Let me begin by saying that I am a professional locksmith in the industry for 15 years. In that time I have installed nearly every type of smart lock you could imagine.
For many years I had the “industry” mentality that if it wasn’t made and designed by a well known brand within the industry… it wouldn’t perform to my rigid expectations. As a locksmith sometimes the customer will provide their own lock to be installed. So I’ve come across many brands that I’d never heard of. Yet the quality of the build seemed at par with the residential smart locks from those other well known brands… and as far as smart features… the customer would be excited to explain the great ways it would help them simplify their lives!
In my own home… I had installed a Schlage smart lock that worked on Zwave that I used for many many years. But I felt like it was time to upgrade. I also wanted to explore some of the great new features available. I knew that I wanted something that would work with HomeKit so that my 12 yr old autistic son could use his phone as a key. I wanted to try two devices and decide which one best suited my needs.
The two choices were the Aqara U400 and the Thorbolt X1. Both devices offered the home key compatibility I required… but Aqara included the new UWB compatibility that seemed very intriguing to me… and a perfect option for my son… if it works. Installation was simple for both devices (again professional locksmith) but setup was a bit more challenging on the Aqara device (issue with pairing to HomeKit through Aqara app. Responding unable to detect thread network) however…I was able to complete the pairing through the HomeKit app itself.
Now… as for functionality… the U400 outperformed the X1 in its spreed of response and more importantly… its throw was stronger and smoother than the X1 by far! As for the UWB compatibility I couldn’t be happier! It is a game changer! I may have wanted it to simplify my son’s life… but it has without a doubt helped me every single day since I’ve installed it! So… as a professional locksmith… my opinion is… BUY IT!!!
You’ll be so glad you did!
