Kwikset Halo Select review: A smart compromise

Legacy lock maker Kwikset has been producing modern good locks since 2013, when it launched the primary touch-to-open lock, the Kwikset Kevo. The corporate adopted that up with the launch of one of many first key-free locks in 2016, one of many earliest Apple HomeKit locks, and one of many first fingerprint-only locks. Kwikset has not shied away from new tech.

Its newest mannequin, the Halo Choose ($279.99), is without doubt one of the first full-replacement Matter-over-Thread good locks. I’ve examined nearly each good lock that Kwikset has made over time, and that is its greatest but. It’s super-responsive with strong options and broad good dwelling compatibility. It’s simply too dangerous that utilizing Matter means giving up its greatest function.

The Halo Choose is a sleek-looking lock that ought to slot in with each conventional and modern door units, though it has a contemporary slant. As Kwikset is one in all two main residential lock corporations (the opposite being Schlage), you might have already got Kwikset locks and deal with units in your outer doorways, which means the Choose may slot in with what you have already got — one thing few different good locks do.

It gives 4 entry strategies: a keyway (which is rekeyable), a touchscreen keypad, app / good dwelling management, and auto-unlock primarily based on location. The latter labored so properly that I didn’t thoughts the shortage of a fingerprint reader or Apple Residence Key — usually my two favourite entry strategies. (Kwikset has teased a Halo Choose Plus mannequin with an NFC chip, nevertheless it hasn’t mentioned whether or not that may work with Residence Key or the forthcoming Aliro commonplace.)

One in every of Halo Choose’s standout options is the choice to connect with your good dwelling by way of Matter-over-Thread. This brings broad good dwelling compatibility over an area protocol, working with Amazon Alexa, Google Residence, Apple Residence, and Samsung SmartThings, amongst others.

The Thread radio brings quicker response occasions than Wi-Fi and considerably longer battery life — nearly double primarily based on my testing. There are solely a handful of full-replacement Matter-over-Thread locks obtainable – together with the Degree Lock Plus, the Eufy E30, U-tec’s Matter lock, and the Yale Guarantee SL. However the Halo Choose is your best choice proper now.

To set it up with Matter, you want a Matter controller and a Thread border router. An Apple TV is each, or you should utilize a mix, similar to an Echo speaker (Matter controller) and an Eero Wi-Fi router (Thread border router). Alternatively, you’ll be able to join the lock utilizing its built-in Wi-Fi. This permits it to work with the Kwikset app, in addition to Amazon Alexa and Google Residence, by way of the cloud. You’ll lose the broader compatibility and battery lifetime of Matter-over-Thread, however in alternate, you get one of many Halo Choose’s greatest options: auto unlock.

Auto unlock is a comparatively new function on Kwikset locks. It makes use of a mix of radios, together with GPS and Wi-Fi, to find out the place your telephone is in relation to your private home so it might probably unlock the door as you method.

This tech has been utilized in good locks for some time — it was first seen on the unique August good lock in 2013 — however every firm implements it barely otherwise. In most locks I’ve examined with the function, it’s been unreliable, working solely about half the time. Nonetheless, on the Halo Choose, the expertise has been flawless, with the door unlocking simply as I method my porch, each time.

The Halo Choose may auto-lock primarily based on location. Most good locks, together with the Choose, may be set to lock after a set time period. In observe, this generally means your door locks behind you if you come out to seize one thing from the automotive. Kwikset’s location-based lock may be set to not lock till you’ve left the driveway.

The draw back is that the Kwikset app needs to be operating within the background, so if my telephone died whereas I used to be out, it wouldn’t work except I remembered to open the Kwikset app after I powered it again on.

A brand new expertise referred to as ultra-wideband unlocking is coming (sometime) to unravel this downside. It is going to talk immediately between your telephone and the lock, no app required, and will additionally work with units like good watches. Within the meantime, Kwikset’s answer is the most effective I’ve examined.

The opposite important unlocking possibility is a touchscreen keypad. Whereas touchscreen keypads may be finicky, the Choose’s is tremendous responsive, and I just like the clicky suggestions it provides. Nonetheless, I’d prefer to see higher fingerprint resistance, as you’ll be able to see them at some angles, which could possibly be a safety concern.

The Kwikset app, which is straightforward and straightforward to make use of, allows you to share as much as 250 entry codes and select from momentary, scheduled, or everlasting entry. I like the brand new LED lock indicator, which lights up when the keypad does and exhibits inexperienced for unlocked and purple for locked. (Sure, I’ve typically discovered myself unintentionally locking an already unlocked door.)

Whereas I just like the look of the brand new Halo Choose, I don’t just like the distinguished Kwikset branding, and I want the lock itself have been smaller; the rear housing remains to be very large. However the mechanism is way quieter than earlier Kwikset locks I’ve examined.

Set up and setup have been easy, because of an in depth and easy-to-follow in-app information. I used to be impressed with its tremendous slim door sensor that tucks up above the strike plate. This sends an alert by way of the Kwikset app when the door has been left open and may present you within the app if the door is open or closed if you management it remotely. Nonetheless, this solely works with the Kwikset app. It’d be good if it confirmed up as a sensor when the lock is related in Matter.

The lock needs to be arrange within the Kwikset app and related to Wi-Fi, however there may be then the choice to change it over to Matter-over-Thread. The app does a very good job of creating it clear what is going to occur in the event you do that — you lose entry to the lock within the Kwikset app and may not use the auto-unlock function or entry the door sensor to see if the door is open or closed. Nevertheless it additionally tells you what you’ll acquire. Matter-over-Thread does promise higher battery life, plus the power so as to add it to Apple Residence, Samsung SmartThings, and different platforms.

I set the lock up in Apple Residence and Google Residence by way of Matter with no points, and I might management it with routines and automations in each concurrently. As for battery life, it makes use of 4 AA batteries that Kwikset says will final six months on Wi-Fi and over a yr by way of Thread.

I examined it for 5 weeks on Wi-Fi and was at 50 p.c, which means I might get simply over three months on Wi-Fi. After three weeks on Thread, it had solely dropped 10 p.c, an early indication that it ought to get the promised double battery life.

It’s irritating to forgo options to make use of Matter, however that is largely a difficulty with Matter, not Kwikset. Matter doesn’t help auto-unlock, door sensing, fingerprint entry, or newer entry strategies like facial recognition. And whereas some ecosystems have geofencing automations that may be set to unlock your door, in my testing, they don’t work as properly and generally require additional steps.

All of which means, right this moment, selecting a wise lock requires making some compromises. Kwikset’s answer permits you to use a few of these extra superior options right this moment whereas retaining the future-proofing potential of Matter for tomorrow.