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amazon Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro + Wi-Fi Bridge reviews
Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is a multi-faceted smart lock that allows you to unlock your door with a fingerprint scan, mobile app, keypad, voice command, or even a traditional key.
U-tec’s Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro ($219.99) is one of the most versatile smart locks. Like most models, it uses a mobile app that allows you to lock and unlock your door from anywhere with your phone, and it has a keypad that allows you to use a temporary timed pin and forever. It also has a fingerprint scanner, as well as a cylinder with keys hidden behind the keyboard. As if that weren’t enough, the U-Bolt Pro can be locked with voice commands, and it’s one of the first smart locks we’ve tested that can also be unlocked with voice commands.
Design and Features
The U-Bolt Pro we tested is a complete set that comes with internal and external rails, a set of fixing pins, mounting screws, 4 AA batteries, a screwdriver, a drill bit, and a Wi-Fi plug. You can also order it without a Wi-Fi connection for $189.99. The lock fits standard doors with 1-5/16 to 2.0-inch thickness and 2-1/8 inch diameter holes with 2-3/8 to 2-3/4 inch rear eyelet.
The black and silver outer case measures 2.9 x 2.9 x 1.2 inches (HWD) and is made of Zinc Alloy material. It has a 360-degree capacitive fingerprint scanner in the center, with an LED ring that rapidly glows green when the device is locked or unlocked and glows red when an incorrect pin or fingerprint is used. Surrounding the scanner are ten backlit numeric buttons (0-9) for entering pin codes and an Ultraloq button that locks the door from the outside and illuminates the keypad. One of the coolest features is the hidden key track, which is accessed by pulling the keyboard out and folding it down on the hinge. On the bottom edge of the speaker, behind a rubber cover, is a micro USB port that can power the dongle with an external power source when the battery runs out.
The interior of the escutcheon also has a silver-black tone and measures 4.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches. It has a thumbwheel for manual operation and a removable cover for the four AA batteries that power the lock. A reset button is located on the bottom edge.
The U-bolt Pro is equipped with a Bluetooth radio but lacks an embedded Wi-Fi radio. Instead, it comes with a small plug-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi bridge that connects the dongle to your home network and lets you control it from anywhere. It also lets you lock and unlock with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands and use IFTTT apps to work with third-party smart devices like lights and security cameras. That said, it doesn’t support Apple’s HomeKit platform.
Other features include Auto-Lock, which locks the door after a preset period. Auto-Unlock uses your phone’s location services to unlock the door when you approach, and Magic Shake, which unlocks the door when you shake your phone while standing in front of the badge outside. In addition, you can create permanent and temporary pin codes with start and end dates and configure them for certain times of the day and days of the week. You can also temporarily grant users access to the mobile app and scheduled fingerprints.
The U-tec mobile app (for Android and iOS) opens a screen listing all your installed U-tec keys. Tap the lock tab to open a screen with a large lock/unlock button showing the current time and lock status. The button is green when unlocking the door and red when locking the door.
At the bottom of the screen are the Lock, User, Log, and Settings buttons. The Lock button takes you back to the screen with the lock/unlock button, and the User button takes you to a screen where you can add users and give them permanent and temporary access to fingerprints, apps, and codes for the battery. The Log screen shows a timeline of all lock activity and tells you who locked or unlocked the door and how (app, fingerprint, voice, or manual). In the Settings screen, you can check battery level, enable notifications, disable beep, enable Lock mode to disable fingerprint and app access, update firmware, and enable/disable Auto features Dynamic Lock, Auto Unlock, and Magic Shake.
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U-Bolt Pro Bluetooth Enabled Fingerprint and Keypad Smart Deadbolt + Bridge WiFi Adaptor | 6-in-1 Keyless Entry | Control Remotely Via Smartphone | Fingerprint ID | Anti-peep Code | Auto Unlock & Lock: Buy it now
ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro Smart Lock + Bridge WiFi Adaptor, 6-in-1 Keyless Entry Door Lock with WiFi, Bluetooth, Biometric Fingerprint and Keypad, Smart Door Lock Front Door, Deadbolt Lock Edition: Buy it now
Settings and Performance
Installing U-Bolt Pro is easy. I removed my old lock assembly and fitted the new latch to the edge of the door. Next, I slid the outside guard into the 2-1/8 inch hole from the outside of the door and attached it to the door using the mounting plate and screws. After threading the data cable from the outer eke plate through the bracket plate, I attached it to the inner eke and secured the inner eke with the supplied screws. After I inserted four AA batteries, the lock did an auto-handover telling it to lock or unlock and move on to the app settings.
Once the mobile app was installed, I created an account, verified my email address, and selected U-Bolt Pro from the list in the Add Device screen. I hit Scan for Ultraloq, and the key was immediately recognized. I created an Admin Code, gave the lock a name, selected the latch direction (left or right), and the lock was added to my account. Back on the Add Device screen, I selected the Bridge, plugged the Bridge into an outlet within 10 feet of the padlock, and clicked Add Bridge. It was immediately recognized, so I hit the bridge tab, selected my home’s SSID, entered my Wi-Fi password, and paired the key with the Bridge to complete the setup.
U-Bolt Pro performed well in testing. The scanner never fails to recognize the registered fingerprint and responds immediately when the fingerprint is scanned. It also responded quickly to pin code entries and app commands to lock and unlock the door, and it followed my fingerprint and temporary pin schedule with no problem. Alexa voice commands to lock and unlock the door also work perfectly, as does the IFTTT app to lock the U-Bolt Pro when the Arlo Pro 3 camera detects motion.
While a neat feature, Magic Shake requires the app to be open for it to work, eliminating the reason to have it. If you’re in front of the padlock with the app open, you can also tap the unlock button and get it done instead of standing there shaking your phone. I unlocked the door with Magic Shake, but sometimes it took five seconds or so to unlock. However, this feature is still in beta, and when completed, it will work in the background.
Conclusion
We’ve reviewed dozens of smart locks and still haven’t found one that does it all, but the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro comes pretty close. This multi-function lock has a fingerprint scanner, a keypad, a unique hidden keyway, and a Bluetooth radio that lets you control it with your phone. It also comes with a Wi-Fi bridge for remote access, which can be locked and unlocked with your voice, and it uses your phone’s location services to unlock when you get close automatically. As with most smart locks, you can generate a temporary, time-based pin code and fingerprint profile, and you can keep track of who locked and unlocked the door. The only thing the U-Bolt Pro doesn’t do is support Apple HomeKit.
Advantages
Fingerprint, keypad, and automatic unlock.
Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control.
IFTTT support.
Includes Wi-Fi bridge.
Easy to install.
Defect
Does not support Apple HomeKit.
The Magic Shake feature is not useful (yet).