While deadbolt mechanics may not have seen any significant improvements thanks to smart locks, how we use them has changed significantly. Smart locks, which often integrate with voice assistants, home automation platforms, and home security systems, enable you to lock and unlock your door remotely via an app. They usually have motorized deadbolts and built-in communication with your home network or phone. If you have houseguests or renters who need entry to your home, if someone wants to drop something off while you're away, or if you can't recall if you locked the door on your way to work in the morning, they can be of great assistance.
Different features will determine the ideal smart lock for your home depending on the door in question and the persons passing through it. For certain people, especially apartment residents, ingenious locks that can be retrofitted to the conventional lock rather than replacing the current deadbolt are a must.
- WiFi Bridge For Smart Locks
- What Does A Smart Bridge Do?
- Best WiFi Smart Locks In 2022
- FAQs of WiFi Smart Lock
- Evvr Center Lite - A Hold On Your Smart Home’s Pulse
WiFi Bridge For Smart Locks
As its name suggests, a smart bridge is a gadget connecting your smart lock to the internet. It establishes wireless connections to your local network and a smart lock through Bluetooth. You can add it to your smartphone app after plugging it into a power outlet up to 2 meters from the door. Despite the constant connection, it won't significantly increase your energy costs because it only uses up to 1.5 watts.
What Does A Smart Bridge Do?
You can access your lock from any location as long as there is a reliable internet connection.
Even across the globe, you may unlock your door remotely, which is handy if someone is watering your plants while you're away.
You can always make sure you secured the door to eliminate any future worries!
You can see the progress of your lock in real-time thanks to Smart Bridge. The unlock history is constantly current, and you may set push notifications for any event, such as when your child gets home from school.
An internet connection is required for your lock to work with cloud-based smart home systems like Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. You can use Siri, Google Assistant, or Alexa to unlock the door with them.
Firmware updates for smart locks are routine. Regular internet access provides you with automatic updates. You would have to start an update near the entrance without a bridge manually. It is crucial since modern software offers you the best levels of security and dependability currently possible.
In the worst-case scenario, if your front door is a large steel structure that would prevent Bluetooth from passing through, a bridge enables you to get around via the cloud.
Best WiFi Smart Locks In 2022
August WiFi Smart Lock
The August WiFi Smart Lock, a stalwart among smart locks, upgrades your existing deadbolt or another lock by adding a retrofit August lock and a DoorSense open-close sensor. To enable remote access via a smartphone app or to sync with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri, you won't need to spend extra for August's plug-in WiFi Connect bridge because WiFi is already included in this version of the lock (August supports all three, which is terrific).
Furthermore, the August WiFi Smart Lock offers a good selection of capabilities via the attractive August app and is 45% smaller than prior August models. Included are features like limitless user access, automatic locking and unlocking, and a record of each action at your front door. The wireless keypad attachment from August costs $60 and allows for coded entry.
August Smart Lock & Connect
A DoorSense open-close sensor and the August Connect plug-in WiFi bridge are included in August's third-generation Smart Lock and Connect combo. Renters who might be unable to change the existing deadbolt will appreciate the convenience of the low-profile, retrofit design, which eliminates the need to replace your existing deadbolt lock.
This version of the August lock supports voice control with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, thanks to the August Connect WiFi bridge that connects the lock to your home network. The August mobile app also offers the same fantastic capabilities for remote access. Compatibility with Apple HomeKit is the only August feature absent from this release (sorry, Siri). If you live in an apartment and don't want to change your current lock, I'd suggest the first smart lock, which is available in silver or dark gray for as little as $185.
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro With WiFi
An intelligent lock makes perfect sense if you're using a service like Airbnb to rent out your home and want to make it simple for visitors to enter. My suggestion would be to get a smart lock that permits coded entry; provide your visitors with a code valid only during their visit and they can enter and exit without needing a key or an app.
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is the most coded smart lock I prefer. It's as secure as coded locks get, with physical buttons that function in any condition (including when the user is wearing gloves) and are weatherproof. With a built-in fingerprint sensor and a cunning front face that folds down to show the keyhole, it has one of my favorite smart lock designs.
Level Lock
The bad news is that you'll have fewer alternatives than you would with other platforms if Apple HomeKit and the Siri voice controls that come with it are essential features for your smart lock. The good news is that you still have many excellent locks to select from; among them, Level Lock comes highly recommended.
The Level Lock is a little less expensive than other HomeKit locks at $200 and comes in your choice of four finishes. It also has a clever design that houses all of the electronics inside your door's deadbolt. The Level Lock is about as quiet as smart locks get because the motor that turns the deadbolt sits inside your door so that you won't have a bulky thumb turn on the inside of your door or a gadget-looking keyhole the outside.
Wyze Lock
The Wyze Lock might be just what you're looking for if you're ready to upgrade to a smart lock but aren't enthusiastic about the prospect of investing $200 or more. With built-in Bluetooth for partnering with your phone nearby and a plug-in WiFi hub for connecting from a distance or via Alexa or Google Assistant, this device is only $130. For an additional $30, you can add a wireless keypad accessory to the package if you're interested in a coded entry.
The Wyze Lock integrates with your existing deadbolt and is essential thanks to its retrofit design. Although it has a basic appearance on the inside of your door, it is simple to install and performs well in our tests, making it a perfect choice for a low price.
Yale Assure Lock SL Key Free Touchscreen
The Yale Assure SL should be at the top of your list if you're ready to give up your door key. You'll enter using a touchscreen keypad in a range of finishes that look good on almost every door instead of the tiny, elegant design's keyhole. If the batteries ever run out, you can press a 9V battery up to the lock's bottom nodes to supply the necessary power for it to unlock.
If you look around, you can discover a range of Yale Assure models at various pricing points and with multiple levels of connectivity. To control the lock from your phone or to pair it with a voice assistant, you must buy and install the Yale Access Upgrade kit, which costs well over $100 and includes an August Connect WiFi bridge. The original model costs $179 but has no smarts whatsoever.
FAQs of WiFi Smart Lock
- What is the reason smart locks are so expensive?
Smart locks are becoming more and more affordable all the time, like most other smart home technology, but that doesn't mean they're cheap. A smart lock is made up of many different components, including traditional hardware (which frequently includes a deadbolt and other lock mechanism components), "smart" hardware (which includes computer chips and various types of radios), and software (which includes digital security features like encryption).
- Are WiFi smart locks secure?
If used properly, smart locks from well-known manufacturers like Yale and Schlage are dependable security tools. A smart lock with the PIN 1-2-3-4 won't be particularly secure, just like a lock three feet away from a key buried under a doormat isn't very secure. Since keys are more easily lost than your fingers if you're using a fingerprint lock, smart locks may even be more secure than traditional ones.
- Are smart locks secure compared to their typical counterparts?
If the user does not take measures to safeguard themselves, there is always a tiny danger that the device will be hacked, just as with any device connected to WiFi. On the other hand, there is always the possibility that an ordinary (non-smart) door lock can be broken into or picked up by an unauthorized individual.
Evvr Center Lite - A Hold On Your Smart Home’s Pulse
We know everyone craves control over their smart home, whether they are inside the house or far away on a retreat. This is where Evvr Center Lite comes into the picture. It is the “brains” behind the operations so that you can control all the smart appliances and fixtures in your home with no problem at all. Evvr can offer you a comprehensive smart home solution whether you are an integrator, professional installer, distributor, or DIYer. Get in touch with us and become our partner today!
