He would have zero issue picking any of the keyways in this video. I would also predict that he wouldn't find any other vulnerabilities other than the keyway.
There is a significant feature discussion missing in this video - the auto lock/remote lock feature and if the lock knows if the door is open or closed. This is a security risk and a vital feature imo. I bought a Eufy a year ago and although I loved its features, it would auto lock the door with the door being wide open and the app showed that the door was locked. After speaking with support who confirmed that this was not supported, I promptly returned it and got a Lockly Secure Pro. I don't know which other locks support this and the Secure Pro is pretty darn ugly (on the inside of the door), but to me this was very important. It creates a false sense of security that the door is closed and locked when it could very well be open and "locked"
Yeah, one of the key features I was looking for was the autolock feature as I'm one of those "did I Really lock the door?" brained persons. I've also been able to manage the lock remotely when contractors need to be in / out all day.
A couple of comments on the Aqara lock: First, it uses a Schlage-style key. However, its lock cylinder is NOT compatible with Schlage cylinders. (The pins used in the Aqara lock are slightly smaller in diameter than Schlage pins.) I was able to get my Aqara lock re-keyed to match the rest of the locks in our house, but the locksmith had to grind down some of the pins in the Aqara cylinder to re-key the lock. Had the locksmith needed longer pins to re-key the lock, I would have needed to re-key my entire house. You might not care about that because you'll never use a key to open the lock, but it is something to consider. Second, the Aqara lock needs an Aqara hub to take advantage of all the features. (It also needs an Apple Home hub -- an Apple Homepod, Homepod Mini, or an Apple TV -- to take advantage of the Apple Homekit features.) The lock uses zigbee to connect to the Aqara hub, which is faster, more reliable, and more energy efficient than Bluetooth. The hub then connects to your wifi network. So, the performance of the lock is probably better with the hub than without. It is, however, an additional expense.
Either multiple people have had the exact same experience, or I read your review somewhere else because I got some serious deja vu reading your comment.
@@TheHookUp a comparison of rekeying the locks would be good. I know I'd like my entire house using one key for all exterior locks, rather than having multiple keys.
@TheHookUp I have two of the original Schlage Encode locks and am very happy with them. I use rechargeable batteries with them and recharge them about 3 times a year. I have them integrated with home assistant and they work well. I can lock/unlock the locks from my dashboard. I have installed a passive NFC RFID tag on the doorframe painted the same colour, that triggers a home assistant automation through an Apple shortcuts. Its a bit of a work around, but it only takes about the same time as punching in the pin code to unlock. Convenient for when your hands are full. With this model you can set temp pin codes, with a schedule. The only thing I do not like is the maximum automatic locking time of 4 minutes.
Great video as always! I was able to add the Aqara U100 to Home Assistant without buying the Aqara hub by using a bluetooth dongle on my HA mini-pc and the built in BT integration. It has been pretty reliable in my automations and the lock status updates back to HA are fast enough for me (1-10s). I did have to remove the lock from Homekit before it showed as available in HA. Apparently you can re-add it to Homekit to get apple homekey back but I don't have an iPhone/Apple Watch so I haven't bothered testing. Overall I'm a fan of the lock even without using homekey. The most annoying thing is the flimsly plastic cover you have to remove to change out the batteries on the inside portion. I feel like I'm going to snap it every time I remove it.
I think the hub allows for zigbee, which may be more stable since it is a mesh network? Not sure. I want this lock and already have the hub for other things, so its a no-brainer. Just need to pull the trigger.
Do you know if it truly requires the Aqara Hub to use Zigbee connection, or will other Zigbee hubs/USB sticks work? I use a Conbee Zigbee stick, and it works great for all kinds of devices. I was wondering if I could connect the U100 to Home Assistant using that before shelling out the money for this lock.
I've been using the Level Lock for a little over a year now I think, I have it integrated into Home Assistant using the built-in Homekit controller integration and an ESP32 running ESPHome Bluetooth extender. It's rock solid and can be bought for a LOT less than 300 bucks. It's my number one pick especially since it's presence doesn't interfere with the normal operation of your lock.
@@TheHookUp Ah, good point, I just got the standard lock. The only difference between the two is with plus you can use a security card, a fingerprint, or a homekey, none of which was worth it for me to justify the price difference.
I went with the Level Bolt, which is pretty much the same as the standard Lock, only it re-uses your existing key and thumb lever. And it's even less expensive!
@@kahunatunaful I've yet to replace it, but I also don't have to use it all that much, most of the time we're going through the garage, but still, it been over a year and still going strong.
I really like my August Smart Lock. You can choose to add a keypad and keep it in range of the lock. It also lets you choose your deadbolt which is also nice
I’m a locksmith , I recommend the Schlage encode all the time . Did you update the app . It does allow restriction on codes if needed . Kwikset halo with the touch button is another WiFi option I recommend And just for a fyi if anyone reads this I recommend the Schlage be365 for anyone looking for a electronic lock with out the extra bells and whistles
I was an early adopter of smart locks, I bought a Lockitron during their bolt funding and have been keyless at home since. I finally replaced the Bolt a couple years ago with the Level Lock+ and LOVE it, especially the nfc key tags for key rings.
Thank you for the analysis and breakdown. It definitely gives us things to think about. I'd be interested to know which of the locks are compatible locally with Home Assistant via Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Bluetooth via the ESPHome bluetooth bridge, and which features are available via those methods.
7:38 Phillips has the best options. It has the WiFi hub that can control several doors through WiFi, Bluetooth, Amazon, Google & others. It also has a door sensor that can inform you if your door has been opened. It will even alert you if your door lock is unlocked and the door is pushed open. There’s many more options I didn’t say.
I picked up 3 of the Schlage locks about a year ago specifically for HomeKey, and I've been very happy with them. Good battery life (the door I use the most is currently at 20% on its original batteries) and instant unlocks from my watch.
The Schlage encode plus is still my favorite, I love how it looks, it has great battery life and the Apple key is nice, though I feel like we just type code in most of the time
Something that I've seen with our setup: We have one of the Eufy Locks (Smart Lock S230, used to be called the Smart Lock Touch & Wifi) that obviously looks like a smartlock, installed on our mudroom door. It is a newer door and the lock can actually autolock that door pretty reliably as it is a newer door and frame (installed when we moved in 4.5 years ago), unlike our front door. The front door has our video doorbell installed next to it as that is the one that we use the most. The problem I've run into is a lot of people mistake our smart lock for our doorbell, even though it's obviously mounted on the door and not next to the door. This results in delivery drivers delivering packages to our mudroom instead of the front door. Fortunately, it's just a few feet to get a package placed at the mudroom door (mudroom faces the street, front door faces our neighbor, it's a couple steps down to the mudroom and it's to your right), but on a day like today, it's annoying in rainy (or snowy for that matter) weather. Our smart lock has worked well, though I still had issues getting the striker plate mounted and we sometimes have issues with the door being shut properly enough to autolock. It and our Robovac are the only Eufy products I am not planning to replace. I'm convinced that replacing the front door and frame will be necessary before getting a smart lock for it. We have many issues locking it especially in the summer time when the door frame sticks due to expansion. If I ever do that
One thing I would love to see is support for being rekeyed, or even being able to preserve your current key. I’d much prefer to be able to use same key for front or back if I needed to use the key.
I thought about that, but I really question how many people would go through the expense (hiring a locksmith) or hassle (doing it themselves) to replace a lock core when the key will rarely if ever be used. The whole point of a smart lock is to never use the key.
@@TheHookUp yeah that’s fair. I just want it so I can continue to use the key when needed in any door. For me the level bolt or the Yale are good for this. Level uses existing bolt and Yale will prekey them all the same from the factory
@@sharkosaurfps This. I want all my exterior locks to use the same key. With Schlage you can ahve them rekeyed and I think they use tumblers that are common in non-smart schlage locks.
I agree here. Even though you don't want to use the key, if the lock has a key option is sure makes a ton of sense to make it the same key as other locks on the house. All my locks are Schlage and I take them to a locksmith upon arrival and have them rekeyed to our existing keys. We also use Schlage deadbolts which are not smart but everything matches and only need one key.
@@TheHookUp I was wondering why you skipped the Yale locks. That's what I use and love, although I don't think they sell an option without a physical key anymore. I don't want a physical key on my doors. Way too easy to pick.
There is one test that I have never seen done on the smart locks. That is placing a light that emulates the sun and gets to 140F+. I live in Arizona where my door way gets to 140F+ during the summer because it faces directly West. I have gone through three locks, not because they did not work but after time the rubber malformed. The screen blisterd, or the lock got so hot that the pcb on the inside tweaked. I have since gone back to the manual locks. If the HOA would allow me to but something up in fron of the porch that would dissapte some of the light and heat that would be great, but alas no go.
The issue with that is that it's likely not the heat, but the UV. The blistering of the touchscreen interface is UV degradation of the adhesive. I'm not sure how I could replicate that.
@@TheHookUp Not really asking to test, more of a "snarky" thing. They test all kinds of stuff near me (cars, house paints, etc) for life expectency, but simple stuff? I have 8 cameras on the outside of my house. Most purchased over 4 years ago on some of your tips. They are all working fine. Who knows. Thanks for the reply.
