We think the reason is straightforward: There simply aren’t too many home burglars around who are interested in, or capable of, implementing a sophisticated electronic hack, and they would rather rely on the most popular manner of breaking into a door-by force, using something like a trusty crowbar or screwdriver.
In fact, over seven years of closely reporting on and testing these devices, we have yet to find a single case of a smart lock being electronically exploited in the real world-only in labs or at hacker conventions. Our view is that while it’s technically possible for a smart lock to be exploited electronically, the likelihood is probably quite small. But we worry about the innate security risk of accidental triggers, and some early owners of the Wyze Lock have reported such problems. You can choose to enable auto-unlock mode, which employs your smartphone’s location and proximity to trigger the lock when you arrive home. Wyze also offers a $25 wireless keypad that pairs with your lock, and in our limited testing it worked fine, though we’d still prefer to have one device to rely on instead of dealing with two. Unlike our deadbolt-replacement picks, which have a keypad or a fingerprint sensor (or both), the Wyze Lock requires that you use an app to unlock it, which for everyday use isn’t much more convenient than using a key. The Wyze Lock offers some impressive features, such as a built-in door sensor that alerts you via a chime and a smartphone notification when you’ve left the door open or ajar. The package includes a tiny puck-like plug-in Wi-Fi adapter to enable remote access and smartphone notifications. The hardware installs quickly, and in our testing it worked well and was whisper-quiet. If you are a renter and not allowed to change your locks (or if you’re a homeowner and you simply don’t want to), the Wyze Lock is a low-cost yet full-featured option that connects easily to an existing deadbolt. Unfortunately, although this is a new model, it’s experiencing serious stock issues due to global chip shortages, so until that’s resolved, our previous runner-up, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt, remains a good option. We tend to prefer the tactile feel of keypads like the Encode Plus’s over that of a glass touchscreen, and that feature makes this lock less fussy to use, so it’s a good choice for rental properties-especially as it’s an extra-tough commercial-grade lock and has a built-in alarm.
#August keypad install
Of the many locks we’ve tested, the Encode Plus is one of the easiest smart locks to install and one of the simplest models to use. Beyond modest cosmetic updates, this revamped model gives you the ability to unlock it by holding your iPhone or Apple Watch nearby, through Apple’s Home Key feature. If you want a keypad smart lock that works with Apple HomeKit, The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt is an updated version of our previous pick, the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt.
#August keypad pro
If you can’t find it, and if you don’t mind having to use Ultraloq’s plug-in Bridge to connect your smart lock to your Wi-Fi network, the standard U-Bolt Pro is a perfectly great substitute and is less expensive, too (see Other good smart locks).Ĭompatibility: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant We did encounter a few issues during setup and when we used it with third-party platforms (see Flaws but not dealbreakers), but none of those hiccups would prevent us from recommending it.Ĭurrently the U-Bolt Pro WiFi is experiencing some temporary stock-supply issues and may not be consistently available. It also has a comparatively quiet mechanism, and it’s both small and unobtrusive. No matter which method you use to trigger it, the U-Bolt Pro WiFi responds quickly. That said, the fingerprint ID remains our preferred way to unlock it. We found the feel and function of the lock’s number buttons to be superior to pecking numbers on the glass touchscreen of many keypad models. You can unlock the U-Bolt Pro WiFi six different ways, including with a numerical code, in an app, through a physical keyway, and-the pièce de résistance-via fingerprint.
#August keypad Bluetooth
This model has Wi-Fi built in, so it doesn’t require a plug-in Bluetooth bridge like our previous pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro WiFi is a versatile smart lock with precision hardware and a pleasing low-profile design. Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant