At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Fast and correct fingerprint recognition
- High-capacity detachable, rechargeable battery with USB-C charging
- ANSI Grade 2 certification and IP65 safety from the weather
- Integrated doorbell
Cons
- Sensitive to misalignment; strike plate and door body tolerances matter
- Lock will make repeated auto-lock cycles if calibration is off
- No exterior provisioning API for Airbnb-type integrations
Our Verdict
The Tapo DL110 delivers a dependable and polished each day expertise for owners. While set up requires extra exact alignment than different fashions we’ve examined, the lock delivers a powerful efficiency total.
Price When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
$149.99
Best Prices Today: TP-Link Tapo DL-110 Fingerprint Smart Lock
The extraordinarily inexpensive Tapo DL100 Wi-Fi good lock I reviewed in July has turn into a favourite amongst budget-conscious owners. It’s not flashy, but it surely’s reliable, with strong Wi-Fi connectivity, first rate app integration, and a clear design that’s straightforward to make use of.
The step-up Tapo DL110 provides sophistication to that design, incorporating a quick fingerprint reader, a extra highly effective rechargeable battery, stronger construct high quality, and extra sturdy safety from the weather. The DL110 represents an improve over its predecessor, however the best selection for you’ll depend upon the options you want.
Design and construct
TP-Link carries over the matte-black end and keypad structure from the less-expensive Tapo DL00, however add a number of considerate refinements. The faceplate now features a refined doorbell button that flips as much as reveal the keyhole, hiding the backup entry with out interfering with the faceplate design.
Near-instant fingerprint recognition permits you to overlook about remembering codes or pulling out your telephone to launch an app.
The total construct feels substantial and sturdy, with an all-metal housing, agency buttons, and a flush-fitting fingerprint sensor. TP-Link charges the outside escutcheon at IP65; our IP code decoder tells us meaning it’s dustproof and might face up to water jets coming from any course (wanting a strain washer, that’s).
The detachable 10,000mAh battery is among the Tapo DL110’s finest options.
James Barber/Foundry
The lock is licensed ANSI Grade 2, the industrial model of the BHMA score scale, which is greater than ample for many houses (you possibly can learn in regards to the differences between ANSI and BHMA certifications on the previous hyperlink). This TP-Link lock feels reliable in each day use.
Installation
If you’ve swapped out a deadbolt earlier than, set up will likely be comparatively straightforward. The Tapo DL110 makes use of a typical footprint that matches doorways between 1⅜ and a pair of inches thick. TP-Link contains all the same old spacers, screws, and templates. The printed directions are clear, and the Tapo app walks you thru calibration and connectivity as soon as the {hardware}’s in place.
The first step is to cost the 10,000mAh detachable battery with a USB-C cable, as I did the night earlier than set up. Installation was easy after I eliminated my earlier good lock. I used the TP-Link telephone app (accessible for iPhone and Android) to attach the DL110 to dwelling Wi-Fi and adopted directions to arrange the fingerprint entry. The whole course of took about fifteen minutes, together with the temporary problem I had whereas eradicating the rear panel from the TCL D2 Pro lock I wanted to uninstall first.
All of this good lock’s vital parts are fabricated from metallic.
James Barber/Foundry
Unfortunately, precision issues to a Tapo DL110 set up greater than it does with different locks I’ve examined. The fingerprint and auto-lock capabilities can behave erratically if the strike plate isn’t completely aligned. After operating into some points as I began utilizing this lock, I went on-line to search out that different makes use of had been reporting the identical points.
The motor tends to cycle repeatedly if the bolt isn’t completely set, however I finally adjusted my strike plate to unravel the issue. While that doesn’t sound like a stunning difficulty or resolution, that is the primary good lock I’ve examined that was so finicky. All the others labored flawlessly with my present strike plate.
Day-to-day expertise
Biometric entry is the Tapo DL110’s greatest new characteristic. TP-Link says the fingerprint reader unlocks in about 0.42 seconds, and it actually does really feel that fast. The reader carried out persistently throughout a number of fingers and even acknowledged damp fingertips fairly properly. I discovered the sensors way more forgiving than the house button on a fundamental iPad.
The exterior escutcheon has the everyday energy cable that have to be threaded by way of the door to a connection on the inside escutcheon.
James Barber/Foundry
That near-instant recognition permits you to cease fascinated by codes or app faucets. Walk up, contact the pad, and its bolt slides again quietly. The motor’s tone is decrease than on the DL100, and it feels extra refined total. It’s not fairly as spectacular because the touchless palm-vein expertise on the (far dearer) TCL D2 Pro, but it surely’s one of the best contact sensor I’ve used.
