Should you buy an Apple HomeKey lock in 2024?

[@drizzzzz]

I find it super annoying that they didn’t start with UWB for Homekey. It is obvious and a vastly improved experience.

[@EricWelander]

Yeah I don't know if it's economics of hardware or engineering time that drove that or both. I agree I think there's a lot of untapped potential in using UWB for smart home tech including locks.

[@M3FortiZay]

I think it’s actually worth it to be patient take a discount on the old locks when the new ones come out. It’s not that big of a deal and putting my watch to the lock which takes minimal effort. You can also create automations for your door to automatically unlock. With locks costing a whopping 300+ the older locks would be a great deal.

[@rgwebb2008]

I have 2x Schlage Encode Plus and 1 Level Lock+ at my house. HomeKey as it exists now is more than good enough for me. It is only a minor difference for it to just detect the phone in my pocket rather than tapping my watch on the lock itself. In fact, I'm not sure I would appreciate the auto-unlock. For example, my garage entrance into my house being locked but unlocking while I'm walking around the garage getting my kid and other things situated before driving off. Physically putting my arm up to a locking mechanism to toggle state is a more secure interaction in my opinion. Walking up and it unlocking is a cool demo feature - and could even be useful at times - but it has some odd edge cases. Will they have walk-away auto-lock? That could cause issues too when a family member without a key or device to grant entry needs to open that door from the outside.

[@M3FortiZay]

I agree. I’ll take the old locks when they are discounted. Like you said, holding my watch up is not that big of a deal.

[@chasing-mental-clarity]

which lock do you like better?

[@rgwebb2008]

@@chasing-mental-clarity encode plus. Thread transport is significantly less flaky than Bluetooth even if you have a home hub near it. The advantage of a mesh where a variety of things can speak to it v. a peer to peer connection to one hub.

[@mikemccormick6128]

I definitely agree about the auto-unlock. I had an August 3rd generation lock and I always come in through the garage, but the auto-unlock always triggered on my front door. It didn't take me long to get rid of that feature. I actually strongly dislike that smart lock because it went through batteries like crazy due to WiFi and it had a weak motor that had a hard time with my door. I think I gave up on it in less than a year. Then a couple of months ago, I almost bought a Level Lock+ until I saw all of the bad reviews about how Apple Home Keys works very inconsistently with that lock. Plus I also heard that the Level Lock+ has a weak motor. So I ended up buying the Encode Plus and I have had zero issues whatsoever. I'm also so glad that I saw those reviews and got the advice not to download their app because the app requires WiFi. I didn't want that horrible experience again.

[@thepill7195]

i have a Yale smart lock in my garage and it's setup to unlock as I enter the garage.

[@HesperianHorsePower]

This Auto Unlock UWB feature sounds like a security nightmare. Some form of purpose driven interaction with a lock will always be better than this alternative. Putting a watch or phone to the lock is good. If getting assaulted at your door the worse thing that can happen is the intruder getting you inside the house. At that point you’re extra screwed. Always fight to stay outside where there is a chance for help. This being the case you don’t want a door that unlocks when you’re 5-10 feet away. A home invaders dream. Auto Unlock is laziness at its apex!

[@BlackSmokeDMax]

I bought a Yale smart lock and it is Apple homekit compatible, but I hadn't yet set up any Homekit server. I started with the Yale app by itself, turns out that works perfectly for my needs. Even unlocks as I walk up to the door on arriving home. Good job Yale, I was pleasantly surprised.

[@larschristensen8493]

Imagine if we could build automations / shortcuts using AirTags. When getting close to AirTag X, unlock front door, or unlock my car etc etc. I’m no tech expert but as a consumer this seems obvious and easy to utilise.

[@rgwebb2008]

I wish other car manufacturers supported app intents for Siri Shortcuts and Automations as well as the myAudi app. If I had a model that supported remote start, I'm confident I could wire up an automation to open my garage door and start my car. For my model, I can make shortcuts to lock and unlock my car at least. Unfortunately, the HondaLink app doesn't support App Intents and it is a shame because our Pilot is the family hauler that we like to have the HVAC preparing the cabin for the kid's comfort AND we already pay to have app-based remote start. If it had app intents, I would've created the shortcut I described above for my wife and I.

