Need to make access to your home easier or more secure? Here's what you need to know about smart locks and how to pick one for your home.
Smart locks may not be the sexiest piece of consumer tech on everyone's mind, but they are one of the best for sheer convenience. Head out for a jog without a jangling key ring, easily provide access to guests, or double check that you locked your door from anywhere on the planet. What is a smart lock? A smart lock is not all that different from a traditional lock. What makes it smart is typically a Wi-Fi connection that allows you to link the physical lock to a companion app. The app allows for activities like remote access, geo-location features (to have your door unlock automatically when you pull into the driveway, for example), and even creating digital passkeys for other family members, friends, contractors, or visitors. Learn more about what smart lock are and how they work. And if you think you know everything about smart locks, think again. Can you guess these 7 things you didn't know a smart lock could do? What type of technology do smart locks use? Wi-Fi Smart locks use Wi-Fi to follow your instructions about when to open and close. They operate closely with their companion apps. Many smart locks today also connect to various smart home systems like Google and Alexa, as well as Apple HomeKit. Having your smart lock connected to a digital assistant is very convenient. It makes it easy to add it to in-home routines you've created — meaning that if you enable a 'goodnight' routine, not only will your digital assistant turn off all your lights, close your blinds, give you the weather forecast for the morning, but it will also lock all your doors as part of the routine. While Wi-Fi is in almost every home and uber convenient, Wi-Fi enabled smart locks do tend to need their batteries replaced a little more often. Depending on how often you are remotely accessing your locks, you may need to replace the batteries every few months. It's a good idea to read recent reviews of smart locks to get an idea of how long the batteries might last. Z-Wave Z-Wave…