One of the things that determine cost-effectiveness of a smart lock is the battery life: you do not want to have to change the battery every now and then.
And so, in this article, I am going to reveal to you the smart locks with the longest battery life, tested and proven.
1. Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi-enabled smart door lock
As far as battery life is concerned, I think that the Kwikset Halo comes out top. This smart lock is estimated by Kwikset to last 1 year with 10 uses per day, but I find that it lasts the same even with about 15 uses per day.
Some users have said that for them, the Kwikset battery lasts a lot shorter than one year. Some, days. However, there are other factors that influence the lifespan of your Kwikset Halo smart lock’s battery.
Even Kwikset support will tell you that the slightest misalignment between the door bolt and the strike plate can increase the friction, and in, turn increase the power needed to lock and unlock the door.
You see, if your door doesn’t properly align when you close it, the lock will continuously still try to complete the lock sequence. So, if it can’t completely extend the bolt, it will retry over and over again until the batteries die out.
Therefore, you need to make sure that the bolt is aligned properly with the strike plate every time you close the door.
Another factor that can drain battery power fast is if the smart lock does not get strong signals from your Wi-Fi router. If the Wi-Fi router signals are not strong enough, especially because of distance, the smart lock will struggle to find signals, and this consumes a lot of energy as it tries to find signals.
Design
The Kwikset Halo comes in two designs namely, the contemporary satin nickel design and the traditional Venetian bronze design.
As with most smart locks, it has both a keypad and a keyhole.
Installation
Check out this excellent guide from Dave Taylor on how to install the Kwikset Halo.
Features
- The Kwikset Halo smart lock has an app which you can install on your smartphone and manage your lock from anywhere. You can use this app to manage user codes, lock and unlock the smart lock, receive low battery warning, receive information on manual key-based entries, view lock activity, receive lock notifications, and so much more
- The app also allows you to manage several Kwikset Halo smart locks across several properties, from a single mobile device
- Being Wi-Fi-enabled, it allows you to connect the lock to your Wi-Fi router for this remote management.
- You can also lock and unlock the Kwikset Halo using voice commands with Alexa and Google assistant
- For access, you can use either the mobile app, the user code on the keypad, or a key
- Access can be limited by date for vacations, or weekday and time for controlled access to external users
Security
- Kwikset Halo allows you to temporarily disable the keypad to prevent unwanted entry, or to mitigate security risks when a user code is compromised
- It also sends notifications on all lock activities to the mobile app on your phone so that you are always aware of what’s going on in your property
- It sounds an alarm after three consecutive incorrect codes are entered
- The interior cover is tamper-resistant
- It provides superior security against advanced break-in techniques and allows you to re-key your lock in seconds, thanks to SmartSecurity.
Check out this for more details on the security features of Kwikset Halo.
Pros
- Long-lasting battery with proper use
- Extensive security
- Excellent value-added features that remain unrivalled
- Easy to use, monitor, and maintain
- 20 minutes fire rating
- Ability to re-key in a matter of seconds
Cons
The major con is how quickly the Kwikset Halo can go from a long-lasting-battery smart lock to having you change batteries every other day. This is because of the smart lock’s programming to keep trying to lock even when the bolt and the strike plate are misaligned. If you can avoid this scenario, then you will enjoy your Kwikset Halo battery for a long time.
2. Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt (BE469ZP)
The Schlage Connect smart deadbolt BE469ZP is another smart lock whose battery lasts quite long. With smooth alignment and rotation, the battery will last at least 8 months on an average use of 10 per day
There is not a lot of complaint about battery drainage with the Schlage Connect smart deadbolt because it does not have the feature of trying to lock even if the bolt is misaligned.
Design
The Smart Lock has a bright brass finish with Camelot trim. It comes with a keypad and a keyhole.
Installation
With a hammer, a Phillips Screwdriver, a block of wood, and a tape measure, you can easily install your Schlage Connect smart lock in no time. For a detailed guide on how to install the smart lock, check out this youtube video from Schlage.
