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Black Friday / Cyber Monday 2021 Discounts
Many of the brands I have discussed below have some excellent Black Friday or Cyber Monday discounts. These include:
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale 05/101200/SI - Linus Smart Lock - Silver - Keyless And... |
£118.98 | Buy on Amazon | |
| Yale 05/401G00/WH - Connect Wi-Fi Bridge - Remote Access,... | 87 Reviews |
£69.98 | Buy on Amazon |
| Yale Smart Keypad - 05/301000/BL – Black Digital Smart... | 194 Reviews |
£56.99 | Buy on Amazon |
All the Yale Linus range have 25% off taking them down to the lowest price ever on Amazon according to Keepa. This includes:
- Yale Linus is reduced from around £220 to £165 (silver no black model)
- Linus Keypad reduced from £60 to £45
- Linus WiFi bridge reduced from £70 to £52.50
The Yale Conexis L1 has a 30% reduction down to £139.44. This also appears to be the lowest price ever with previous lows being around £155.
Nuki doesnt appear to be on Amazon currently, though a seller is selling the Nuki + Eket Uno fingerprint scanner for £325.
Ultion dont appear to have a Cyber Monday offer on.
Original Post
A quick Google search for the best smart locks in the UK reveals a lot of poor advice that is not tailored to the UK market.
You have plenty of night latch options available, including the Yale Keyless Connected Smart Lock; these are excellent but generally not the primary lock used on our external doors.
Most smart lock guides seem to point you in the direction of the August Smart Lock Pro as their top choice. However, this is not designed for the UK market. It may be an excellent lock, but it is designed for US doors with a single deadbolt, whereas the typical UK uPVC external door uses a more secure multi-point locking mechanism.
One of the main issues is that major publications have US and UK versions, but their reviews don’t factor in regional differences. They only care if a product is listed on Amazon. For example, PCMag UK, list the August Smart Lock Pro + Connect as one of their top choices, but if you look at the review, the author is based in the US and quotes USD prices. The content is just merged with the UK. This isn’t a criticism of PCMag either; the logistics of having UK and US specific content is quite hard.
Assa Abloy owns Yale and August, and the UK equivalent of the August Smart Lock Pro would be the Yale Linus Smart Lock, but you rarely see this recommended.
So, this list is my options for the best UK specific locks that will work on uPVC external doors that have multi-point locks with a Euro cylinder (most of them are compatible with other cylinders too).
That seems like a very niche list, but it’s literally what most of the UK uses (excluding flats).
Yale Linus Smart Lock
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale 05/101200/MB - Linus® Smart Lock - Matt Black -... | 95 Reviews |
£163.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Related: Yale Linus Smart Lock Review
As previously mentioned, most other guides recommend August, and the Yale Linus Smart Lock is the closest you will get.
This is the lock I personally use on my front door; I have had it there since the start of this year (2021) and had no major problems with it at all.
This lock and others on the list are more a smart cylinder/key turner than an actual lock. You can mount it over your existing key/thumb turn or replace the entire cylinder with a specially designed adjustable cylinder. This will then turn the lock open or closed.
The major advantage of this design is that you can continue using your mechanical key on the other side of the door. So, it acts as a sort of hybrid smart lock, which alleviates some of the concerns people have about full smart locking systems.
The minor negatives I have about this are:
- Bluetooth connectivity is a little slow, so unlocking with a phone or keypad can take a few seconds
- It is kind of ugly. For most/all uPVC UK doors, the handle extends down to cover the lock. So the Linus needs to sit on top of this. It has screws that lock it in place securely, but it is not quite as aesthetic as sitting flush on your door.
- More expensive than others when you factor in the cost of the £70 Connect Wi-Fi Bridge
Ultion Smart Lock
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danalock Smart Lock Bluetooth - 253780 | Buy on Amazon |
Related: Ultion Smart Lock Review
I reviewed the Ultion Smart Lock in July last year and have used it on my back door since it is another lock I can personally vouch for and has worked well long term.
This is technically just a Danalock V3 that has been fully integrated into the hardware. So, the overall installation is more aesthetically pleasing on the inside than Yale Linus Smart Lock.
