Good lock maker U-tec has introduced the primary sensible deadbolt lock with fingerprint reader to help Matter-over-Thread. A fingerprint reader is the quickest and best approach to unlock a wise lock, and Matter-over-Thread connectivity ought to remedy two of sensible locks’ greatest issues: poor battery life and poor connectivity.
With most related locks available on the market at the moment, you both have a 12 months of battery life however are caught with the restricted vary and sensible house compatibility of Bluetooth, or just a few months of battery life however all sensible house connections on which you’ll be able to devour by way of Wi-Fi. Be. Thread, with its low-power mesh community, is particularly designed to assist battery-powered units last more, and the brand new Matter sensible house customary helps them join to each sensible house platform by an area, safe connection .
U-tec’s new Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter ($299) ought to be capable to bridge the 2 worlds of battery life and connectivity. Via Matter, it is suitable with Apple House, Amazon Alexa, Google House, Samsung SmartThings and extra. There are just a few Thread Matter locks on the market – Yale has a Thread module for the older Guarantee SL lock that works with Matter, and Nuki has a Matter-over-Thread lock, however just for European locks – however neither provides a 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 should showcase its growth into the broader sensible house with the launch of the U house cellular app, a brand new Wi-Fi mesh sensible lighting system. , and two new safety cameras.
The corporate may even introduce a brand new Wi-Fi model of its fingerprint lock that works with Apple House, plus a mannequin with no fingerprint reader that accepts Apple’s House key. These are separate locks although; there’s nonetheless no Matter-over-Thread sensible lock that additionally helps Apple House Key (Aqara’s U100 sensible lock helps Matter and House Key, however works over Zigbee by way of a hub). As well as, stated Clark Ruan, VP at U-tec The Verge that earlier variations of U-Bolt locks is not going to be up to date to help Matter as they require completely different chips.
All three new locks from U-tec are full deadbolt substitute locks that provide six-in-one unlock choices: fingerprint or House Key, a bodily key, coming into a code on the keypad, utilizing the app, an computerized unlock characteristic which unlocks the door as you method and voice management by way of Alexa, Google or Siri.
- The Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter (Thread) is the Matter-over-Thread lock; it should price $299 and launch in late March, Ruan says. It does not have NFC (so no Apple House Key) or Wi-Fi, however it should work with Matter-compatible platforms like Apple House, Amazon Alexa, Google House, and Samsung SmartThings.
- The Ultraloq Bolt (Wi-Fi) would be the first U-tec gadget to help Apple House by way of HomeKit. It has built-in Wi-Fi (not by way of a hub or dongle), will price $249, and will probably be launched in late January, based on Ruan.
- The Ultraloq Bolt NFC (Wi-Fi) would be the firm’s first Apple House Key sensible lock. It will not have a fingerprint reader, but it surely does use NFC for the House Key. Via Wi-Fi connectivity, it should help Apple House, Amazon Alexa, Google House and Samsung SmartThings. It would price $249 and will probably be launched on the finish of April, based on Ruan.
Together with the brand new locks, U-tec is launching a brand new A19 sensible bulb, sensible socket and sensible dimmer change which are a part of its new Brilliant Wi-Fi mesh sensible lighting system. Brilliant A19 is a 1100 lumen shade bulb that doesn’t want a hub. The Wi-Fi mesh system permits you to join a number of Brilliant bulbs to Wi-Fi – however because of the mesh system, solely the basis bulb really connects to the router. This implies it counts as one gadget, so irrespective of what number of bulbs you will have, they should not congest your Wi-Fi community.
At launch, the Brilliant A19 WiFi Mesh Version bulbs have particular person integrations with Amazon Alexa, Google House and SmartThings, Ruan says. A Matter version (which is able to add help for Apple House) will come later.
The brand new locks and lights will work with a brand new U house app, which comes with the brand new U-tec sensible plug ($12.99) and sensible dimmer change ($22.99), which additionally works with mesh Wi-Fi and are launched in February. . The lighting merchandise will help Amazon Alexa, Google House and Samsung SmartThings, and Ruan says, once more, the Matter variations will probably be launched later.
Lastly, U-tec has two new safety cameras: a battery-powered Ulticam ($69) and a wired Ulticam floodlight ($149) are slated for a June launch, Ruan says. They provide free native storage, three days of free cloud storage and on-device AI to detect folks, animals, packages and autos. They’ll work with Amazon Alexa and Google House, however not Apple House. No phrase on Matter help right here, as Matter does not work with safety cameras but.