As our homes become increasingly connected, the humble front door lock is getting a major upgrade. Smart locks offer a wealth of convenient features that go far beyond simply securing your entryway–from remote access and voice controls to detailed activity logs and seamless integration with your broader smart home setup.
But with a growing number of brands and models to choose from, selecting the right smart lock can feel like a daunting task. Whether you're looking to upgrade an existing lock or equip a new home, taking the time to evaluate the key factors can ensure you find a solution that provides the perfect balance of security, functionality, and style for your unique needs.
1. Security
Look for locks with strong encryption, tamper-resistant features, and reliable connectivity to ensure your home remains secure.
Key Lockly Security Features
- Lockly smart locks are specifically designed with robust security features to protect against hacking.
- Lockly also uses AES 128-bit encryption to secure network traffic, preventing unauthorized access.
- Lockly's smart locks feature advanced biometric technology, including a fingerprint sensor that can recognize a fingerprint in just 0.3 seconds.
- Lockly encrypts fingerprint data before it is transmitted, avoiding the risk of fingerprint harvesting.
- Lockly also allows for secure access control, with the ability to grant and revoke temporary codes as needed.
By following best practices like using strong passwords and keeping the firmware updated, Lockly customers can rest assured that their homes are protected against hacking attempts.
2. Compatibility
It's important to make sure the smart lock you choose is compatible with your existing smart home ecosystem, whether that's Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, or something else. This will allow you to easily integrate the lock with your other smart devices (like the Lockly Smart Safe!)
How Is Lockly Compatible With Other Devices?
Lockly smart locks are fully compatible with Amazon Alexa, allowing users to manage their locks by voice command. The Secure Pro and Vision series smart locks work with Alexa out of the box, while some Lockly models use a Wi-Fi bridge for Alexa integration.
Connecting Alexa to a Lockly smart lock provides several key benefits, including the ability to check the lock's status, unlock or lock the door, all through simple voice commands. This voice-activated control is particularly useful for those with mobility issues or when users' hands are full. The integration between Lockly and Alexa creates a seamless, connected home experience, where users can access their smart lock using whichever method is most convenient at the time, whether that's physical keys, the mobile app, or just their voice.
3. Ease of Installation
Consider how easy the lock is to install, especially if you're not particularly handy. Some brands, like Lockly, even offer models that can be installed without replacing your entire deadbolt.
Installing Your Lockly Smart Lock
Installing a new Lockly smart lock is a straightforward process that you can easily do on your own:
- First, you'll prepare the door by measuring and verifying the appropriate dimensions, as well as optionally drilling a stabilizing hole at the top of the door.
- Next, the bolt can be adjusted to fit the door's dimensions, ensuring the + sign in the middle of the bolt is properly aligned.
- The exterior assembly is then installed, passing the cable and torque blade through the deadbolt.
- The interior assembly is then connected, making sure the thumb turn is vertical.
- Batteries are then installed, with the lock automatically programming itself for a right or left swing door.
- Finally, the door strike is installed to complete the setup.
4. Smart Features
When choosing a smart lock brand, you'll want to determine which smart features are most important to you, such as remote locking/unlocking, voice control, automatic locking, and logs of who has accessed your home.
Below are 20 game-changing features of a Lockly smart lock:
- Industry-leading biometric fingerprint reader with 0.5 second unlock
- Randomized, peek-proof PIN Genie touchscreen keypad
- Temporary access eBadges for guests
- Integrated HD video doorbell
- Two-way audio communication
- Secure cloud video storage
- Real-time smart alerts
- Infrared night vision for enhanced security
- Smart home integration with Alexa, Google Assistant, and more
- Emergency power accessory port for backup power
- Rain sensing to preserve battery life
- DIY-friendly simple installation
- Welcome Mode to disable auto-locking
- Air Transfer to securely copy fingerprints and PIN codes between locks
- Offline access codes for guests
- Rekeying capability
- AI-powered motion detection
- Shine Mode for adjustable keypad brightness
- LocklyOS for remote access management
- Lifetime technical support
These features combine to provide the ultimate in smart home security and convenience, putting Lockly at the forefront of innovative lock technology.
