Ring has discontinued its least costly sensible lighting hub

Probably the most inexpensive technique to join Ring sensible lights to Wi-Fi isn’t going to be round for much longer. 

A discover on the Ring Bridge product web page says the $50 Ring Bridge has been “discontinued,” with out giving any additional particulars.  

On a Ring Neighborhood assist thread from late March, a submit from a Ring consultant confirms the corporate is “not promoting the Ring Bridge,” whereas noting that the product would possibly nonetheless be accessible through third-party retailers. 

The Ring rep added that “we’re engaged on one thing new for Ring Sensible Lights” however didn’t go into specifics. 

I’ve reached out to Ring for extra particulars. 

All indications are that present Ring Bridge models proceed to perform. I dug up my very own, long-unused Ring Bridge and fired it up, and it efficiently linked to the Ring app. 

Whereas the Ring Bridge is not accessible on Amazon as a standalone product, it’s nonetheless included in just a few Ring sensible lighting bundles, together with a two-pack of Ring Pathlights. 

The Ring Bridge was first launched in 2019, alongside a sequence of Ring sensible lights, together with the Ring Floodlight Wired, the Ring Highlight, the Ring Pathlight, and the Ring Steplight. 

True to its title, the Ring Bridge connects to the proprietary radio indicators transmitted by Ring sensible lights (which have a spread of roughly 300 meters) and bridges the merchandise to a consumer’s Wi-Fi community. 

As soon as linked through the Ring Bridge, Ring sensible lights can then interface with Ring alarm methods and different Ring merchandise, and so they can even work with Alexa voice instructions and routines. 

The Ring Bridge isn’t the one Amazon gadget that may join Ring sensible lights to Wi-Fi networks. The fourth-generation Amazon Echo sensible speaker comes with a built-in Ring sensible lighting bridge, as does the third-generation Echo Present 10 sensible show and the Ring Alarm Professional Base Station. 

This information story is a part of TechHive’s in-depth protection of the very best sensible lights. 

However whereas these different merchandise can carry out the identical features because the Ring Bridge, they don’t include the identical $49.99 price ticket. Probably the most inexpensive various is the fourth-gen Amazon Echo, which at $99.99 is double the value, whereas the Echo Present 10 and the Ring Alarm Professional Base Station are an eye-watering $249.99 every. 

So, might the “one thing new” teased by the Ring assist rep in that late-March neighborhood thread confer with a revamped Ring Bridge, or maybe the arrival of Ring Bridge performance in some cheaper Amazon gadgets? We’ll have to attend and see.