It works sort of the same; all the electronics turn the cylinder. However, in this case, Ultion also supplies their own cylinder, which uses one of their fancy high-security keys which come with a £2000 security guarantee.
At £259, considering you get door handles and a high-security key this is well priced vs the Yale.
The negatives I have on this one are:
- French doors would end up with mismatched hardware unless you replace both locks
- The Samsung SmartThings connectivity seems to be intermittent, certainly not as good as the Yale connected bridge. However, it is extremely rare that I have remotely connected to my lock.
Not really a negative or positive, but you have the option for a Bluetooth model or Apple Homekit but not both at the same time.
Nuki Smart Lock
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NUKI 220090 Combo 2.0 for UK Oval Cylinder | Includes Smart... | Buy on Amazon |
Related: Nuki Smart Lock Review
In terms of functionality, this is basically identical to the Yale Linus Smart Lock. It sits over existing hardware and turns the locking mechanism.
It is cheaper than the Yale Linus, and they have more accessories, including a keypad, rechargeable power pack, a key fob and even a ekey uno fingerprint scanner. The fingerprint scanner is only IP54 rated, though, so not ideal for outdoor use in exposed conditions (considering the UK weather).
So, for some, it may be a better buy than Yale, but the few negatives I have for it meant the Yale was better for me, personally.
- This also needs to mount on top of your door handle (if that’s your door design), but the backplate doesn’t secure in place as well as the Yale
- The plastic build quality isn’t as good as the Yale
Yale Conexis L1 Smart Lock
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Conexis L1 Smart Keyless Door Lock For Home Security,... | £282.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Related: Yale Conexis L1 Smart Lock
One of the original smart locks on the market and to some extent, the smartest of them all. This replaces everything and gets rid of your keys while it is at it. So, it is fully smart.
This gives you the option of unlocking via your phone, or alternatively, you can use NFC tags. These come in the form of cards, key tags or a phone tag you stick on the back of your phone/case.
The NFC functionality makes the unlocking experience a little more seamless than Bluetooth connectivity. It just feels smarter.
This will also integrate with Yale smart alarms or Z-Wave systems.
You get a lot of hardware for your money with the Yale Conexis L1, it is cheaper than all the other options.
Negatives include:
- Installation is much more complex than the relatively easy Linus – though I still managed it myself, and I am awful at DIY
- If the battery dies, the battery backup option is far less convenient than using an old fashioned key
- Anxiety over possible failure. Even if this is unlikely to happen, it is a common concern for many people.
- French doors end up with mismatched hardware
- I can spot a house using a Conexis L1 a mile off. I feel like this could be more tempting for burglars with the household more willing to invest in expensive electronics (this could be a highly inaccurate assumption by me)
Netatmo Smart Door Lock
The Netatmo Smart Door Lock is a fully integrated smart cylinder, it doesn’t sit on top of your key/thumb turn, but it doesn’t replace your hardware either.
While it does use keys, these are just cosmetic, and they are actually NFC key tags, so it is most closely matched to the Yale Conexis L1.
The Netatmo Smart Door Lock was announced at the start of 2020 with a launch date in late 2020, but there is still no sign of it. It has a much higher price tag than competing options too. The Covid pandemic has probably delayed things but with no word about it in over a year, I am starting to wonder if they will ever launch it.
[Original Post 15 May 2021]
[Updated Post 29 November 2021] Black Flriday / Cyber Monday deals added
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
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I’m looking for a smart lock for my newly installed UPVC door.
The downside of both the Ultion and the Conexis is that they won’t lock unless the handle has been lifted to engage the multi-point bolts.
Say that you remotely let a tradesperson in. They then leave but only close the door and don’t lift the handle. You’re then left with a door that won’t remotely lock.
I found the “SMARTLOCK Slimline Universal” which effectively locks the door on the catch by disabling downward motion on the handle. It can still be lifted to engage the multi-point. At £300 it’s expensive but (on the face of it) seems to be a better product.
Does anyone know of other smart locks that will lock on the catch only? Preferably less than £300!
There’s the Aqara lock