Kidde has become the best-known name in the world of smart smoke detectors—a relatively low bar given how few people know the brand of their smoke detector. Still, you’ll find Kidde recommended by reviewers and customers across the internet with surprising enthusiasm, which has only increased since the brand started collaborating with Ring and Amazon, making it an easy add-on to Alexa-powered smart homes.
Until now, if you wanted a Kidde smart smoke alarm connected to your other devices, one that would send you alerts by Ring app, you could only choose a hardwired model. Anyone who wanted something battery-powered from Kidde along the lines of the now-discontinued Google Nest Protect had to skip the smarts.
At the CES trade show in January, Kidde announced its first battery-only smart smoke alarm, once again in collaboration with Ring. The Kidde Ring Smart Smoke + CO Alarm has been available for preorder since the announcement, but as of today is fully available to buy.
How It’ll Work
Kidde’s Ring Smart Smoke + CO Alarm will use two AA batteries (included in the box). It’ll come with a mounting bracket for installation, and you can choose to mount it wherever you see fit, thanks to the battery flexibility. Kidde recommends not installing a smoke detector within six feet of heating appliances, less than four inches from an A-frame type ceiling, or in areas like garages or near things like lights, fans, vents, windows, and anything that could directly expose it to the weather.
Once it’s installed, you can connect it to your Wi-Fi and the Ring app. You won’t need any additional Ring technology—no hub is required, even though you’ll find one in most Alexa speakers these days—to have it work with the Ring app. Ideally, you’d already have an app and be a Ring user if you’ve chosen this smoke detector, but if you haven’t, make sure to get the app and set up your account.
Third-Party Smoke
Both Amazon and Google have chosen to partner with brands instead of making their own in-house smoke detectors. Google now partners with First Alert for a smart smoke and carbon monoxide alarm replacement after discontinuing the Google Nest Protect, and Ring both has this partnership with Kidde and can work with Z-Wave models from First Alert too.
It’s not a surprising move from Google, which has been moving to make less of its own hardware and instead place its smarts in other brand’s products. Amazon usually likes to make its own massive range of hardware, so it’s worth noting that if Amazon isn’t making this device itself, there’s a reason. It may be a poor investment to maintain such a specific line of products, or maybe because it’s hard enough to do well that the company would rather leverage someone else’s tech. Whichever reason—maybe both—if you’re shopping for a new smart smoke alarm, Kidde’s newest model is one to consider, especially if you have an Alexa household.
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