real in my opinion. We have a doorbell and some "cameras" (that don't look like cameras). It has a battery that you put in there so it lights up like a real camera at night. Our cell is about 10-12 feet off the ground and I think it's real. My hope is that when the burglar tries to avoid the cameras, the ring cameras won't see them because they don't look like cameras (they look like headlights), so he'll avoid that thing and walk past. Ring. I've worked in law enforcement and I'm impressed with how it looks.