Aqara Smart Lock U300 [Aqara]
Aqara’s Smart Lock U300 supports Thread and Apple Home Keys, allowing homeowners access using their iPhone or Apple Watch.
Aqara is known for its smart locks, and has already released items such as the U50, U100, and U200. Now, with the Smart Lock U300, the company has extended into creating lever locks.
Its first lever lock, it can replace traditional non-deadbolt locks on single-bore doors. While covering different mechanisms than the rest of Aqara’s range, it still offers a lot of smart features.
It is a Matter-enabled lock, supporting the Thread protocol. When used with a Thread Border Router, it can be managed by Apple’s Home app, as well as Google, Alexa, and SmartThings counterparts.
The U300 has support for Apple Home Keys, which use an iPhone or Apple Watch as a key. This also works if the Apple hardware is out of power.
Aside from Apple’s hardware, the lock also includes support for Aqara NFC cards, mobile apps, fingerprint recognition, and both one-time and recurring passcodes. There’s even support for virtual assistants like Siri to manage access using the lock.
Just like a non-smart lock, it also takes physical keys.
The lock enhances security after you’ve used it, by automatically locking behind the user once it’s closed. There’s also a Passage Mode, which will provide open access to all until deactivated, which can be done from the lock itself.
Aqara made the U300 in a choice of black and silver colors, with the outer panel rated to IPX4 as part of its water-resistant design. With the use of Thread, it has a battery life of up to 10 months.
