When Assa Abloy acquired August Smart Home, I had assumed the consumer brand was dead. And a cobranded Yale August upgrade kit seemed to reinforce that they were moving in that direction. Welp, I totally read that wrong and August is refreshing their line. And what caught my eye is this beautifully designed August View video doorbell. Whereas their original entrants were an unpractical and befuddling shape for many homes, possibly too stylized for some, this new design hits all the right notes (visually) for me – easily besting Ring’s entrants and perhaps on equal footing with the attractive Nest Hello.
Bonus: The lineup will be expanded to include a dedicated home chime, as Ring offers — but, again, with superior styling.