This is one of the most ingenious smart deadbolts you can buy

Price When Reviewed

$349 ($507 as reviewed, with the $79 Level Connect Wi-Fi bridge and the $79 Level Keypad)

Best Prices Today: Level Lock Pro

We’re longtime followers of Level Lock’s household of sensible deadbolts, the one merchandise of their class that may move for odd deadlocks, hiding all their intelligence within the motor that matches in a door’s bore gap. But the Level Lock Pro kicks issues up a notch—possibly even a notch and half.  

That stated, the Matter sensible dwelling normal that’s designed to unify the fractured sensible dwelling area deserves a piece of the credit score. The Level Lock Touch, as an example, was the primary Level Lock to let you lock and unlock the deadbolt with a contact of your hand, however Android customers couldn’t function the lock remotely over Wi-Fi.  

Level finally added assist for Amazon’s Sidewalk, which required customers to have an Echo sensible speaker. Still later, Level launched the Level Connect Wi-Fi bridge (2.4GHz networks solely). Using both of these merchandise lastly put Android customers on the identical stage as iPhone customers (extra exactly, iPhone customers who additionally personal a HomeEquipment hub resembling a 2nd-gen Apple TV 4K or a HomePod sensible speaker). And these aren’t your solely choices.

Both Android and iPhone customers will nonetheless want a bridge to attach the Level Lock Pro to their Wi-Fi networks to realize distant entry and administration, however each camps have much more choices as a result of the lock has a Thread radio onboard. Those choices now embody the beforehand talked about Level Connect ($79), a Samsung SmartThings Station, an Apple TV 4K or HomePod, or any of the a number of Amazon Echo or Nest Hub sensible audio system and shows with a Thread radio.  

What’s much more vital is that because of Matter, you now not have to restrict your self to at least one sensible dwelling ecosystem or the opposite. An iPhone person like me can use an Apple TV or the like with the Level Lock Pro to make the most of Apple’s Home Keys and additionally use a Thread-equipped Echo gadget or the Level Connect to manage the lock with Alexa voice instructions.

Level tells me customers can function the brand new lock in as many as 5 sensible dwelling platforms concurrently. While the Level Lock Pro doesn’t assist Amazon’s Sidewalk, that basically doesn’t matter. 

Level Lock Pro: Specifications  

Michael Brown/Foundry

OK, sufficient preamble. Let’s flip our consideration to the Level Lock Pro’s specs. The new lock doesn’t look appreciably totally different from any of the sooner generations, though its exterior factor is barely bigger in diameter. As standard, the lock’s motor matches contained in the bore gap and is powered by a single CR2 lithium battery that’s cleverly hidden contained in the lock’s bolt. The app studies remaining battery life as “Healthy,” “Low,” or “Critically Low,” at which level the battery gained’t have sufficient energy to lock or unlock the lock.

Unlike another sensible locks, not one of the locks within the Level sequence have a provision—resembling a USB-C port—for offering momentary energy to the lock to open it ought to its battery fail. That makes the inclusion of backup entry within the type of a bodily key much more vital. 

The Level Lock Pro boasts a BHMA AAA score, which suggests it meets that normal physique’s highest certification for safety, sturdiness, and end respectively. Read our information should you’d prefer to know extra in regards to the BHMA ratings for residential locks as well as the ANSI ratings for commercial locks.

The Level Lock Pro has a weatherization score of IP54, which suggests it can preserve out sufficient mud to forestall its failure and that it’s protected against water sprayed from any course. That’s comparatively modest safety, however most entry doorways get at the least considerably shielded from the weather. Read our IP code guide if you would like extra particulars on that subject. 

Level says the Level Lock Pro additionally has a sooner and extra highly effective microprocessor and sooner reminiscence than earlier generations.

Another new characteristic distinctive to the Pro is a sensor that may detect if the door is open or closed. This will depend on utilizing Level’s magnetic strike plate (the factor you mount to the within of your door’s body). If you do, the lock is not going to throw its bolt if the door is ajar, stopping injury to your door trim when the bolt slams into it. The app will inform you of this standing, and you’ll override the sensor and nonetheless throw the bolt if it’s essential to (utilizing both the thumb flip or the app), resembling while you need to change the battery.  

