Got an iPhone? Then you need this smart lock in your life

I’ve had good luck testing several brands and smart lock patterns and, through all the ups and downs in the process, I finally found the right person for me.

The Level Lock + is one of only two smart locks on the US market Apple Home Key support. This makes it an absolute seamless fit for a Smart Home HomeKitlike mine and the most convenient smart lock I’ve ever tested.

Also: What are the best home security systems and do they require Wi-Fi?

Cleverness aside, a lot of the beauty in Level Lock+ lies in what you don’t see. It’s one of the most compact smart locks out there, with no built-in keyboard and no obvious indication that it’s a smart device; all you see is a latch from the outside and a thumb turn from the inside of your house. The outstanding feature of Level Lock+ lies within its humble shell in the sheer innovation of its construction.

What’s in Level Lock+?

I’m not trying to say that the Level Lock+ is the best smart lock I’ve tested, but it’s an impressive piece of engineering packed into a spectacularly small device. Many consumer-grade locks in the smart home market are bulky and imposing, while the Level Lock collapses its entire device into a cam-slot mechanism in your door’s bore, even hiding a CR2 battery. supply power to the lock inside the lock cylinder.

In my case, Level Lock+ is not the simplest smart lock I have ever installed. I had some problems making sure the deadbolt assembly was properly aligned and with the Level Lock thick shield after removing my existing padlock and I had to chisel a few extra millimeters in my door and doorframe for a snug fit. However, after installing the new smart lock and adding the included battery, setting up with the Level Home app is a breeze.

Also: Delayed installation of smart locks? This is why I’m glad I finally did

Level Lock+ uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to connect to your phone and comes in two finishes: Satin Nickel and Matte Black. It also includes two physical keys and two keycards, in case your phone dies. The latter has to be set up in the Level Home app and also uses NFC technology, so anyone using a key card can hold it in front of the smart lock and wait for it to unlock.

What is Apple’s Home key?

Home Key allows iPhone users to unlock their doors using near-field communication (NFC) technology, so simply holding your iPhone or Apple Watch level with Level Lock+ will unlock it; no password, physical keys or touch operation required. This is very similar use Apple Paybecause your virtual home keys are stored in your Wallet, like debit and credit cards, government IDs in some states, loyalty cards, and if Apple has its way, finally your car keys.

After adding a Home Key-enabled smart lock to HomeKit, you can choose from two options: Quick mode to unlock your door without unlocking your device; or Requires Face ID or Passcode, which requires you to unlock your iPhone to undo the lock after holding it near it.

Apple Home Key works with iPhone XS or later (with iOS 15 or later) and Apple Watch Series 4 or later (with WatchOS 8 or later).

Express mode is my favorite unlocking feature powered by Apple Home Key. I don’t always like doors that automatically unlock when I get home because I don’t always go through the door before I get home — most of the time I go into the garage.

Having the option to quickly unlock the front door with the Apple Watch without entering a code or using a key, is great, especially when my hands are full of grocery bags or kids’ backpacks.

Finding a great smart lock that works natively with Apple HomeKit, the tech company’s famous proprietary home automation system, has been a big deal. HomeKit acts like a walled garden in the smart home world, as Apple restricts which products can meet its privacy and security standards. Protecting customers’ data is commendable, but this results in very few commercially available smart devices that work with HomeKit.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always used my Yale Assure locks with HomeKit and loved them, but I haven’t taken the leap to get a smart lock that supports Home Key.

Review: Yale Assure Lock 2: Genius Lock… after you’ve installed it

There are currently only two other types of smart locks that support HomeKey: Schlage Encode Plus and Aqara A100Not available in the US.

Level App or Apple Home?

After installing Level Lock+, you can use it with your Level app or your Apple Home app. Personally, I love the intuitive navigation of the Level app and find the Home app to refresh and discover devices slower (in general, not just with this smart lock), so I mostly use old application.

Like most smart locks, you can set up and customize various auto-lock and auto-unlock features, automate Apple Home, and various settings to lock and unlock Level Lock according to your needs. manual way. Since there is no keypad to unlock the door, Level Lock has a touch to unlock feature or lock setting. Once you customize and enable these features in the Levels app, you can tap the front of the door lock to lock or unlock it in seconds.

The touch to unlock and lock feature only works for a set time frame before unlocking, to prevent intrusion or unauthorized entry. This means you set a time frame of a few minutes during which your Level Lock+ will lock or unlock when you tap it.

Also: Yes, you can automatically unlock your smart lock with HomeKit. Here is the solution

There is also the option to buy one level keyboardSold separately, to add to your Level Lock.

bottom line

Level Lock+ is a remarkable piece of technology for Apple users. I found it extremely reliable when used with the Apple Home Key, the Level app, or on its own. The only two downsides I’ve had is that the shield and crash fit well, and during day-to-day use, trying to lock and unlock it from within the Apple Home app. However, having been a consistent HomeKit user for over a year, I can assure you that this is the case with multiple devices in the Home app, so I can’t Level Error for it.

For me, the two biggest advantages Level Lock+ has over other smart locks is the Home Lock support in the Wallet app and the fact that it’s compact and discreet enough to bypass a standard deadbolt. — this is a plus for anyone looking to maintain a certain aesthetic or a tenant.

Obviously, if you’re looking for a lock with a smart home platform other than Apple HomeKit compatible, this Level Lock+, at $329, probably isn’t for you.