You’ll Need a New Smart Lock if You Want Apple Home to ‘Magically’ Unlock Your Door

Last week, Apple announced a game-changing feature for its smart home ecosystem: hands-free unlocking for smart locks. This new capability, coming with iOS 18 this fall, leverages the U1 ultra-wideband (UWB) chip found in many iPhones and Apple Watches. It allows a smart lock to automatically open as you approach the door, no tapping required. However, this feature won't be compatible with existing Home Key smart locks due to hardware limitations, meaning you'll need to invest in a new lock to take advantage of it.

The Next Evolution in Smart Lock Technology

Apple's hands-free unlocking is an exciting addition to Home Key, a feature within the Apple Home smart home platform that already allows users to unlock compatible locks by tapping their iPhone or Apple Watch. The new hands-free capability will unlock your door as you approach, provided you’ve unlocked your phone or watch within the last 24 hours. This means no more fumbling for your phone or tapping your watch to gain entry — a significant convenience upgrade for smart home enthusiasts.

Hardware Requirements and Market Readiness

Despite the excitement, there's a catch. No current smart locks have the necessary hardware to support UWB technology. This means that none of the existing Home Key smart locks can be updated to use this new hands-free feature. Smart lock manufacturers, including Aqara, U-tec, Yale, August, Level, Lockly, and SwitchBot, confirmed that their existing models do not support UWB. Only U-tec has announced plans for a UWB-compatible lock, expected to arrive by the end of 2024.

How UWB Enhances Hands-Free Unlocking

UWB technology offers a more reliable and secure way to unlock doors compared to the current solutions, which often rely on a mix of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Wi-Fi, GPS, and third-party apps. UWB provides precise, real-time location data without needing a line of sight, making it ideal for smart home applications. For instance, UWB can distinguish whether you are inside approaching the door (in which case it won’t unlock) or outside approaching the door (in which case it will unlock).

Power Consumption and Technical Implementation

One of the challenges with UWB is its higher power consumption. To mitigate this, Apple’s implementation uses BLE to establish an initial connection between the phone/watch and the lock, then switches to UWB for precise unlocking. This method helps conserve power while maintaining the accuracy and security of the unlocking process.

Potential Beyond Door Locks

The implications of UWB extend beyond just smart locks. Apple has already used UWB for features like music hand-off between iPhone and HomePod, locating AirTags, and unlocking cars. The precise location data provided by UWB could enable advanced smart home automations, such as turning lights on and off as you move between rooms, further enhancing the smart home experience.

Future Developments and Industry Adoption

The new hands-free unlocking feature is part of a broader effort to integrate UWB into the smart home ecosystem. Apple is involved in developing Aliro, a universal standard for smart locks that will include UWB, BLE, and NFC. This standard aims to bring seamless hands-free unlocking to more smart home platforms, potentially benefiting users beyond just the Apple ecosystem.

While it may take some time for UWB-compatible locks to hit the market and for the industry to adopt this technology widely, the potential benefits are significant. The convenience and security offered by UWB could make it a standard feature in future smart locks, transforming how we interact with our homes.

Conclusion

Apple’s hands-free unlocking feature represents a significant step forward in smart home technology. Although current smart locks won’t support this feature, the promise of more reliable, secure, and convenient home access is worth the wait. As the smart home industry continues to innovate and adopt new technologies, we can look forward to a future where our homes are smarter and more responsive than ever.

Stay tuned to Kushal Bharat Tech News for more updates on smart home innovations and the latest in technology.