Video Doorbells Now in Quarter of Smart Homes, SA Survey Finds

One in four smart homes in the U.S., Germany, France and U.K. has a video doorbell, said Strategy Analytics Wednesday. They're the fourth-most popular smart home device despite being on the market for far less time than smart thermostats, surveillance cameras and smart light bulbs, it said. The devices are installed in millions of smart homes, in spite of concerns about privacy and hacking, indicating perceived benefits outweigh risks, said the research firm. Ring was the most frequently mentioned brand in a survey, mentioned some 50% more often than second-place Nest. The two brands, owned by Amazon and Google, have influenced how video doorbells are sold, established the price points, determined primary selling locations and outlined installation processes, said analyst Jack Narcotta. The devices are on the way to becoming mass-market as prices have dropped and self-installation has become easier, said analyst Bill Ablondi. Feature gaps separating brands will close over the next few years, he said.