Level Lock Touch and the new Level Lock Plus are almost identical. One of only two locks in North America that support Apple Home Key, the Lock Plus is the only real differences. There is a very hard-to- find Schlage Encode Plus.
All of Level's locks will be updated to support Matter-over-Thread, which will allow any compatible smart home platform to be used.
Home Key is the Lock Plus's most important feature. You can use the radio on your phone or watch to open your door, just by putting it up to the lock. It works in a fraction of a second, like using a hotel room keyfob, and it is much quicker than opening an app. It is slightly quicker than the auto-unlocking feature that is offered on this lock as well as locks by companies including Yale and August. It was easy for everyone in my household to use it.
Home Key was enabled for myself and other members of my home after I added the lock to the Home app. It was nice to have the key on my husband and son's phones instead of having to download an app. This is a real perk for them since I test a lot of smart locks.
Home Key will require you to use Face ID or your password. You can open the door with Express Mode, but it's not as secure as it could be since anyone who has your phone could use it to open the door.
Home Keys will be shared with people who aren't members of the Apple Home. Right now, the only way to give a guest access is if they download the Level app.
If you have a battery that runs on red, you might be worried about your phone being your key. Home Key uses Apple's Power Reserve feature, which will allow you to access the key function on the phone for up to five hours after it dies.
My pick for the best smart lock that doesn't look like a smart lock is the Lock Plus. The Lock Plus has many ways to lock and unlocked your door. Touch-to-unlock and auto-unlock require you to have your phone on you, but you don't have to take it out of your pocket. You can use the Apple Home or Level apps, as well as a physical key, anNFC card, and the Level keypad.
Ken Goto said that the wireless radio on the Lock Plus can support other 2.4 GHz protocols as well. All Level Locks are compatible with Matter and Thread will be supported in the future. We are excited that Matter has recently been certified and are watching to see if this capability is released in a firmware update soon. Thread is designed for battery-operated smart home devices. It should have a longer range and be more reliable.
Ring Pro 2 video doorbell, Ring Video Doorbell v3 and Ring Floodlight camera are examples of out-of- home control that requires an Apple Home Hub. If you have at least one Thread border routers in the network, the lock will work with any Matter-enabled platform.
Touch-to-unlock and auto-unlock can be enabled in the Level app, but you can't have both at the same time. The lock needs to detect your phone's signal in order for it to work, and if you set it tounlock when the signal is detected, it won't work.
You don't need to pull out your phone or twist your wrist to get your Apple Watch up to the lock, but you do need to have your phone on you. They didn't always work immediately. Home Key was the most reliable way to open the door.
It doesn't feel like a seamless part of the Home experience, even though it was designed in partnership with Apple. Many of the best features can be found in the Level app.
If you want to set up auto-lock and auto-unlock through Apple Home automations, you need to verify on your device. The Level app makes it easy to do everything. If you want to be able to lock your door from the outside without having to pull out your phone or a physical key, you need to set up auto-lock and touch-to-lock in the Level app.
I installed the Level Lock Plus in less than 5 minutes. To connect the lock mechanism to the deadbolt, you need to use a small screw.
If you have an older door, you may not be able to get the bolt and strike plate to line up as close to the machine as it requires. I got an alert in the Home app that the lock was locked up. Something about my dilapidated 1960s front door didn't sit well with the Level's inner workings This didn't stop the lock from operating.
The Lock Plus has up to a year of battery life on a single CR2 battery, which is easy to replace. I've tested the Level Touch and it works.
All of Level's locks are compatible with Matter, according to the company.
If you want a smart lock that doesn't look like a smart lock, and you don't mind paying extra for one that's not attached to the lock, the Level Lock Plus is an obvious choice.
The $30 premium over the Home Key-less but otherwise identical Level Lock Touch is worth it if you are interested in a Level Lock but don't have an Apple device. The $249 Level Bolt is a good option if you don't need touch tounlock. The $249 Level Lock has the same features as the Level Touch, but it doesn't have the touch to open feature.
People who don't use Apple Home should wait to buy a Level Lock until they've been updated to support Matter-over-Thread
The Schlage Encode Plus has Home Key support and is the same price as the Level Lock Plus. The gap should be closed once the Level locks are updated to support Matter. The Lock Plus is easy to find in stock, but the Encode Plus is difficult to find.
If you don't care about Home Key but want an Apple Home-compatible lock with a built-in keypad, the Yale Assure Lock 2 is my recommendation for less than half the price of the Level or the Schlage.
Every smart device has a set of terms and conditions that you have to agree to before you can use it. It is not possible for us to read and analyze all of them. Since these are agreements most people don't read and can't negotiate, we're going to start counting how many times you have to agree to use the device.
You don't need to agree to any other terms of service or privacy policies if you set up the Level Lock through Apple Home. To use all the features of the Level app, you need to download the app, create an account, and agree to Level's privacy policy.
One option is the final tally.
There are concerns about how the data collected by connected devices is protected.
The Level Lock keeps the primary data locked up to your house. The privacy policy of the Level app says it collects.
Technical information from the device, as well as direct actions to the device, are provided.
This data is used by the company to provide, develop and improve Level Products. Personal information for any commercial or marketing purpose unrelated to the activation and delivery of Level Products is not shared. Personal information will be shared under a number of conditions.
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