The doorbells of years past may have been dumb as doorknobs, but that’s certainly not the case for the Ring Video Doorbell 2. The latest product from smart home company Ring, this new video doorbell builds upon the company’s previous offerings. But while some remakes aren’t any better than the original, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 bucks that trend.
The $199 connected home device made its debut earlier in the summer, promising a number of upgrades over its predecessor. For starters, it boasts a higher-resolution video output than the original at 1080p (as opposed to 720p). And the night vision function of this doorbell has improved, thanks to its IR sensors. Plus you can view the camera’s feed on an Amazon Echo Show (though you can’t talk to people directly through this particular Amazon device).
While Ring has a few other smart doorbells, including the Video Doorbell Pro and Video Doorbell Elite, those require hard-wiring to function. So even though the Video Doorbell 2 isn’t as slim and sleek as the Pro and Elite versions, it’s able to run completely off of battery power (and the battery can be easily replaced). That means it’s far easier to install and can also be affixed to a wider range of locations.
In fact, the new battery is another key differentiator. Whereas the original Ring required users to remove the entire unit from the frame and plug the battery into a charger for five to six hours, the new doorbell allows you to slide the battery right out and plug it into a MicroUSB cable. And while it will still take the same amount of time to charge, the battery lasts for about three months.
In terms of other features, the Video Doorbell 2 boasts two-way audio with noise cancellation, motion detection, and weather resistance — features you’ll find in (and demand from) the best video doorbells. Whenever the doorbell detects someone at the door (either because someone moves or rings the bell), you’ll receive a smartphone alert. From there, you can view the camera feed and communicate directly with your visitor.
So if you’re looking for some peace of mind, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 may be a good place to start.
Few things ruin a quiet evening faster than a robot vacuum roaring through the living room. Most of us end up pausing the cleaning run, which defeats the whole purpose of owning one. Matic thinks it has the answer with its new Serene robot vacuum, and the big selling point is how little noise it makes.
The Matic Serene runs at 52 decibels even when cleaning at full power. To put that in perspective, Matic compares it to the hum of your refrigerator. It is available now for $1,695, which is $200 more than the original Matic’s current price.
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.
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