Smart locks are a very obvious part of the home you use almost every day, so finding a reliable option that blends in with a smart home is important. This is a factor you should consider when shopping.
Modified smart locks like August Lock will replace the interior of the current lock, not the external keyhole or clavicle.
Full lock or remodel
Most smart locks will replace the entire lock of your existing lock, including the internal spikes, external keyholes, and the middle clavicle. Locks like those will also come with their own keys, which will replace the keys you use now.
Others, such as the August Smart Lock and Lockly fingerprint models, are designed to work with at least some of the existing lock hardware. With a refurbished lock like this, you may not need a new key at all, and may not even need to replace the lock bolts. Locks like them can sometimes be more suitable for an apartment where the building owner may not allow you to replace the entire lock.
Access Mode
Different smart locks will take different methods to get you in. At the basic level, most smart locks will allow you to lock and unlock doors from your phone using the app. Others add keyboards for encoding, which can help you get fewer keys while also making it easier to share access with others. Some of the latest smart locks will increase touch sensitivity or fingerprint scan so that you can access the interior with just a single tap. Apple also added the Home Key feature in iOS15, which allows you to store a digital home key in the Apple Wallet, which allows you to open a compatible smart lock using an NFC radio in your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Paying for smart locks that offer all of these can be too killing, so it’s OK to dial the access method of the most interesting ones. These days, you already have a variety of options.
Platform compatibility and substances
Schlage Encode Plus is the first smart lock that supports the Apple Home button. It allows you to unlock doors using your iPhone or Apple Watch.
If your home contains multiple types of smart home devices, your best bet is to control them through a single smart home platform. This way, you don’t need to juggle multiple applications to keep all automation. The most popular options are Amazon Alexa, Google Home App and the accompanying Google Assistant voice controls, as well as Apple HomeKit, which brings Siri to its role. Samsung SmartThings is another option for a center-centric smart home.
This makes us important: Matter (and its Tagalong protocol threads) are important smart home protocols designed in coordination with major brands such as Google, Amazon, Apple, and more. It helps ensure compatibility on different platforms and adds additional security and data transfer benefits, which is definitely something buyers should pay attention to.
At present, smart lock companies are still adopting this standard. Our preferred choice is one of the best choices we have found. Some Schlage encoded locks use it, but it hasn’t entered our Schlage Smart Level Pick yet, and so is Yale’s guarantee. August also announced efforts to bring substance into its smart locks, so in some cases it’s just a “problem” waiting for the right firmware update.
Security and Privacy
Smart locks aren’t as sensitive as devices with built-in cameras and microphones, but you still need to make sure that the items are safe. Most, if not all, options will use some form of encryption to ensure wireless transmission between locked and your phone or home network. You should also look for locks that use two-factor authentication to prevent your account from malicious logins. Like any connected device in your home, you need to make sure you will lock to the latest firmware and set a strong password in the app.
As for locking and other physical issues, you can look for locking ANSI level To understand its durability and how capable it is to attack brute force. ANSI Level 3 is the most basic rating, but more and more smart locks offer ANSI Level 2 or Level 1 ratings, which tells you that they are commercially rated durable. If you are worried about forcing an entry, such a lock could be a good investment.
Design considerations
Your smart lock will sit right in the front of the exterior of the house, so it’s worth targeting something you don’t hate to see. Some smart locks go out of their way to showcase their tiny features and use a light touch screen, color-coded LED indicators and a technically conscious design. Others take the opposite approach, doing their best to incorporate it into and look like a standard lock, at least from the outside. Choosing a preference between the two methods will help you narrow down your choice.
You also need to consider how the locking stays powered. Most smart locks run from four AA batteries, but some take different approaches. For example, Level Lock is played by a single CR2 battery located inside Dechbolt itself. Meanwhile, Eufy’s touch screen smart lock is separated from the rechargeable battery pack.
Wifi
Wi-Fi support is now common with smart locks, but it is important to view details. Some locks don’t have built-in Wi-Fi, but they only support it when purchasing an extra hub.