Facial Recognition Comes to Smart Locks with the Lockly Visage
The newest innovation from Lockly is our Lockly Visage smart lock, unveiled at CES 2024. This smart lock is one of the first consumer smart lock to incorporate facial recognition technology in the US. This allows users to unlock their front door simply by approaching it, without the need to use a key, keypad, or smartphone app. The Visage uses two 2MP infrared sensors to scan and recognize faces within 2.6 feet, unlocking the door in under 1.5 seconds.
Multiple Unlock Options
In addition to facial recognition, the $349 Lockly Visage offers other high-tech entry methods, including a fingerprint reader, digital keypad, and RFID key cards/fobs. It also maintains a traditional keyed lock option for those who prefer a more classic approach.
Smart Home Integration
The Visage is compatible with major voice assistant platforms like Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Overall, the Lockly Visage represents the continued evolution of smart home access, bringing high-tech biometric capabilities to the front door.
5. Design
Smart locks come in a variety of styles to match your home's aesthetic. Pay attention to the finish and overall look to ensure it complements your entryway.
In addition to Lockly's technological capabilities, we also place a strong emphasis on the physical design and construction of our smart locks. We know that home security isn't just about functionality–it's also about seamlessly integrating with the overall aesthetic of a home.
Our smart locks are built with high-quality materials and a range of finish options. By carefully considering the material finishes and industrial design of their products, Lockly ensures that our smart locks not only function exceptionally well but also complement the style of any home.
6. User Reviews
As with any product, researching online reviews from other customers can help you get a sense of the reliability, ease of use, and customer support for different smart lock brands.
7. Price
Smart locks can range widely in price, from $100 to $300 or more. Determine your budget and find a lock that offers the features you need at a price point you're comfortable with.
Lockly's Key Differentiators in 2024
While smart home technology is a relatively new frontier, Lockly has been in the game since 2014, making us one of the early pioneers in the smart lock space. Our established track record provides homeowners with the reassurance that Lockly has worked out the kinks and proven its products in the real world.
At the same time, we're not stuck in our ways. We seek to continue to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of homeowners. We want our customers to feel confident in their investment while knowing that their smart locks will remain relevant and supported in the years to come.
Vertical Integration for Consistent Quality
A key differentiator for Lockly is our vertically integrated approach to product design and manufacturing. Rather than outsourcing various aspects of production, we handle the entire process in-house. This allows us to maintain tight quality control, ensure seamless hardware and software integration, and quickly respond to customer needs and market changes.
Lockly's vertical integration has been a driving force behind our ability to consistently introduce new smart lock features and capabilities. From advanced biometric authentication to integrated video doorbells, this level of control over our supply chain has enabled Lockly to remain at the forefront of smart home technology. By overseeing every stage of development, Lockly is able to deliver a cohesive, high-quality experience that simply can't be matched by more fragmented smart lock brands.
Smart Locks Are a Long Term Investment, So Choose Wisely
At Lockly, we understand that smart home technology is a long-term investment, and as such, we're committed to ensuring that our customers don't have to replace their devices every time a new feature is introduced. Instead, we work diligently to provide software updates and feature additions that seamlessly upgrade their existing smart locks, futureproofing homeowners' home security solutions.
Choosing the Lockly Advantage
When it comes to selecting a smart lock brand, homeowners should consider a variety of factors, including vertical integration, track record, material finishing, and commitment to innovation.
By leveraging a vertically integrated approach, Lockly delivers smart locks that seamlessly blend cutting-edge technology with elegant, coordinated design. Combined with a proven track record and unwavering dedication to continuous improvement, Lockly stands out as the smart lock brand that homeowners can trust to secure their homes both now and in the years to come.
For more information on the smart lock landscape, check out our blog.
Sources:
- The Verge - This smart lock can recognize your face / With the Lockly Visage, you can unlock your door as easily as you unlock your phone.
- CES - CES 2024 Day 3: What's Hot and Cool at the Show
