Ring made a big — though rather surprising — announcement at CES 2025, revealing that it has partnered with Kidde to launch a new collection of smart smoke alarms. Arriving in April, the collection includes the Kidde Smart Smoke Alarm and Combination Alarm, the latter of which detects both smoke and carbon monoxide. They’ll sync with the existing Ring app to send users alerts should anything trigger its sensors, and they should be an enticing option for folks who have already bought into the Ring ecosystem.
While customers will receive alerts via the mobile app, they can also sign up for the new Ring 24/7 Smoke & CO Monitoring Subscription for $5 per month. This is a professional monitoring service that lets a trained dispatch team keep tabs on your detectors — and if they’re triggered, the dispatch team can automatically contact emergency services and send them to your home. That should provide more peace of mind than your normal smoke alarms, which might ring out loud and clear but can’t alert the fire department.
While Ring is bringing the smarts, Kidde is bringing the technical know-how. Kidde has equipped the products with equipment that detects smoke three times more precisely and up to 25% faster than the competition. They’re also built to reduce false alarms caused by cooking. Best of all, you’ll get a notice in the Ring app seven days before your batteries are low, helping to eliminate the pesky chirping that’ll wake you up in the middle of the night.
The Kidde Smart Smoke Alarm will retail for $55, while the Combination Alarm will retail for $75. When they launch in April, they’ll be exclusive to Home Depot.
Beyond smoke alarms, Ring also announced that the Floodlight Cam Pro and Spotlight Cam Pro are being upgraded to support 2K footage capture. Existing users can upgrade for free via an over-the-air update through the Ring app. Jumping from their current HD resolution to 2K is a pretty big win, allowing users to better see their surroundings and zoom in with enhanced clarity. If you own either camera, the update should now be available — be sure to dive into your Ring app and enjoy the enhanced resolution.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.