Yale’s latest Smart Lock no longer bears the “Nest” tag, but Google Home still prefers it over other options. For the first time, it’s supported by just about any smart home ecosystem with Matter, an absolute win for the veteran lock-maker.
Build
The new Smart Lock from Yale brings significant improvements to a form factor it’s more than familiar with. The design has taken notes from Google’s existing Nest lineup, like the Nest Doorbell. Even with an upcoming sequel, Google’s hardware retains the same look that favors sharp edges and minimal aesthetics.
In reality, the new lock looks a lot like a generic keypad, but I mean that in the best way possible. It isn’t trying to appear like a tech product, and in that, it’s able to blend in with the home a little better. The outside face of the lock is wide and rounded off on top and bottom. A 9-digit keypad takes center stage, and a physical keyhole uses up the real estate on the bottom.
There is a small Yale logo at the top of the lock. It’s wired to a capacitive sensor that activates the lock when leaving the home. Entering with physical input requires the use of the keypad. It might seem like a downgrade from the touch pad on the Nest X Yale Lock, but it wins out in terms of rudimentary function.
On the backside sits the deadbolt thumbturn by itself. The inward-facing portion of the Yale Smart Lock is as simple as can be. Again, a compliment.
That inner plate can come off with a bit of pressure on the release button. The unit takes 4 AA batteries that Yale says will need to be replaced every 12 months. I obviously couldn’t put that to the test, but I believe them. It didn’t run out of power during my review period, so that’s a good start.
Setup
As smart home devices go, smart locks generally take more time to get working right as opposed to a lightbulb or LED strips. The old lock needs to come out and the Yale Smart Lock needs to go in.
The process was fairly simple when it came to physical assembly. It’s a standard process that shouldn’t take more than 15 or 20 minutes – less if you’ve done it before. That includes installing the DoorSense magnet so the lock knows whether the door is closed or open.
Where I had trouble was when it came to pairing it to my home.
The Yale Smart Lock is a Matter-enabled device, meaning it can connect to any smart home ecosystem as long as a Thread router is available to connect it. That comes in the form of Google’s Nest Wifi Pro system or even the Nest Hub Max. There are other options, but it needs to be connected to something that has Thread capabilities.
The reason I initially struggled on setup was due to my own ineptitude, and nothing relfective of Yale’s build. Since I successfully connected it, it’s been running like a dream.
Here’s a word to the wise: the Yale Smart Lock needs IPv6 enabled in your router. Without that turned on, there’s no hope of getting it paired properly in the Nest Wifi Pro settings, which fall under the Advanced Settings page.
If IPv6 is enabled on your Thread router, the Yale Smart Lock connects like any other Matter device. Scan the QR code and go through the steps. It takes no time at all, if you set yourself up for success.
The previous generation of Yale x Nest Locks in collaboration with Google utilized the Nest app. Nest devices have since begun porting over to Google Home, and that includes this lock’s predecessor. Even with the Yale x Nest Lock in Google Home, the Yale Smart Lock’s setup has been so much easier.
It needs no proprietary hub, and all of its options are available from the start without a dedicated app. It’s a nomadic device that follows you to your preferred ecosystem.
Matter and performance
Becuase of the Matter connection, the Yale Smart Lock is able to communicate with each smart home ecosystem in more detail than if it were a standard connection. All of the features that Yale boasts about the lock aren’t tied down to the company’s own app.
With Google Home, I have access to all of the features I need from it. That includes basic locking and unlocking from my phone or a smart speaker, as well as access settings and vacation mode. If Matter weren’t in the picture, a lot of these features would be locked to a proprietary app.
It’s preferential, but using a few individual apps over one with access to many devices is cumbersome. With Matter, those additional features are rolled into Google Home for me. I don’t need to set the lock up in the Yale app. In fact, it isn’t even installed.
The access settings have been something I can’t live without in a smart lock. It allows you to add household members and guests with custom entry codes. In Google Home, entries can be created for household members who have access. Those codes can be edited whenever.
With guests, there is a little more control involved. A custom code can be set up, as well as timing restrictions. For instance, scheduled access can be turned on, which limits when the guest can enter the home. A start date and end date can be set, and guests can be limited from entering during specific times or days of the week.
The feature is perfect for contractors or other services that need entry, but don’t necessarily require interaction.
The main device page also houses a “vacation mode” button. The mode disables the keypad only, blocking entry via physical code entry. The lock can still be locked/unlocked through your preferred smart home app and with a key.
The lock itself is pretty snappy, though the motor doesn’t feel much faster than the previous generation. Generally, there are two audible “whirs,” and the lock will play a chime to signify whether the action was successful. A notification will pop up letting you know if the lock was able to, in fact, lock.
I did run into one quality-of-life issue that seemed to be a short-lived bug. The lock has something called “one-tap unlock,” which foregoes a code entry every single time you tap the lock/unlock button in Google Home. For some reason, this feature did not work at first. I could unlock or lock the device from my phone, though I needed to enter my PIN on every occasion.
I’m not doing this thirty times a day, but it’s worth noting that it bites into the lock’s ease of use. It’s a barrier that’s advertised as optional.
The issue was remedied with a quick storage clear for the Google Home app, and the lock works perfectly now, with no PIN required while the one-tap unlock toggle is enabled.
Final thoughts
Beyond that one bug, the Smart Lock from Yale did exactly what it was supposed to do. Interaction with the keypad and lock button on the door feels good, and it’s quick to do its job over a Matter connection. It’s just simple to use, for every household member. That’s a plus in itself.
Not to mention, its simple and modern design looks fantastic on just about any door.
I can’t speak to detailed performance on other smart home ecosystems, as I only used it with Google Home, but the groundwork has been laid for a universal connection.
For $189, it works well and looks good next to Google’s Nest devices. Even on its own, it offers modern protection with features that make security a little easier.
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