August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock Specs
Dimension: three inches (diameter), 1.75 inches (depth)
Wi-fi: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Works with: Alexa, HomeKit, Google Assistant, SmartThings, Xfinity, Logitech, Control4, Honeywell, Simplisafe, extra
August didn’t should do a lot to make its good lock higher. It was already straightforward to put in and use; it labored with a ton of different good dwelling units, and it allow you to use the identical keys in your current deadbolt. However, the enhancements within the new August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock — together with a smaller dimension and a direct Wi-Fi connection — make this one of many greatest good locks (and greatest good dwelling units) but. Learn the remainder of our August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock assessment to search out out what else we favored.
August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock: Value and launch date
The August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock prices $249 and went on sale in Could 2020. It is broadly obtainable at August.com, Amazon, Finest Purchase, and different retailers.
You too can nonetheless buy August’s earlier good locks: The August Sensible Lock Professional + Join is $229, and the August Sensible Lock + Join is $199 on the corporate’s web site, although it is best to be capable of discover each for much less at different on-line retailers.
August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock: Design
You possibly can’t fault August with sticking with the identical design because the Sensible Lock Professional. It’s a easy cylinder with a ridged exterior that rotates to lock and unlock your deadbolt. Nevertheless, the August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock is 45 p.c smaller than the Sensible Lock Professional, so it’s a lot much less bulbous than earlier than. The Wi-Fi Sensible Lock is about three inches in diameter, and 1.75 inches deep; the Sensible Lock Professional was three.four inches in diameter, and a couple of.2 inches deep.
In contrast to different good locks, the August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock solely requires you to alter the a part of your deadbolt that’s inside your home. Meaning you may nonetheless use the identical keys that got here together with your authentic deadbolt, however if you would like a keypad — a characteristic discovered constructed into different good locks — you’ll should buy that individually for $59.99.
Other than its smaller dimension, the opposite main distinction between the August W-Fi Sensible Lock and the Sensible Lock Professional is that the newer lock has Wi-Fi in-built. With August’s earlier locks, you wanted to make use of the August Join Wi-Fi Bridge should you needed to function your lock remotely.
In contrast to its older locks, the August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock doesn’t have Z-Wave in-built. Most good dwelling homeowners gained’t thoughts its absence, however energy customers who need to guarantee all their good dwelling units work even when there’s no Web connection will need an older mannequin.
August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock: Options and Efficiency
Other than the brand new design, every thing that we favored on the August Sensible Lock Professional is out there on the August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock. That features:
- DoorSense: A small sensor you connect to your door body, and tells the lock in case your door is closed.
- Sensible alerts: Notifications for when an individual locks or unlocks the door, or if it’s left ajar.
- Auto-lock: In the event you’re utilizing the DoorSense sensor, August can robotically lock your door as quickly because it’s shut, or after a sure variety of minutes. You too can set the lock to emit a chime when it locks or unlocks.
- Auto-unlock: This characteristic makes use of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to sense while you go away your house, and change the lock into Away mode. Upon your arrival dwelling, August will robotically unlock the door for you when you’re a couple of toes away, and change to Residence mode.
- Visitor entry: You possibly can create short-term, or recurring “keys” for buddies, household, or others to unlock the door through the August app. These keys might be set to solely work throughout sure hours, or solely work for a restricted time frame.
Putting in the lock, connecting it to my Wi-Fi community and HomeKit ought to take you not more than 15 minutes; it’s all fairly fast. After, locking and unlocking the door was so simple as turning the knob, or urgent the large button within the August app; it turns purple when the door is locked, and inexperienced when the door is unlocked.
Options labored as marketed; The truth is, I forgot that I had auto-lock turned on, and was pleasantly stunned when the August bolted itself shut, and a HomeKit notification popped up on my smartphone, letting me know my deadbolt was closed.
Apparently, your smartphone’s connection to the August lock switches from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth robotically, primarily based on whichever is stronger.
August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock: Sensible Residence options and compatibility
One of many different elements we like about August’s good locks is their compatibility with a spread of good dwelling programs. Alexa, Google Assistant, and HomeKit are simply the beginning; it additionally works with Nest, Simplisafe, Logitech, Xfinity, SmartThings, and Control4, amongst others.
The August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock additionally works along side August’s video doorbells; whereas they’re not among the many greatest video doorbells, it’s handy to have the ability to use the identical app to each see who’s at your door, after which unlock it for them.
August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock: Batteries and Battery Life
Due to its smaller dimension, the August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock makes use of two CR123 batteries, relatively than the 4 AA batteries used within the August Sensible Lock Professional. August says the batteries within the Wi-Fi Sensible Lock ought to final between three to six months.
One fairly intelligent characteristic is that should you hyperlink your August lock to Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant can detect when the batteries within the lock are operating low, and robotically order you a brand new pair.
CR123 batteries are costlier than AAs; on Amazon, a 12-pack of Energizer CR123 batteries is $26 (about $2.20 per battery), whereas a 24-pack of Energizer AA Lithium batteries is $25 (about $1.05 per battery). Then once more, it’s important to use twice as many AA batteries as you’ll AA’s.
August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock assessment: Verdict
In the event you’re out there for a wise lock, you may’t do significantly better than the August Wi-Fi Sensible Lock. It’s straightforward to put in, is unobtrusive from the surface, and works with a ton of different good dwelling units. At $249, it’s on the pricier facet for a wise lock, and doesn’t embrace a keypad. However these could also be secondary considerations to a wise lock that works nicely and appears good.
