Innovation of the week: Smart doorbells
Smart doorbells might be the next must-have gadgets for the smart home

Smart doorbells might be the next must-have gadgets for the smart home, said Stacey Higginbotham at Fortune. Startups and big manufacturers alike are developing camera-equipped doorbells that let homeowners answer the door from their smartphones.
Users can see who is at the door and respond verbally, so giving instructions to a delivery person bearing a package becomes a breeze. Plus, "buyers get the benefit of a view of their front stoop" without having to worry about a web-connected camera facing into their home. Having a "truly integrated smart home" is a long way off for most people. But with models like the Ring, Skybell, and soon-to-be-released Notifi all retailing for $199, it’s "in the range of a good gift item."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Home Depots are the new epicenters of ICE raids
In the Spotlight The chain has not provided many comments on the ongoing raids
-
Why does Trump keep interfering in the NYC mayoral race?
Today's Big Question The president has seemingly taken an outsized interest in his hometown elections, but are his efforts to block Zohran Mamdani about political expediency or something deeper?
-
The pros and cons of banning cellphones in classrooms
Pros and cons The devices could be major distractions