I've tried many smart locks, but the one I keep on my door is $80 off right now | ZDNET

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The Aqara U100 smart lock is discounted for $150 with a limited-time Amazon deal.

Aqara launched its first Apple Home Key smart lock in the US after selling many Home Key-compatible smart locks outside the country. Was the wait worth it? I've had the Aqara U100 for over a year, and the short answer is: Absolutely.

Getting the Aqara U100 on my front door was reasonably simple, even though my specific review unit didn't come with instructions. It took a few minutes to figure out which piece goes on before the other, but a deadbolt is a pretty straightforward mechanism, so it was easy. The entire process took less than 15 minutes.

Once the U100 smart lock was on the door, I set it up with the Aqara app on my iPhone and used an Aqara M2 Hub to connect to it.

Also: iPhone users, this smart lock was literally made for you

The Aqara U100 smart lock is the first in the US to combine Apple Home Key, keypad, fingerprint, NFC tags, and a physical key for unlocking options.

Although an Aqara Hub isn't necessary to use the basic features of the smart lock, you do need one to perform remote lock and unlock actions, view the current lock status, configure password settings from your phone, and create automations with other Aqara devices.

I used the Aqara Hub M2 to set up the U100 lock.

Without a hub, the U100 smart lock can only connect to your phone via Bluetooth and be controlled as long as you're within Bluetooth range.

The lock blends seamlessly alongside my door.

The Aqara U100 smart lock is unique in the US, as it's the only one on the market to offer the following unlocking options in one:

Although I didn't find the Aqara mobile app very intuitive, I loved the features available for the U100 lock. You can add other users and give them each a unique unlocking method. For example, I've always given myself a passcode and a fingerprint to track who entered and how when checking the lock's event history.

The app also lets you customize alert settings and choose the voice volume and language for any voice alerts during the locking operation. Thanks to a built-in gyroscope for motion detection, you can set the device to auto-lock when the door is closed (no extra modules are required).

That said, it wasn't all sunshine and automatically locked doors. I struggled at times with the app's beta features, especially when it came time to get the U100 to lock behind me or when I swiped it. At one point, I had to go back inside to find the mechanical key because it wasn't working for me. I later realized this happens when the lock's battery life ends after three to four months.

While my experience was mostly positive, I found the app very slow and unreliable at giving me the lock status, even when my phone was within Bluetooth range. Sometimes it would just give me the wrong status and say the door was locked when I could see clearly that it wasn't.

The Aqara U100 smart lock has a hidden keyhole.

Why do I still love the Aqara U100? The pros outweigh the cons, and the firmware upgrades keep improving its performance.

Considering how elaborate smart locks can get, I went into this review biased toward the simplicity of the Level Lock+ and the sleek design of the Yale Assure Lock SL. The additional unlocking features that make the Aqara U100 unique turned me around.

Being able to consistently (and flexibly) unlock my door with either my fingerprint or Apple Watch, and not one or the other, has added the exact amount of convenience to my life that I look for in all smart home devices.

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