Secure smart locks for the front door

How annoying when the door slams shut and you realize at that moment that the key is not in your own hand but is still on the kitchen table. And how practical would it be to be able to open the door with just one smartphone click? With smart door locks, you will never stand in front of your locked apartment door again.

Smart locks offer security as well as flexibility and freedom, as you can control access to your house or apartment with your own smartphone. Installation is also easier than you might think. What is already possible with the smart bike lock now also applies to the house or apartment door. We show the best smart door locks.

What distinguishes a smart door lock?

The smart home is on the rise. According to Statista, there will be around 17.1 million households that are intelligently networked with one another by 2025 – a considerable amount with around 41.5 million private households in Germany at the moment. A smart door lock is sometimes the most important part of an intelligently networked house. But what are the characteristics of these smart gadgets?

With a Smart Lock, you can come and go when you want while keeping track of who is entering and leaving your home while you are away. There are now countless variants of networked door locks on the market. Choosing the best from among them is not easy, especially since the locks are essentially all similar. There are differences, for example, in the operation, the features, or the look. With some models, you can make friends grant special privileges to family members or other confidants. Others can be activated via voice commands or triggers from connected smart home devices. Whichever smart door lock you choose: The next time you stand in front of your apartment door with full shopping bags, you will certainly be happy not to have to look for a key anymore.

Smart locks are usually attached to the door fitting and turn the key in the lock with the motor. The door drives can only be seen inside, they are invisible from the outside. If a locking cylinder has been installed that can be turned from the inside and outside, the door can still be opened with the key. With some Smart Locks, however, these lock cylinders are replaced by a knob on the outside and one on the inside, so that you no longer need a key. Access authorizations for residents, guests, or service providers can also be set up permanently or temporarily.

Which Smart Lock features should I watch out for?

The first question that many people may ask is how much it will cost to upgrade the traditional door lock. After all, a Smart Lock is more expensive to buy than the standard lock you can buy at the hardware store. As with cell phones, the price range extends from inexpensive to very expensive. It depends on what the smart home door lock should do and which features should be integrated. If you want a lock that you can control from anywhere using features like voice commands, push and email notifications, expect a price in the 200 to 400 EUR range.

Many intelligent locks can be controlled via the app so that you can lock and unlock doors by simply tapping an icon. Most applications let you add permanent and temporary users, and set access schedules for specific days or times. You can do this with your Samsung Galaxy S20 FE as well as with the Oppo Reno4 Pro or the iPhone SE.

If the lock is Bluetooth enabled, you must be in close proximity to be able to communicate with the gadget. Locks with an integrated WiFi circuit or a WiFi bridge, on the other hand, can be controlled from almost anywhere – as long as they are connected to your home router, of course. Make sure your Smart Lock has activity logs so you can go back in time to see who entered and left your home and when there was activity.

The latest Smart Locks offer features such as voice activation, geofencing, and automatic locking functions. You should pay attention to these additional features when buying an electronic door lock:

• Keyless touchpads for when you don’t have your smartphone or keys
• Tampering and forced entry alarms warning you of a possible break-in
• Push, text, and email notifications that let you know who is coming and going in real-time

Nuki Smart Lock 2.0: Bluetooth lock for smart home fans

The existing door lock does not have to be replaced by installing this Smart Lock. The Nuki Smart Lock 2.0 fits exactly over the lock that is already in your door. This makes assembly a breeze. The smart Bluetooth lock runs on an AA battery and lasts for up to three months. The electronic door lock is set up using the smartphone app.

What also distinguishes the Smart Lock is that it can be opened easily using an app and it is compatible with numerous smart home systems, such as Amazon Alexa or home. Voice commands to the Google Assistant or via the Alexa applet your front door open or closes easily. Bluetooth communication via a smartwatch or smartphone is also extremely convenient. With the help of geo-fencing, the smart door lock notices when the residents move towards the entrance door – provided that Bluetooth is activated on the smartphone, of course. The condition for the Smart Home integration is the so-called Nuki Bridge, which connects the Smart Lock to the Internet. When you buy a Nuki Smart Lock 2.0, the Nuki Bridge is included as a complete set.

