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Amazon is selling Ring's newly released Battery Doorbell 2K (2nd Gen) for $39.99, down 60% from its $99.99 list price. The device records 2K video with up to 6x Enhanced Zoom and a 140°x140° field of view, and includes Live View, Two-Way Talk, motion alerts, and a rechargeable battery for wireless installation. It's available in Speckled Gray, Speckled White, and Matte Mocha finishes.
A tech guide outlines how homeowners can assemble their own smart security systems using motion sensors, door sensors, cameras and video doorbells that store footage locally instead of in the cloud. The approach avoids recurring subscription costs charged by brands like Abode and SimpliSafe, while still letting users customize and expand their setup over time.
Smart locks replace either a full deadbolt or just its indoor thumb turn, connecting to home Wi-Fi so owners can lock, unlock and monitor doors remotely via a smartphone app. Many models add features like keypads, fingerprint readers, temporary guest passcodes and real-time lock-status alerts.
SimpliSafe launched the Video Doorbell Series 2, a $199.99 wired camera with 2K resolution, 10x zoom, and two-way audio that pairs with its Active Guard Outdoor Protection service starting at $49.99 a month. When onboard AI and cloud-based computer vision flag suspicious activity, a human monitoring agent can view the live feed, speak through the doorbell, and try to scare off intruders or package thieves. The doorbell requires a SimpliSafe base station and keypad and works with monitored or self-monitored plans.
WIRED's 2026 video doorbell guide lists three additional models that just missed the top picks: the $100 SwitchBot Smart Video Doorbell with a built-in display, the $100 Aqara G400 Select wired doorbell with local storage and optional HomeGuardian subscription, and the $170 Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell offering 2K resolution and Hue light integration. Each has strengths and drawbacks, from slow displays to bulky designs to reliance on paid subscriptions for advanced AI features.
Eufy has introduced the Window Camera E10, a security camera designed to stick directly onto glass for quick setup without drilling or mounting hardware. The company also unveiled a Video Doorbell S4 featuring a 'VR Mode' that lets users navigate 180-degree footage interactively.
Ring is rolling out a new default encryption system called TAKE (Throw Away the Key Encryption) across its video doorbell and camera lineup worldwide. Footage is encrypted with keys that rotate every five minutes, and Ring can only temporarily access those keys via an isolated AWS Nitro Enclave to power features like Smart Alerts before permanently deleting its copies within 24 hours. Users can still opt for full end-to-end encryption instead, though that disables cloud-based processing features.