The Ultimate Smart Lock?
The Best Key is No Key
Today I installed the Aqara Smart Lock U100, and the process was smooth and straightforward. It easily integrated with HomeKit without the need for a special hub, and the best part—it cost less than $200.
I hope to report in a year that it has lived up to its potential as the ultimate smart lock.
Why I’m Obsessed with Smart Locks
I’ve been on the smart lock train since it left the station. Part of the appeal is my love for anything that connects to my phone, but mostly, it’s because I believe the best password is no password and the best key is no key. That is the future Smart Locks unlock. (heh)
Think about it: if someone steals your car keys, should they automatically gain access to your house too? No! Smart locks eliminate that risk.
The best password is no password and the best key is no key.
My Smart Lock Journey
Over the last ten years I have gone through three different smart locks. I started with the first August Smart Lock. It worked reasonably well with the existing deadbolts in my apartments and mostly unlocked the door as I approached. However, it struggled with tight-fitting locks, and using a Dremel on an apartment door isn’t exactly allowed.
The “approach to unlock” feature was convenient, but not without its flaws. Since it relied solely on Bluetooth, there were times the door unlocked itself when I was just walking nearby inside the apartment.
When we moved to a house, I put a Kwikset Premis on every door. It was one of the first locks to support HomeKit. While the locks worked fine, they lacked an auto-unlock feature. I often found myself pulling out my phone to connect via Bluetooth or entering numbers on a keypad.
A few years and another move later, Apple introduced the Home Key feature. With supported locks, you could simply use your phone or watch to unlock the door, similar to Apple Pay.
I tried the Schlage Encode Plus, and it was great—until it stopped working. Despite replacing batteries and troubleshooting, the lock just wouldn’t turn on. Schlage support was unhelpful, even suggesting I try “using Duracell batteries.” Eventually, I gave up.
Enter The Aqara U100…
Aqara has been around since 2009, initially focusing on non-Apple smart home systems like Alexa and Google Home. Now that they support HomeKit, I decided to give their U100 model a shot. It features a fingerprint sensor and integrates seamlessly with my existing setup. Plus, it supports Matter, promising longevity and compatibility into the future.
Products & Deals
EcoFlow’s Sun Hat: A Novel Way to Power Your Devices
I have no need for this hat, but I wish I did. Seems perfect for people who fish, float or live at the beach during the summer. With 2 USB-A and 2 USB-C ports, it’s great for small devices. Just don’t expect it to power your entire campsite! There are batteries big enough for that, but this isn’t one of them.
News
The platform that once housed your middle school trauma can now legally drink. Although it still exists, nothing new has been added since early 2022 and you can’t even play existing audio/video content.
The Next Apple Watch SE (i.e. The Cheap One) Might Be Made of Plastic
This was mentioned in a report from Mark Gurman last month, but in his weekly newsletter yesterday he said this may be a watch targeted at kids. While my children are currently only using an iPad, a very locked-down Apple Watch could a good fit for them in a few years.