The $99 SwitchBot Lock is the primary sensible door lock I’ve examined that doesn’t substitute any a part of your current lock. As a substitute, it attaches to the again of your door excessive of the thumb flip. This removes a significant ache level of sensible locks: an concerned set up. However the SwitchBot Lock is actually odd trying — my husband actually stopped in his tracks and stated, “What’s that factor?” I had an analogous response after I first noticed it and was wholly unconvinced this massive piece of black plastic would have the facility to unlock my deadbolt.

I used to be shocked to find that the SwitchBot Lock strikes that thumb flip simply in addition to I can, and it stayed firmly put throughout my two weeks of testing, regardless of being connected solely by double-sided sticky tape. (No phrase but on long-term sturdiness, however it seems to be promising to this point).

The downsides are that it’s not very sensible and it’s lacking just a few key options (haha). You additionally want round $70 price of equipment so as to add sensible dwelling management and a keypad. This places it nearer in value to extra elegant-looking options, such because the $230 August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock, which wants a bit extra work to put in however doesn’t go away you with a honking nice piece of plastic in your door.

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The SwitchBot Lock is a retrofit Bluetooth-powered sensible door lock that may lock and unlock your door utilizing the SwitchBot app on a smartphone or Apple Watch. (It’s not House Key appropriate). It attaches to your door utilizing 3M VHB tape and makes use of a small plastic grabber to carry on to and switch the lock’s thumb flip.

That grabber can flip something. Movies in Amazon evaluations present it even turning a key, making this a superb resolution for individuals with nontraditional door locks and multipoint locks who can’t get some other sensible lock to work (see a listing right here). It’s cleverly engineered with shifting base plates that forestall the lock from twisting itself off whereas turning the lock.

That is SwitchBot’s factor: making common units sensible. They’ve a little bot that presses your mild change for you and a robotic that crawls alongside your curtain rod to open and shut the curtains. This one is a robotic hand in your door lock. It comes with three different-sized adapters, so yow will discover the fitting match in your setup. The SwitchBot Lock doesn’t take away any perform — you possibly can nonetheless use your key, and you’ll nonetheless flip the deadbolt manually; it simply provides the flexibility to make use of your cellphone or watch as your key.

There are a complete of seven methods to regulate the door lock: your key, the smartphone / Apple Watch app, NFC tags utilizing your cellphone, a key code utilizing a keypad, a fingerprint reader, an NFC keycard, and sensible dwelling / voice management. That’s plenty of choices — though solely the primary three work out of the field.

For the keycard, keypad, or fingerprint entry, you’ll want one in all SwitchBot’s two Bluetooth keypads. These connect with double-sided tape (or screws in case you want). I examined the fingerprint model, which prices $60, and it labored rapidly and reliably.

The non-fingerprint model is barely $30, however fingerprint entry is my favourite approach to make use of a wise door lock. The keypads additionally work with NFC keycards. (One is equipped and you should purchase a three-pack for $15.) Though, in case you have a keypad, I don’t see a necessity for a keycard, as you possibly can dole out everlasting, short-term, and one-time codes to anybody who wants entry. Annoyingly, six digits is the minimal right here, which is plenty of digits.

For those who don’t go for the additional keypads, one other unlock choice is utilizing the 2 NFC tags that include the lock. You’ll be able to pair these to your cellphone to lock or unlock the door with a faucet of your cellphone. However you must use two tags: one to lock and one to unlock. Sticking two white items of plastic in your door doesn’t enhance the general look right here, and in case you have your cellphone out already, utilizing the iOS or Android lock display widget is nearly as quick.

The SwitchBot does work with Amazon Alexa, Google House, and Siri Shortcuts (however not HomeKit), so you should utilize voice instructions to lock and unlock the door and add the lock into sensible dwelling Routines (Alexa and Google solely).

