Level Lock review: an invisible smart lock

Smart locks generally come in two general styles: those that replace your existing latch and require obvious electronics or interfaces mounted on the inside or outside of the door, or those that simply screw onto the top of your existing latch, which that allows you to keep most of your bolt. original hardware, including your keys. Both designs generally allow you to control the lock with your phone or through automation, but neither is particularly discreet.

Level Lock is a new smart lock that counteracts those trends: once installed, it is completely invisible and hides all of its electronic and mechanical components within its existing security lock. It still allows you to open and close the lock remotely with your phone or your voice through Apple’s HomeKit platform (more on that later) or manually with the same key that you have always used. But unless you know the level lock is there, you would never suspect that the modified bolt had any intelligence. It has the same exterior and interior appearance as before, and even the action of manually turning the lever is as smooth as a standard deadbolt without buzzing or bumping from the engine.

At $ 229, the Level Lock certainly demands a premium for its understated design. And as I am going to comment, it is not as complete as other smart locks that you can buy. If you are really in love with the look of your existing bolt but still want to add some basic knowledge to it, then perhaps the Level Lock is right for you.

Level Lock essentially works by replacing the inner workings of your existing bolt, including the bolt itself. The electronics to communicate with your phone (a Bluetooth radio) and the motor required to push and pull the open and closed bolt are located between the existing keyhole on the outside of the door and the lever on the inside. Basically, you take your existing lock apart, remove the internal mechanism and bolt, install the level mechanism and bolt, and then screw the lever back on. The entire process, including replacing the lock plate on the door frame, takes approximately 10 minutes.

Inside the latch is a CR2 battery that Level says will last “over a year” before needing to be replaced. You can control the battery life in the Level app. In the three weeks I was testing the lock, it has never fallen “full.”

The app itself is extremely basic, and this is where the Level Lock limitations start. You can use the app to create an account, assign the lock to your account, and lock or unlock the door when it is within Bluetooth range. You can also configure an automatic lock feature that will lock the lock after a set period of time and provide limited time passes for others to use the lock. Both the iOS and Android versions of the app are essentially identical, with the same design and scattered feature set (to the point where it almost seems incomplete).

The only smart home platform Level Lock works with is the Apple HomeKit, and you must have a HomeKit hub (such as an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad) set up in your home to use it. This is the only way to control the lock when you are not at home or to configure any automation on the lock. It doesn’t work with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, at least not from the time I post this review. When asked about other platforms, a spokesperson said the company has “plans to expand support to other platforms in the future, but [it’s] not sharing details at this time. “

Fully relying on Apple’s HomeKit platform for any automation or geofence features (like automatically unlocking the door when you get home) leaves the Level Lock a bit behind August and other smart locks. In my experience, Apple’s geofencing features are not the most reliable. And since you have to manually confirm on the phone every time you want me to unlock the door, it is not as automatic or perfect as the August automatic unlock. It can also take a long time for the Apple Home app to contact Level Lock to determine its status or issue a command to it. On the other hand, the voice control of the lock via Siri works fine and doesn’t suffer too much delay when I say a command and the lock responds. The lock makes an audible sound each time you successfully open or close the latch.

Since Level Lock only works with HomeKit, it wouldn’t bother me if you are an Android user. You would have no way to control it when you are out of the house or configure any automation. All you can do is press a button in the Level app when you’re in Bluetooth range to lock or unlock the door.

Level Lock’s limitations are frustrating overall, and if I was looking for a smart lock for my main entrance, I’d probably go with one of the most feature-rich locks available, even compared to the eyes. However, as a technological endeavor, Level Lock is very impressive and points to a time when we can have all kinds of smart technology embedded in our homes without remembering that it is there every time we get home. It just isn’t there yet.

Photograph by Dan Seifert / The Verge