A great video. I've picked the Wyze lock bolt. The main reason is the key way (lack of). Maybe too many LPL clips. There are other type of locks that only replace the inside piece, from Wyze, Eufy and a couple of others, for the stealth approach. Also Wifi eats battery comparing to Bluetooth, Zigbee or Z-wave.
@@ReadyMeta1 my biggest con would be that the Eufy was wifi and I'm replacing any Wi-Fi devices that are comparable with non-wifi ones. My second biggest con would be how often I would get "the door failed to lock" notifications and the lock would get stuck. Third con would be the Eufy battery charged via micro USB (I had the version from a couple years ago). The U100's response time is lighting fast, I haven't had one failed to lock event, the aesthetic is much nicer IMO and the Aqara ecosystem is much more accommodating for automations than Eufy was.
Using the older Schlage Connect for 3-4 years now. Two of them have worked great with battery swaps maybe 1-2 times per year. Tied to a Wink 2 controller. Wink appears to be on life support for a few years and has had multiple 30+ day outages. It still works but I'm no longer adding anything to it and not sure what would replace it. Mostly used for automating lights and the locks. I can use the locks but cannot program them when the controller is offline. Will eventually need a new solution so thanks for this roundup. Speed of change in the home automation market is tough to navigate especially when choosing expensive devices which will probably be obsolete in the not too distant future.
A raspberry pi running home assistant with a Z-Wave dongle is probably your best bet (or the new Home Assistant Green device). Add the Key Master integration on top of that and managing Z-Wave locks has never been easier. I can create temporary codes for contractors, codes that only work on certain days/times, and can easily manage all of it
I have two Level Lock Bolts for my back doors. I use rechargeable batteries for them and I have a total of four batteries. Two are ready to go and then the two that are in the locks. I have a small recharging station that keeps the batteries ready to go. This eliminates the e-waste of having to replace these batteries with non-rechargeable ones at a higher frequency. So far, I am still on my first set of rechargeable batteries after 2+ years.
The Aquara is definitely the best but as someone who doesn't have an iPhone, I got the Ultraloq Z Wave version for $129 open box for use with Home Assistant
I was able to add the Aqara to HA without the hub using a BT dongle on my HA mini-pc and removing the lock from Homekit (I don't have an iPhone/Apple watch but added it to Homekit on my iPad just to test). Once removed from Homekit it showed up in HA right away and works great.
Great review. Although there is one thing that you didn’t talk about which I think is really important: Door fully closed sensing, so deadbolt can’t slam into the door frame and you know door is really closed. Most locks don’t seem to have this feature, but some do. It would be good to know which although I did see you address this in the comments. Would be good to see a test result of that too though. I wish more locks would add this basic feature. It’s so easy for someone to leave the door open, and mess everything up, especially a kid.
I love the schlage z-wave based locks. I have 3 of them with 2 in a rental home. Having it integrated with home assistant and using the keymaster integration makes it so so very easy to manage. It's not the quietest lock but it is super functional. Looks great outside. Not finger print or other way of unlocking other than pin code or using home assistant. You could always set up RFID tags with home assistant though to unlock using a phone. Battery life is also phenomenonal being z-wave based. Pricing was also reasonable at about $225 each I think. I personally also feel more comfortable with a known lock brand vs tech companies making locks. E a
@@marcusone1 what were you using as your Z-Wave hub? I have it in home assistant with a zoom adapter and haven't had any issues with 3 different locks.
Homeseer and not a single other device has issues. it was only a few feet away from the controller as well, through one drywall wall, signal levels reported good. so maybe just a bad one. I haven't had the need to try again :)@@jmoery
The one thing I think you left out is the ability to withstand a few kicks to the door. That expensive one looks cool but the battery is in the lock bolt area. I can't imagine that's very good at surviving some strong kicks to the door. I have the old Shlage (the first one that came out). I use 4 Eneloop Pro AA batteries and they handle the load for about 9 months. When my kids were younger and used to go in and out more, I'd still get 3 months of use so well worth the cost of those and they have the extra power needed for turning door locks.
I moved recently and I used the Eufy model that had the rechargeable battery unit. It work flawlessly so installed C210 back door and C220 on my front door. Also installed the battery power video doorbell since the home didn’t have a traditional wired doorbell.
We have had electric locks (not all smart) for some time as we are old . Weiser powerbolt. Schlage . Schlage electric touch pad locks are great ! We had an August smart lock but discovered that the batteries need to be changed every 3-4 months so now it’s a paper weight! Now have Schlage wifi at one location and Eufy at another . We are snowbirds so battery life is IMPORTANT ! The Schlage lock seems to have held up well as it’s over 1 year and doesn’t need new batteries. The Eufy ,we installed a month before we left our south home . We probably used it 20 times before we left. A couple months ago I received notifications of low battery. Last month it went offline. Not impressed! I do like their cameras and hope they resolve this lock issue.
I would recommend the Danalock. It has a very minimal, modern look and has a really strong motor. Mine has Z wave and is connected directly to Smartthings. Optional keypad sold separately. I feel like no one really knows or talks about it.
I have EMTEK Empower. Heavy duty bolt, not a hollow bolt. Reinforced strike plate, Yale WiFi app, can auto lock if you wish, door ajar notification and they can be ordered in the inconspicuous model that uses a key cylinder deadbolt body on the outside so it doesn’t look like a smart lock, it’s even available in decorative designs and full piece handle sets. The key model can also be upgraded to a high security Mul-T-Lock cylinder for pick resistants and key control. Not a toy like the models shown in the video
I have the Nest X Yale for the 5 past years and its rock solid ! Batterie handles more than 1 year ans its wifi and the best looking touch screen so far. I will buy it again for my garage for sure but its pricey!
I'm going to replace my Nest X Yale for just a standard Yale Z-Wave lock or something. I hate how the Nest X Yale is the only thing I have that can't be in Home Assistant. Plus Google is likely to drop it any day now, just like the Nest alarm system.
As in one of the comments below go on with retrofitting locks like switchbot lock. I'm using it, and believe that in combination with a decent key lock, it's a better solution. For sure not so comfortable to unlock from outside but integrated via HA opens a lot of new possibilities.
Maybe I missed it, but the single most important part of a deadbolt is security and the protection it provides. No mention of ANSI or BHMA ratings for any of these locks seems like a miss to me. For those interested, Schlage (a lock company first) has always had Grade 1 (ANSI) or AAA (BHMA since that took over) Locks as far as I know. Off the rest, the only one I know of that is actually rated is the Ultraloq, which is also Grade 1. No, I did not go searching for their ratings either. Just feel like it was an important miss in a revew of deadbolts. Also missed options that were not BT or Wifi such as Zigbee or Z-wave.
Curious why that's the single most important thing to you. Those gradings have to do with how easily a door can be kicked in using force. For most houses that don't have bars on the windows forced entry by kicking in a door is basically a non-factor. Throwing a brick through a window is significantly faster, requires less strength and effort, and makes less noise. As LPL has proven time and time again, pick resistance is mostly a sham, and you can assume that a moderately skilled lockpick can open any lock with a standard keyway in a matter of seconds unless the lock has specifically been modified for pick resistance. No one is making pick proof locks from the factory.
@@TheHookUp I consider it because all in all, the first thing I look for in a security device is security, not necessarily convenience. I.e. I would rather have an ANSI Grade 1 Lock or BHMA AAA lock without fingerprint than a lower graded lock with it.
@@frankmthompson I guess the way I look at it is this: You get your ANSI Grade 1 Lock with a lock core, I get my WYZE Lock Bolt with no standard keyway. Anyone with $20 and 15 minutes to watch a tutorial can pick your lock and enter without any noise or suspicious activity. In order to get past the WYZE lock someone would have to kick my door forcefully enough to tear the deadbolt out of the door jamb. Not only is kicking in a door going to cause a significant disturbance, but it also requires a fair amount of physical strength. No strength and very little skill is required to pick a lock.
@@TheHookUp My point was not to say mine is better than yours or vice versa. My point was the on a review of deadbolts, leaving off this type of information was a big miss in my opinion. Everyone will do their own cost/risk analysis for their situation. In this case I thought it would be important to at least mention the security/grade/strength side of a lock device in a review of deadbolts. To each their own. BTW, ANSI grades have more to do than just strength (such as # of lock cycles). There are other factors, but again, perhaps the Grade 3 Wyze Lock Bolt is all you need. And that's fine. But people should know or at least mention it so they can research it further on their own.
I have some Schlage Zwave locks. They are ok but I find they are slow (sometimes immediately, usually 10+ minutes) to update their state when it is manually changed.
I was very unimpressed by the Schlage performance. To me it felt like Schlage built the lock (which was very sturdy) and then farmed out the app creation to the lowest bidder.
I never have this issue. I have used Schlage since 2015 and they always update immediately. One of mine (original form 2015) sometimes looses connection with my z-wave controller, but unplugging it and plugging it back in fixes it. I have alerts that notify me when the door is opened, but locked so that I know when this happens, which is just a few times a year.
