Aqara U400 evaluation: HomeKit’s futuristic good lock has arrived

I purchased my first space previous this 12 months, so being the nerd that I’m, I’ve prioritized turning my space into a wise house. First at the record was once a wise lock.

I knew I sought after one thing with the most efficient imaginable HomeKit integration, and the Aqara UWB Sensible Lock U400 looked as if it would are compatible that invoice on paper. Thus far, I’ve been extremely inspired due to Extremely Wideband reinforce.

Set up

Set up of the Aqara U400 was once lovely easy, following this video from Aqara’s YouTube channel. It’s extra concerned than putting in the August good locks I’ve used prior to now, however for excellent reason why. While the August locks most often are compatible over your present deadbolt, the Aqara lock replaces all of the machine.

So in change for that fairly trickier set up procedure, you get a extra dependable and “built-in” revel in.

I put in two Aqara U400 locks, one on the again door and one on the entrance door. Going into the method, I used to be somewhat frightened concerning the entrance door set up. It’s an older door, and the former deadbolt tended to get caught if it wasn’t completely aligned with the striker plate.

Unusually, this was once no longer a subject with the Aqara lock. Once more, it is a advantage of how the Aqara lock replaces the deadbolt itself, quite than being a retrofit resolution. I’ve additionally discovered that the Aqara lock is much less delicate to resistance from the striker plate. While the August lock would get “jammed” with even the slightest little bit of resistance, the Aqara lock has sufficient pressure to energy via although it does get fairly caught.

All in all, it took about an hour to put in each Aqara good locks. The trickiest phase was once if truth be told connecting the 2 tiny wires to the again of the lock itself. The wires are tremendous fragile, so continue with warning there.

The use of the Aqara UWB Sensible Lock U400

What makes the Aqara U400 stand out is solely what number of techniques there are to release it.

First, the Aqara U400 helps NFC for “faucet to release.” Maximum significantly, this additionally works with Specific Mode for your iPhone and Apple Watch. This implies you’ll be able to merely faucet your iPhone or Apple Watch to fasten or release your door, with out opening the Pockets app or authenticating with Face ID or Contact ID.

However right here’s the place issues get in reality a laugh: reinforce for UWB, or Extremely Wideband connectivity. Apple added reinforce for UWB to HomeKit in iOS 18, and the Aqara U400 is the primary to make the most of it.

UWB we could gadgets perceive precisely the place they’re relative to one another. In comparison to Bluetooth, which is extra about basic proximity, UWB allows a lot more actual, spatial consciousness, so gadgets can react in response to your actual place and motion. It’s the similar era that powers the conversation between your iPhone and AirTag, for instance.

For the Aqara U400, because of this once I method my door with my iPhone in my pocket or my Apple Watch on my wrist, my door unlocks ahead of my hand even reaches the maintain. I don’t have to attend a couple of seconds once I method the door.

To me, that is the top of the good lock revel in. It’s the revel in we’ve been promised for years, made imaginable through UWB era. It’s one of the “it simply works” revel in I’ve ever had with HomeKit.

Within the House app, you’ll be able to even regulate the “Means Course” for the Aqara U400’s UWB reinforce. You’ll be able to select whether or not the door unlocks while you method from the left, entrance, or proper — or all the above.

Along with NFC and UWB, you’ll be able to manually release the Aqara U400 within the House app or the Aqara app. The House app integration is lightning speedy, through the best way. A lot sooner than any earlier good lock I’ve used.

You’ll be able to additionally input a passcode at the lock’s touchpad (which you’ll be able to set in HomeKit) or use your fingerprint (which you’ll be able to arrange within the Aqara app). There’s somewhat of bouncing from side to side between apps required to allow all of those choices, however maximum can also be carried out within the House app.

In the end, there’s a hidden bodily key, so you’ll be able to lock or release your door the old school method if wanted. You’ll be able to additionally rig up more than a few automations within the House app, as standard.

And when it comes time to fasten the Aqara U400, you’ll be able to accomplish that from the outdoor through tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch at the lock or through tapping the lock button at the touchpad. You’ll be able to additionally allow auto-lock within the House app or the Aqara app, which is able to lock it after X mins.

Not like the August locks I’ve used prior to now, the Aqara U400 makes use of a chargeable USB-C battery. Aqara says the battery “lasts as much as 6 months in keeping with fee.” I haven’t had the lock lengthy sufficient to check that. You’ll be able to use the lock’s USB-C port to recharge it, or you’ll be able to pop the battery out and plug it in one at a time. I’m glad to ditch the awkward CR123A batteries my August lock used.

Wrap up

I’ve used HomeKit good locks for years, however the Aqara U400 is the primary one who in point of fact delivers at the good house imaginative and prescient we had been promised from the beginning. With earlier good locks, there have been all the time a couple of compromises I needed to make and a couple of asterisks that got here with the usage of them. That’s no longer the case with the Aqara U400. It’s very “set it and omit it.”

Because it stands at the moment, the Aqara U400 is the one good lock that helps UWB in Apple House. Expectantly, that adjustments quicker quite than later. For now, alternatively, credit score to Aqara for being first and nailing the implementation.

You’ll be able to order the Aqara UWB Sensible Lock U400 on Amazon. It’s expensive at $269.99, however neatly price it for the benefit in my view.

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