Features
- The Schlage Connect smart deadbolt allows you to pair with Z-wave smart home or a Security System like Samsung SmartThings, Alexa, Google Assistant, or Ring to lock and unlock from anywhere
- It has fingerprint resistant touch screen. This allows you to keep access codes private
- It uses secure encryption with S2 security
- It’s easy to install with just a screwdriver
- It comes with a limited lifetime mechanical warranty and three-year electronics warranty
Security
The Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt has the following ratings
- Commercial Standard Certification: ANSI/BHMA A156.36-2010 Grade 1
- Residential Standard Certification: ANSI/BHMA A156.40-2015 Grade AAA in Security, Durability and Finish
These certifications guarantee that you are getting top security features from this smart lock
Pros
- Obviously, the long-lasting battery is a big pro for the Connect Smart Deadbolt
- It also rates top in terms of security
Cons
For a supposedly smart deadbolt, the Connect Smart Deadbolt does not have too many smart features. However, the fact that you can integrate it with Internet of things technologies kind of makes up for this shortcoming.
3. Yale Assure SL Touchscreen Deadbolt
Yale claims a 12-month battery life on average use, for this product. However, this only works if you have an average of five uses per day. For an average of 10 user per day, you will get about 10 months if you are only using Bluetooth locking. If you enable the Wi-fi connectivity, you’ll get about six months battery life
None of these is bad for a smart deadbolt.
But the Assure SL doesn’t stop there. It has a nine-volt backup battery for when your alkaline batteries are dead so that you don’t get locked out. Talk about user-centric.
Design
The Yale Assure SL touchscreen deadbolt is a truly keyless smart lock. It has a sleek design and is available Satin Chrome and Matt Black finish.
Installation
This smart deadbolt is also very easy to install. Check out this detailed guide on how to install the Yale Assure SL.
Features
- The Assure SL can be upgraded with a Yale network module to integrate seamlessly with your home automation or alarm system. This allows you to control and monitor your lock from anywhere. The integration works with all Yale Home, Z-Wave Plus, and ZigBee technologies. However, these modules are sold separately.
- It is 100% keyless.
Security
This smart lock is BHMA A156.36 Grade 2 Certified. While this is not bad for a security lock, it can be better, much better, especially in locations where security is a major concern
Pros
- There is no bigger pro than the backup 9-volt battery which ensures that you’d never get locked out due to dead batteries on your smart lock.
- This smart lock also provides unrivaled durability and reliability all year round
Cons
There are no significant cons with the Yale Assure Lock SL. However, if you are big on extra smart features, then this lock doesn’t go so far.
4. August Smart Lock Pro (Third Generation)
If this smart lock is installed properly, your Wi-fi signal is strong, and your daily use of the lock is average – say 10 users per day – then the August Smart Lock Pro battery will last about four months. With the features that it offers, this is not bad at all. I will be talking about these features in a bit.
The August Smart Lock Pro is similar to the Kwikset smart lock in terms of what impacts the battery life. If the installation is not done properly, or if there is any friction in the lock, or if the bolt does not align well when you close the door, it’ll keep trying to lock your door, and this will drain the battery quickly.
Installation
Check out this detailed guide on how to install the August Smart Lock Pro. Whether you’re good with DIY or not, installing this smart lock is as easy as they come.
Features
Apart from the obvious smart features of integrating with Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeAway, and Air BnB, other excellent features of the August Smart Lock Pro are:
- The automatic lock and unlock
- The fact that the lock can be attached to your existing single-cylinder deadbolt, on the inside of the door
- You can use the app on your phone to send secure keys to your friends and family
- With the app, you can also keep track of who goes and comes
- The August Smart Lock Pro has DoorSense technology which lets you know whether the door is properly locked or not.
Security
- August Smart Lock Pro makes use of two factor authentication to ensure better security
- It also uses two-layer encryption which includes Bluetooth low energy encryption and an additional encryption module to encrypt communications
- If you lose your phone that contains the August app, you can disable the app and all the keys generated on the app on the designated August website.
Pros
- August Smart Lock Pro is one of the most intelligent and user centric smart locks of the lot.
- With the Wi-fi bridge connection, app integration, and extensive security features, you are getting a smart lock that provides true peace of mind
Cons
I don’t quite find any cons with this smart lock.