For the price, I expected this smart lock to have biometric features

When I final checked out a sensible lock from Alfred, the corporate had upgraded its DB1 lock sequence to the DB2 sequence, bringing with it a less complicated industrial design and a few further options, together with voice prompts.

So, this most up-to-date subsequent model of Alfred’s lock should be the DB3 sequence, proper? No, sir. Naturally it’s referred to as the Alfred DB2S.

Specifications

The DB2S seems to be quite a bit just like the older DB2, though this new model is barely out there in black or satin nickel trim choices, with no gold choice. It additionally now options elongated escutcheons (each approaching 7 inches in top), a lighted touchscreen that vanishes altogether when not in use, and a bodily keyhole with a swiveling steel shade.

A chargeable lithium-ion battery that Alfred says ought to final 8 to 12 months replaces the 4 AA batteries used within the Alfred DB2. A USB-C port on the entrance of the lock is offered for emergency entry within the occasion of a useless battery. The battery should be faraway from the lock for charging, which takes about 4 hours. Alfred sells a spare battery for $50, for those who don’t wish to expertise any downtime.

Out of the field, the DB2S is a Bluetooth-only machine, except you buy considered one of two equipment. The Alfred Connect V2 Wi-Fi Bridge, a plug-in machine, can join the lock to your Wi-Fi community (2.4GHz networks solely), or in case you have a sensible residence hub that helps Z-Wave, you’ll be able to add Alfred’s Z-Wave 800-series module ($40). Either accent will add Amazon Alexa or Google Home compatibility to the lock (assuming your Z-Wave hub does, that’s, however that’s all however a certainty).

Alfred says the DB2S “exceeds all ANSI Grade 2 testing requirements and exceeds many of the ANSI Grade 1 cycle testing requirements,” nevertheless it has not been formally licensed by the BHMA. Not positive what all which means? Consult our guide to the standards and certification processes of the ANSI and BHMA (Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association) as they relate to residential deadbolt locks.

Installation and setup

Christopher Null/Foundry

Installation has improved over the notoriously goofy course of I skilled with the Alred DB1 and Alfred DB2, each of which required part of the tailpiece to be eliminated in the course of the setup course of. Installing the DB2S is essentially in step with business requirements, with a body bolted by way of the door to the outside escutcheon, and the inside escutcheon mounted on high of that. A thick set up information is included that can assist you by way of this course of, although with 17 intricately detailed steps, it may be an excessive amount of of factor.

The solely twist is the inclusion of an non-obligatory wired door sensor, which attaches through its personal separate cable close to the highest of the inside escutcheon and should be run beneath the rubber that surrounds the mounting plate. This informs the Alfred app as as to whether the door is open or closed, and it’s barely difficult to get completely aligned. Slightly loosening and tightening of the mounting bolts will get it into place shortly sufficient. As with the prior variations of the lock, a change on the within of the motor housing tells the lock whether or not it’s mounted on a left- or right-handed door.

The lock helps two technique of digital ingress (along with utilizing the Alfred Home app): You can enter a PIN on the lock’s numeric keypad or current an RFID card to its onboard reader. The unit helps as much as 250 PINs (up from a meager 20) and a most of 250 RFID playing cards (two of that are included within the field). That needs to be loads for even the busiest family.

Using the Alfred DB2S good lock

Miraculously, the Alfred DB2S can be utilized with out its companion cell app, with all programming undertaken by getting into codes on the numeric keypad, as laid out in a prolonged, second software program information. This is a really inefficient means of doing something with the lock, and also you’re much better off working with it by way of the easy however simple Alfred Home app, which doesn’t seem to have modified in any respect since I final used it in 2021.

Onboarding the lock into the app was very expedient in my testing, because the app locates the lock routinely with none sort of scan or enter required. Pairing the Wi-Fi bridge requires scanning a QR code on its bottom.

Alfred

The Alfred app, as talked about, is primary and dated. It nonetheless sees the entry factors on mesh networks as separate networks, and it routinely capitalizes your Wi-Fi password, nevertheless it at the very least covers the fundamentals. Users might be invited to obtain the app and given entry instantly that means, however PINs and RFID entry should be configured individually after which assigned to a consumer.

There’s no approach to see all the varied entry sorts {that a} consumer has on a single display, so if somebody has each a PIN and an RFID tag, they should be managed individually through their respective interfaces. The course of is a little bit archaic, nevertheless it ought to work effectively sufficient for smaller households. The app can be speedy.

Other app options embrace auto-locking (after a user-selected time span of 30 seconds to 3 minutes) that works together with the door sensor, so the lock received’t throw its bolt when the door ajar (thus stopping unintended injury to the trim round your door).

Alfred

If you’ll be away from residence for an prolonged interval and aren’t anticipating anybody to realize entry to your house, you’ll be able to allow an Away mode that disables all PINs apart from the grasp. If somebody enters a PIN aside from the grasp, or in the event that they flip the thumbturn from inside the home, an onboard alarm will sound. There’s additionally a Privacy mode that does the identical factor, however with out activating the alarm when somebody enters their PIN.

Finally, there’s a geofencing function that’s supposed to unlock the door when a licensed consumer approaches with their smartphone on their particular person. Away and Privacy modes labored effectively, however I used to be by no means in a position to get geofencing to work in any respect. Alfred does supply a complete logging system, and push notifications associated to unlocking actions arrived shortly throughout my testing.

Christopher Null/Foundry

As with most Alfred {hardware}, the DB2S isn’t essentially the most elegant lock due to its large measurement, though its sweeping curves counterbalance this to a point. Fortunately, the lock works easily and with out criticism; other than the geofencing miss, I by no means encountered any main operational points all through my testing, throughout all forms of lock and unlock operations.

Should you purchase the Alfred DB2S good lock?

With a beginning worth of $320 ($360 in order for you Z-Wave connectivity, or $390 for Wi-Fi), Alfred is asking a small fortune for a sensible lock that doesn’t embrace such fashionable entry options as fingerprint recognition or palm-vein scanning, and that doesn’t assist Matter (or Apple Home, both).

Yes, you would possibly discover it promoting for much less for those who store round—I discovered it on-line at Tractor Supply Co. for $300, and—remarkably—at Walmart, bundled with Alfred’s Wi-Fi module, for simply $255; however even at these costs, it’s nonetheless one of many costlier locks available on the market given its function set.

If you’re keen on the look of this lock, look forward to a sale.

This evaluate is a part of TechHive’s in-depth protection of the best smart locks.