I was initially hesitant about getting a smart lock; I don’t like the idea of using an internet connected product to control the front door. I have dozens of smart home products in my home, and although I don’t mind using them, I’m still careful about security vulnerabilities, which is why I put all IoT devices in their own VLAN.
These fears proved to be unfounded after the introduction of the Nuki Smart Lock Ultra. I wasn’t familiar with Nuki, but it’s the rare smart home brand that cares about security. The Smart Lock Ultra comes with end-to-end encryption, I didn’t need to set up an account to use it, and Nuki didn’t ask for any data beyond what was needed to set up the device.
Honestly, it’s such a refreshing change compared to most other smart home products I’ve used that I recommend Nuki for its security practices alone. Of course, there’s also the fact that the Smart Lock Ultra is a great kit; I really like the design of the lock, and after a full year of use, it has proven to be absolutely reliable – something I can’t say about any other product I’ve tested in this category.
However, all these positives come at a cost. smart lock is ultra Available in the US for $359 And in Europe it costs €349, and ideally you’ll also want to get the Keypad 2, the bundle will go up to $409/€429. What is available now at what price? The Smart Lock Ultra is unquestionably the best retrofit smart lock, and the design with sensible security measures gives it a big advantage.
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The Smart Lock Ultra is a retrofit solution, so you can install it on an existing deadbolt. The lock comes with its own universal cylinder that is designed to fit most door profiles, and is very easy to install. I installed this while getting a home interior done, and the contractor was able to install it in less than 15 minutes. I had an existing Yale lock on my door, and installing the Smart Lock Ultra on it had no problems. Nuki provides all the expected parts, and the lock comes with three sets of keys that can be used to manually unlock the cylinder (you can order more as needed). on nuki’s site).
The Smart Lock is made of ultra stainless steel, and it’s much smaller than most of its competitors. The design itself is quite beautiful, and the base of the unit has an interchangeable plastic ring that’s available in white or black. The unit has an LED ring that glows white when the door is unlocked, and glows red when the built-in battery needs charging. It’s a well-designed product, and I haven’t had any problems with its installation or use over the past year.
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Nuki went with a brushless motor, and it has proven reliable. It gets quite loud when unlocked, and while there are three modes, the quietest Gentle mode can also be quite loud. Controlling the lock is best done from the Nuki app; It has a minimalist interface, and plenty of features to get the most out of the lock. You can easily configure auto unlock, night mode – which automatically locks the door – and set up built-in Wi-Fi. Once you’ve connected the product to your home network, you can control it remotely from anywhere in the world, and even after a year of use, it’s great to be able to do so.
You can control the Smart Lock Ultra from any smart home platform. It integrates with Google Home, HomeKit, Alexa, and Samsung’s SmartThings platform, and comes with Matter Over Thread. I also got Keypad 2, and I use it to unlock the door with fingerprint. You can also install a numeric lock, and this is a great solution if you want to give someone access to your home.
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One problem occurred two weeks ago when the plastic screw between the motor and the thumb turn broke. This cog is designed to fail so as not to damage the motor, and in this respect, it worked as intended. Originally, a guest tried to open the door while the motor was still opening, and the door broke as a result. Nuki bundles two of these cogs with the Smart Lock Ultra, but ideally it should offer more; We broke one in the beginning while calibrating the product, so there were none left to use with the lock. thankfully, there is one 3D-printed solutions Who came to the rescue. I got the part 3D-printed, and it fit into the lock with no problem (I made 20 of these just in case).
Battery life has been good overall, with one caveat. Initially I had to charge the Smart Lock Ultra once every two months, but nowadays, I have to plug in the charger every four weeks on average. Nuki has a charger with a USB-C port and a pogo pin on the other side, and it is convenient to use a power bank to charge when connecting the product to the door (it only requires 10W of power). I recently got a new router system, and I changed the built-in Wi-Fi to compatibility mode, which uses more battery according to Nuki. I’ve returned the setting to automatic mode, and will update this post if I notice a difference in battery life over the next month.
Overall, the Smart Lock Ultra is the best retrofit solution. It’s easy to install and use, looks great, connects to every smart home platform and has class-leading security features. Yes, it’s priced higher than its competitors, but you’re also getting a better overall product and a level of trust that you don’t typically see in this category. That alone makes it easy to recommend the Smart Lock Ultra if you’re looking to get an internet-connected product to lock your door.