Nope, nor the Philips, ultraloq, geek or wyze bolt. I did test the previous version of Wyze I have a couple from kaadas sitting here that I haven’t done anything with yet. I’ll probably update the realtor magazine article mid next year and be sure to mention a couple of these. Happen to have any insights on robot lawnmowers?
I like the Aqara U100 concept, but I will never get into Apple so I want to be able to use my Android based smartwatch to do the same thing. I don't know if they include Android smartwatch functionality, but if not limiting such capability to one brand will limit their sales by a huge amount.
Including a key does not mean you can open the lock in case the power source runs out or electronics fail. Had to find out that the hard way. If you are using HomeKit, you need to RTFM, it clearly states the apple devices that act as a hub for other HomeKit devices to work or stay connected.
Yet another great video! Thanks as always! One big brand that I think is missing are the Yale locks. I have one and have been pretty happy with it. The setup is a little weird as the Wi-Fi is a secondary module you have to setup and install, but otherwise has worked great for me. They have a ton of style and color options too.
I didn't include Yale because they didn't have any fingerprint or homekey options... only for them to release a fingerprint/homekey option the day before this video came out😡
I’m happy you’re happy, but compared with other options August has absolutely fallen behind. Battery life is pretty bad, range is bad, airbnb integration is bad, aesthetics are bad. 🤷♂️
I actually kickstarted that Ultraloq! It's been on my home door since mid 2019 and I have very little to complain about. It rated low on your power draw test, but I can only recall changing the batteries maybe once every 9-12 months, and that's being used ~10 times a day on average by the 5 people in my house. I think some of the "7 in 1" features involve the first party app, for example I recall a feature where if the app detects your phone leaving or approaching your house it will automatically lock or unlock. It actually worked well but I turned it off since I have multiple people in my house, and could be why you were confused about their claim.
It also has “shake to unlock” in which you shake your phone when close to the lock to open it, but it only works when the ultraloq app is open, so that doesn’t seem like much of a feature.
@@TheHookUp agreed. Having to take the phone out of your pocket and shake it kind of negates the whole "hands free" opening approach. Also, I have been extremely dissatisfied by the auto lock feature, which only now works half the time, and is less secure than not having it at all. You get used to it auto locking...until it doesn't, then your house isn't even locked.
In a future video you should test the warranty process. Schlage has excellent customer service. You can call in, have a knowledgeable rep troubleshoot issues, and if they can’t fix it they will ship out a replacement. I have an older Camelot Schlage replaced twice out of warranty after the motor failed. This is an area many smaller companies fail at.
Thanks for the video, I have a Kwikset unit currently and it eat batteries excessively and is pretty loud. The noise is the same if I lock it into the jam with the door open so if there's any misalignment it's inside the door. Looking to change it out.
It's a pity that Level could never figure out Apple HomeKit reliably (or even opening locks using their own app). After being burnt on the Level Bolt that works 50% of the time, I was thinking of the Lock+ with Apple Home Key, but not for that price. I'm ready for Aqara! As always, thanks for the great densely packed reviews!
I noticed Kwikset HomeConnect 620 was not included in the list. This is Z-wave compatible so low battery usage and cheaper then the Schlage. Been using for 6 months and no issues.
Great video! Although I wish you had done 2 more test sets for real world scenarios. 1) Functionality in the event there is a power outage. 2) Functionality in the event that your internet connection goes down Keep up the great work, your videos are highly informative and easy to watch!
It would have been great to hear which was your favorite overall for non-Apple households. I have the Ultraloq Pro version that connects to Wifi through a dongle bridge rather than having it built in. Lithium batteries last me about 1.5-2 years before switching out in a household of 2 people, which I thought was great. Everything has been great with this lock, but I do wish it had NFC unlock for Android phones. Apparently, they have a new one in pre-order that does it with iOS devices.
I really liked the Ultraloq u bolt z-wave (non-pro). I ended up buying a second one for my back door. I originally tried find a z-wave one from a more traditional lock company but ran into install issues with it. I tried the Ultraloq and it was pretty much perfect.
POSSIBLE ERROR / CORRECTION? I have a Schlage Encode (Not the Plus Model) on y AirBnB. I am able to setup users (up to 100) remotely and with specific schedules. This lock has been great for our needs. You indicated that the Advanced (scheduled Access Pin Creation) is not my experience at all. Is it possible that the limitation you mentioned was the result of connecting the loc to Apple HomeKit? Maybe the features of the non-Plus version to do detailed scheduling would be available if you were not paired with Apple HomeKit?
@@TheHookUp Which is sad. Since isn't matter built on the IP (Internet protocol) and wifi at that? I don't find Wifi a reliable messaging platform (wired networking yes, wifi no). I prefer to keep my devices on their own protocols (z-wave/Zigbee). I don't mind a devices like Philips hue that use zigbee to communicate with devices, but then the hub is network connected.
Great video - thank you for comparing all of these. One I think you missed was the Level Retrofit which uses the exterior portion of your existing lock and you just replace the interior. Yes it is limited to locks it can work with but with a retail price of $199 (on sale at Best Buy for $140 right now) it should be considered. It has all of the features as the Lock + - just excludes the exterior and the fingerprint reader. I have used the lock for almost 2 years with Apple home and happy to say it works well, can use with watch or phone, can open via app and have key as backup if needed.
Level Lock + doesn't have a finger print reader, the difference between the Level Lock and Level Lock Bolt vs the Level Lock + is the additional of apple homekey. If homekey isn't important to you then lock or lock bolt are a better pick.
Great video especially as we need to have work done on the house soon and can not be present, but when you say Apple, does that also include Android, as I can use the same NFC pad to pay for goods as an Apple Phone on my Samsung or is this something magical only for The Jobbies?
The Aqara lock is now Matter compatible (assuming it is connected to an Aqara hub that is also Matter compatible). So, in theory, an Android phone should be able to work with it. However, that may require that whatever 'home controller' you're using (such as Google Home) will send a command to open the lock in response to the Android's close proximity to the lock. Otherwise, it may be something reserved for Apple users.
That's a very old Eufy lock version from 2021 demonstrated. The newer Eufys have rechargeable long life battery, I've found you need to recharge approx every 4 to 6 months, as we have heavy entry/exit use with a big family and often many guests.
@@TheHookUp there is a newer Eufy model from 2021, without cameras, and has the long life rechargeable Lithium battery unit. Same features but far better battery as opposed to those awful std batteries. I've been using it for 2 to 3 yrs. Was rated a vast improvement on battery functions, since the model you'd demonstrated.
I have had a Lockly on my front door for 3 years. A problem I have is weathering. It gets a lot of sunlight and it looks like it is peeling. As you pointed out, the fingerprint reader is very sensitive to moisture.
UV exposure and touchscreens is definitely an issue. My parents have had a Eufy for 3 years now that gets BLASTED with sunlight for 8 hours a day. It works, but like you said it looks like it's "peeling". That's another reason I think the Eufy rubberized buttons are a great option.
All these are great for a front door in a crime ridden area. I'm in need of a door that won't automatically relock when closed and be able to open/close from the inside. When snowblowing it's nice to pull the blower out, close the overhead door and use the side door to enter/exit without doing a pin each time. After blowing I want to be able to lock from the inside. Most of these fail
I wish you would have added Matter compatibility to the chart. It looks like everything is going that way and I'd like to make sure my next purchase is included. Also, why no Android support listings?
My front door requires me to 'tug' it to lock it (ensures a good weather seal). Will any smart lock do that? I can see if it had a proper taper and enuf torque, it's possible.
No, you will run through batteries weekly. The way to handle that is to make your deadbolt strike plate large and let your handle latch do the heavy lifting of keeping the door closed (with the good weather seal).
As you mentioned, the keyholes are the most vulnerable points (aside from kick-ins, windows, or other unrelated means of entry)... but they're the topic you didn't compare at all. How good are they in that regard? I too am leaning towards the Aqara U100, but if it's anything like the Level Lock, it can easily be bumped to gain entry with virtually no lockpicking skill required. Do some of these have security pins or other features to make lockpicking more difficult? Do any of them have cylinders that can be replaced with more secure options?
I'm not qualified to make those assessments. A skilled lockpick will be able to easily open any traditional lock core regardless of security pins, a drug addict is just going to break a window.
@@TheHookUp I feel like a lot of people use that line "any lock can be picked" as a means to negate the added value of locks that are made to be more secure. There's definitely a market for more secure key locks, the assumption that break-ins are binary in type is also rather naive. Locks as a whole are merely deterrents, just because a bike lock can be cut doesn't mean you should leave it out unsecured or attempt to secure it with a piece of thread and a paper clip. In computing, there's something call security through obscurity. It's not meant to be a bullet-proof means of security, but it can stop beginner script kiddies from gaining access. Door locks are just a single layer of protection through the means of deterrents. If it takes 2 paperclips and a 120s instructional video to pick a lock, that's a low bar for entry. If it takes a professional lock picking set and hours of research and repetition on practice locks, then you've just created the equivalent of a junk folder to weed out novices. I understand you're not a locksmith and you haven't the experience to give any sort of security ratings... but you can do the research to determine basic information about the cylinders and their pins. How many pins? Are there security pins? What type of pins? Is the cylinder interchangeable? Etc... Not trying to bash your work or video... your video just happen to be the one I clicked on when searching for information about some of the locks you reviewed. Just disappointed by the reviewing community as a whole for often skipping technical details that are literally the core of the product and help determine how well the lock will do what locks are made to do... deter unauthorized entries.
