#Wifi padlock upgrade

The models that fail-at least half do-go through another round, this time with a reinforced box strike plate (a basic DIY upgrade that improves security) installed on a new lock sample.įor more on our tests and what to consider as you shop, see our door lock buying guide. They repeat the test eight times, with the ram raised to increasing heights or until the lock fails. To evaluate both smart and conventional locks, CR engineers conduct kick-in tests using a custom-built jig that swings a 100-pound steel battering ram against a locked door. The remaining picks are WiFi-capable smart locks, which connect directly to WiFi, or through a WiFi adapter or smart home hub. Another two picks are Bluetooth-only smart locks, meaning they don’t come with a WiFi adapter (one model offers an adapter sold separately), so you can’t control and monitor the lock when you’re away from home. Because the exterior part of your deadbolt will remain, you can still use your physical keys but also lock and unlock the door from a smartphone app. Dont Get Locked In With Just One Brand Use Wireless Locks from the Top Industry Brands with the Brivo Access Platform Select the Lock Thats Right for You. You’ll find models from August, Bosma, Eufy, Kwikset, Wyze, and Yale.įour of our picks are retrofit smart locks, which only replace the part of the lock that’s on the interior side of your door. “Depending on the model, you can view the status of your lock from anywhere and track who opens your door and when.”īelow you’ll find the 10 best smart locks from our tests, listed alphabetically and split into three categories. Never worry if you forgot to lock the door, enable Auto-Lock or just lock with a tap as you leave. Give people you trust a passcode and delete codes when you need to. It's keyless, so you can lock and unlock the door with ease using your secure passcode on the touchscreen keypad. “Smart locks can add an invaluable level of peace of mind,” says Misha Kollontai, CR’s test engineer for door locks. Meet the secure, tamper-proof lock from Nest and Yale. There are even some models with built-in fingerprint scanners, allowing you to unlock your door the same way you unlock your smartphone, with the tap of a finger.

With both methods, you can create, revoke, delete, and limit them to certain time periods with a few swipes on your smartphone. Instead, many smart locks have keypads for PINs and/or electronic keys, where the “key” lives in an app on your smartphone and communicates with your lock wirelessly. conventional deadbolts is that you never have to carry a physical key. One huge advantage that you get with smart locks vs.