Wyze Lock Review
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
This Product Wyze Lock | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | Best Value Smart Lock | Best Overall Smart Lock | |||
Price | $124 List | $230 List $150.00 at Amazon | $269 List $225.44 at Amazon | $169 List $129.99 at Amazon | $150 List $89.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Bottom Line | An affordable home device that works well with the Wyze smart home ecosystem | An easy to install option with great security, good connectivity, and is easily used with just about any smart home system | Streamlined smart features in an easy to install and high-security package | The unique fingerprint scanner is the highlight of a long list of available smart features | Provides the option for simple and straightforward, if somewhat limited, operation without a smart hub |
Rating Categories | Wyze Lock | August WiFi Smart | Schlage Encode | ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro | August Smart |
Smart Features (35%) | |||||
Keyless Entry (25%) | |||||
Security (25%) | |||||
Installation (15%) | |||||
Specs | Wyze Lock | August WiFi Smart | Schlage Encode | ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro | August Smart |
Apple HomeKit | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Smartphone Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | With Hub |
Z-Wave | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Zigbee | Yes | No | No | No | No |
ANSI Rating | Grade 3 | Grade 1 | Grade 1 | N/A | N/A- retrofit |
Uses Existing Deadbolt or Full Replacement | Existing | Existing | Replacement | Replacement | Existing |
Deadbolt Included | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Backset | 2 3/8 or 2 3/4 | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" |
Door Thickness Range | 1 3/8" - 1 3/4" | 1 3/8" - 2 1/4" | 1 3/8" - 1 3/4" | 1 1/3" - 2" | 1 3/8" - 2 1/4" |
Face Bore Hole Diameter | 2 1/8" | 1 1/2" or 2 1/8" | 2 1/8" | 2 1/8" | 1 1/2" or 2 1/8" |
Power Requirement | AA Batteries Hub plugs into the wall |
Pre-installed batteries | AA Batteries | AA Batteries | AA Batteries Hub plugs into the wall |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Wyze Lock replaces a portion of your existing deadbolt lock. It is compatible with Google and Amazon Alexa hubs as well as Zigbee hubs, but not Apple HomeKit or other Z-Wave smart home hubs. It connects easily with your phone via Bluetooth and comes with its own Wyze Lock Gateway hub.
Performance Comparison
Smart Features
The Wyze Lock comes with its own hub, making it one of the few models to include this extra device at no extra cost. Once connected to its hub, accessing and controlling the Wyze is easy, as is adding additional Wyze smart home devices. You can easily share codes with friends, family, or renters via email. As folks gain access to your home, you can see a log of who has unlocked your door in a simple activity log within the Wyze app. Unfortunately, this model doesn't let you schedule access periods for specific users like some of the other locks we tested do — a great feature for controlling when your dog walker can enter your home or cutting off your renters after their stay has expired.
Though it's simple to share access codes in the Wyze app and through an email link, the Wyze Lock doesn't currently support sharing via text message. In order for anyone to use the code you've emailed to them, they have to download the Wyze app and get themselves set up within it. If you've already got a smart home hub and it's not the Wyze hub, you may still be able to pair it with this smart lock. It's compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant (or Nest), as well as any hub using Zigbee technology. It doesn't, however, (currently) pair with Apple HomeKit or other various Z-Wave hubs.
Keyless Entry
The Wyze Lock opens easily and reliably. We found ourselves using the app in about 10 seconds. We didn't come across any issues or bugs when testing how well this functionality works. If you know you're going to be loading up your arms with groceries, you can simply unlock your door while still sitting in the driver's seat of your vehicle. You can also use the geofencing ability of this lock. It detects when you're close by and automatically unlocks itself for you.
Though the Wyze Lock doesn't come with a number pad in the box, they do sell one that's compatible. This is a great way to get around forcing all your renters to download the Wyze app just to gain access to the house. And just in case this lock's battery dies while you're away, it still uses your same old house key as before, ensuring that as long as you keep that with you, you'll never truly be locked out of your house.
Security
Though the Wyze Lock scores on the lower side of the median among models we tested, it's not an unsafe lock. This deadbolt comes with an ANSI rating of Grade 3. It's also important to remember that ANSI Grade 3 is still considered completely adequate for standard home security. Chances are, if you've ever lived in an apartment, you've entrusted the security of your belongings to an ANSI Grade 3 lock.
If you're a forgetful person, you'll be relieved to know that the Wyze Lock is capable of automatically locking your door. It features a changeable waiting period, from as little as immediately after you shut the door to as long as an hour later. This lock offers six different lengths of auto-locking waiting period — immediately, 1 minute later, 5 minutes later, 10 minutes later, 30 minutes later, or a full 1 hour after shutting your door. Though it's not as customizable as some of the other models we tested, we think these options still provide plenty of flexibility for just about everyone wishing to use the auto-locking feature.
Installation
The Wyze Lock is one of the easiest models to install on your door. It's a partial replacement lock, which means you get to keep the exterior portion of your lock — a relief for anyone who appreciates their lock and handle to match! Of course, if you're fitting a brand new door with a brand new lock, you'll need to purchase a regular deadbolt lock first and then replace the interior portion with the Wyze Lock. The Wyze Lock comes with a paper template that tells you exactly where to drill holes to install it, making it practically foolproof.
Once installed in the door, we found pairing this smart lock to be equally seamless. Videos and animations within the app guide you through the entire process, from physical installation through pairing with your phone. In total, it took us about 10 minutes to get the Wyze Lock from the box to completely functional — it's hard to get better than that!
Should You Buy the Wyze Lock?
If you've been contemplating upgrading your home to a smart home — including a smart lock — but the price tag always leaves you questioning its worthiness, the Wyze Lock is an excellent value. Not only is it far less expensive than most other smart locks on the market, but it also comes with its own hub, adding further value to an already high-value product. On the other hand, if you're already set up with a smart hub in your home, check carefully before buying the Wyze Lock, as it's not compatible with many popular hubs.
What Other Smart Locks Should You Consider?
We love the ease of use and functionality of the Wyze Lock as a less expensive introduction to converting your home into a smart home. If you have an incompatible hub like Apple HomeKit or anything using Z-Wave already controlling your smart devices though, the August WiFi Smart is a better choice that pairs easily with just about any smart home hub. But as a starter kit or a standalone smart lock, it's hard to beat the value and functionality of the simple yet efficient Wyze Lock and its included Gateway hub.