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Smart locks are a highly visible part of your home that you’ll use almost every day, so it’s important to find a reliable choice that will fit well with your smart home. Here are the factors you should consider while shopping.
A modified smart lock, such as the August Lock, will replace the interior of your existing lock, but not the exterior keyhole or deadbolt.
Complete deadbolt or retrofit
Most smart locks will replace your existing lock, including the interior lock, exterior keyhole, and center deadbolt. Locks like these will also come with their keys, replacing the ones you use now.
Others, like the August Smart Lock and Lockly’s fingerprint model, are instead designed to work with at least some of your existing locking hardware. With a retrofit lock like this, you probably won’t need new keys and you may not even need to replace the deadbolt. Such locks may sometimes be better suited for apartments, where the building owners may not allow you to replace the entire lock.
The Yale smart lock can work with the Nest video doorbell.
Access routes
Different smart locks will take different approaches to letting you in. On a basic level, most smart locks allow you to lock and unlock the door wirelessly from your phone using an app. Others add keyboards for encrypted input, which may help you rely on your keys a little less while making it easier to share access with others. Some locks add a fingerprint or palm scan to let you in using biometrics. There are also keyboard options, NFC, and even face scanning in some cases.
Apple also added a Home Key feature in iOS15 that lets you store your digital home key in Apple Wallet, which lets you unlock compatible smart locks using the NFC radio on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Many other brands have followed suit with digital passes that guests can download to their phones using the appropriate apps.
So, which is right for you? Entering an app to access the door is not ideal unless you control it remotely. That’s why we like Bluetooth and NFC cards that can work with a wave from your phone, as well as fingerprint sensors and similar options for individuals that work with a single touch at any time. But the keyboard has its advantages, too, because it allows for temporary code deployments or limited-time access without anyone needing their phone or a specific app to use it.
The Schlage Encode Plus is the first smart lock to support Apple Home Key. It lets you unlock your front door using your iPhone or Apple Watch.
Compatibility of statute and issue
If your home includes multiple types of smart home devices, your best bet is to control them all from one smart home platform. This way, you won’t need to juggle multiple applications to keep everything automated. The most popular choices are Amazon Alexa, the Google Home app and the Google Assistant voice controls that come with it, and Apple HomeKit, which powers Siri. Samsung SmartThings is another hub-centric smart home option.
This brings us to the issue. Matter (and its communication protocol Thread) is an important smart home protocol designed in coordination with major brands, including Google, Amazon, Apple, and many others. It helps ensure compatibility across different platforms and adds additional features related to security and data transfer, which buyers should definitely keep an eye on.
Currently, smart lock companies are still adopting the Matter standard. Our top pick uses it and it’s one of the best options we’ve found. Schlage is starting to adopt the standard of locks like the upcoming Schlage Sense Pro, but it hasn’t made its way into our Schlage Smart Lever selection yet, and the same goes for the Yale Assure. Brands like Aqara now include Matter support built into their latest locks. August also announced that it’s working on bringing Matter to its smart locks, so in some cases, it’s just “a matter” of waiting for the right firmware update.
The Aqara lock comes with several unlocking options and you get even more features if you connect a hub.
Security and privacy
Smart locks aren’t quite as data-sensitive as devices with built-in cameras and microphones, but you’ll still want to make sure you’re keeping things safe. Most, if not all, of your options will use some form of encryption to keep wireless transmissions between the lock and the phone or home network secure. You should also look for locks that use two-factor authentication to keep your account safe from malicious logins. As with any connected device in your home, you’ll need to make sure your lock is updated to the latest firmware and set a strong password in the app.
As for locks and other physical concerns, you can look into locksmiths ANSI degree To learn about its durability and its ability to withstand a brute force attack. ANSI 3 is the basic rating, but an increasing number of smart locks offer ANSI Class 2 or Class 1 ratings, which tells you they’re built with commercial-grade durability. If you’re concerned about forced entries, a lock like this could be a good investment.
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Design considerations
Your smart lock will be placed directly at the front of your home from the outside, so it pays to aim for something you won’t hate looking at. Some smart locks go out of their way to show off their smart features with illuminated touch screens, color-coded LED indicator lights, and technology-oriented designs. Others take the opposite approach, doing their best to blend in and appear like a standard lock, at least on the outside. Choosing a preference between the two methods will help you narrow down your options.
You will also need to consider how the lock will remain in operation. Most smart locks run on four AA batteries, but some take a different approach. For example, the simple Level Lock+ system runs two AA batteries mounted inside the lock itself to keep things tight. Meanwhile, the Eufy touchscreen smart lock runs on a rechargeable battery.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi support is now commonplace for smart locks, but it’s important to look at the details. Some locks do not have built-in Wi-Fi, but only support it if you purchase an additional hub.