[@EricWelander]

I think it's a very cool idea. It would probably be tricky to sort out all the edge cases and potential bugs but if there's one company that can figure it out, it's Apple

[@EricWelander]

Yes as a HondaLink app user myself I would love this. You have some clever automation ideas. I think Tesla is the only car that supports Apple Shortcuts.

[@SimonLYW]

Especially since they pioneered iBeacon.

[@mikemccormick6128]

@@EricWelander They did. It's called Apple Car Keys and they came out with it years ago. Unfortunately, car manufacturers didn't go for it. Tesla actually has their own version that they copied from Apple. All you do is walk up to your Tesla with your phone in your pocket and the car automatically unlocks and operates. No key fob needed. I've never been in a Tesla, but I believe all you do is press the accelerator and go. No engine, so no engine start button.

[@jorgeguzman8083]

I really love ultraloq and I want to buy a ultraloq homekey lock, because they do such a great job. I'm not sure the express mode thing seems like a good idea for top security.

[@StevenPeck-l5h]

In your onion, Do you think Logitech is soon to be dropping the circle view Doorbell? and why aren't there more choices with HomeKit Door bells with 4K and the ability to use 2.4 and/or 5 ghz. with no monthly subscription fees??? Trying to get away from the Google eco system moving towards all apple and all homekit. .I feel like we will see a lot more new releases on HomeKit Doorbells soon... What are your thoughts?

[@mikemccormick6128]

I did watch the WWDC presentation, but I gave up on expectations a long time ago. They announced CarPlay in 2014, but Honda didn't come out with Wireless CarPlay until 2022. That is an 8 year gap. They announced CarPlay 2 in 2022, but only just now are the luxury brands adding them to their vehicles. I'm not expecting one in a Honda any time soon. I actually just bought my Encode Plus a couple of weeks before WWDC and I feel zero regret whatsoever. I just bring my watch to the door and it opens right away. 100% of the time. I was actually about to order the Level Lock+ but then I started hearing about how inconsistent it is. Sometimes it works and sometimes you have to put your wrist to the lock a few times before it will work. Well that is not acceptable to me. The Encode Plus works every time, the first time. I don't know if it has to do with the location of the NFC part of the lock or if it has anything to do with Thread, I just feel very happy with the lock I picked. Plus, unlike WiFi, the battery lasts a year instead of a month or two. I bought a 3rd generation August lock, but it went through batteries like crazy. Plus, after a while, it stopped having the ability to lock the door. I'm guessing that it's because the door isn't as perfectly lined up as it was and the August lock just wasn't powerful enough to do the job. That's the other thing I heard about with the Level Lock+. It's just not very powerful, unlike the Schlage Encode Plus, which very easily locks my unaligned door. But for anyone in the Apple ecosystem, just be aware that the Encode plus works with both WiFi and Thread. If you follow the instructions and download the app, you WILL be connected to WiFi and your batteries will drain very quickly. My suggestion would be to not download the app and ONLY connect with the Apple Home app. If you do it this way, the lock will connect via Thread, and your battery should last over a year.

[@Antonio5559398]

how would appartment lock work? with the appartment next door been litterally 1 m away from your door sometimes, how would this work if the neighbour is my friend and i go visit?

[@EricWelander]

It's a good point there are some edge cases to sort out for Aliro and the new Express Mode and places it probably won't work. For NFC today the phone has to be close enough it wouldn't matter.

[@BrandonDoyleMN]

The upgrade from Schlage encode to the plus version with Apple key was totally worth it, I also like aqara lineup of locks that support Apple key for the price

[@EricWelander]

Hey Brandon! Great to see you here. Yes the Schlage Encode Plus is very nice for HomeKey and the Aqara locks are becoming quite an extensive lineup.

[@Byte_J]

Sounds like a feature I’d want to actively avoid 😬

[@badtoro]

UWB is crazy bad. So sum1 leaves their phone by the door inside, a stranger could open the door. Bad idea

[@Chenny0]

Of course they would consider this. UWB’s magic is its ability to precisely identify the devices position. If the phone is stationary then the lock would not unlock if the phone is approaching the door from the outside then unlock.

[@badtoro]

@@Chenny0that is pure speculation

[@HearMeLearn]

⁠you're also speculating that they didn't think of this