Bluetooth Door Lock – Convenience and Security For Homeowners
Bluetooth smart locks offer convenience and security for homeowners. These locks connect to your smartphone, so you can unlock your door remotely and view a log of who has come and gone.
Some products, including the second-gen Kwikset Kevo and the August Smart Lock, work with Siri for voice control. These locks also have a built-in auto-unlock feature that activates when you get within Bluetooth range.
Keypad Deadbolts
If you’d rather not carry keys, keypad deadbolts let you unlock the door with a passcode or use your smartphone to grant access remotely. You can also set up temporary codes for repairmen, babysitters, or dog walkers. Some models offer geofencing that automatically locks or unlocks your doors when you’re approaching or leaving home.
Most Bluetooth or Wi-Fi keypad deadbolts connect to your smart home setup through a hub, which adds extra functionality like monitoring and control from anywhere in the world. You’ll also be able to share access with guests using your phone or a guest passcode. Some brands, including August, Kwikset, and Defiant, allow you to unlock with voice command via Alexa or Google Assistant.
Many keypad lock systems require a power source, though you can buy battery-powered bluetooth door lock models. Some even include LEDs that indicate your lock’s status and give instructions or errors. Most are made of stainless steel or other durable materials that can withstand weather, heat, and wear.
One exception is the Schlage Sense, which is powered by your home’s Wi-Fi network and works without a hub. This means it doesn’t drain your batteries as quickly, and you can also use it with Apple HomeKit. Its easy installation and powerful app make this a top-rated model for homeowners. Others, including the August Smart Lock and Kwikset Obsidian with Home Connect, connect directly to your device and don’t need a hub.
Wi-Fi Enabled
The best smart lock systems use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (or both) to communicate with your smartphone, so you can control them remotely. Some locks also have onboard sensors to add security features like fingerprint recognition or a built-in camera.
The Wyze Lock Bolt is a great example of a Bluetooth-only smart lock that offers a lot of value. It’s not as pretty to look at as more expensive models but it includes many of the same features including an onboard fingerprint reader and the ability to set temporary PIN codes from afar. The only drawback is that you can’t incorporate it into a larger smart home ecosystem—you won’t be able to create a geofencing alert that will automatically lock the door when you leave or integrate it with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Another option is a smart lock with built-in Wi-Fi, such as the August Connect or Kwikset Secure Pro. These locks connect directly to your home network and use a dedicated app, but they also have some energy-saving features that minimize battery usage. For example, the August Connect can detect when you’re at home and switch to Wi-Fi, which will help to maximize battery life.
The other type of smart lock uses a low-energy radio wave, such as Z-Wave or Bluetooth. These models work with a hub or bridge that you connect to your wireless router. The best smart locks with these radios will allow you to monitor and control them remotely, but they’ll need to be powered by a backup source such as a wired power source or batteries.
Z-Wave
While some smart locks only work with your phone, others connect to a home hub like Zigbee or Z-Wave for remote access. Smart locks connected to a hub are compatible with all sorts of integrations, from scheduling your door to checking whether it’s locked.
Zigbee and Z-Wave are both low-power’mesh network’ technologies that send signals to other devices, allowing them to communicate with each other over long distances, even through walls. Many manufacturers also use Bluetooth to complement the Z-Wave signal, enabling it to reach further into your home than would otherwise be possible.
For example, the Danalock has a feature that automatically unlocks your deadbolt when you’re within Bluetooth range. Its Z-Wave connection, however, allows it to set up scenes and routines that trigger the lock based on other activities happening in your home.
If you choose a purely Z-Wave-connected smart lock, make sure it’s compatible with your existing hub. Some only work with specific ones, and may require bluetooth door lock a wireless bridge or other add-on to connect with other brands. If you’re not able to find one that matches your existing system, look for a smart lock with Bluetooth compatibility. Most of these can still connect to your hub via Bluetooth, allowing you to manage it with the same app you’d use for other connected devices on your home.
Smart Door Locks
Smart locks let you monitor who enters your home, allowing for better security and increased convenience. Many work with smart doorbells to show who’s at the door and some also integrate with biometric features that provide more security than traditional passwords. Others allow you to lock or unlock remotely using your phone. If you plan on making your home fully automated, consider a smart lock that connects to your Wi-Fi network, as this will allow it to work with other devices like a smart thermostat or a smart lighting system.
Some models, like the Schlage Encode and the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, connect to your home Wi-Fi wirelessly, but they require a hub or bridge of some kind in order to function properly. Others, like the August Wi-Fi and Schlage Connect, have an app that connects to your home Wi-Fi network without requiring any bridge devices.
The August Smart Lock uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to communicate, maximizing battery life by using Bluetooth when you’re at home and Wi-Fi when you’re away. This makes it one of our best picks for people who want a smart lock that’s easy to use and maintain.
Some models don’t have their own dedicated app but instead integrate into the apps of your chosen smart home hub, such as Amazon Echo or Google Assistant. This makes them good choices for people who already have a full home automation setup and aren’t interested in downloading and managing an additional smartphone app.