@@mheetu3909 I'd love to read some statistics on the number of home break-ins that are the result of picked locks per year. I would guess that number is extremely low, near zero. Crimes of opportunity are the result of unlocked doors, not easily picked locks. Forced entry is forced, not finessed.
Please note the Schlage is Thread compatible and will switch to it if one has a HomePod mini. Then you’ll really see battery saving; going on 2 months since install, my Schlage Encode Plus still reports 100% battery. I actually prefer the noise as it can act as an audible security cue if there’s no smartphone/apple watch around. Truly odd Apple has OK’d a product with many shortcoming as with the Level+. Another example of form over function.
Great comparison as always! I would have loved to see a Yale product in the line up of products. I have been using a Yale Assure deadbolt for a few years now with the Z-Wave module installed. It has never skipped a beat. Integrates great with Home Assistant as well.
I've had the Lockly Secure Pro on the house and shed for about 2 years and they have been rock solid. I'd love to retro-fit the Lockly Guard to my sliding glass door, but I can't find enough information to confirm that it would fit my door - even after contacting Lockly directly. It's an expensive couple of hundred dollars for me to just "get one and see if I can make it work" :)
I'm having trouble finding a smart lock that does what I'm looking for. I currently have an Aqara N100 Bluetooth, which has served me perfectly in my apartment for the last two years. It has a fingerprint, password and NFC reader and although I wasn't able to integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant, I was able to create some automations using notifications from the app and a gateway. It turns out that I now have a kid, and soon she will be walking around the house. I would like a lock that is not only secure from the outside, but also from the inside, to prevent it from being able to open when no one is looking, but so that I can still have all the features that a smart lock is capable of to offer. I thought about having an auxiliary lock on the inside, but besides not being an elegant solution, the lock should also be intelligent so that I can open it automatically when a fingerprint is read from the outside, for example. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to achieve my requirements in a way that is simple and isn't overkill?
I think they make a ton of different lock childproofing options that go over your existing interior lock lever. You could even take inspiration from those and 3d print one that perfectly fits your doorlock.
As always, great video and thorough information! I just built a new modern-style home so aesthetics were the most important thing to me. For all the rave reviews of the Schlage, I just couldn't bring myself to put that ugly thing on my house...even on my garage/house door. So I went with the Level Lock+. It is indeed beautiful (IMO), installation and setup was a breeze (not sure what problem Rob had with installation), and when using my phone or watch, it work perfectly. BUT...the thing always said "No Response" in HomeKit. The problem was that my hub was too far from the lock. I added a HomePod mini closer to the Level Lock and now it's been perfect, remotely. Not sure if other Bluetooth locks have the same problem with hub distance.
My issue with the level lock during installation was that it required a deeper deadbolt faceplate than standard. When I first tried to install the lock the hook mechanism in the lock body couldn't reach the deadbolt and extra material needed to be chiseled out of the door in order to reach. This wasn't particularly difficult for me to do, but it was definitely the only lock to have that issue.
@@TheHookUp Gotcha, I don't remember having that issue. All my doors came pre-drilled though. But I did have to use longer screws than what they came with for the jamb side so they would go through the wood frame and into concrete wall.
Great review as always, but It’s a pity that the review does not include smart locks, which do not need to be built in. I believe It's better to invest into some highly secure traditional lock (say, EVVA MCS or EVVA 4KS), and then add a smart functionality to it by hanging something like Tedee or Danalock smart locks from the inside of the door.
as always a nice video.... only one question.... witch one of those smart locks has an integrated door sensor that tell them to auto lock them? i have a yale/phillips xtr (its not so smart) and it has some magnetic sensor for auto lock, some yale have an addon....
Only lockly secure has a designated reed sensor for open/close. The rest use hall effect to estimate door position. Also worth noting that the lockly sensor requires perfect setup to only register as closed when the door is fully closed, otherwise it gives a false sense of security.
I have a Kwikset Premis which I like except for the fact that in directly sunlight it seems to overheat even in winter quite easy and basically shuts off the touchscreen. Did any of these have that issue (or maybe test it if possible)? My door faces west so for the majority of the year it gets at least some direct sunlight
@@TheHookUp Yeah that works as well but I was thinking direct with zigbee/zwave. I currently use kwikset with zwave. They are older ones but they work great.
If you had to pick one to integrate with HomeAssistant, which would it be? Aqara? Also, the Eufy doorbell doesn’t work at all without cloud connection (at least mine doesn’t). Does the eufy lock also have the same issue?
Great video as always... Other things that would be useful: warranty number of codes any of these have zwave what ones operate with the ring alarm or other alarms. history and tracking of door unlcoks and locks and what code was used. what locks have an ANSI Grade or BHMA rating? Here in California getting your door kicked in has become common. geofencing - auto unloc when near door.
Most of these are black and hard to see if they're locked at times; To fix this I put a thin strip of glow in the dark tape on the interior switch (paint or simple colored tape would work just as well).
Good question, that compatibility is mostly about the bolt size as the shanks tend to be oversized. I’d suggest picking the lock that you want and then verifying that it fits your door.
You should send the entire door to Lockpicking Lawyer to test out the robustness of the locks
I don't want to think about how much it would cost to ship an entire door.
@@TheHookUpI’m sure he has a spare door to mount them on. Just send the set!
I 2nd (or 3rd) the motion.
That door is excellent! 😂
He would have zero issue picking any of the keyways in this video. I would also predict that he wouldn't find any other vulnerabilities other than the keyway.
There is a significant feature discussion missing in this video - the auto lock/remote lock feature and if the lock knows if the door is open or closed. This is a security risk and a vital feature imo.
I bought a Eufy a year ago and although I loved its features, it would auto lock the door with the door being wide open and the app showed that the door was locked. After speaking with support who confirmed that this was not supported, I promptly returned it and got a Lockly Secure Pro. I don't know which other locks support this and the Secure Pro is pretty darn ugly (on the inside of the door), but to me this was very important. It creates a false sense of security that the door is closed and locked when it could very well be open and "locked"
Good to know. Thanks for sharing
thank you have it too and that is very true
Look at Alfred locks, some of them use a contact sensor to determine open/close status
Yeah, one of the key features I was looking for was the autolock feature as I'm one of those "did I Really lock the door?" brained persons. I've also been able to manage the lock remotely when contractors need to be in / out all day.
For another $20 you can add a zigbee door sensor to confirm open or closed status.
A couple of comments on the Aqara lock: First, it uses a Schlage-style key. However, its lock cylinder is NOT compatible with Schlage cylinders. (The pins used in the Aqara lock are slightly smaller in diameter than Schlage pins.) I was able to get my Aqara lock re-keyed to match the rest of the locks in our house, but the locksmith had to grind down some of the pins in the Aqara cylinder to re-key the lock. Had the locksmith needed longer pins to re-key the lock, I would have needed to re-key my entire house. You might not care about that because you'll never use a key to open the lock, but it is something to consider.
Second, the Aqara lock needs an Aqara hub to take advantage of all the features. (It also needs an Apple Home hub -- an Apple Homepod, Homepod Mini, or an Apple TV -- to take advantage of the Apple Homekit features.) The lock uses zigbee to connect to the Aqara hub, which is faster, more reliable, and more energy efficient than Bluetooth. The hub then connects to your wifi network. So, the performance of the lock is probably better with the hub than without. It is, however, an additional expense.
Either multiple people have had the exact same experience, or I read your review somewhere else because I got some serious deja vu reading your comment.
@@TheHookUp a comparison of rekeying the locks would be good. I know I'd like my entire house using one key for all exterior locks, rather than having multiple keys.
@TheHookUp I have two of the original Schlage Encode locks and am very happy with them. I use rechargeable batteries with them and recharge them about 3 times a year. I have them integrated with home assistant and they work well. I can lock/unlock the locks from my dashboard. I have installed a passive NFC RFID tag on the doorframe painted the same colour, that triggers a home assistant automation through an Apple shortcuts. Its a bit of a work around, but it only takes about the same time as punching in the pin code to unlock. Convenient for when your hands are full. With this model you can set temp pin codes, with a schedule. The only thing I do not like is the maximum automatic locking time of 4 minutes.
I also love mine and they recently did an app update that extended the time up to 10 minutes. Hope that helps 🙂
This is undoubtedly the best smart lock video I have come across during my research. Thanks a ton for putting so much time in doing this analysis.
