Ultraloq U-Bolt good locks now accessible with Z-Wave

Good lock producer U-Tec introduced on Tuesday that it’s now transport the world’s first Z-Wave Plus-compatible good lock with an built-in fingerprint reader. The corporate beforehand provided its Ultraloq U-Bolt and Ultraloq U-Bolt Professional good locks with Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi radios. Whereas the corporate formally launched the information right now, Reddit postings point out the locks have been transport since December 2021.

Z-Wave presents a number of benefits over Wi-Fi, together with longer vary and decrease vitality consumption to extend battery life. Wi-Fi connectivity—and the power to attach solely to 2.4GHz networks—have been two of our largest criticisms of earlier U-Tec smart locks.

The opposite aspect of the coin is that Z-Wave units rely upon a sensible residence hub to behave as a bridge to a house’s Wi-Fi community for command and management from afar. To that finish, U-Tec says its new locks are appropriate with the Samsung SmartThings, Ring Alarm, and Hubitat Elevation good residence ecosystems.

Customers can open both lock utilizing its round numeric keypad or a bodily key, a helpful function ought to the lock’s 4 AA batteries die when you’re out and about. Each locks even have Bluetooth radios on board, which allows customers in proximity with their smartphone to routinely open the lock independently of a sensible residence hub, or they will use U-Tec’s app.

Each locks additionally assist Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice instructions. The Ultraloq U-Bolt Professional has the added options of an onboard fingerprint reader and a micro-USB port for emergency overrides. Our reviewer had excessive reward for the fingerprint reader on the Wi-Fi model of this lock.

U-tec

Each Z-Wave-compatible Ultraloq U-Bolt good locks function a sensor that may inform you if the door is open or closed, and so they have a “good auto-lock” function that may routinely throw the bolt after the door has been closed. As soon as built-in with a sensible residence hub, locking or unlocking the door can set off different units—similar to mild bulbs, or mild switches—to activate and off. These locks may change the temperature setpoint on a Z-Wave good thermostat.

With hubs that combine residence security measures, similar to Ring Alarm, it is best to be capable to arm your safety system by locking the door, and disarm it by unlocking the door. Customers may create momentary Ekeys that may be shared with visitors, restore techs, or supply personnel.

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Z-Wave and Ultraloq U-Bolt Professional Z-Wave can be found now in your alternative of black or satin-nickel finishes. The U-Bolt is priced at $179 and the fingerprint-reader-equipped U-Bolt Professional prices $249. Search for our in-depth, hands-on evaluation within the coming weeks.