Lock manufacturer Yale at CES 2017 this week announced that its lineup of Real Living Assure smart locks will be compatible with HomeKit by the end of March. By then, new Assure locks will be sold with a HomeKit module, which will also be available to purchase separately to add to existing Assure locks.
HomeKit support will enable users to lock and unlock their homes by using Apple's new Home app on iOS 10 or the free Yale Assure companion app (U.S. and Canada only) for iPhone and iPad. Homeowners can also use Siri voice commands such as "Hey Siri, lock the front door" and "Hey Siri, is my front door locked?"
Users are also able to check a lock's battery and current lock status, create up to 12 unique pin codes, customize lock and notification settings, name a lock, and add a new lock through the Yale Assure app. Users with a third-generation Apple TV or later can control HomeKit accessories in the Home app while away from home.
The deadbolt locks feature a backlit capacitive touchscreen keypad for keyless entry. If a smartphone is unavailable, users can enter a unique 4-8 digit pin code to enter the home. The Bluetooth-enabled lock is powered by four AA batteries included, or users can touch a 9V battery to the battery terminals at the bottom as a backup option.
Yale said the HomeKit module will also be compatible with its recently launched nexTouch Wireless smart lock targeted at small business owners. The new HomeKit-enabled smart locks and standalone HomeKit module are expected to be available for purchase on Yale's website at some point in March. Pricing was not disclosed.
The non-HomeKit Real Living Assure locks retail for $199.99 on Yale's website in polished brass, satin nickel, and dark gray colors. ZigBee and Z-Wave modules are also available for $50 each. Here's an installation video.
If someone wants to get into a home badly enough, they'll just shatter a window, break the door down, or destroy the deadbolt. These "smart" locks are all about convenience, nothing more.
A few years ago, I was locked out of my home in the middle of the night and, unfortunately, I had to call one of those fly-by-night locksmiths because none of the reputable companies in my area were answering their phones at midnight.
The guy who showed up looked like he could've just gotten out from doing 5 to 10 for breaking and entering. He had the deadbolt drilled out and my back door open in less than three minutes.
I've been using the Schlage Sense with HomeKit for almost a year. It was spotty at first, but after many firmware iterations and iOS releases, it's pretty good now, connected thru Bluetooth. Just that the remote Homekit via Apple TV is still slow.
You'll get notification for unlocks. And when pin is entered manually, you can check in history the name that you assigned the pin for. Another thing is it's ANSI grade 1.
Personally, my preference has been with Schlage. They continue to improve all the time and I like idea of the Pin access.
Apple has actually put a lot of effort into security for HomeKit, much more so than most of the other protocols related to Internet-of-Things devices, and I'm very happy I can tell Siri to turn various lights on and off, but it's gonna be another decade or so before I put much trust in electronic home door locks (bad guys being able to make my lights blink doesn't worry me too much). I recall seeing a number of such locks previously released that had pretty serious failings. We need a few more cycles of real world deployment of "new improved" models, followed by flaws being uncovered...
The big question here will be if you can get alerts/notifications based on the pin used vs just the door was unlocked. It says you can create 12 pins and I would like to create a pin and assign to say the cleaning crew, the in laws, the kids etc and I want to get alerted to WHO is entering based on the name assigned to the pin.
I already have multiple of the zwave Yale locks that can already accomplish the above mentioned notification but it required having a separate controller and some configurations etc etc. however if the HomeKit lock can do what I mentioned above (and I can get rid of the zwave bridge) I will switch over immediately when they become available. If not, the. I say this is a FAIL! Smart Lock should provide smart notifications.
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Top Rated Comments
A few years ago, I was locked out of my home in the middle of the night and, unfortunately, I had to call one of those fly-by-night locksmiths because none of the reputable companies in my area were answering their phones at midnight.
The guy who showed up looked like he could've just gotten out from doing 5 to 10 for breaking and entering. He had the deadbolt drilled out and my back door open in less than three minutes.
Also they're all more secure then a brick through a window.
I already have multiple of the zwave Yale locks that can already accomplish the above mentioned notification but it required having a separate controller and some configurations etc etc. however if the HomeKit lock can do what I mentioned above (and I can get rid of the zwave bridge) I will switch over immediately when they become available. If not, the. I say this is a FAIL! Smart Lock should provide smart notifications.