Control4’s front door is changing
Control4’s front door is changing: what to know about Chime, DS2, DS3, and Chime Pro
The front door is one of the few places where security, convenience, architecture, and hospitality all meet. It is also a part of the home that benefits from early planning: the right wiring, mounting location, finish, access-control strategy, and Control4 programming can make an entry feel effortless. The wrong last-minute choice can leave a beautiful home with a device that looks added on.
Control4 has announced an important transition in its front-door product line. The current Control4 Chime Video Doorbell is scheduled to reach End of Sale on August 27, 2026, or sooner if remaining inventory sells out. At the same time, Control4 is preparing a new Chime Pro Video Doorbell for later in 2026, with pre-orders expected to open around CEDIA during the middle of the third quarter.
For homeowners, builders, architects, and designers with an active project, the practical message is simple: do not leave the front-door decision until the end of the job.
What is happening to the current Control4 Chime?
The present Chime Video Doorbell is being sunset as Control4 prepares its next generation. Control4 has advised dealers that inventory is already limited, with some PoE models out of stock at the time of the announcement.
The current Chime remains a capable, deeply integrated front-door solution. It combines a 5MP HD camera, a 180-degree field of view, two-way audio, night mode, and five customizable motion zones. From a Control4 touchscreen or the Control4 app, a homeowner can see and speak with a visitor and—when the home has been designed and programmed for it—unlock a door, turn on lights, disarm security, or open a garage without moving between separate apps.
End of Sale does not mean an installed Chime suddenly stops working on August 27. It means new units will no longer be available through normal channels once inventory is depleted. Existing owners should continue to use and support their systems in consultation with their Control4 dealer. Replacement planning will depend on the home’s wiring, Control4 OS version, subscription services, and the specifications Control4 ultimately releases for Chime Pro.
Chime Pro is coming—but its full specifications are not public yet
Control4 says the new Chime Pro Video Doorbell is planned for later this year, with pre-orders expected around CEDIA in mid-Q3. As of August 10, 2026, Control4 has not published a complete public specification sheet, final pricing, or a firm installation date for Chime Pro.
That distinction matters. “Coming soon” is useful for planning, but it is not the same as a product being ready for an active construction schedule. If your front entry must be completed before Chime Pro becomes available, waiting may create a gap. If your schedule is flexible, it may make sense to prepare the infrastructure now and make the final device decision once confirmed details are released.
HTE can review the entry location, wiring, mounting conditions, finish requirements, access control, and desired automations so the project is prepared for the most appropriate solution—not simply the newest box.
DS2 and DS3: more than video doorbells
During this transition, Control4 is recommending its DS2 and DS3 Door Stations for projects that need a front-door or gate solution now. These are architectural, IP-based intercom and access-control products intended for more considered entrances, gates, and multi-entry applications.
Both families can provide video monitoring and intercom communication through compatible Control4 touchscreens and the Control4 app. Depending on configuration, door stations can also support entry workflows such as personalized or temporary access codes. The DS3 expands the design possibilities with modular interaction options and is available in Elegant Black, Brushed Nickel, and Venetian Bronze, with flush- and surface-mount configurations.
The right choice is not simply “DS2 versus DS3.” It depends on:
whether the entry is a front door, pedestrian gate, driveway gate, or multi-residence entrance;
the Control4 OS and hardware already in the home;
whether access control, a keypad, or temporary codes are required;
available network and power wiring;
flush-mount versus surface-mount construction;
finish and architectural coordination; and
the project’s completion date.
Control4 is offering dealers a limited-time 35% equipment promotion on select DS2 and DS3 SKUs through November 10, 2026, subject to availability and program terms. Because each door-station assembly and installation is configured differently, HTE will confirm eligible equipment and provide project-specific pricing. The manufacturer promotion applies to select hardware; labor, design, programming, mounting components, wiring, and other project requirements are separate.
What should you do if you already have Chime?
If your Chime is installed and working well, there is no reason to treat this announcement as an emergency. End-of-sale notices are a normal part of technology product cycles. The sensible next step is to keep the system properly supported and avoid assuming that a future product will be a drop-in replacement until Control4 publishes compatibility and installation guidance.
If your Chime has an issue, or if you are renovating the entrance, ask HTE to evaluate the existing wiring and system before finishes are closed. That creates room for a repair, a like-for-like replacement while inventory remains, a DS2 or DS3 design, or a Chime Pro-ready plan once more information is available.
What should you do if your project is underway?
Three paths make sense:
Secure a current Chime while inventory remains. This may suit an existing design that is already wired and specified for Chime, but availability is limited.
Specify a DS2 or DS3 now. This is often the stronger choice for a gate, a highly designed entrance, or a project that needs intercom and access-control flexibility before Chime Pro ships.
Prepare for Chime Pro and wait for confirmed details. This may suit a flexible schedule, provided the infrastructure and temporary entry plan are considered now.
The best answer comes from the home, not the product announcement. A discreet doorbell at a secondary entrance and a modular door station at a staffed gate solve different problems. Good integration begins by defining the experience: who arrives, how the household responds, what should unlock, which lights should turn on, and what the entrance should look like when the technology fades into the architecture.
Plan the entry before the wall is finished
HTE has worked with Control4 since 2004 and is a Control4 Platinum Dealer serving the Hamptons, Manhattan, and the surrounding region. We can assess current Chime availability, determine whether a DS2 or DS3 configuration qualifies for promotional equipment pricing, and prepare new or existing Control4 systems for the next phase of the product line.
Start a conversation with HTE before the entry wiring, back box, stonework, or millwork is finalized.