This doorbell camera lets a human security guard watch your front door | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchLightSystemDarkTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.This doorbell camera lets a human security guard watch your front doorNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AINewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsThis doorbell camera lets a human security guard watch your front doorSimpliSafe brings its Active Guard live monitoring to its new video doorbell.SimpliSafe brings its Active Guard live monitoring to its new video doorbell.by Jennifer Pattison TuohyCloseJennifer Pattison TuohySenior Reviewer, Smart HomePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 15, 2026, 1:36 PM UTCLinkShareGiftIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.The new SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 adds 2K resolution and dual band Wi-Fi. Image: SimplisafePart OfAll the smart home news, reviews, and gadgets you need to know aboutsee all updates Jennifer Pattison TuohyCloseJennifer Pattison TuohyPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy is a senior reviewer with over twenty years of experience. She covers smart home, IoT, and connected tech, and has written previously for Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, BBC, and US News.DIY home security company SimpliSafe is bringing its AI-powered proactive security feature to the front door. The new SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 launches today for $199.99 and works with the company’s Active Guard Outdoor Protection (starting at $49.99 a month). This combines AI analysis with live agents to detect potential threats and respond proactively.When the camera detects suspicious activity — using a combination of on-device AI, cloud-based computer vision, and facial recognition — a SimpliSafe monitoring agent can drop in on the camera to “see, speak to, and attempt to deter potential intruders and package thieves,” according to the company.The LED light glows blue when the homeowner is viewing the livestream and amber when it’s a live agent. Image: SimpliSafeThe SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 is a wired doorbell with 2K resolution, a 10x zoom, a 150-degree head-to-toe view, two-way audio, and a built-in siren. It has smart alerts for people and packages, up to five seconds of pre-roll video, and supports dual-band Wi-Fi. The doorbell requires a SimpliSafe base station and keypad and works with any monitored SimpliSafe plan. It can also be used with a self-monitored plan with video recording.Active Guard was launched in 2023 on SimpliSafe’s indoor camera, arrived on outdoor cameras in 2024, and is now available on the company’s newest doorbell camera. The feature is opt in, and the agent can only view live footage when the system is armed and has been triggered. Active Guard requires a Pro or Plus SimpliSafe monitoring plan starting at $49.99 a month. In addition to potentially deterring intruders, SimpliSafe says the system can provide emergency services with more accurate information.RelatedSimpliSafe’s new camera lets live agents watch your propertySimpliSafe’s new outdoor monitoring service combines AI with live agents“Stop! Who’s there?” SimpliSafe adds a live guard feature to its home security systemThe company has published a privacy page detailing how the system works, including that the footage is encrypted (at rest and in transit, not end-to-end) and that it “won’t share camera footage with law enforcement unless required by law.”Color-coded LED status lights on the doorbell indicate when a monitoring agent (amber) or homeowner (blue) is speaking, and you can create a library of familiar faces so the monitoring agent doesn’t scare the bejeezus out of your dog walker.Ring offers a similar proactive security feature called Virtual Guard that works with its Ring Alarm system for $99 a month. Having a human be able to see and verify whether there’s any actual danger at your home and potentially act on it has value, especially if you live in an area where false alarms incur fines, but for most people this feels like overkill.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jennifer Pattison TuohyCloseJennifer Pattison TuohySenior Reviewer, Smart HomePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jennifer Pattison TuohyAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AINewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsSmart HomeCloseSmart HomePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Smart HomeTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMore in: All the smart home news, reviews, and gadgets you need to know aboutRoborock finally brings a roller mop to its flagship robovac.Jennifer Pattison TuohySep 14Why Apple’s next computer should be for the smart homeJennifer Pattison TuohySep 11Ring says its new encryption limits what it can give policeJennifer Pattison TuohyAug 26Most PopularMost PopularApple releases iOS 27 with Siri AI overhaulThe Steam Frame is made for irresponsible hardware nerds like meThe Dell XPS 13 is the first real competitor to the MacBook NeomacOS 27 is available nowJensen Huang puts Trump on speakerphone onstage to announce robots won’t take over the worldThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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The new SimpliSafe Video Doorbell Series 2 integrates the company’s Active Guard live monitoring service with sophisticated artificial intelligence to provide proactive front door surveillance. This system allows human monitoring agents to actively watch and respond to potential threats detected at the entrance of a property. The technology employs a combination of on-device artificial intelligence, cloud-based computer vision, and facial recognition capabilities to analyze detected suspicious activity. When the system detects potential threats, a SimpliSafe monitoring agent can intervene by viewing, speaking to, and attempting to deter intruders or package thieves. Visual cues are provided through color-coded LED lights: blue indicates the homeowner is viewing the livestream, while amber signifies that a live agent is actively engaged.

The hardware itself is a wired doorbell featuring 2K resolution, a 10x zoom capability, a 150-degree head-to-toe view, two-way audio, and a built-in siren. It also includes smart alerts specifically for people and packages, along with the ability to record up to five seconds of pre-roll video. Connectivity is facilitated by dual-band Wi-Fi, and the doorbell requires a SimpliSafe base station and keypad to function, supporting any monitored SimpliSafe plan. The system offers flexibility, allowing use with both monitored and self-monitored plans, and supports video recording.

The Active Guard feature, which utilizes AI analysis and live agents, was introduced in 2023 and is opt-in. Agents are authorized to view live footage only when the system is armed and has been triggered. Furthermore, the system is designed to provide emergency services with more accurate information, supplementing the proactive deterrence efforts. Regarding data privacy, the company has established a privacy policy detailing the system's operation, ensuring that footage is encrypted both at rest and in transit, although it is not end-to-end encrypted. The policy explicitly states that camera footage will not be shared with law enforcement unless legally required. The system also allows users to create a library of familiar faces, which helps prevent monitoring agents from inadvertently alarming authorized individuals, such as dog walkers.

This approach to proactive security is similar to offerings from competitors, such as Ring’s Virtual Guard, which operates alongside its Ring Alarm system for a monthly fee. While the value of having human verification to assess actual danger is acknowledged, the implementation of such features is considered by some to be excessive for general use. The overall system demonstrates an advanced deployment of connected technology within the smart home sector, combining visual monitoring with intelligent response mechanisms and robust privacy considerations.