Aqara Smart Lock U100

If you’re a big Apple user the Aqara U100 is easily my favorite lock overall, and it uses typical Apple HomeKit magic to give remote notifications and allow for remote unlocking by using your Apple TV, HomePod or other HomeKit hub devices that are already in your house. Compared to the Schlage which is the other competitor in the Home Key space the Aqara U100 was quieter, used less power per unlock, has a much better app experience with significantly more access options, and it adds a fingerprint sensor in case you don’t have your iPhone or Apple Watch, or maybe for a young kid who doesn’t have a phone or watch at all, and it does all that for over $100 less. Adding an Aqara hub like the M2 also increases connectivity significantly, allowing it to be added to Google Home, Amazon Echo, and Home Assistant using the brand-new Matter protocol.