When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. What video doorbells see (and what they don't): Here's what you can expect Don't assume these gadgets will capture everything that happens on your porch. Understand these critical specs and you'll avoid a disappointing purchase. With a camera at the front door and an app on their phone, they jump to the conclusion that they'll capture faces on the sidewalk, license plates at the curb, and anybody cutting across the lawn. Most doorbell cameras deliver far more modest real-world performances. They have a tight field of view that sees what's directly in front of their lens; they're built to frame a visitor's face standing in front of the door, not the entire space the door.

It seems like only a few years ago that Anker made nothing more than batteries and chargers . But 15 years into its history, the company's CES portfolio continues to illustrate how much it's expanded. Among other announcements, the company has a new robot vacuum, video doorbell, outdoor light and smart lock. The company hopes its Eufy Clean Robot Vacuum Omni S2 will be your next robovac. Anker claims the vac works on shag carpets up to about 2 inches (5 cm) in pile height.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Wyze's latest doorbell camera delivers sharp video, flexible installation, and smart features without inducing sticker shock. The Wyze Battery Video Doorbell delivers crisp video, solid smart features, and flexible setup, making it an especially good choice for renters or anyone who wants simple, reliable front-door security without the wiring. The Wyze Battery Video Doorbell is aimed squarely at people who want front-door security without the hassle of wiring or facing a high price tag. Like most Wyze products, the appeal is straightforward: it's easy to set up, simple to use, and at just $65.98, inexpensive enough that installing one doesn't feel like a commitment.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. With a small video monitor in the box, SwitchBot lets you see who's at the door even when your phone's out of reach. Subscription plan doesn't add much Pairing a small monitor with this video doorbell is a no-brainer way to get more out of what has become a something of a commodity device. Part of the trouble with video doorbells is that you don't always have your phone at the ready to see who's ringing. If you're standing in the kitchen when the bell rings, but you've left your phone in the bedroom, do you rush to your phone to get a peek at who's there, or do you take a chance and just answer the door?

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Google mounts a major comeback in the smart home space with an excellent video doorbell, but you'll need to pay to play. The Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 3 gen) is an excellent home security device, and you don't need to pay for a subscription to get a limited number of event recordings. Gemini, meanwhile, is nothing short of amazing, but you will need an expensive subscription to avail yourself of it. Prior to announcing its third-generation Nest Doorbell--along with its other two new security cameras in early October--Google had us thinking it had lost interest in the smart home.

If you want to secure your home, Google's Nest range is one of the smartest and easiest ways. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. There's no need for an expensive, professionally installed home security system for a little peace of mind. You can keep tabs on your home when you're away, check in on your kids or pets, and discourage intruders with a few well-placed security cameras and connected devices.

When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Alexa+ can greet your visitors on Ring's latest video doorbells When someone's at your doorstep, Alexa+ can size up your visitors and tailor its greetings depending on whether it recognizes them. Also: Ring cameras go 4K, at last. With its latest video doorbell, Ring is enlisting Alexa+ to greet your visitors, instruct delivery personnel on where to leave packages, and even give personalized welcomes to people it recognizes. Amazon announced the new "Alexa+ Greetings" feature at its big fall event in New York City today, where it showed off a series of new Ring cameras-including four that can capture video in 4K, a first for Ring-along with yet another AI-powered feature that can help find wayward pets.

The suspect in the late night doorbell ringing is pretty slippery. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. It was a scene straight out of a horror movie . About 30 minutes after midnight, someone rang an apartment doorbell in Bavaria, Germany. The home's occupants Lisa and Domink had already gone to bed, and Lisa told German news outlet BILD that she had no intention of answering it, since she simply does not answer the door after 10 pm.

Google's smart home efforts were in a sorry state as late as May. Google touted Gemini AI assistant throughout the entire keynote of its annual I/O developers conference, demonstrating how it would come to permeate every aspect of the search giant's products--everything from phones and AR glasses to watches and TV. But Google Home wasn't mentioned at all, while Google's Nest smart speakers, displays, and cameras were all but ignored. Just as troubling, Google had been discontinuing other Nest products and even withdrawing from some smart home categories from a manufacturing standpoint, all while many Google Home owners were complaining that Google Assistant was faltering at even the most basic smart home duties. Indeed, things got so bad that Anish Kattukaran, the director of product management for Google Home and Nest, felt compelled to speak up on social media, apologizing for Google Assistant's spotty performance while promising that his team is "actively working on major improvements."

If you don't already have a strong smart home hub, the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 can kill two birds with one stone. Describing the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410 as just another video doorbell is like dismissing the quirky VW ID. Sure, it will keep an eye on your front porch, but it can also control all the other smart devices in your home, thanks to the presence of Bluetooth, Thread, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Zigbee radios; Matter support; compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and Apple's HomeKit Secure Video; and a 24/7 recording option with RTSP support for hardcore users. One caveat: Its Zigbee support is limited to Aqara's own Zigbee devices. It's still a massive step up from the Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 that TechHive reviewed in the spring of 2024, addressing nearly every criticism leveled at that earlier product.