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You may already have a smart home hub if you have certain smart speakers like a Amazon Echo (4th Generation) ($100) or smart screens like the Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) ($150)If you’re an Apple HomeKit user, you may have a HomePod or Apple TV to act as the hub of your home, but HomeKit compatibility is much more complicated than more common options like Zigbee and Z-Wave, or the choice of Amazon and Google.
Do you want multiple codes?
Entry or access codes, in my opinion, are one of the best parts of smart locks. Not all smart locks come with one, but most have an additional keypad that you can add and place wherever you want on the outside of your home. While a digital lock allows you to set a single code, a smart lock app It will allow you to create multiple codes and assign them to certain people, and set limits on code usage, so you can give a code to your dog walker or favorite neighbor and know when they use it to enter your home. It makes it easy to revoke codes without having to adjust your entire home to a code change.
Some locks, such as the Ultraloq Pro U-Bolt ($109) and Schlage Encode Plus ($319)come with a keypad built into the front of the lock, but others require Purchase of additional keyboardIf codes are a key feature for you, prioritize a lock with a built-in keypad so you don’t have to spend extra money or worry about installing two things instead of one.
Do you want biometric or keyless entry?
The real future isn’t keys or codes! There are some locks that allow you to open your front door with just the touch of your fingerprint. Some, like the Ultraloq mentioned above, include the fingerprint reader built into the lock itself, while others have external keypads, like the Abode lock, with a biometric reader. I like to use it for one-touch unlocking if I don’t have my keys handy, and it’s certainly faster than typing in a code.
Most smart locks have a keyhole, and I recommend choosing ones that do. Smart locks are battery-operated (more on that below), so it’s nice to have a spare, battery-free physical key if you run out of juice. (Locks will warn you in advance when the battery is low, but I’m a procrastinator, so I know how this story will end.) Some locks use your phone’s geolocation to alert you to unlock your door, so if your phone runs out of juice, you might also lose the convenience you’re looking for and need a standalone access option.
Do you have other entry points?
If you’re interested in installing a smart lock on a deadbolt-less door, or even a sliding door, good news! There are options for you, too. Schlage, for example, makes the Coding Level ($310) Designed for doors without an existing deadbolt. Instead, you add a lock to the doorknob along with a keypad. You can also add smart home control for your garage with MyQ Smart Garage Door Opener (8/10, WIRED recommends) and you can add a keyboard.
What about battery life? Hidden costs?
All of those clever tricks need a power source: batteries. Most smart locks promise a battery life of at least a few months, if not the better part of a year, but performance depends on how hard the lock works – more frequent requests and automations will naturally drain the battery a bit faster over time. Either way, be prepared to charge or replace your smart lock’s batteries. Some have ways to charge the lock if it’s completely dead – the Ultraloq Pro U-BoltFor example, it has a hidden MicroUSB port on the bottom if you need power in a pinch.
Some locks also have features hidden behind subscription fees. Abode is a good example: it offers notifications that your lock has been activated, but doesn’t clarify whether it was unlocked or locked. You have to sign up for one of them. Abode Subscription Plans For that advantage, and it’s also the only way to use it with other smart home devices. This isn’t super common with smart locks (Abode is also a smart home security company, so their subscription fee works with several other products besides locks), but it’s worth keeping an eye out for.
