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HomeKit Most reliable HomeKit door lock?

slipper

slipper

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 19, 2003
1,563
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Hey folks. Looking for new a new HomeKit door lock. My old condo used Yale/August but about every 6 months i'd need to reboot and reprogram so it was too unreliable for tenants. I need something as reliable as the Lutron Caseta switches! What's your recommendation and why? Thank you!!
 
I’m using Level Bolts, although I have an Apple TV near each one (4 Bolts and 7 Apple TVs). I had a hard time with reliable locking/unlocking via HomeKit unless I was near it with my phone until I added the Apple TVs, which I honestly needed them because Roku issues that is another story for another day.
 
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If your doors are properly aligned, the August models work great. I use them in zwave mode and they are solid.
 
No issues at all with the Aqara U100 and is feature rich. Relatively inexpensive too. I use two of them.

You can’t really ask for the most reliable though. Way too many variables.
 
I fitted a Yale assure Lock 2 plus in January but returned it to the Apple store after 2 weeks. 20% of the time it would refuse to unlock when I was standing outside. Unacceptable - especially as it didn't offer a manual key as a backup.

I replaced it with a Schlage Encode Plus. A bit more money but 100% reliable. As a backup it uses the regular key on all my other doors (I did have to rekey them to match, but worth it)

The lock used several times daily and it's gone through one set of Duracell batteries so far this year. HomeKit keys (Express mode) are worth a few batteries every year. Completely frictionless.
 
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I have used Yale Nest keys on my old house. I bought into the Nest ecosystem and then Google acquired nest.

in my new house, I have the older Yale locks befor the Assure 2 came out. It required I get Apple HomePod Mini because it communicates via Bluetooth. they work ok for me. I can unlock the door with Siri on my watch, or via my phone with the Home app. I use a second app to turn off the alarm, but that’s not a problem. Often I just turn it off when I enter via a keypad. I can also allow others to enter the house by giving them their own code, or letting them remotely when they are at the house. Useful when I have a package delivered and I’m not home. Nice to have trustworthy neighbors.
 
I'm using Level Lock+ Connect lock. It's only a data point as I haven't had experience with other lock to compare it to.

Here is my quick review after a few months of usage

1) Battery: still using the battery that came with it.
2) Usage: I primarily use HomeKey from my phone or watch. Have yet to have an issue. After a slight miscue in configuration* the rest of the family does the same
We had pet sitters use one of the 2 included "key cards" for access with no issue.
Physical key is nice to have but haven't needed it**.

3) Style: really like that it looks just like a regular deadbolt. There is an optional keypad but I don't have a use for that.

I have an automation that will lock it at 11 if we haven't already done so. Haven't tried the geo fenced automations yet (like lock when last one leaves or open when we arrive)

My Apple TV (home hub) is quite a ways away from the front door so I opted for the "Connect" package which bridges the bluetooth lock with WiFi. You can purchase a non-Connect bundle and try it out, with the ability to buy the bridge later.

* Level has an app and account. I found that inviting the other users to the app, THEN setting up HomeKey worked the best.

** At the same time I needed to get a new Handle set for the front door as it wore out and was hard to open. We also switched from brass to flat black. So part of this was also getting new hardware (deadbolts/locking door knobs for the other 5 exterior doors). So I had them all keyed the same as the Level Lock.


I didn't get additional Level Locks but might consider replacing the guts of one of the new deadbolts (Schlage) with a Level Bolt (mentioned above) at least to open/close via HomeKit.
 
Apple_Robert said:
Schlage Encode Plus is A+. It is easy to install and set up. I have had no problems with it in the year I had it installed.

Schlage Encode Plus™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt | Wifi smart lock

The Schlage Encode™ Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt pairs with Apple Home Keys and HomeKit to control your wifi smart lock with your iPhone and Apple Watch.
www.schlage.com www.schlage.com
Click to expand...
I was having issues with it for a while - mainly the homekey wasn’t working. Locking/unlocking through the home app still worked fine as a work around. But after resetting it with the Home app a couple times, the homekey been working consistently for me.

The device itself isn't my preferred look, I think I would have much rather had the Level Lock+, but I ended up with the Schlage due to higher ratings.
 
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