The Yale Assure Lock 2 series is smaller and smarter, thanks to support for any smart home platform

When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

The Yale Assure 2 Lock lets you unlock a door using the keypad or phone. It also supports Wi-Fi, Apple Watch, Z-Wave, and Matter.

Yale’s new Assure Lock 2 series of smart locks can be controlled via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
The Assure Lock 2 will also support Matter, the upcoming smart-home protocol.
Matter aims to bring compatibility to various home automation standards like Alexa and Google Home. 

Lock manufacturer Yale announced its next generation of smart locks, the Assure Lock 2. In addition to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the Assure Lock 2 series is also one of the first products to support Matter, the upcoming internet-connected smart-home protocol that’s being adopted by Amazon, Apple, Google, Samsung, and many others.

Matter promises to bring interoperability to all the competing smart home technologies. That means all Matter-compatible devices will support whichever platform you’re using, whether it’s Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and others.

Some existing products could also receive software updates to make them Matter compatible. For example, Apple recently updated the Apple TV with tvOS 16, which adds Matter support to the TV streaming device. The previous version of the Assure Lock will also support Matter.

The Yale Assure 2 Lock can be operated remotely, so a homeowner, for example, can allow entry to a dog walker or guests, when they’re away.

Advertisements

Assure Lock 2 provides keyless entry through a phone, Apple Watch, or the embedded digital keypad. When connected through Wi-Fi, it also allows remote unlocking and notifications via the Yale Access smartphone app or a voice assistant (Alexa, Google, and Siri) — ideal for early-arriving guests, for example. The previous generation required a separate standalone device for Wi-Fi, but Assure Lock 2 can be purchased with or without a Wi-Fi module.  

The Assure Lock 2 is also smaller and has a more modern design when compared to its predecessor, which Yale’s Jason Williams, the president of US Smart Residential at Assa Abloy (Yale’s parent), described as “not very sexy.”

In a demonstration, Yale showed us installation is as easy as any home lock. Yale says the Assure Lock 2 better fits doors and holes of varying thickness and size. Power is provided by replaceable AA batteries, and the lock will come in three finishes: black, bronze, and nickel.

The Yale Assure Lock 2 smart lock comes as keypad or touchscreen models, and keyed or keyless.

At launch, the Assure Lock 2 will be available in two versions: one that supports Bluetooth and Apple HomeKit ($180 for either a keyed or keyless touchscreen model, and $160 for a keyed or keyless physical keypad model), and another that supports Wi-Fi ($260 for keyed/keyless touchscreen and $240 for keyed/keyless keypad) — all models support Bluetooth and HomeKit out of the box.

Coming soon is a version that supports the Z-Wave home automation protocol ($210 for keyed/keyless touchscreen and $190 for keyed/keyless keypad). The locks will be available from Yale and retailers like Best Buy, The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Amazon.

While the Assure Lock 2 is one of the first Matter-compatible devices, availability is contingent on when Matter is ratified. But users can add it down the road via the Matter Smart Module ($80). Users can also add the Wi-Fi Smart Module ($80) separately. The good news is that both modules are compatible with the previous Assure lock.

Read the original article on Business Insider

Read More

Advertisements
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments