Up Cam?
IP Code is an international standard developed to help both manufacturers and users better know what kind of protection a device can provide against different kinds of invading substances. Manufacturers list their resistances in the format IP[solid particle/dust-resistance rating][water-resistance rating], which then tells users how deep a device can be submerged in water or how hard it is for debris to get inside.
An IPX5 rating tells us that "water projected by a nozzle (6.3 mm) against enclosure from any direction shall have no harmful effects" on the camera, sometimes referred to as "splashproof". It means that the Ring Stick Up Cam should stand up to thunderstorms without water getting in.
In regards to snow and ice, the operating temperature range for the Ring Stick Up Cam is -5 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, but if slush refreezes around the edges of the bottom cover, expanding ice could damage the cover or compromise your camera's water resistance. When mounting the Ring Stick Up Cam in colder climates, try to minimize the Ring Camera's exposure to snow accumulation by mounting it from the ceiling of a porch.
Let's talk about dust
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That IPX5 rating tells us what level of ingress protection the Ring Stick Up Cam is supposed to have against dust and water, but IP ratings are usually numbers. X means the Ring Stick Up Cam has not been tested or rated to withstand dust.
Now, this doesn't mean that the Ring Stick Up Cam is completely vulnerable to dust storms, pollen, or ashfall from a not-so-distant wildfire. It just means that Ring didn't test the Stick Up Cam against it, and if sand from a dust storm infiltrates and damages your camera, it may not be covered under Ring's limited warranty. If you live in a dustier area, you may want to consider an outdoor camera that's rated dustproof, like the IP65 Arlo Pro 2.
Ring's new indoor/outdoor camera is ready to record rain or shine.
Flexible in both its power sources and internet sources, this wired camera can go beyond the standard outlet or spotty Wi-Fi signal to record the areas you need covered. With an IPX5 rating, Thunderstorms don't scare the Ring Stick Up Cam, but dust storms might.
Ara Wagoner was a staff writer at Android Central. She themes phones and pokes YouTube Music with a stick. When she's not writing about cases, Chromebooks, or customization, she's wandering around Walt Disney World. If you see her without headphones, RUN. You can follow her on Twitter at @arawagco.