6 key smart lock features to consider

6 key smart lock features to consider

The top smart locks all have a few things in common. With that in mind, I’m listing some of the features you want to consider when deciding which smart lock will fit your home and lifestyle the best. So, look through these factors to see which are the most important to you before making a purchase.

---

1. How long is the battery life?

First things first, battery life is a key consideration (it’s also rule #11 in my list of essential smart home tips). In fact, it’s one of the biggest factors for most people who want to purchase a smart lock. After all, very few homes run electrical wiring right to their doors, which means that smart locks rely on batteries for power.There are plenty of variables that affect battery life, not the least of which is how the lock wirelessly connects. The four most common connection integrations are Z-Wave, Zigbee, Bluetooth, and WiFi.
You are almost certainly familiar with WiFi and Bluetooth. However, if Z-Wave or Zigbee are new to you, the easiest explanation is that they are wireless protocols—or languages— for your smart devices that are ideal for home automations. (You can learn more about both technologies here.)
Why does the type of wireless connection affect battery life? Z-Wave and Zigbee can both operate using very low power, whereas WiFi requires far more. Bluetooth uses relatively little power but also features a lower bandwidth.
In general, it’s worth knowing that WiFi typically uses too much power to be viable for a battery-powered device. However, as with any rule, there are some exceptions, and the same is true for smart locks. And advances in battery technology, combined with the way that routers are improving WiFi standby features, mean that some locks can perform well using a WiFi connection.
Regardless of your wireless connection, you’ll definitely want to take a look at battery life and consider what is feasible for you. If this is for a rental property you don’t frequently visit, then a longer battery life may be more important compared to your home, where you can more frequently change out batteries with ease.

---

2. Does it work with any smart doorbells?

Compatibility should be a part of your decision. You’re going to want to make sure any smart home product you buy will be compatible with any home automations you already use.
For example, if you buy a Z-Wave lock, you’ll need a Z-Wave hub to control it. If your existing devices use different technology, you must decide if you want to streamline them either now or down the road. And it may mean you should consider a different selection.
This is particularly relevant when it comes to your smart doorbell. Even if you don’t own a smart doorbell today, you may want to get one in the future. In that case, it would be incredibly helpful if your lock and doorbell work together.

---

3. How Well Does the Auto-Unlock Work?

Here are my two cents on auto-unlock: if I can’t get my smart lock to auto-unlock when I get home, then I don’t see the point of having a smart lock.This is difficult to do well because of the security implications.
However, if you have your smart lock set to unlock once your smartphone arrives at the front door, that can be incredibly convenient. No need to juggle an armload of groceries or a sleeping child to fumble with the lock or your smartphone. Instead, all you need to do is turn the handle and go in.

---

4. What happens if there’s a failure?

I just mentioned why I love an auto-unlock feature. But there are times when even the best auto-unlock system won’t work. You don’t want to be stuck calling a locksmith or trying to figure out how to break into your own house.Maybe your phone isn’t on you, or perhaps its battery is dead. In these instances, the ideal backup method is a keypad. Moreover, keypads are also highly beneficial when it comes to creating temporary keys for guest access (see below for more on this).
But what if there’s an electrical failure like a dead battery? In those instances, you’ll want to have a mechanical failsafe (that’s a fancy way to say “key”) that allows you access to your home.

---

5. Does it allow guest access?

For most of us, we rarely need to let someone into the house when we aren’t there. But the ability to create temporary keys for guest access can be an incredibly handy feature, even if you don’t frequently make use of it.Potential applications might be when you have a housekeeper, a pet sitter, or even a friend or family member who needs to swing by when you aren’t home.
It’s for this reason that smart locks are incredibly popular among Airbnb hosts. You can easily set lock codes that are custom for each set of guests, and then turn them off when the rental agreement is up. You can also revoke guest access at any time.
It is worth noting that some companies do charge for temporary access. If this is a feature you plan to use frequently, find out if it’s included or if it’s an optional add-on.

---

6. Is it compatible with your door?

We already talked about compatibility with your existing smart home or smart doorbell set up, but there’s another compatibility factor to consider.Will the smart lock work with your door itself?
A retrofit like the August lock replaces only the inside part of your deadbolt. The outside part of the lock stays in place. From the outside, you can’t tell that there’s a smart lock attached to the door.
Retrofit style smart locks can be configured to work left hand or right hand. However, smart locks that completely replace the old deadbolt must be purchased for the correct handedness.
If your door doesn’t have a deadbolt at all (which is only common in older homes) then you’ll either need to add a deadbolt or possibly replace your door.
Less common lock types, such as a mortise lock, will require a specialty smart lock, but that’s a whole different post.
When it comes time to install your new smart lock, the deadbolt must align correctly with the strike plate. If there’s a lot of friction when you try to lock your deadbolt, your smart lock motor won’t be powerful enough to consistently lock/unlock the bolt.