I have tested dozens of smart locks over the years for HomeKit Weekly, from the August lock to the latest Level Lock Pro. They all solved the problem of having to fish your keys out, but they never quite solved the problem of “my hands are full.” Even with Home Key, you’d still have to either get your Apple Watch to your lock or pull out your iPhone. Yes, plenty of locks offer various flavors of auto-unlock, but none are perfect and work 100% of the time. That is the problem Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology aims to solve. This week, I am taking a deep look at the Aqara UWB Smart Lock U400.
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
What is UWB, and why does it matter?
As I said, plenty of locks offer auto-unlock. It’s built into the Level Lock Pro. Plenty of smart locks have it. It’s never 100% perfect, and frankly, it’s frustrating when it fails. Ultra-Wideband is the same tech Apple uses for Precision Finding in AirTags. The Aqara U400 uses this to understand your precise location and direction. It’ll likely become the standard that all future smart locks use.
Matter over Thread with Aqara U400
The Aqara U400 is built on Matter over Thread. Thread is faster than Bluetooth and doesn’t put much strain on your Wi-Fi network. The Aqara U400 responds instantly in the Home app. It also means that if you live in a “mixed” household with Android folks, they can use Google Home or Amazon Alexa to control the lock while you stay happily in HomeKit.
- Home Key: If you don’t want to use auto-unlock, you can still tap your iPhone or Watch.
- Fingerprint Reader: A biometric scanner is built into the keypad.
- Passcode: A hidden touchscreen keypad lights up for guests. These are built into and managed in the Home app.
- Physical Key: Yes, it still has a keyway, and it’s rekeyable. If you want to match it to your existing house keys, you can as well.
Power
Aqara moved to a rechargeable lithium battery system here, rated for about 6 months per charge. I usually prefer standard AA batteries just for ease of swapping, but Aqara did include a USB-C port directly on the lock. This means if you have a portable power bank, you can charge the lock without even opening the door. I love the fact that charging doesn’t require taking anything apart.
Wrap up on Aqara U400
I do believe that Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology will become the new standard for smart locks. There’s a lot to like here. I would argue that the Aqara U400 and the new Level Lock Pro are the two gold standards on the market at this moment. I love seeing the PIN code management come to the Home app. Between Home Key, PIN code management, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, Apple Home has become the best way to manage a smart lock.
You can buy the Aqara U400 from Amazon.
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