Sensible lock producer U-tec has introduced the primary deadbolt smart lock with a fingerprint reader to help Matter-over-Thread. A fingerprint reader is the quickest and best option to unlock a sensible lock, and Matter-over-Thread connectivity ought to remedy two of the most important problems with good locks: poor battery life and poor connectivity.
With most linked locks in the marketplace immediately, you get both a 12 months of battery life however are caught with the restricted vary and good dwelling compatibility of Bluetooth or only a few months of battery life however all of the good dwelling connections you’ll be able to eat over Wi-Fi. Thread, with its low-power mesh community, is particularly designed to assist battery-operated units last more, and the brand new smart home standard Matter helps them join to each good dwelling platform over a neighborhood, safe connection.
U-tec’s new Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter ($299) ought to be capable of bridge these two worlds of battery life and connectivity. By means of Matter, it’s suitable with Apple Dwelling, Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, Samsung SmartThings, and extra. There are a few Thread Matter locks on the market — Yale has a Thread module for its older Assure SL lock that works with Matter, and Nuki has a Matter-over-Thread lock however just for Europen locks — however neither presents the fingerprint reader, a deal-breaker for me.
U-tec is launching the brand new lock on the CES 2024 tech present in Las Vegas subsequent week, the place it’s going to showcase its enlargement into the broader good dwelling with the launch of the U dwelling cellular app, a brand new Wi-Fi mesh good lighting system, and two new safety cameras.
The corporate will even exhibit a brand new Wi-Fi model of its fingerprint lock that works with Apple Dwelling, plus a mannequin with out a fingerprint reader that helps Apple’s Dwelling Key. These are separate locks, although; there’s nonetheless no Matter-over-Thread good lock that additionally helps Apple Dwelling Key (Aqara’s U100 smart lock helps Matter and Dwelling Key however works over Zigbee by way of a hub). Moreover, Clark Ruan, VP at U-tec, informed The Verge that earlier variations of U-Bolt locks won’t be upgraded to help Matter as they require totally different chips.
All three of U-tec’s new locks are full deadbolt alternative locks that function six-in-one unlocking choices: fingerprint or Dwelling Key, a bodily key, coming into a code on the keypad, utilizing the app, an auto-unlock function that unlocks the door as you method, and voice management by Alexa, Google, or Siri.
- The Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter (Thread) is the Matter-over-Thread deadbolt lock; it’s going to value $299 and launch on the finish of March, says Ruan. It doesn’t have NFC (so no Apple Dwelling Key) or Wi-Fi, however it’s going to work with Matter-compatible platforms resembling Apple Dwelling, Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, and Samsung SmartThings.
- The Ultraloq Bolt (Wi-Fi) would be the first U-tec gadget to help Apple Dwelling by HomeKit. It has Wi-Fi inbuilt (not by a hub or dongle), will value $249, and launch on the finish of January, in keeping with Ruan.
- The Ultraloq Bolt NFC (Wi-Fi) would be the firm’s first Apple Dwelling Key good lock. It won’t have a fingerprint reader however makes use of NFC for Dwelling Key. By means of Wi-Fi connectivity, it’s going to help Apple Dwelling, Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, and Samsung SmartThings. It’ll value $249 and launch on the finish of April, in keeping with Ruan.
Together with the brand new locks, U-tec is launching a brand new A19 good bulb, good plug, and good dimmer swap which can be a part of its new Bright Wi-Fi mesh smart lighting system. The Brilliant A19 is an 1100-lumen full-color bulb that doesn’t want a hub. The Wi-Fi mesh system enables you to join a number of Brilliant bulbs to your Wi-Fi — however due to the mesh system, solely the foundation bulb truly connects to the router. This implies it counts as only one gadget, so regardless of what number of bulbs you’ve got, they shouldn’t congest your Wi-Fi network.
At launch, Brilliant A19 bulbs WiFi Mesh Version have particular person integrations with Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, and SmartThings, Ruan says. A Matter version (that can add help for Apple Dwelling) will come later.
The brand new locks and lights will all work with a brand new U dwelling app that comes together with the brand new U-tec smart plug ($12.99) and smart dimmer switch ($22.99), which additionally work with the Wi-Fi mesh community and launch in February. The lighting merchandise will help Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, and Samsung SmartThings, and Ruan says, once more, Matter variations will launch later.
Lastly, U-tec has two new security cameras: a battery-powered Ulticam ($69) and a wired highlight Ulticam ($149) are slated for a June launch, says Ruan. They function free native storage, three days of free cloud storage, and on-device AI for detecting individuals, animals, packages, and automobiles. They’ll work with Amazon Alexa and Google Dwelling however not Apple Dwelling. There’s no phrase on Matter help right here, as Matter doesn’t work with security cameras yet.