I am constantly misplacing my keys.
Even while I make a mental checklist (keys, wallet, phone) each time I leave any place, stand up from my seat on the tube or walk through my front door to ensure my most essential possessions are still on hand, they seem to disappear from under me.
I’ve left them in hotel rooms abroad, on planes, at friend’s houses or on a few occasions, hanging from the door. It’s a big issue and not just because I’m well-acquainted with my doorstep, waiting for spares to arrive or someone else to come home, but it’s a huge security problem too.
This is why I knew it was essential to leave access to my home in the expert hands of Yale. The brand is likely best known for its home alarm system with its instantly recognisable yellow disks affixed to the front of homes across the country, but its range of protective equipment extends to door locks too (as well as padlocks and safes).
So, could the Keyless Connected smart lock be the answer to my forgetfulness? Find out below.
Specs
- Touchscreen
- Wireless
- Access: PIN Code, key card, key tag, remote fob or via the Yale app
- Compatible with: 60mm nightlatch
- Power: 4x AA batteries
- Guarantee: 2 year
- Includes: smart lock, key card, fob, fixings pack and manual
- Additional costs: optional installation, Module
Compatibility
Before selecting the smart lock to suit your front door, there is a two-question quiz on the Yale website to ascertain your current set-up and find the model that will be compatible.
You are asked if you have a multi-point lock, euro cylinder or nightlatch with diagrams of what this means for the uninitiated. It’s the latter that is essential to be able to install the Keyless Connected reviewed here. If it’s the former two, there will be other models (the Conexis and Lineusin respectively) in the range more suitable.
Installation
For the DIY averse, it costs £149.99 to add installation to your basket, a cost that is halved (£75) at checkout if you pay at the same time as your order.
If you fancy trying the process for yourself, I must warn you, it’s not an easy task and a drill is essential. After removing your existing lock using a screwdriver (including the part attached to the edge of the door), the Keyless Connected slots in their place but there is an extra hole needed to secure it, the position of which is detailed on the door template. You may even need a saw to shorten the length of the internal metal bar (depending on your door’s width). This YouTube tutorial will provide an easier step-by-step for visual learners.
Handily, there are no wires but you may want to purchase a Module to sync up the smart lock with your phone, which will need to be plugged in nearby but is also wireless. This will give you the chance to let yourself – or others – in remotely through the Yale app. This is the same app that can control its alarm systems to save on your precious phone storage. It requires WiFi connectivity and/or Bluetooth so should still work if your internet cuts out for whatever reason. The PIN function requires no connection.
You are given a master code which needs to be changed immediately as the 1,2,3,4,5,6 is a robber’s paradise. The process is slightly frustrating, and it would be far easier to set PIN codes via the app, rather than directly on the keypad.
Four batteries power it and you are notified once it’s running low, but it has been four months and it’s still going strong.
Features
While letting you into your home at the touch of a button is the most important feature, the smart lock also has an ear-splitting tamper alarm deterrent and a Lock-Out function where you cannot gain access for three minutes if you get the PIN wrong five times.
Within the box is a key tag and a key card, the latter of which can slot into your wallet. It is a shame that there is only one of each and is an extra cost if needed by more of your household. The lock has a capacity for 20 codes.
Programming
The manual that comes in the box has step-by-step instructions to guide you through the programming process, such as resetting the master code, or setting temporary 24-hour and permanent PIN codes but as mentioned earlier, it’s fiddly with just the keypad and in my case, took a few trial and errors to do it correctly.
Design
This is a sleek smart device that comes in four finishes; polished brass, chrome, satin nickel and black to best suit your interiors. Use in front of family and friends to cue oohs and ahhs of amazement at your hi-tech home.
Verdict
To be able to let yourself into the house without the need for a physical key, while also allowing guests to do the same if you’re running late or you’re out and about, has made the Keyless Connected door lock a true game changer. You can either make them their own PIN or sync up your lock to the Yale app.
The installation process is no easy feat and it’s more complicated than you’d expect to program the PINs but once this setup process is completed, life is a breeze for the chronically forgetful among us. The key tag or card makes for one-tap access into the house but the four or six-digit PIN is equally as easy. This is smart tech done right.
Yale Keyless Connected Smart Lock
You know what? Enough of keys and their nonsense. Enough of them getting lost down sofas and on public transport. The Yale Keyless Connected Smart Lock does away with old-fashioned keys altogether, relying instead upon access via pin code, key card, remote fob, or a smartphone connected to Amazon Alexa or Samsung SmartThings.
This lock has some really impressive security features, including a rather unpleasant-sounding tamper alarm and encryption designed to ward off hackers. It’s pretty easy to install, provided you have a 60mm nightlatch (if not, you can buy one separately).
We think this lock looks really smart on both the interior and the exterior of the door. The capability to top up the lock’s power by holding a 9V battery underneath the front body of the lock could be a lifesaver in cases of the battery running out while you’re away from home.
Buy now £90.00, Amazon