Great video as always! I was able to add the Aqara U100 to Home Assistant without buying the Aqara hub by using a bluetooth dongle on my HA mini-pc and the built in BT integration. It has been pretty reliable in my automations and the lock status updates back to HA are fast enough for me (1-10s). I did have to remove the lock from Homekit before it showed as available in HA. Apparently you can re-add it to Homekit to get apple homekey back but I don't have an iPhone/Apple Watch so I haven't bothered testing. Overall I'm a fan of the lock even without using homekey. The most annoying thing is the flimsly plastic cover you have to remove to change out the batteries on the inside portion. I feel like I'm going to snap it every time I remove it.
Nice, good info.
I almost commented to ask this question but luckily saw your comment first. Thanks for sharing.
Does anybody know if it works simultaneously? I want to use the Aqara with bluetooth Home assistant and with homekey
I think the hub allows for zigbee, which may be more stable since it is a mesh network? Not sure. I want this lock and already have the hub for other things, so its a no-brainer. Just need to pull the trigger.
Do you know if it truly requires the Aqara Hub to use Zigbee connection, or will other Zigbee hubs/USB sticks work? I use a Conbee Zigbee stick, and it works great for all kinds of devices. I was wondering if I could connect the U100 to Home Assistant using that before shelling out the money for this lock.
I've been using the Level Lock for a little over a year now I think, I have it integrated into Home Assistant using the built-in Homekit controller integration and an ESP32 running ESPHome Bluetooth extender. It's rock solid and can be bought for a LOT less than 300 bucks. It's my number one pick especially since it's presence doesn't interfere with the normal operation of your lock.
Standard level lock or level lock + with homekey?
@@TheHookUp Ah, good point, I just got the standard lock. The only difference between the two is with plus you can use a security card, a fingerprint, or a homekey, none of which was worth it for me to justify the price difference.
I went with the Level Bolt, which is pretty much the same as the standard Lock, only it re-uses your existing key and thumb lever. And it's even less expensive!
How is the battery life?
@@kahunatunaful I've yet to replace it, but I also don't have to use it all that much, most of the time we're going through the garage, but still, it been over a year and still going strong.
I really like my August Smart Lock. You can choose to add a keypad and keep it in range of the lock. It also lets you choose your deadbolt which is also nice
Do you have an apple phone? My August lock is a NIGHTMARE on Android phones, but works every time for iOS
I’m surprised it wasn’t on this video
I’m a locksmith , I recommend the Schlage encode all the time . Did you update the app . It does allow restriction on codes if needed . Kwikset halo with the touch button is another WiFi option I recommend
And just for a fyi if anyone reads this I recommend the Schlage be365 for anyone looking for a electronic lock with out the extra bells and whistles
I was an early adopter of smart locks, I bought a Lockitron during their bolt funding and have been keyless at home since.
I finally replaced the Bolt a couple years ago with the Level Lock+ and LOVE it, especially the nfc key tags for key rings.
Thank you for the analysis and breakdown. It definitely gives us things to think about. I'd be interested to know which of the locks are compatible locally with Home Assistant via Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Bluetooth via the ESPHome bluetooth bridge, and which features are available via those methods.
That's the only thing I care about, or at least the most important thing, with ANY smarthome device!
This is ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! Quantifiable results, tested things that I never thought of and helped me make a confident choice.
7:38 Phillips has the best options. It has the WiFi hub that can control several doors through WiFi, Bluetooth, Amazon, Google & others. It also has a door sensor that can inform you if your door has been opened. It will even alert you if your door lock is unlocked and the door is pushed open. There’s many more options I didn’t say.
I picked up 3 of the Schlage locks about a year ago specifically for HomeKey, and I've been very happy with them. Good battery life (the door I use the most is currently at 20% on its original batteries) and instant unlocks from my watch.
The Schlage encode plus is still my favorite, I love how it looks, it has great battery life and the Apple key is nice, though I feel like we just type code in most of the time
Something that I've seen with our setup:
We have one of the Eufy Locks (Smart Lock S230, used to be called the Smart Lock Touch & Wifi) that obviously looks like a smartlock, installed on our mudroom door. It is a newer door and the lock can actually autolock that door pretty reliably as it is a newer door and frame (installed when we moved in 4.5 years ago), unlike our front door. The front door has our video doorbell installed next to it as that is the one that we use the most.
The problem I've run into is a lot of people mistake our smart lock for our doorbell, even though it's obviously mounted on the door and not next to the door. This results in delivery drivers delivering packages to our mudroom instead of the front door. Fortunately, it's just a few feet to get a package placed at the mudroom door (mudroom faces the street, front door faces our neighbor, it's a couple steps down to the mudroom and it's to your right), but on a day like today, it's annoying in rainy (or snowy for that matter) weather.
Our smart lock has worked well, though I still had issues getting the striker plate mounted and we sometimes have issues with the door being shut properly enough to autolock. It and our Robovac are the only Eufy products I am not planning to replace. I'm convinced that replacing the front door and frame will be necessary before getting a smart lock for it. We have many issues locking it especially in the summer time when the door frame sticks due to expansion. If I ever do that
Right on time ... moving in 2 months and wanted to know the options. Thanks Rob.
One thing I would love to see is support for being rekeyed, or even being able to preserve your current key. I’d much prefer to be able to use same key for front or back if I needed to use the key.
I thought about that, but I really question how many people would go through the expense (hiring a locksmith) or hassle (doing it themselves) to replace a lock core when the key will rarely if ever be used. The whole point of a smart lock is to never use the key.
@@TheHookUp yeah that’s fair. I just want it so I can continue to use the key when needed in any door. For me the level bolt or the Yale are good for this. Level uses existing bolt and Yale will prekey them all the same from the factory
@@sharkosaurfps This. I want all my exterior locks to use the same key. With Schlage you can ahve them rekeyed and I think they use tumblers that are common in non-smart schlage locks.
@@frankmthompson Thanks, I will look into Schlage as well! Having all doors use the same key seems like a basic feature, but with smart locks its not
I agree here. Even though you don't want to use the key, if the lock has a key option is sure makes a ton of sense to make it the same key as other locks on the house. All my locks are Schlage and I take them to a locksmith upon arrival and have them rekeyed to our existing keys. We also use Schlage deadbolts which are not smart but everything matches and only need one key.
Which would you recommend for home assistant with local control and maybe zigbee support?
Nothing if you care about actual security rather than the illusion of security
@Pabz2030 care to elaborate, or are you just making stuff up?
Definitely making stuff up. Made another comment on how easy it is to “hack the api” literally not a thing.
@@Misticzerx0rWell you could start by typing the words "Hacking a smart lock" into google and enjoy the read
@@TheHookUp Lol stop making yourself look stupid infront of your viewers.
I have an OG Yale touchpad deadbolt with a plug in Bluetooth module since 2017, never fails.
I have the Yale Assure 2 without keyway, and it looks slick and works extremely well. With the Zwave dongle has both BT and Zwave. 👍
I didn't include Yale because they didn't have any fingerprint or homekey options... only for them to release a fingerprint/homekey option YESTERDAY 😡
@@TheHookUp I was wondering why you skipped the Yale locks. That's what I use and love, although I don't think they sell an option without a physical key anymore. I don't want a physical key on my doors. Way too easy to pick.
@@TheHookUp fair enough! Sod's law, them releasing something new just now 😂
@@TheHookUp Perfect excuse for a follow up video, call the the Black Sheet Smart Lock Review
There is one test that I have never seen done on the smart locks. That is placing a light that emulates the sun and gets to 140F+. I live in Arizona where my door way gets to 140F+ during the summer because it faces directly West. I have gone through three locks, not because they did not work but after time the rubber malformed. The screen blisterd, or the lock got so hot that the pcb on the inside tweaked. I have since gone back to the manual locks. If the HOA would allow me to but something up in fron of the porch that would dissapte some of the light and heat that would be great, but alas no go.
The issue with that is that it's likely not the heat, but the UV. The blistering of the touchscreen interface is UV degradation of the adhesive. I'm not sure how I could replicate that.
@@TheHookUp Not really asking to test, more of a "snarky" thing. They test all kinds of stuff near me (cars, house paints, etc) for life expectency, but simple stuff? I have 8 cameras on the outside of my house. Most purchased over 4 years ago on some of your tips. They are all working fine. Who knows. Thanks for the reply.
A great video. I've picked the Wyze lock bolt. The main reason is the key way (lack of). Maybe too many LPL clips. There are other type of locks that only replace the inside piece, from Wyze, Eufy and a couple of others, for the stealth approach. Also Wifi eats battery comparing to Bluetooth, Zigbee or Z-wave.
I recently replaced a Eufy with the Aqara U100 and I absolutely love it especially paired with the M1S Aqara Hub for automations.
I'm going to be sad when someone wins the Patreon giveaway and requests the Aqara U100. If they don't it's going on my front door.
I'm considering to buy the eufy lock because we already have some of their products. What were your cons and What is the reason you replaced it?
@@ReadyMeta1 my biggest con would be that the Eufy was wifi and I'm replacing any Wi-Fi devices that are comparable with non-wifi ones. My second biggest con would be how often I would get "the door failed to lock" notifications and the lock would get stuck. Third con would be the Eufy battery charged via micro USB (I had the version from a couple years ago). The U100's response time is lighting fast, I haven't had one failed to lock event, the aesthetic is much nicer IMO and the Aqara ecosystem is much more accommodating for automations than Eufy was.