However you want a $40 SwitchBot Hub Mini to attach the lock to Wi-Fi and make these integrations; the lock itself communicates over Bluetooth. You additionally want the hub to regulate the lock or verify its standing while you’re not at dwelling utilizing the SwitchBot app. The hub works with all of SwitchBot’s devices however must be put in close to the lock.

I put in the SwitchBot Lock on my again door, which is a major entryway to our home. It leads into our mudroom from our storage and will get plenty of foot site visitors. The fingerprint reader and keypad made it straightforward for my kids to make use of the lock — no must obtain an app. With out these, although, there may be not a straightforward approach for a child and not using a smartphone to entry the door.

I used to be additionally dissatisfied that the notifications when the door is unlocked didn’t present which code or fingerprint was used. This can be a widespread characteristic on different sensible locks and one I personally use to assist hold observe of my older youngsters’ comings and goings after I’m at work. I may verify the log within the app to see who unlocked it, although.

Locking and unlocking are quick when controlling it with the keypad, however the cellphone app takes over 5 seconds to attach — very irritating in case you’re standing within the rain. The Apple Watch connects extra rapidly, and in case you didn’t have a keypad, is the best option to management the lock. All these interactions are over Bluetooth, so it’s essential to stand by the lock. To regulate it remotely with the app or voice management, you want the hub.

Setup and set up had been fast, below 5 minutes in all. This is among the lock’s greatest promoting factors, however it additionally wasn’t totally simple. There’s a little bit of lining as much as do to ensure the lock will flip earlier than you tape it to the door, and that you must use a small screwdriver (equipped) to regulate the spacing of the lock. Cleverly, it attaches in any course, vertically or horizontally, so you possibly can match it round your door deal with. It additionally comes with a magnet to sense when the door is open or closed, though I may nonetheless lock it remotely whereas it was broad open with none alert or notification.

The SwitchBot app is fundamental. There’s no option to create schedules to lock or unlock the door at a set time of day, and the auto-lock characteristic was very spotty. It solely labored with each the “Lock after a set time frame” and the “Re-lock if the door has been unlocked however not opened” toggles on, and even then, it was unreliable. This looks like a software program bug which will get mounted. However it did imply I needed to get my cellphone out to lock the door (there are iOS and Android lock display widgets to make this faster), use the Apple Watch app, or use my key. After I added the keypad, although, I may hit a button to lock it.

There are some helpful notification choices, together with when the door is locked, if the door has been left unlocked, and if it’s been left ajar after a sure period of time. Notifications require the hub to work, and actually, they need to simply promote this with the hub. It undoubtedly makes it a greater sensible lock. With the hub, I may hook up with Alexa and add the lock to an Alexa Routine that routinely locked it each night time at sundown.

The SwitchBot Lock a great choice for renters who can’t change their door lock in any respect or for many who can’t or gained’t take away any a part of their current deadbolt. It does want to stay to the doorframe utilizing a heavy-duty adhesive, which can possible take some paint with it in case you ever take away it. Comparable retrofit choices from August, Wyze, and Bosma require eradicating the rear deadbolt, and so they all value over $100.

However its sensible options are restricted to controlling the lock regionally together with your cellphone, Apple Watch, or current key. While you add within the Wi-Fi hub, you get away-from-home management and extra helpful sensible dwelling integrations, however solely with Google House and Alexa; there’s no HomeKit help and restricted IFTTT integration. (The lock is barely a set off, not an motion.)

For those who additionally add within the keypad — particularly the fingerprint one — this turns into a way more helpful proposition, however then you definately’re knocking on $170, nearer to the value of much less ugly choices with higher smarts that don’t require all this additional tools (however do require eradicating some or your whole door lock). These embody the August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock plus Keypad and the Eufy Sensible Lock Contact with Wi-Fi (fingerprint reader and keypad in a single however a full lock substitute).

The most important advantage of this lock is its versatility. You’ll be able to even use two on one door to take care of multipoint locking. Its skill to seize just about any sort of locking mechanism, together with a key, means it might be the one sensible resolution that works in your door.

Pictures by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge