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Smart Locks Buying Guide

Smart Locks Buying Guide
Smart Locks Buying Guide

With the rise of technology, the door lock industry has improved, too, with newer and flexible ways to lock your door and secure your house. Now, when you forget to lock your house door, you don’t need to engage in a cycle of panic thanks to the advent of smart locks. You can remotely lock your doors regardless of how far you are from home.

But not all smart locks can give you the measure of security you need. It is reasonable to carefully choose the best smart lock with the right security features to prevent a robbery in your place when you’re away from home or in the house. 

If you like to leave your house in the care of your neighbor, getting a smart lock with a virtual key isn’t a bad idea. It’ll help you monitor who goes into your house and how often they enter your space. 

It also shows you the last time anyone used (or tried to use) your virtual key so you can keep track. Good smart locks have fantastic features to keep your property safe, but they’re not easy to find. If you are new to this world, hopefully our buying guide will help you to make the best decision for you.

There are particular features you should look out for that’ll point you to an excellent smart lock. Our buying guide works like a compass to identify and differentiate between an average and a good smart lock in the market. Ready? Let’s dive in.

Connectivity

When shopping for a smart lock, the first thing to consider is its connectivity. It determines how your smart lock communicates or relates to your house and devices. Generally, Smart locks communicate through two primary methods; Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. These communication methods have their pros and cons. But first, let’s examine how they work and what features they offer your smart lock.

Bluetooth

Research proves that smart lock batteries have a longer lifespan of a year or more if only Bluetooth is being used. Another benefit of this type of connectivity is how easy your phone connects to your smart lock. Although, when you’re more than 300 ft. away from the smart lock, your device would instantly disconnect from the smart lock. 

You’d find it difficult to control your smart lock when you’re away but more effortless when you’re home as the smart lock instantly connects to your device within close range. Nevertheless, depending on the smart lock brand you use, your door won’t unlock once you lock it and go out of the radius of the Bluetooth connection. 

Your smart lock should have the automatic unlock feature. So, when you lock your door and go out of the Bluetooth’s radius, it stays locked. However, when you return home and are within the radius of your Bluetooth, your smart lock will instantly unlock.

Wi-Fi

Smart locks that are enabled with Wi-Fi connections are some of the most advanced smart locks on the market. Nevertheless, they have their downside. For instance, they drain your smart lock battery faster than models without it.

So there’s a small price to pay regarding the battery life. Asides from the battery drain, Wi-Fi-enabled smart locks are convenient. They are preferable to Bluetooth connections in that they allow you to lock your door from anywhere in the world.

You can also create new users on the app, so anyone who wants to stay in your home while you’re away can conveniently access your apartment.

Smart App

Every smart lock should come with a helpful app that’ll put you in charge of your home while you’re away. You don’t necessarily have to ask your neighbors to monitor your apartment for you. 

You also won’t need to leave keys with your neighbors for safekeeping. An excellent Smart lock should allow you to travel the world with your virtual key. It should also make it possible to share your virtual keys with only people you trust via text or email. 

Virtual assistant compatibility

Another essential feature you should look out for when shopping for a smart lock is the feature to integrate it with the virtual assistant you use. If your home is smart, integrating your lock with the virtual assistant of your choice should be a top priority. 

That way, you won’t need to lock your door with your device – especially when the lock is not within a radius of where you’re seated. Integrating your smart lock with a virtual assistant helps you unlock your door with a simple voice command.

Installation and setup

Nobody wants to destroy their doors or invest in a new one because their existing door isn’t compatible or usable with a smart lock.

Regardless of the smart lock’s mechanics, the installation process should be easy to the extent that you can install it yourself. After installing it, using it should come intuitively based on the design.

Alarm technology

When there’s a robbery or someone is trying to break into your house, you have to be sure that your smart lock will alert you in the loudest way possible and also send a notification to your phone asap (With Wi-Fi functionality it works wherever you are). That way, you can quickly call the Police or investigate further.

Battery indicator

The battery indicator is another essential feature an intelligent lock should have before investing in it. When you can keep track of your smart lock battery level, you’ll know when it’s low and needs a replacement. You won’t be thrown off guard when you try to lock or unlock your door, but the smart lock is unresponsive because the battery has been drained. 

Conclusion

Buying the right smart lock with the needed features would make your home safer and access more convenient. You can travel with your mind at ease that your home is secure. Choosing a random smart lock for your home might put you at a considerable risk of a break-in. Be sure to keep guidelines above in mind when making your purchase.

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