VerdictAI

Reviewer consensus · 2026

Best Smart Locks of 2026What 86 reviewers actually think, trust-weighted

Smart locks now span everything from invisible retrofit deadbolts to palm-scanning video locks, so we read across independent testing outlets, mainstream tech press, retailer verified-purchase reviews, and specialist smart-home communities to surface where the consensus actually lands. The picks below weight high-trust testing and long-running enthusiast threads over star averages alone, and we flag the reliability disagreements that star ratings tend to hide. This is a synthesis of what reviewers have already published, not our own bench test.

Sources behind this verdict

86 reviewers, weighted by source trust

86reviewers read

Weighted by source trust

We don’t review products. We read what other reviewers wrote, score each source for trustworthiness, and synthesize the consensus.

How sources are scored →

Trust hierarchy

Trusted5
Verified0
Supporting27
Flagged0

Source mix

86signals
  • 6Press
  • 48Community
  • 32Video

Trusted · 5 sources

Independent · documented methodology
The New York Timesr/smarthomer/Aqarar/homeassistantr/homeautomation

Supporting · 27 named sources

PressCommunityVideo
CNETThe VergePCMagr/HomeKitr/homeownersr/LevelLockr/AusRenovationr/EufyCamr/eufy_securityr/MacSourcesr/AmazonVineYouTube · review videoYouTube · 6 Month ReviewYouTube · Month ReviewYouTube · Fi Smart Door Lock ReviewYouTube · 6 Months Later... (Good & Bad)YouTube · Apple Home Key for less than $200!YouTube · Aqara U100 Review!YouTube · Review ...YouTube · Works with Apple HomeYouTube · Bolt Pro Smart Lock ReviewYouTube · ThorBolt X1 ReviewYouTube · Install and ...YouTube · eufy FamiLock S3 Max ReviewYouTube · vein ...YouTube · Demo and ReviewYouTube · Fi NO Bridge Needed!)

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Highest-rated by the consensus

#1 of 8
Top pick · #1Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt Lock with Touchscreen Keypad, Keyless Front Door Entry, App Control…
Best overall

Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt Lock with Touchscreen Keypad, Keyless Front Door Entry, App Control…

★★★★★4.4(16,390)89Great

Across the reviewers we read, the Schlage Encode draws the most consistent high-trust support of any lock here. techgearlab.com, a high-trust testing source, describes it as one of the most intuitive and user-friendly smart locks on the market, nytimes.com's independent product testing recommends it, and cnet.com agrees it is solid hardware while conceding at its ~$229–$249 price it 'isn't the best value for money.' That price caveat is the main knock from the expert side.

Price

$229.00

Read review →Check Price

The rest of the rankings

#2,8

Frequently asked

5 questions
Do I need a hub for a smart lock?
It depends on the connectivity. Built-in Wi-Fi locks (several Philips models, the Ultraloq Bolt SE, Schlage Encode) offer remote access with no hub, while Bluetooth and Zigbee/Thread locks like the Aqara U50 and U100 typically need an Apple Home hub, Aqara hub, or a Thread border router for remote control and full features. Reviewers repeatedly note that Aqara's cheaper locks lose remote functionality without the extra hardware.
Which smart locks work with Apple Home Key (tap-to-unlock with iPhone)?
Across the candidates, the Aqara U50, Aqara U100, Aqara U400, ThorBolt X1, and Level Lock Pro all advertise Apple Home Key support. Specialist HomeKit community threads consistently praise Home Key as the fastest, most reliable unlock method on these locks.
Are Wi-Fi smart locks bad for battery life?
Often, yes. Multiple high-trust community threads flag faster battery drain on always-connected Wi-Fi locks and recommend Thread/Matter or Zigbee alternatives if battery longevity matters. Schlage Encode owners, by contrast, frequently report near-yearlong battery life even on Wi-Fi.
What's the best smart lock for an Airbnb or rental?
Reviewers tend to favor locks with robust keypad code management and remote access without a hub. The Schlage Encode is explicitly marketed as Airbnb-compatible and is widely cited for reliable code scheduling, while keypad-and-Wi-Fi Philips and Ultraloq models are common budget alternatives.
Can I keep my existing keys and deadbolt with a smart lock?
Some can. The Level Lock Pro installs inside the door and keeps your existing exterior hardware and physical keys, which reviewers cite as its signature feature. Many keypad deadbolts replace the whole unit but still ship with backup physical keys.