Michael Brown/Foundry

As I’ve already mentioned, The Level Lock Pro helps Matter-over-Thread, and it additionally has a Bluetooth radio. This is used for preliminary setup, but it surely additionally helps the non-obligatory Level Keypad ($79), a numeric keypad that permits you to assign PINs to unlock the door. The lock additionally comes with two NFC (near-field communication) key fobs you could placed on a keychain. You can purchase extra fobs in packs of 4 for $20, or you should purchase 4 Level key playing cards for a similar worth (you too can re-program any present Level fobs or key playing cards you might need from a earlier set up). Finally, the lock comes with two bodily keys.  

The lock and its accompanying strike plate can be found in both a matte black or satin nickel end. Level tells me the lock and strike plate are fabricated from diecast zinc and chrome steel, with a ceramic coating that’s much like powder coating, which all sounds very sturdy. Nonetheless, I managed to scratch the end off the matte black strike plate throughout my set up (see photograph), main me to suppose it was merely painted black (Level disavowed me of that notion in response to a fact-check question).  

Michael Brown/Foundry

While it’s unlikely that anybody can be utilizing a bodily key to unlock the door with regularity, I’d advocate inserting the important thing into the important thing cylinder with a level of precision, lest the identical factor occur to the lock, regardless of its ceramic coating. 

Level Lock Pro: Installation and setup  

As I’ve skilled with earlier Level Locks, the Pro is supremely simple to put in and arrange, and Level’s four-part set up card explains every little thing properly—with one exception. Out of the field, the inside paddle you’ll flip to retract the lock’s bolt is connected to its inside escutcheon, and it have to be eliminated to reveal the holes into which you’ll insert the screws that can fasten the lock’s inside factor to its exterior.  

Accomplishing this isn’t instantly apparent, and regardless of having put in and reviewed the Level Lock+ about this time two years in the past, I’d forgotten how one can do it. Only after scanning the person handbook twice did I discover a footnote studying “To disassemble in the future, use a paperclip or pen to press the small hole in the bottom of the paddle, while gently pulling away from the door to release it.”  

Michael Brown/Foundry

Had it not been for that delay, I’d have completed the bodily set up in lower than 10 minutes. You don’t want to interact in any delicate balancing act to carry the lock’s inside and exterior parts collectively, and also you don’t want to string an influence cable from the lock’s exterior escutcheon by means of the door’s bore gap after which plug it right into a socket on the inside escutcheon, as is widespread with so many different sensible locks.  

You’ll need to set up the Level app in your cellphone, add the lock to the app, and obtain and set up any firmware updates earlier than you scan the QR code to onboard it to your Matter-certified sensible dwelling hub; in any other case, you’ll have solely a 30-minute window so as to add the lock to the Level app. Miss that window and also you’ll have to {hardware} reset the lock and begin over. This isn’t a flaw, it’s only a matter of not placing the cart in entrance of the horse, and it’s clearly spelled out within the set up handbook.  

You’ll want the Level app to perform some duties, resembling creating PINs, setting person permission ranges, programming fobs and key playing cards, and pairing equipment such because the keypad. Other jobs, resembling creating Apple dwelling keys, can be carried out of their respective apps—Apple Home in that instance.  

Level Lock Pro: Using the Level Lock Pro  

Michael Brown/Foundry

I examined the Level Lock Pro with the Level Connect bridge first after which added it to my Apple Home surroundings, connecting it to a 2nd-gen Apple TV 4K. Apart from the brand new door-sensing characteristic, the Level Lock Pro operates identical to earlier fashions, if maybe a bit sooner to reply because of its new processor. When you exit, one contact on the lock’s exterior physique throws the bolt and sounds a chime to let you already know the door is locked (a chime with a special tone sounds when the door is unlocked).  

When you come back, you should use a key fob or card, the Level app in your iPhone or Android smartphone, the NFC options in your smartphone or sensible watch, or a bodily key to unlock it. An auto-lock characteristic mechanically locks the door after it’s been unlocked, and you’ll select the period of time that passes earlier than that occurs, from 30 seconds to at least one hour. You also can select to disable this characteristic. 

