It’s a modern dance we’ve all done: getting home with a handful of shopping bags or work gear, followed by the awkward shuffle of extracting the house keys without dropping our bundle. Perhaps it’s a first-world problem, but it’s a problem nonetheless. Aqara might have the answer with its recently announced Smart Lock U400, which opens when it detects an authorised visitor.
Made for iPhone and Apple Watch Owners, the smart lock uses ultra-wideband technology to precisely detect when it should unlock. By setting up a home key on a compatible Apple device, you can then register it with the U400 to unlock in one of multiple ways. In the next few months, the smart lock will also be compatible with Samsung Wallet.
One of its main features is to detect an Apple Watch or an iPhone with a registered home key and unlock the door via proximity. Simply walking up to the door is enough to unlock it, no input required. According to Aqara, it uses various measurements and calculations to open only when a user approaches the door from the outside.
If proximity unlocks aren’t your thing, there are several alternative methods. The Aqara Smart Lock U400 also supports NFC tap-based unlocks, fingerprint scanning, passcodes, and a regular mechanical key. There’s even support for voice activation, with Aqara supporting Alexa as well as Siri.
Aqara’s smart lock is Matter-certified, meaning it’s designed to work with other smart home platforms, including Google Home and SmartThings, in addition to Amazon’s and Apple’s ecosystems.
Aqara says its new smart lock lasts up to six months on a single charge. Topping it up is a matter of connecting a power bank.
Aqara Smart Lock U400 price and release date
Aqara has a launch discount in the works for the U400, which it says will be the “lowest price globally”.
Pre-orders for the smart lock start on 16 January, bundled with the M100 Hub, valued at an RRP of $549. However, until 17 February, the bundle will cost a discounted $399 directly through Aqara’s online store. It should blend in with most homes, with the smart lock available in either black, silver, shadow black, or satin nickel.
Apple is also selling the U400 in stores and online for $489.95 without the hub. As for the release date, early bird customers are expected to receive their orders in “early February”.