Nuki has also thought of children and seniors who do not have their own smartphone. For this there is the Nuki Fob, a Bluetooth pendant that can be used as a key. What is also interesting and makes the Nuki Smart Lock 2.0 one of the best digital door locks is the link with smart bells such as Ring Video Doorbell or Doorbird. You also have the option of speaking to the guest on your doorstep via video stream. And if the grandparents want their own senior mobile phone, we have put together the best devices in a separate article in the magazine.

In the Nuki app, you can track who has operated the electronic door lock. Particularly practical for parents, because this is how they can see whether their children have arrived home safely. The Nuki Smart Lock 2.0 is available on Amazon at a price of 300 EUR.

Tedee Smart Lock Set: Especially for Apple lovers

In contrast to the Nuki Smart Lock 2.0, the Tedee Smart Lock cannot simply be attached to the existing door lock. Because it is operated by a Euro profile cylinder, the existing locking system must be expanded.

You can set up the digital door lock using the associated tedee app. Here, too, there is the bridge that connects the lock to the Internet and thus ensures even more functionality and security. For example, you not only receive notifications in real-time on your mobile phone, but you can also withdraw authorizations or control the Smart Lock remotely. The auto-unlock function in conjunction with ios devices increases reliability because an iBeacon is built into the tedee bridge. So when you approach your front door, it opens automatically as the lock communicates with your smartphone via Bluetooth. In addition, the Tedee Smart Lock can also be controlled by voice command via Siri and Alexa;

The tedee bridge is attached within the Bluetooth range of the lock, it is connected to a power source and connected to the WLAN network. For the complete set, consisting of a cylinder, smart lock, and bridge, you have to put around 400 EUR on the table. Since the price-performance ratio is right, the price is absolutely justified.

Dana Smart Lock V3: The smart door lock for smart home fans who use ZigBee, HomeKit or Z-Wave

The Dana Smart Lock V3 is ideal not only for smart home fans who use systems such as HomeKit or ZigBee but also for Apple Smartwatch supporters. The V3 is available in four versions with Bluetooth, Bluetooth plus Z-Wave, Bluetooth plus ZigBee and as HomeKit – the right system is guaranteed for smart home enthusiasts. The latter three variants are only really exciting if you want to connect the intelligent door lock to a smart home system. Regardless of which variant you choose, the following applies to all: The Dana Smart Lock V3 can be opened either via smartphone or Apple Watch.

If you don’t want to take the electronic key out of your pocket or handbag, a Bluetooth beacon can also be attached to the house or apartment door. The smartphone then automatically connects to the lock cylinder and grants access. With this Smart Lock, the bridge also helps to control the digital door lock remotely, to grant friends and family access to your apartment with a smartphone click, or to set up various access authorizations. Entry via fingerprint or PIN code is not possible.

The attractive thing about this smart home door lock is not only the affordable price of around 130 EURbut also the compatibility of the lock with the IFTTT interconnection service. This allows you to connect Philips Hue LED bulbs to the Dana Lock, so that opening the apartment door also illuminates the hallway or living room.

The Danalock V3 is attached to the inside of the door. The normal key is in the lock cylinder and is turned by a motor. This means that the door can be opened from the outside either via the app, Bluetooth, or Android Location. A special cylinder from Dana Lock is required for installation. The motor of the smart door lock is operated by four lithium batteries, which supply the lock with energy for around a year.

Conclusion on the best electronic door lock

All Smart Locks presented here are suitable for attachment to the home or front door. They work reliably, safely, and offer increased convenience, as the annoying search for keys is no longer necessary. When opening automatically via Bluetooth fencing, there may well be delays, but this usually depends on the respective smartphone model.

As with (almost) everything, it depends on personal taste which Smart Lock you ultimately choose. Of course, the price also plays a role. A stable data connection is recommended so that all smart door locks can be opened without any problems and can also be operated while on the move. At smartmobil.de there are attractive data tariffs at low prices.

Also Read: House or Apartment?