@@Chaybee12 thanks for the reply! Will be doing more research than before I buy
Using the older Schlage Connect for 3-4 years now. Two of them have worked great with battery swaps maybe 1-2 times per year. Tied to a Wink 2 controller. Wink appears to be on life support for a few years and has had multiple 30+ day outages. It still works but I'm no longer adding anything to it and not sure what would replace it. Mostly used for automating lights and the locks. I can use the locks but cannot program them when the controller is offline. Will eventually need a new solution so thanks for this roundup. Speed of change in the home automation market is tough to navigate especially when choosing expensive devices which will probably be obsolete in the not too distant future.
Matter will hopefully go a long way to solve that, but only time will tell.
A raspberry pi running home assistant with a Z-Wave dongle is probably your best bet (or the new Home Assistant Green device). Add the Key Master integration on top of that and managing Z-Wave locks has never been easier. I can create temporary codes for contractors, codes that only work on certain days/times, and can easily manage all of it
Dang. Was really hoping to see a smart lock video where you also compare how well they can integrate into home assistant
I have two Level Lock Bolts for my back doors. I use rechargeable batteries for them and I have a total of four batteries. Two are ready to go and then the two that are in the locks. I have a small recharging station that keeps the batteries ready to go. This eliminates the e-waste of having to replace these batteries with non-rechargeable ones at a higher frequency. So far, I am still on my first set of rechargeable batteries after 2+ years.
The Aquara is definitely the best but as someone who doesn't have an iPhone, I got the Ultraloq Z Wave version for $129 open box for use with Home Assistant
I was able to add the Aqara to HA without the hub using a BT dongle on my HA mini-pc and removing the lock from Homekit (I don't have an iPhone/Apple watch but added it to Homekit on my iPad just to test). Once removed from Homekit it showed up in HA right away and works great.
Great review. Although there is one thing that you didn’t talk about which I think is really important: Door fully closed sensing, so deadbolt can’t slam into the door frame and you know door is really closed. Most locks don’t seem to have this feature, but some do. It would be good to know which although I did see you address this in the comments. Would be good to see a test result of that too though. I wish more locks would add this basic feature. It’s so easy for someone to leave the door open, and mess everything up, especially a kid.
Lockly Vision comes with door sensor.
ive heard great things about the August smartlock too. great video man as usual
I love the schlage z-wave based locks. I have 3 of them with 2 in a rental home. Having it integrated with home assistant and using the keymaster integration makes it so so very easy to manage. It's not the quietest lock but it is super functional. Looks great outside. Not finger print or other way of unlocking other than pin code or using home assistant. You could always set up RFID tags with home assistant though to unlock using a phone. Battery life is also phenomenonal being z-wave based. Pricing was also reasonable at about $225 each I think. I personally also feel more comfortable with a known lock brand vs tech companies making locks.
E a
I would agree with this. zwave is significantly better than the wifi crap they have here. at that price what are they thinking?
My guess is they went with wifi to be able to have homekey.
I had bad luck with schlage z-wave... constant disconnects. my August z-wave has been rock solid.
@@marcusone1 what were you using as your Z-Wave hub? I have it in home assistant with a zoom adapter and haven't had any issues with 3 different locks.
Homeseer and not a single other device has issues. it was only a few feet away from the controller as well, through one drywall wall, signal levels reported good. so maybe just a bad one. I haven't had the need to try again :)@@jmoery
The one thing I think you left out is the ability to withstand a few kicks to the door. That expensive one looks cool but the battery is in the lock bolt area. I can't imagine that's very good at surviving some strong kicks to the door. I have the old Shlage (the first one that came out). I use 4 Eneloop Pro AA batteries and they handle the load for about 9 months. When my kids were younger and used to go in and out more, I'd still get 3 months of use so well worth the cost of those and they have the extra power needed for turning door locks.
You are the Project Farm of the smart home world. Top notch.
Except he knows nothing about locks and the entire review is bunk.
I moved recently and I used the Eufy model that had the rechargeable battery unit. It work flawlessly so installed C210 back door and C220 on my front door. Also installed the battery power video doorbell since the home didn’t have a traditional wired doorbell.
I love that the TH-camrs are collaborative and friendly.
Plenty of views to go around.
We have had electric locks (not all smart) for some time as we are old . Weiser powerbolt. Schlage . Schlage electric touch pad locks are great ! We had an August smart lock but discovered that the batteries need to be changed every 3-4 months so now it’s a paper weight! Now have Schlage wifi at one location and Eufy at another . We are snowbirds so battery life is IMPORTANT ! The Schlage lock seems to have held up well as it’s over 1 year and doesn’t need new batteries. The Eufy ,we installed a month before we left our south home . We probably used it 20 times before we left. A couple months ago I received notifications of low battery. Last month it went offline. Not impressed! I do like their cameras and hope they resolve this lock issue.
Just in time! Brilliant as always :)
I would recommend the Danalock. It has a very minimal, modern look and has a really strong motor. Mine has Z wave and is connected directly to Smartthings. Optional keypad sold separately. I feel like no one really knows or talks about it.
I have EMTEK Empower. Heavy duty bolt, not a hollow bolt. Reinforced strike plate, Yale WiFi app, can auto lock if you wish, door ajar notification and they can be ordered in the inconspicuous model that uses a key cylinder deadbolt body on the outside so it doesn’t look like a smart lock, it’s even available in decorative designs and full piece handle sets. The key model can also be upgraded to a high security Mul-T-Lock cylinder for pick resistants and key control.
Not a toy like the models shown in the video
I have the Nest X Yale for the 5 past years and its rock solid ! Batterie handles more than 1 year ans its wifi and the best looking touch screen so far. I will buy it again for my garage for sure but its pricey!
I'm going to replace my Nest X Yale for just a standard Yale Z-Wave lock or something. I hate how the Nest X Yale is the only thing I have that can't be in Home Assistant. Plus Google is likely to drop it any day now, just like the Nest alarm system.
@@medivalone I have to admit that its the only thing im not able to add to my HA Server :( but no other looks clean like that one for me on my door...
My Aqara U100 has worked flawlessly and I enjoy its intergration into the Apple ecosystem.
As in one of the comments below go on with retrofitting locks like switchbot lock. I'm using it, and believe that in combination with a decent key lock, it's a better solution. For sure not so comfortable to unlock from outside but integrated via HA opens a lot of new possibilities.
Maybe I missed it, but the single most important part of a deadbolt is security and the protection it provides. No mention of ANSI or BHMA ratings for any of these locks seems like a miss to me.
For those interested, Schlage (a lock company first) has always had Grade 1 (ANSI) or AAA (BHMA since that took over) Locks as far as I know.
Off the rest, the only one I know of that is actually rated is the Ultraloq, which is also Grade 1.
No, I did not go searching for their ratings either. Just feel like it was an important miss in a revew of deadbolts.
Also missed options that were not BT or Wifi such as Zigbee or Z-wave.
Curious why that's the single most important thing to you. Those gradings have to do with how easily a door can be kicked in using force. For most houses that don't have bars on the windows forced entry by kicking in a door is basically a non-factor. Throwing a brick through a window is significantly faster, requires less strength and effort, and makes less noise.
As LPL has proven time and time again, pick resistance is mostly a sham, and you can assume that a moderately skilled lockpick can open any lock with a standard keyway in a matter of seconds unless the lock has specifically been modified for pick resistance. No one is making pick proof locks from the factory.
@@TheHookUp I consider it because all in all, the first thing I look for in a security device is security, not necessarily convenience.
I.e. I would rather have an ANSI Grade 1 Lock or BHMA AAA lock without fingerprint than a lower graded lock with it.
@@frankmthompson I guess the way I look at it is this: You get your ANSI Grade 1 Lock with a lock core, I get my WYZE Lock Bolt with no standard keyway.
Anyone with $20 and 15 minutes to watch a tutorial can pick your lock and enter without any noise or suspicious activity. In order to get past the WYZE lock someone would have to kick my door forcefully enough to tear the deadbolt out of the door jamb.
Not only is kicking in a door going to cause a significant disturbance, but it also requires a fair amount of physical strength. No strength and very little skill is required to pick a lock.
@@TheHookUp My point was not to say mine is better than yours or vice versa. My point was the on a review of deadbolts, leaving off this type of information was a big miss in my opinion. Everyone will do their own cost/risk analysis for their situation. In this case I thought it would be important to at least mention the security/grade/strength side of a lock device in a review of deadbolts.
To each their own.
BTW, ANSI grades have more to do than just strength (such as # of lock cycles). There are other factors, but again, perhaps the Grade 3 Wyze Lock Bolt is all you need. And that's fine. But people should know or at least mention it so they can research it further on their own.
Wish the new Schlage Touch also had Thread. I don’t want any more WiFi devices but a keyless lock is so perfect for me
One nice thing about schlage is that if you already have non schlage handles and locks through out the house you can match them.
The best thing about the Schlage is you can open it with a bit of bent wire.