In addition to the fingerprint entry, you should use the PIN pad, which lights up when touched and helps decoy digits when it’s essential cover your code from prying eyes. There’s additionally management by way of the app, which works over both Wi-Fi or by way of a Bluetooth connection if your private home community is down. You can even lock the door with voice management by way of Alexa, Google Assistant, or SmartIssues, and there’s a mechanical key as a last-ditch backup if the battery dies whilst you’re out. Alternatively, you possibly can plug in a USB-C cable linked to a transportable energy financial institution.
The Tapo DL110 additionally has a built-in doorbell with a variable quantity that may be managed by way of the Tapo app. You can even pair the this lock with Tapo Chimes and Tapo Hubs, or with any Amazon Echo or Google Assistant audio system or shows.
During day-to-day use, I by no means wanted to tug out my telephone to lock or unlock the door. During testing, I found that you may configure the app to unlock the door by way of Bluetooth when your telephone is in proximity. This may be handy should you usually arrive dwelling with armloads of groceries, however hold safety issues in thoughts should you select to make use of that characteristic.
Battery and energy design
From left to proper: The Tapo DL110’s battery, inside escutcheon, and battery cowl.
James Barber/Foundry
Smart locks dwell or die by their energy administration. The DL110’s 10,000mAh rechargeable battery is a giant enchancment over the DL100’s smaller, inner pack. TP-Link claims as much as a 12 months of runtime, relying on Wi-Fi stability and the way often you utilize the lock.
After a month of roughly 10 to 15 entries a day, the battery remained at 100 p.c. That’s encouraging, although long-term outcomes will depend upon situations.
Charging is straightforward. The battery slides out in seconds and connects to any USB-C cable. From a wall adapter or laptop computer port, TP-Link says a full recharge takes about three to 4 hours, relying on the output present. A fast 30-minute top-off ought to simply cowl a number of weeks of typical use.
The solely actual catch could be a dealbreaker for some customers for the reason that lock stays offline throughout recharging until you’re utilizing that non permanent energy supply. If your foremost entry door is your solely approach in, plan to cost when somebody’s dwelling or hold a spare pack on standby. For most customers, this can be a minor trade-off for a battery you possibly can recharge indefinitely as an alternative of changing each few months.
Smart options and app management
The Tapo app is properly laid out and simple to make use of.
James Barber/Foundry
TP-Link’s Tapo app is among the lock’s strongest options with a clear person interface with minimal steps required for setup. You can arrange fingerprints, create or delete PINs, schedule entry, and monitor utilization logs while not having to dig by way of layer upon layer of menus.
The entry administration system permits you to create time-limited or recurring codes, assign totally different customers their very own profiles, and see who unlocked the door and when. Notifications arrive shortly and reliably over Wi-Fi.
You can even combine the Tapo DL110 into Tapo Smart Actions, TP-Link’s fundamental automation layer. Users can arrange instructions that activate suitable porch lights when the door unlocks, or schedule auto-locks at evening.
The Tapo DL110 is much less helpful for industrial landlords, missing the superior automation options that might permit it to generate non permanent visitor codes for trip leases and the power combine with third-party property-management APIs.
But for owners, the DL110 covers practically all the things you’d count on, providing dependable Wi-Fi connectivity, easy scheduling, and prompt notifications in case your youngsters overlook to lock up.
Performance and reliability
James Barber/Foundry
The Tapo DL110 proved regular over a number of weeks of testing. The fingerprint reader hardly ever failed, and when it did, a second try nearly at all times labored. The keypad additionally responded shortly, even in vivid daylight. Bluetooth fallback kicked in immediately when Wi-Fi dropped.
The solely hiccup got here from the auto-lock calibration talked about earlier. When the deadbolt meets resistance, the motor typically retries somewhat than timing out gracefully. TP-Link would possibly be capable of easy that habits with firmware updates, but it surely’s the one annoyance that retains the DL110 shy of perfection.
Should you purchase the Tapo DL110 good lock?
The Tapo DL110 is right for owners who need a biometric good lock with no luxurious price ticket. It’s intuitive sufficient for first-time smart-home customers, however versatile sufficient to fulfill fanatics already invested in TP-Link’s Tapo ecosystem.
It’s lightning-fast, with a sensible rechargeable battery, and its total person expertise feels refined. Yes, set up precision issues, and the automation layer might go deeper.
If you’re able to retire your mechanical deadbolt and need one thing smarter with out going full premium, the Tapo DL110 belongs in your shortlist.
This evaluate is a part of TechHive’s in-depth protection of the best smart locks.