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Best Deadbolt

Yaro

March 22, 2016

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Smart door locks are undoubtedly one of the best comforts that you can enjoy in a smart home. Many companies manufacture these best keyless door lock, and an increasing number of enterprises are on their way to introduce their smart lock models. One thing common among all the smart locks available in the market is, you can control them through a smartphone or web application. Yes, these locks do not require keys for unlocking them. All you need to do is to tap on the lock or wait for it to recognize you and unlock the door.

August Smart Lock

August is undoubtedly one of the best deadbolt and smart lock manufacturers. Their Smart Lock is arguably the most secure and convenient of all the options available in the market. Sporting an elegant Yves Behar’s design, the chic lock only requires you to replace the interiors of your existing hardware while the exterior hardware remains the same. The Smart Lock can be easily managed through and Android, iOS or a web app.

These best high-security door locks make use of low energy Bluetooth of a smartphone to detect if the phone has a digital key. Moreover, you are not even required to remove the phone out of your pocket; the smart lock will do this job automatically when your phone is still in your pocket.

Benefits of Using Smart Lock 

Smart door locks are very much different from traditional locks. They make use of access codes, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and advanced recognition technology to hasten and simplify your access to the home.

While there is always a possibility of losing the key to your traditional mechanical lock, which can also be easily created with the help of a locksmith, smart locks use digital encryption technologies and other security protocols that are designed for securing banks. These security protocols cannot be broken or copied, and your beloved home will enjoy an enhanced level of security.

If you go through some of the best deadbolt lock reviews, you will find that these modern locks combine customization, remote access and convenience with the help of wireless connectivity to create a common link between them and a smartphone that has the virtual key and security app for the lock.

Moreover, they also provide you with customization options that allow you to hook up the lock with other security features of your home, video doorbells, intercom, security cameras, etc. You can also use these smart locks along with motion sensitive lightings and heating equipment of your home.

Also, with the help of Wi-Fi connection, you can control the lock through your smartphone no matter where you are. Instead of giving a mechanical locks key to your relatives or friends, you can send the digital key to their phone which they can use to open the door, or you can yourself do that to give them access to your home. The lock also notifies you when someone leaves or enters your home.

Features of August Smart Lock

Many features make this Smart Lock from August a better option than many of the best entry door locks and deadbolts. Detailed information about these features is mentioned below.

Design 

The Smart Lock from August has an elegant, clean and minimalist design. Every single component of the lock has their own compartments that provide the lock with a simple yet powerful functionality. The lock is very much different from the other smart locks that are currently available on the market. For instance, the lock is only installed on the interiors of the door while the exteriors remain untouched.

Moreover, while the internal component of the majority of the smart locks is rectangular, August Smart Lock has a circular built. The main cylinder of the lock has a smooth surface with a single indicator which turns red and green depending on the lock’s status. Overall, the Smart Lock has modern looks and is available in four different colors- champagne, red, silver and dark gray.

Moreover, August also offers many additional components that can be separately purchased; like the wireless keypad, doorbell cam and August Connect, which you can use to connect the lock to your home’s Wi-Fi network.

Installation 

As all the installation work takes place in the interior of the door, the August Smart Lock is extremely easy to install when compared with other best deadbolts. You can use your existing hardware on the exterior of the door, and only the thumb turn on the inside will be replaced.

There are many different adapters and mounting plates which will make it easier for you to find the right kit for your existing deadbolt. As the front of the deadbolt doesn’t need a replacement, the painter tape that comes with the lock, can be used to hide the marks that are created when you secure the lock while detaching the thumb turn.

The August Smart Lock is a Bluetooth only lock unless you buy the August Connect. Installing the lock’s app in your smartphone is also easy and quick. No matter if you are using an iPhone or Android smartphone, you can go to the app store and download the August Smart Lock App for free. You will be required to upload a picture as well as authenticate the account with the help of an email and text code. When using in the Bluetooth mode, you can operate this lock within a range of 15 feet.

In Use 

When it comes to performance, the August Smart Lock beats many best high-security door locks. The lock can be opened in a number of ways. If you prefer the traditional way, you can open the lock with its key as only the interior component of the lock is replaced.