I have some Schlage Zwave locks. They are ok but I find they are slow (sometimes immediately, usually 10+ minutes) to update their state when it is manually changed.
I was very unimpressed by the Schlage performance. To me it felt like Schlage built the lock (which was very sturdy) and then farmed out the app creation to the lowest bidder.
I never have this issue. I have used Schlage since 2015 and they always update immediately. One of mine (original form 2015) sometimes looses connection with my z-wave controller, but unplugging it and plugging it back in fixes it. I have alerts that notify me when the door is opened, but locked so that I know when this happens, which is just a few times a year.
I’ve tested 27 smart locks but you still managed to test 5 that I haven’t! Great comparison
Had you tested the Aqara? It’s really solid.
Nope, nor the Philips, ultraloq, geek or wyze bolt. I did test the previous version of Wyze
I have a couple from kaadas sitting here that I haven’t done anything with yet. I’ll probably update the realtor magazine article mid next year and be sure to mention a couple of these.
Happen to have any insights on robot lawnmowers?
I like the Aqara U100 concept, but I will never get into Apple so I want to be able to use my Android based smartwatch to do the same thing. I don't know if they include Android smartwatch functionality, but if not limiting such capability to one brand will limit their sales by a huge amount.
Including a key does not mean you can open the lock in case the power source runs out or electronics fail. Had to find out that the hard way. If you are using HomeKit, you need to RTFM, it clearly states the apple devices that act as a hub for other HomeKit devices to work or stay connected.
Yet another great video! Thanks as always!
One big brand that I think is missing are the Yale locks. I have one and have been pretty happy with it. The setup is a little weird as the Wi-Fi is a secondary module you have to setup and install, but otherwise has worked great for me. They have a ton of style and color options too.
I didn't include Yale because they didn't have any fingerprint or homekey options... only for them to release a fingerprint/homekey option the day before this video came out😡
@@TheHookUp Haha looks like you're just going to have to release a round two showdown including those locks!
I've been happy with both of my August Locks. Any particular reason why they weren't considered?
I’m happy you’re happy, but compared with other options August has absolutely fallen behind. Battery life is pretty bad, range is bad, airbnb integration is bad, aesthetics are bad. 🤷♂️
@@TheHookUp That's fair. I was just trying to use my existing product as a baseline for evaluating these newer products.
I actually kickstarted that Ultraloq! It's been on my home door since mid 2019 and I have very little to complain about. It rated low on your power draw test, but I can only recall changing the batteries maybe once every 9-12 months, and that's being used ~10 times a day on average by the 5 people in my house. I think some of the "7 in 1" features involve the first party app, for example I recall a feature where if the app detects your phone leaving or approaching your house it will automatically lock or unlock. It actually worked well but I turned it off since I have multiple people in my house, and could be why you were confused about their claim.
It also has “shake to unlock” in which you shake your phone when close to the lock to open it, but it only works when the ultraloq app is open, so that doesn’t seem like much of a feature.
@@TheHookUp agreed. Having to take the phone out of your pocket and shake it kind of negates the whole "hands free" opening approach. Also, I have been extremely dissatisfied by the auto lock feature, which only now works half the time, and is less secure than not having it at all. You get used to it auto locking...until it doesn't, then your house isn't even locked.
In a future video you should test the warranty process. Schlage has excellent customer service. You can call in, have a knowledgeable rep troubleshoot issues, and if they can’t fix it they will ship out a replacement. I have an older Camelot Schlage replaced twice out of warranty after the motor failed. This is an area many smaller companies fail at.
Thanks for the video, I have a Kwikset unit currently and it eat batteries excessively and is pretty loud. The noise is the same if I lock it into the jam with the door open so if there's any misalignment it's inside the door. Looking to change it out.
How come you did not do the Yale Assure 2? Was thinking about buying that lock and would have loved to have seen how it stacked up against the others.
It's a pity that Level could never figure out Apple HomeKit reliably (or even opening locks using their own app). After being burnt on the Level Bolt that works 50% of the time, I was thinking of the Lock+ with Apple Home Key, but not for that price. I'm ready for Aqara! As always, thanks for the great densely packed reviews!
It works very reliably for me (although it does take about 5 seconds to open/close). I have it registered with homekit to a homeassistant instance.
@@PepRodejaLevel Lock sucks
I noticed Kwikset HomeConnect 620 was not included in the list. This is Z-wave compatible so low battery usage and cheaper then the Schlage. Been using for 6 months and no issues.
This video only included locks that can be used without a hub (so no Zwave or Zigbee) only bluetooth and wifi.
Great video! Although I wish you had done 2 more test sets for real world scenarios.
1) Functionality in the event there is a power outage.
2) Functionality in the event that your internet connection goes down
Keep up the great work, your videos are highly informative and easy to watch!
These don't need power (they run on batteries), or the internet for local functionality.
It would have been great to hear which was your favorite overall for non-Apple households. I have the Ultraloq Pro version that connects to Wifi through a dongle bridge rather than having it built in. Lithium batteries last me about 1.5-2 years before switching out in a household of 2 people, which I thought was great. Everything has been great with this lock, but I do wish it had NFC unlock for Android phones. Apparently, they have a new one in pre-order that does it with iOS devices.
I really liked the Ultraloq u bolt z-wave (non-pro). I ended up buying a second one for my back door.
I originally tried find a z-wave one from a more traditional lock company but ran into install issues with it. I tried the Ultraloq and it was pretty much perfect.
POSSIBLE ERROR / CORRECTION?
I have a Schlage Encode (Not the Plus Model) on y AirBnB. I am able to setup users (up to 100) remotely and with specific schedules. This lock has been great for our needs.
You indicated that the Advanced (scheduled Access Pin Creation) is not my experience at all. Is it possible that the limitation you mentioned was the result of connecting the loc to Apple HomeKit? Maybe the features of the non-Plus version to do detailed scheduling would be available if you were not paired with Apple HomeKit?
Is the industry moving away from zwave? Ive been using a yale assure style lock with zwave since 2014 and still works
Fewer and fewer new zwave devices are being made since Matter hit the scene.
@@TheHookUpThanks. I need to catch up
@@TheHookUp Which is sad. Since isn't matter built on the IP (Internet protocol) and wifi at that? I don't find Wifi a reliable messaging platform (wired networking yes, wifi no).
I prefer to keep my devices on their own protocols (z-wave/Zigbee). I don't mind a devices like Philips hue that use zigbee to communicate with devices, but then the hub is network connected.
@@frankmthompson Matter can communicate over wifi or thread.
I spent most of the video saying "what about Home Assistant?" Glad there's at least 1 with the option.
I own a NUKI smartlock for years. It works great. I use it with complete local access in combination with Home Assistant.
Google NUKI Vulnerability. Enjoy.
Great video - thank you for comparing all of these. One I think you missed was the Level Retrofit which uses the exterior portion of your existing lock and you just replace the interior. Yes it is limited to locks it can work with but with a retail price of $199 (on sale at Best Buy for $140 right now) it should be considered. It has all of the features as the Lock + - just excludes the exterior and the fingerprint reader. I have used the lock for almost 2 years with Apple home and happy to say it works well, can use with watch or phone, can open via app and have key as backup if needed.
Level Lock + doesn't have a finger print reader, the difference between the Level Lock and Level Lock Bolt vs the Level Lock + is the additional of apple homekey. If homekey isn't important to you then lock or lock bolt are a better pick.
Dude! Your garage door with all the locks on it looks like you live in NYC 😂
THANKS for all the info on these locks!
Great video especially as we need to have work done on the house soon and can not be present, but when you say Apple, does that also include Android, as I can use the same NFC pad to pay for goods as an Apple Phone on my Samsung or is this something magical only for The Jobbies?
The Aqara lock is now Matter compatible (assuming it is connected to an Aqara hub that is also Matter compatible). So, in theory, an Android phone should be able to work with it. However, that may require that whatever 'home controller' you're using (such as Google Home) will send a command to open the lock in response to the Android's close proximity to the lock. Otherwise, it may be something reserved for Apple users.
Thank you so much for your reply - I can see my weekend will be taken up by reading specs and checking each products connectivity 😬
That's a very old Eufy lock version from 2021 demonstrated. The newer Eufys have rechargeable long life battery, I've found you need to recharge approx every 4 to 6 months, as we have heavy entry/exit use with a big family and often many guests.
It’s a current model sold by Eufy. They have more expensive versions with integrated cameras, but that is beyond the scope of the video.
@@TheHookUp there is a newer Eufy model from 2021, without cameras, and has the long life rechargeable Lithium battery unit. Same features but far better battery as opposed to those awful std batteries. I've been using it for 2 to 3 yrs. Was rated a vast improvement on battery functions, since the model you'd demonstrated.
I have had a Lockly on my front door for 3 years. A problem I have is weathering. It gets a lot of sunlight and it looks like it is peeling. As you pointed out, the fingerprint reader is very sensitive to moisture.
UV exposure and touchscreens is definitely an issue. My parents have had a Eufy for 3 years now that gets BLASTED with sunlight for 8 hours a day. It works, but like you said it looks like it's "peeling". That's another reason I think the Eufy rubberized buttons are a great option.
