It’s been a recurring theme in almost every sci-fi/futuristic movie for the past few decades now: people using a card or device to scan and unlock doors, gates, vaults, and more. Slowly but surely this fictional “key” concept has become a reality, with people now able to electronically unlock and gain access to cars, hotel rooms, and secure buildings. And what of an electronic device to unlock your own door at your residence, you may ask? The technology is actually here: introducing “smart locks.”
Smart locks can be operated by most smartphones, in place of the traditional metal key. They come with some pretty interesting features, such as automatic locking and unlocking, so whenever you are approaching the door with the device on your person, it will immediately unlock the door – and lock it again once you have stepped inside. Most of these locks are fairly easy to install, too.
You can even create temporary “guest keys” that expire at a specific time, and you can track who is coming in and out of your home. These features can be accessed through the use of a smart lock app. Smart lock keys cannot be copied like traditional keys, though most smart locks come with a physical key for emergency backup, such as in the case of a dead phone or a software malfunction.
Be aware, however, that since the smart lock is still a new technology, most companies have yet to produce a flawless product. In his review of smart locks for the The Wall Street Journal, Geoffrey A. Fowler speaks about how it took some time for him to be comfortable leaving the house without a physical key. He mentions that while smart locks work well for the most part, there can be moments of software malfunction that could result in being locked out of your own home. Most smart lock companies – including industry leaders August and Kevo – have come up with patches to prevent software errors, so the likelihood of problems has been lessened. Still, it might make sense to wait for the bugs to be worked out before making the leap to a smart lock on your home, unless you’re one of the eager “early adopters” who enjoys being the first of your friends to try out new gadgets, “hiccups” and all.
Smart locks tend to cost between $180-300, just slightly more than standard locks that can cost anywhere from $100 to $250.