Logan Strain September 17th, 2016
The lock and key system that protects your home is thousands of years old. Don’t you think it’s about time we moved on to something a little more sophisticated?
Bluetooth door locks cut down on common household frustrations while turning your home into a high-security bunker. They allow you to enter your home without house keys. So, you can go for a walk or visit a neighbor — and just leave your keys at home.
Plus, you can instantly give and take away access to your home. If you’re away on vacation and need to give a key to your house sitter, you can just send them a digital key using your smartphone. If you’re at work and a plumber needs to get to the leaky pipes under your sink, you can unlock the door.
As a bonus, you can keep track of every time someone enters your place. Parents can learn when their kids came home — which is helpful if you want to see if they’re telling the truth about where they’ve been.
How Does It Work?
Most Bluetooth door locks connect to your smartphone. When you walk up to your front door with your phone, they automatically grant access. Depending on the smart lock, there are several different ways to unlock the door: some require you to touch the lock or use an app, while others respond to voice command. Simpler systems unlock automatically
Most locks also give you the ability to remotely lock and unlock the door and pass out (or revoke) digital keys. Since Bluetooth door locks are electronic, they require batteries to run. These batteries can last from six months up to a year.
Do you already have a smarthome system like Apple Homekit, Nest, or Wink? Good news. You can integrate your Bluetooth door locks into the system you already use to run your home. For example, when you when you leave for work and the house is empty, you can set up a function that automatically locks all your doors, turns off all electronics, and adjusts the thermostat to cut down on energy costs.
Smart locks are several times more expensive than traditional deadbolts. But if you want more high tech control over your home security, they can be worth the investment.
Interested in opening your door to the 21st century? Here are the most popular Bluetooth door locks out right now.
Kwikset Kevo
Kwikset, one of the oldest and most most popular door lock brands, released their Bluetooth door lock Kevo in 2013. True to their reputation, the Kwikset Kevo is one of the most well-loved smart lock models. The lock looks stylish — from the outside it looks like a traditional lock, with the exception of a ring that lights up blue when you unlock it. You can purchase fobs that allows for easy access, even if you don’t have a smartphone. You can also manage keys from your phone.
The second generation of Kevo offers a wide range of integrations to give you true smart home functionality. You can connect it with the Ring Video Doorbell, Nest Thermostat, Apple Watch, and even Android Wear smartwatches.
Schlage Smart Sense Deadbolt
Schlange, another popular name in door locks, released their Bluetooth door lock model in 2015. The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt integrates with Apple HomeKit technology — which means you can tell Siri to lock and unlock your door while you’re in Bluetooth range.
August Smart Lock
Want to keep your current deadbolt? Is your landlord not too keen on replacing parts of the door? Then the August Smart Lock might be a better option for you.
The August Smart Lock simply fits over your existing lock, but it provides you with many of the same features as other Bluetooth door locks. Namely, you’ll be able to let guests into your home remotely. When you pair it with the August security camera, you can also see who’s actually at your door before you let them in.
Lockitron
The Lockitron is designed to appeal to anyone who values simplicity and value. Starting at $99, it’s one of the cheapest Bluetooth door locks on the market — but it’s still able to offer many of the features that bigger names boast about. The basic features are there: it allows entry access with smartphones and the ability to issue digital keys. The Lockitron is a smart option if you don’t care about integration with your other electronic devices.
Yale Real Living Assure Lock With Bluetooth
Interested in a no-frills Bluetooth door lock? Then the Yale Real Living Assure Lock is probably more your speed. Its functionality is basic: you can gain access to your home through a Bluetooth mobile phone or a keypad. It also allows you remotely send keys to other people, but its features don’t extend much further than that. If you’re looking for voice activation, auto locking, or integrations with smart home software, then you should probably look elsewhere.
Marrying Convenience And Security
The ultimate dream of home security is a front door that is effortless for family and guests to walk through, but impossible for everyone else. In the future, maybe we’ll have Minority Report-style home locks that scan visitors’ irises before deciding whether or not to unlock. But until that happens, Bluetooth door locks are the best way to upgrade the common deadbolt.
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