All these are great for a front door in a crime ridden area. I'm in need of a door that won't automatically relock when closed and be able to open/close from the inside. When snowblowing it's nice to pull the blower out, close the overhead door and use the side door to enter/exit without doing a pin each time. After blowing I want to be able to lock from the inside. Most of these fail
All these can have their auto lock feature disabled.
I love your channel!
Liked and subscribed. Your attention to detail is amazing.
Great video! I knew nothing about the smart lock space and I now I have a few good options! Thanks!
Thanks for so much info. Is the LEvel Lock the only option if I wanted to use a smart lock on my security gate door?
I wish you would have added Matter compatibility to the chart. It looks like everything is going that way and I'd like to make sure my next purchase is included. Also, why no Android support listings?
My front door requires me to 'tug' it to lock it (ensures a good weather seal). Will any smart lock do that?
I can see if it had a proper taper and enuf torque, it's possible.
No, you will run through batteries weekly. The way to handle that is to make your deadbolt strike plate large and let your handle latch do the heavy lifting of keeping the door closed (with the good weather seal).
As you mentioned, the keyholes are the most vulnerable points (aside from kick-ins, windows, or other unrelated means of entry)... but they're the topic you didn't compare at all. How good are they in that regard? I too am leaning towards the Aqara U100, but if it's anything like the Level Lock, it can easily be bumped to gain entry with virtually no lockpicking skill required. Do some of these have security pins or other features to make lockpicking more difficult? Do any of them have cylinders that can be replaced with more secure options?
I'm not qualified to make those assessments. A skilled lockpick will be able to easily open any traditional lock core regardless of security pins, a drug addict is just going to break a window.
@@TheHookUp I feel like a lot of people use that line "any lock can be picked" as a means to negate the added value of locks that are made to be more secure. There's definitely a market for more secure key locks, the assumption that break-ins are binary in type is also rather naive. Locks as a whole are merely deterrents, just because a bike lock can be cut doesn't mean you should leave it out unsecured or attempt to secure it with a piece of thread and a paper clip.
In computing, there's something call security through obscurity. It's not meant to be a bullet-proof means of security, but it can stop beginner script kiddies from gaining access. Door locks are just a single layer of protection through the means of deterrents. If it takes 2 paperclips and a 120s instructional video to pick a lock, that's a low bar for entry. If it takes a professional lock picking set and hours of research and repetition on practice locks, then you've just created the equivalent of a junk folder to weed out novices.
I understand you're not a locksmith and you haven't the experience to give any sort of security ratings... but you can do the research to determine basic information about the cylinders and their pins. How many pins? Are there security pins? What type of pins? Is the cylinder interchangeable? Etc...
Not trying to bash your work or video... your video just happen to be the one I clicked on when searching for information about some of the locks you reviewed. Just disappointed by the reviewing community as a whole for often skipping technical details that are literally the core of the product and help determine how well the lock will do what locks are made to do... deter unauthorized entries.
@@mheetu3909 I'd love to read some statistics on the number of home break-ins that are the result of picked locks per year. I would guess that number is extremely low, near zero. Crimes of opportunity are the result of unlocked doors, not easily picked locks. Forced entry is forced, not finessed.
Please note the Schlage is Thread compatible and will switch to it if one has a HomePod mini. Then you’ll really see battery saving; going on 2 months since install, my Schlage Encode Plus still reports 100% battery.
I actually prefer the noise as it can act as an audible security cue if there’s no smartphone/apple watch around.
Truly odd Apple has OK’d a product with many shortcoming as with the Level+. Another example of form over function.
Any RFID locks that you would recommend?
Thank you. I think I now know what I might get
I have the Aqara for my two door. So far so good. Love jt
Great comparison as always! I would have loved to see a Yale product in the line up of products. I have been using a Yale Assure deadbolt for a few years now with the Z-Wave module installed. It has never skipped a beat. Integrates great with Home Assistant as well.
I've had the Lockly Secure Pro on the house and shed for about 2 years and they have been rock solid. I'd love to retro-fit the Lockly Guard to my sliding glass door, but I can't find enough information to confirm that it would fit my door - even after contacting Lockly directly. It's an expensive couple of hundred dollars for me to just "get one and see if I can make it work" :)
Good job honest vedio unlike many others i watched
What an excellent roundup!
I'm having trouble finding a smart lock that does what I'm looking for. I currently have an Aqara N100 Bluetooth, which has served me perfectly in my apartment for the last two years. It has a fingerprint, password and NFC reader and although I wasn't able to integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant, I was able to create some automations using notifications from the app and a gateway. It turns out that I now have a kid, and soon she will be walking around the house. I would like a lock that is not only secure from the outside, but also from the inside, to prevent it from being able to open when no one is looking, but so that I can still have all the features that a smart lock is capable of to offer. I thought about having an auxiliary lock on the inside, but besides not being an elegant solution, the lock should also be intelligent so that I can open it automatically when a fingerprint is read from the outside, for example. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to achieve my requirements in a way that is simple and isn't overkill?
I think they make a ton of different lock childproofing options that go over your existing interior lock lever. You could even take inspiration from those and 3d print one that perfectly fits your doorlock.
As always, great video and thorough information! I just built a new modern-style home so aesthetics were the most important thing to me. For all the rave reviews of the Schlage, I just couldn't bring myself to put that ugly thing on my house...even on my garage/house door. So I went with the Level Lock+. It is indeed beautiful (IMO), installation and setup was a breeze (not sure what problem Rob had with installation), and when using my phone or watch, it work perfectly. BUT...the thing always said "No Response" in HomeKit. The problem was that my hub was too far from the lock. I added a HomePod mini closer to the Level Lock and now it's been perfect, remotely. Not sure if other Bluetooth locks have the same problem with hub distance.
My issue with the level lock during installation was that it required a deeper deadbolt faceplate than standard. When I first tried to install the lock the hook mechanism in the lock body couldn't reach the deadbolt and extra material needed to be chiseled out of the door in order to reach. This wasn't particularly difficult for me to do, but it was definitely the only lock to have that issue.
@@TheHookUp Gotcha, I don't remember having that issue. All my doors came pre-drilled though. But I did have to use longer screws than what they came with for the jamb side so they would go through the wood frame and into concrete wall.
Great review as always, but It’s a pity that the review does not include smart locks, which do not need to be built in. I believe It's better to invest into some highly secure traditional lock (say, EVVA MCS or EVVA 4KS), and then add a smart functionality to it by hanging something like Tedee or Danalock smart locks from the inside of the door.
as always a nice video.... only one question.... witch one of those smart locks has an integrated door sensor that tell them to auto lock them? i have a yale/phillips xtr (its not so smart) and it has some magnetic sensor for auto lock, some yale have an addon....
Only lockly secure has a designated reed sensor for open/close. The rest use hall effect to estimate door position. Also worth noting that the lockly sensor requires perfect setup to only register as closed when the door is fully closed, otherwise it gives a false sense of security.
I have a Kwikset Premis which I like except for the fact that in directly sunlight it seems to overheat even in winter quite easy and basically shuts off the touchscreen. Did any of these have that issue (or maybe test it if possible)? My door faces west so for the majority of the year it gets at least some direct sunlight
Curious if you tried rechargeable batteries with these locks. I have a bunch and really don't want to waste batteries if I can avoid it.
What retrofit lock would you recommend for renters? E.g Yale Linus, nuki, switch bot etc.?
Thanks for the video as always but I see you didnt do any that connect to Home assistant directly(zigbee/zwave).
Aqara can connect to home assistant via bluetooth bridge (homekit addition) or using Matter via the M2 hub.
@@TheHookUp Yeah that works as well but I was thinking direct with zigbee/zwave. I currently use kwikset with zwave. They are older ones but they work great.
If you had to pick one to integrate with HomeAssistant, which would it be? Aqara?
Also, the Eufy doorbell doesn’t work at all without cloud connection (at least mine doesn’t). Does the eufy lock also have the same issue?
Aqara for sure. I didn’t try to block cloud since that’s its main selling point.
Great video as always...
Other things that would be useful:
warranty
number of codes
any of these have zwave
what ones operate with the ring alarm or other alarms.
history and tracking of door unlcoks and locks and what code was used.
what locks have an ANSI Grade or BHMA rating? Here in California getting your door kicked in has become common.
geofencing - auto unloc when near door.
Most of these are black and hard to see if they're locked at times; To fix this I put a thin strip of glow in the dark tape on the interior switch (paint or simple colored tape would work just as well).
Which ones have the thickest door compatibility?
Good question, that compatibility is mostly about the bolt size as the shanks tend to be oversized. I’d suggest picking the lock that you want and then verifying that it fits your door.
Is there an Android integration similar to the Apple Lock app? Is there a way to use these with Android?
It would be nice to see a comparison of locks with Google Smart Lock for those of us that don't use iPhones
Is there a mains power lock on the market?
Or is it possible to connect the battery ones to a wireless charging pad and mounting in the door jam?
Very thorough review, THX 😊