Michael Brown/Foundry

The Level Lock Pro helps geofencing, and you’ll allow a setting that lets you unlock the lock by touching it while you return dwelling. This possibility is timed—your selection of 1, two, or three minutes—and also you gained’t have the ability to use the contact methodology after that point expires. Also word that you should first cross over the border of your geofence earlier than a touch-to-unlock may be carried out; it gained’t work should you simply exit into your yard after which come again after the lock is locked.  

The Level app logs the date and time when the lock was locked, unlocked, and the door is opened; how the motion was carried out (manually, by way of contact, key fob, or keypad); in addition to who unlocked the door (key fobs and playing cards may be assigned to people, though the lock clearly can’t know who really used the gadget to unlock the door).  

The non-obligatory keypad, obtainable in colours to match your lock, has a capacitive contact floor with LED backlighting (these aren’t low cost rubber buttons). It runs on two AAA batteries (included) that Level says ought to last as long as two years. You can create as much as 50 distinctive PINs and assign them limited-time permissions within the Level app should you so want. You also can lock a paired Level Lock with this accent, though you’ll end up extra sometimes doing this by touching the lock itself should you’ve enabled that characteristic. 

Michael Brown/Foundry

The keypad must be put in inside 30 toes of the lock, which shouldn’t current any obstacles. It’s completely weatherized—IP65—which based on our IP code information means it’s impervious to mud ingress and that it may face up to water jets projected from any course (in need of a stress washer, however it is best to have the ability to hose it down to scrub it if wanted). It has an working temperature vary of unfavorable 4 levels to 140 F (-20 to +60 C). 

Level Lock Pro: User administration  

You can grant permission to different folks to make use of the lock as an Admin (who can management each facet of the lock, together with inviting new customers) or as a Guest (with three classes of restricted management). When you arrange their entry, the Level app will ship an invite to their cell phone and/or e mail. 

The three ranges of Guest entry are Always, Temporary, or Recurrent. You’d in all probability need to give relations the Guest/Always stage of permission, which lets them unlock the door at any time of day or evening.  

Level Home

With Guest/Temporary entry, you set begin and finish dates and instances, which might be helpful for trip leases (e.g., from 11:00 a.m. on August 29, 2025 to 3:00 p.m. on August 29). Recurrent entry is meant for folks to whom you want to grant common entry to your house, however solely at set instances on given days of the week. If you could have a housecleaning service that involves your own home each Thursday at 10:00 a.m., as an example, they’d have the ability to unlock the door.  

If you even have the Level keypad, you possibly can create PINs for every particular person to whom you need to grant entry to your house. These may be as much as six digits lengthy, however PINs have solely two ranges of entry: Always or Temporary (i.e., the PIN will solely work throughout a variety of dates and instances). Those permissions may be revoked at any time. 

Level Lock Pro: Conclusion

There was a time when recommending a Level Lock required a number of caveats, probably the most vital being that Android customers have been handled as second-class customers denied entry to a few of its finest options. Thanks to Matter assist and the Thread radio on this lock (and within the earlier Level Lock+) that notion is firmly previously.  

As with earlier generations of this sensible lock, the Level Lock Pro is probably the most engaging sensible lock you should purchase, primarily as a result of it doesn’t look like a wise lock.

That stated, it is a expensive sensible lock at $349, and also you’ll have to pay further if you wish to use a numeric keypad to unlock the door, a characteristic that comes normal on a lot of Level’s opponents. The reality that you just’ll want both a Level Connect or a third-party gadget with a Thread radio to realize out-of-home management provides one other layer of expense—until you already personal such a tool. Level additionally doesn’t present any technique of biometric entry–a fingerprint reader or a palm-vein scanner–as numerous its opponents now supply (albeit in a lot bigger type components).

Even with all these issues, the Level Lock Pro continues to be the perfect sensible lock available on the market. No competing product is prettier or simpler to put in and use on a day-to-day foundation. I like to recommend it with out reservation.   

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