If you do not have August Connect, or if your Wi-Fi is not working, you can use your smartphone’s Bluetooth to unlock the door. Just turn on the Bluetooth of your phone and your phone will detect the lock. Once identified, open the locks app on your phone and touch the big red circle that appears at the center of the screen. It will turn green along with the indicator light on the lock, and your door will unlock. Make sure that the lock is within the range of your phone’s Bluetooth throughout this process.

The app also has an EverLock feature which automatically locks the deadbolt, after 30 seconds of opening or closing the door. There is an additional Auto-Unlock feature for Apple iPhone users which automatically unlocks the door when you go more than 100 yards away from the gate and return to the door again.

Through the locks app, you can also assign guest keys to provide access to others. The time limit of these guest keys can also be scheduled. There is no cap on the number of access keys you can give to others. The majority of the other best deadbolts only allow a limited number of guest access keys and charge for additional keys. However, the individual to whom you give the guest access key should also have the locks app in their smartphones. To avoid any problems due to this, you can always but the August keypad.

Security 

As the exterior of deadbolt remains the same, the August Smart Lock has no effect on the security of your deadbolt. However, when you purchase August Connect, you can quickly change, remove or grant access to your account on the app to anyone from anywhere.

Compatibility with Smart Home Appliances

If you want to connect remotely to the lock, you can link to the hub of your smart home. It is also compatible with HomeKit, so Apple iPhone can connect the lock to Apple TVs through Bluetooth. Or, you can also buy the August Connect to create a bridge between your Wi-Fi connection and lock. The August Connect is user-friendly and intuitive, enabling you to unlock and lock the door, give virtual keys to others and also check the history of who has used the lock.

August Smart Lock is also compatible with Google Nest Products, like the Learning Thermostat from Nest, which can be turned on when you enter the home.

Specifications of August Smart Lock

• Dimensions- 2.21 x 3.26 x 3.26 inches
• Weight- 1 pound
• Available Colors- Champagne, red, dark gray and silver
• Power Requirements- 4 x AA batteries (included)
• Average Battery Life- 8765 hours
• Safety Features- Always ON, Keyless, Total control, Log records, Auto-Lock, and EverLock
• Design- Anodized aluminum built
• Bluetooth- v4.0
• Wireless- Yes
• Warranty- 1-year limited warranty

Pros and Cons of August Smart Lock

August Smart Lock vs. Other Smart Locks

To understand what makes August Smart Lock a better choice than other best deadbolts and locks available in the market, let us compare it with two other popular smart locks- Kwikset Kevo and Lockitron Bolt.

The Kwikset Kevo app is not available for Android users. This means that more than 1 billion active Android smartphones all over the world will not be able to use this lock through an Android app. Also, many of the users complain that the lock falters majority of the times and can take quite long to unlock. Also, the company charges $1.99 for every additional key. Even the housing of the lock is made of plastic. August Smart Lock, on the other hand, is available for Android and iOS users, rarely lags, comes with unlimited guest access keys and has a housing made from anodized aluminum.

If we talk about the Lockitron Bolt, its wake/sleep cycle is laggy, and the remote lock monitoring feature doesn’t function as it should. Moreover, the company also promised that the lock will have ‘’Sense” feature which will automatically detect your presence and will automatically lock or unlock the door as you move towards or away from the door. Moreover, the company also charges $5 on a monthly basis if you want to activate ‘’Text to Unlock” feature. Also, if some news reports are to be believed, then the hackers have found a hack with the help of which anyone can gain guest access to your home. If you check the best smart lock, a majority of the users agree that the August Smart Lock functions flawlessly and has a working Auto Lock and EverLock feature which is missing from Lockitron Bolt.

Conclusion

While wireless security cameras, video doorbells, and intercoms are already very popular with homeowners who want to enhance the safety of their home, smart locks are the latest addition to the home automation products available on the market. If you are looking to buy a modern lock, then the August Smart Lock with its seamless functionality can be a perfect choice. While the Smart Lock is a little expensive as compared to other locks available on the market, the number of features that it comes with; gives it an upper hand in the competition.