After spending time with the Yale Assure Lock 2, I don’t think I can ever go back to using an old, “dumb” lock. I’m not sure if one can call a door lock a game changer, but I certainly think this counts!
Inside the box you’ll find nearly everything you need apart from a screwdriver and, potentially, a drill and associated bits. The lock itself looks very pretty. The exterior is small, but not tiny – it is exactly the size it needs to be. I do appreciate the physical buttons, rather than membrane buttons or touchscreens. It’s worth noting that this version does NOT contain any keyways. In other words, you cannot use or add on any physical keys here. If you are concerned about what to do should the batteries run out you should know that it would likely involved you ignoring battery warnings for a quite a while but also that there is an emergency option to hold a 9v battery to the exterior lock to power it enough to input your code.
The interior part of the lock is a bit larger, but still smaller than a trade paperback novel. This houses the main mechanisms, so it must be larger. The turn for the deadbolt feels smooth and solid. The battery compartment also houses the WiFi module, which is a small plastic cartridge you insert during installation to add the WiFi capability. The box also contains several sized screws and everything else you need.
The physical installation wasn’t any different from installing a standard “dumb” lock. While there is a small cable to thread from the exterior part of the lock to the interior part of the lock through a mounting plate, it was easy enough to do as a one-person job with just a Phillips head screwdriver. The caveat to this is that my door and the associated holes were all perfectly situated and sized already. Your milage will greatly vary depending on the size of your door, size of the holes on your door and on your frame for the strike plate. Please do your research ahead of time, as you may have to start doing some drilling or the lock may not even fit at all.
The app guided me through all the installation steps, and I was also able to follow along with the included printed instructions. I’m a fan of printed instructions, so I’m glad I had them to refer to at several points.
After the installation was completed, I was asked about setting up the WiFi, which was seamless, and then it did a firmware update that lasted roughly 8-10 minutes. From there I was all set! It was here that I wished there was a bit of a tutorial to the app, as I was just left dropped off on the main screen of the app not really knowing what to do next or what settings I should then look at. However, it was all very intuitive and after about fifteen minutes, I felt confident in using the app. I even went a step further connecting it to my Google Home and my Philips Hue setup (so some lights turn on when you come home!).
Unlocking can be via app or PIN code. Either works seamlessly and easily. PIN codes are assigned to individuals via the app. This gives you the ability to see who has unlocked your door. You can make PIN codes work at all times, limit to certain days and time frames, or temporarily, after which the code is disabled. That’s a plethora of options for any situation, from caregivers and workers to short term property renters. PIN codes can be 4 or more numbers long.
From the app, you must wait for it to connect to Wi-Fi or to Bluetooth first, then click a giant red button to unlock or lock it. I’ve never had to wait longer than about 20 seconds to connect, and I think a large part is that from my driveway my phone typically is barely connecting / losing its connection to my home network. If I’m next to the door, Bluetooth connects faster. My partner, using the app on their Apple Watch, says they’ve never waited at all for a connection. You can invite others to use the app on their own phones instead or in addition to PIN codes.
In either case, the door is opened (or locked) in seconds. You can configure the app with whatever notifications you’d like, from specific people to only unlocks or even if your lock loses its WiFi connection.
The lock comes with a host of extra features, too. You can set the device to Auto-Unlock with geofencing so as you approach your home it automatically unlocks. Using the door sense add on, which is included, but does require drilling into your door frame, you can have the door auto-lock as well as notify you if your door has been left ajar for too long. Both of those times are configurable.
Usually at this point in the review I go over my negative thoughts, but I honestly do not have many here. I’ve mentioned that I wished the app would walk you through its features and options more, but that’s all. I think it’s rare with technology such as this to have such a great experience from unboxing to installation and setup, and usage without encountering any frustrations, but Yale seems to have pulled it off.
If you’re in the market for a WiFi connected smart deadbolt for your home, I think you’d be hard pressed to find an option that is better than this one. This not only works but offers a bevy of options that is really more than necessary – all while looking stylish and being easy to install, too! I’ve already recommended it to friends and family, so consider this a recommendation for you as well!