Home Key-enabled lock with UWB: Aqara U400 unlocks on approach
The Chinese smart home provider is expanding its door lock series with a device that has interesting capabilities.
UWB lock from Aqara: Good in rain or when your hands are full.
(Image: Aqara)
Door locks with Bluetooth-based proximity unlocking already exist in the HomeKit universe and its offshoots – the Austrian specialist Nuki offers something like this. However, this is rather unsuitable for apartment buildings, as the door opens from about ten meters away, which might not be desired there. One solution is the Ultra-Wideband protocol, which is now supported by a whole range of iPhones as well as Apple Watch models. This allows devices to recognize each other much more accurately at shorter distances. After initial approaches for cars (CarKey with UWB), the Chinese smart home specialist Aqara is now also using the technology for its door locks. However, there is currently still a significant drawback.
Matter, Aliro, and more
The first lock with UWB is the newly introduced Smart Lock U400. The idea: “Unlocks when approaching. No contact, no biometrics.” So if it's raining or snowing, or if you're carrying a lot, you don't have to take out your iPhone or hold your Apple Watch to the lock. The U400 is intended to support both HomeKit and the new lock standard Aliro as soon as it is finally rolled out more widely.
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Thanks to Matter and Thread, no Aqara hub is necessary; a Thread border router like HomePod (mini) or Apple TV 4K is sufficient. In addition to UWB-Unlock, which will hopefully be possible via Apple's Home Key, the U400 also has a fingerprint sensor and a PIN pad as further authentication options.
Only for American doors
Aqara is currently starting sales of the U400; it is offered in the USA on Amazon for $270 in black and silver. The device is rechargeable (4800 mAh) with a removable battery. An external unit to be attached to the outside of the door is included.
The problem: The hardware is currently only intended for North American doors; an EU version has not yet been released. There, the U200 with Home Key via NFC remains the current generation. It is unclear when Aqara will adapt the U400 accordingly.
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