Not every door has dual bores to accommodate both a deadbolt and an entry handle or knob, which can be a problem if you want to add a smart lock. The new Aqara Smart Lock U300 is a smart lever-style entry handle for single-bore doors that can only accommodate the latter without modification.
The U300 has a numeric keypad, an integrated fingerprint reader, and an NFC reader that supports NFC cards (sold separately) as well as Apple home keys, an Apple Watch, or an iPhone. It can also be locked and unlocked with a physical key, an Android or iOS smartphone app, or via Bluetooth.
Buyers will want to also have a Thread-enabled Matter controller to enable the lock’s entire feature set. That could be in the form of Aqara’s own Hub M3, a Samsung SmartThings Station; an Apple HomePod (2nd-generation), HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K (2nd generation); or any of the various other Matter-compatible smart home hubs, including some Amazon Echo smart speakers.
The Aqara Smart Lock U300 supports Apple’s home keys among several other means of operating the lock.
Aqara
Available with a silver finish at launch, and matte black later, the lock’s outer panel is rated IPX4. Going by our IP decoder article, Aqara is making no claim for protection from dust ingress, but that the device can withstand water sprayed from any direction. The company also says it can operate in temperatures ranging from -22 degrees Fahrenheit to 131F (-30 to 55 degrees Celsius).
The Aqara Smart Lock U300 will operate on four AA batteries power for up to 10 months, alerting the user when battery life drops below 20 percent. The company says the lock should operate for about two weeks after that, but the lock also has a USB-C port for “emergency charging.” This presumably enables the lock to operate just long enough to open the door. The door can also be unlocked with a physical key regardless of the state of its battery.
The lock automatically re-locks after the door has closed, but this behavior can be overridden at the lock itself (after it’s been opened with a valid means of entry) to enable Passage Mode. This keeps the lock in an unlocked state until it’s locked once again.
The Aqara Smart Lock U300 is available now at Amazon for $229.99. Aqara is offering a 20 percent to Amazon shoppers in the U.S. and Canada (enter the code PRNAU300 in the gift card, voucher or promotional code field after you put the lock in your cart). The code knocks $46 off the locks MSRP, but the offer expires on October 7.
Look for our in-depth, hands-on review soon.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks.
Updated shortly after publication to report on the retail price of the Aqara Smart Lock U300 and to inform readers of a promotional discount offered to Amazon shoppers in the U.S. and Canada through October 7.
Author: Michael Brown, Executive Editor, TechHive
Michael is TechHive's lead editor, with 30+ years of experience covering smart homes, home networking, and home audio/home theater. He holds a BA in Multimedia Journalism, authored the book Desktop Video Production, and was awarded Best Online Review by the Computer Press Association. Michael built a smart home in 2007 and used it as a real-world product-testing lab. Now living in the Pacific Northwest, he is converting his 1890 Victorian bungalow into a modern smart home. Michael has worked at CNET, PCWorld, Electronic Musician, and Maximum PC. As a freelancer, he contributed to New Media, Camcorder, MacWeek, and more.