August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

amazon August Wi-Fi Smart Lock reviews

Design and Features

Like every other lock in August, Wi-Fi Smart Lock will replace your current internal thumbwheel mechanism and use the rest of your existing locking hardware, including the keys. It has the same oval shape as previous generations, but it’s significantly smaller at 2.8 x 1.8 inches (HD). The buckle is available in matte black or silver and features a textured handle around the outer edge and a removable magnetic mask with a backlit August logo status indicator. To operate it manually, turn the padlock left (unlock) or right (lock).

The back has two wing latches that secure the lock to the mounting plate and a reset button. Under the hood is a Bluetooth radio and a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio. Built-in Wi-Fi is what sets this lock apart from previous August locks, which all required a bridge to connect to your home network. The lock is powered by two CR123 batteries (supplied), which under normal conditions are expected to last up to three months before requiring replacement, so be sure to have a backup battery supply good.

Also included in the box is a mounting plate, an optional mounting plate for thinner doors, four tail adapters, a strip of adhesive tape, a door sensor, and a quick start guide.

The August Lock has always played well with other smart home devices, and the Wi-Fi Smart Lock is no different. You can lock and unlock with the August mobile app (for Android and iOS) or with the Apple HomeKit app, and you can create HomeKit Scenes and Automations. You can also lock and unlock the door with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri voice commands, and you can create IFTTT apps that let it interact with a variety of third-party smart devices. Furthermore, the lock integrates seamlessly with home automation and security platforms from Honeywell, Logitech, SimpliSafe, and Samsung.

The August mobile app opens the Keychain screen with panels for each of your homes (you can use the app to manage multiple locks in multiple locations). Tap the main panel to open the lock screen, where you can lock and unlock the door by tapping the large circle in the center of the screen. Solid red circle when the door is locked and solid green when unlocked. A broken red circle tells you that the lock is open (locked), but the door is closed, and a broken amber circle means the lock is not unlocked, and the door is closed.

The Lock, Camera, Activity, Guest List, and Settings buttons are along the screen’s bottom edge. The Lock button returns you to the Lock screen, and the Camera button opens the live feed if you have August View Doorbell Camera installed. The Activity button shows the progress of all locking events, including manual and app-controlled locking and unlocking and door openings and closings. When the lock is accessed using the app, it will show you who locked or unlocked the door and when the event took place. Use the Guest List button to add users and give them permanent, recurring, or temporary access to the key. You can send invitations via email or text message.

The Settings button takes you to a screen where you can turn features on and off, including Auto-Lock, which locks the door instantly or on a timer, and Auto-Unlock, which uses your phone’s location services open-lock the door (via Bluetooth) as you approach. Other settings include DoorSense Door Ajar Timing, which allows you to set the amount of time it takes to trigger door opening notifications. HomeKit lets you choose a Home, add a key to the room, give it a Siri name, and Calibrate, calibrate locks, and the DoorSense sensor lets you know if the door is open or closed. Here you can also create custom Smart Alerts that will send notifications when the door is open when the door is locked automatically, when the door is locked or opened by a specific user, and when the door is locked or unlocked by hand.

Settings and Performance

Installing the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is easy. I have the mobile app installed on my phone, but if this is your first August device, you’ll have to download the mobile app and create an account to get started.

I opened the app, hit Device Setup in the menu, and selected Set up a smart lock. I selected the Wi-Fi Smart Lock from the list and followed the instructions to scan the QR code on the back of the lock’s cover.

Following the on-screen installation instructions, I glued the lock’s outer cylinder to the door to hold it in place and removed my existing thumb swing mechanism. I attached the mounting plate to the door with the two bolts I just removed and fitted the matching tail adapter. Then I opened the wing latches on the back of the lock, slid the lock onto the tail adapter, and once it was flat with the mounting plate, closed the latches to secure the lock to the plate. Next, I removed the visor, removed the battery tab, pressed Continue, and followed the instructions to install the DoorSense sensor.

After installing the sensor, I hit Start Setup, and the app scans and finds the key immediately. I named the key, waited a few seconds for the firmware update, and followed the calibration instructions. Once calibrated, I added the key to my HomeKit home, and when prompted, I entered my home network SSID and password. After a few seconds, the key was connected to my network, and the installation was complete.

The August Wi-Fi dongle worked well in testing. It locked and unlocked instantly with the app and was super quiet. When the alarm is turned off, the lock is almost silent. Manual operation is smooth and easy, and push alerts about lock operation arrive quickly. The Auto-Lock feature worked perfectly, and the Door Ajar alert arrived just in time. Likewise, the DoorSense sensor always accurately reports the current position of the door.

I have created a Smart Alert to be notified whenever the door is closed and works without a hitch. I also created Smart Alerts to notify when a specific user locks or unlocks the door, which also works as advertised. The lock responds quickly to Alexa voice commands to lock and unlock the door (you must set up a pin to unlock with your voice) and my IFTTT app, so the Arlo Pro 3 camera starts recording when the door is unlocked.

Conclusion

Strong third-party integrations, cross-platform support, and ease of use are all good reasons to consider the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. That is not only the smallest August lock but also the first to offer embedded Wi-Fi instead of requiring an additional bridge. Features are extensive and include AutoLock and Unlock, support for Alexa, Google, and Siri voice commands, support for Apple HomeKit and IFTTT apps, and seamless integration with multiple home automation platforms family and family security. As with most smart locks, it’s more expensive than the non-connected model, and you’ll have to keep a supply of CR123 batteries on hand at all times.

Advantages

Works with Alexa, Google, HomeKit, IFTTT, and more

Automatically lock and unlock

Easy to install

Reasonable design

Defect

Expensive

Short battery life

where can you get a August Wi-Fi Smart Lock online

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