Some of the best smart home devices are designed for front doors Video doorbells, smart locks, and door sensors can trigger smart home routines such as turning on lights But Masonite is changing that with the first ever fully integrated smart door, unveiled at CES 2022

In collaboration with industry-leading brands such as Ring and Yale Home, the Masonite M-Pwr Smart Door promises the most connected front door possible the M-Pwr Smart Door integrates a number of individual devices, each with its own power Rather than trying to figure out an efficient way to integrate many individual devices and supply power to each, M-Pwr Smart Doors offer a one-stop solution

What sets Masonite's smart doors apart from typical dumb doors is the built-in power system wired into the house's electricity This means that you don't have to worry about changing batteries, which is often required for the best smart locks, for example And in the unlikely event of a power outage, the M-Pwr smart door has a backup battery to ensure that your home is always secure

At launch, Masonite smart doors will come with sensors, lights, Ring Video Doorbell, and Yale smart locks When we asked the company about supporting a wide selection of the best video doorbells and smart locks, they suggested at least some modularity to accommodate next-generation devices While you can install a new smart lock whenever you want, replacing an entire front door to accommodate advancing smart home technology is impractical, not to mention expensive

The smart door ordeal probably won't be cheap either As I learned, you can save thousands of dollars by DIYing your smart home and setting up a $199 video doorbell and $249 smart lock on your own time; the Masonite M-Pwr smart door is a more advanced smart home solution that does not require a hands-off approach for those who want and can afford it It is more akin to Control4's product than to what is on display at Best Buy

And like Control4's smart home system, the M-Pwr smart door requires professional installation An electrician is needed to connect the door to the house wiring I learned about neutral wires and C-wires in my smart home adventures, but smart door wiring is not my area of expertise

Of course, one of the luxuries of smart doors is the ability to customize the look of the home; Masonite M-Pwr smart doors are available in a variety of styles, colors, and finishes, including multiple glass options

While we can't provide much information on availability as it is currently being rolled out through building partners, it will be interesting to see how traditional home elements are adapted to the Internet of Things Perhaps integrated smart windows, smart stairs, and smart cabinets will be next