Credit where it’s due: I’d like to thank Aqara for considering the UK market and bringing a focused product like this to us. Before the U200, the UK door lock market was fairly poor if you wanted HomeKit support, and the U600 really builds on that and gives us a great option.
Design
Aesthetically, the U600 is very nice. My door is black, so it suits it well, but I’m not sure I’d like the black model on a standard white uPVC door. A white or silver version would be welcome.
Installation/Setup
I found the installation process to be straightforward, and I believe almost everybody would not need to modify their door at all. I did have to slightly sand a pre-drilled hole to make room for the spindle area of the lock, as the hole in my door was very slightly too small. Other than that, installation was relatively easy.
I was confused at first by how the lock works. When I first installed everything, I thought the handle was faulty because the outside handle was loose and had no weight to it, while the inside handle worked as expected. Admittedly, this was my error in understanding the lock: the loose outside handle is intended behaviour when the lock hasn’t been unlocked.
Adding the U600 to Apple Home was frustrating, as is usually the case with my Aqara products. I had to try several times before it finally connected to HomeKit. Perhaps I’m in the minority, but adding Aqara products to Apple Home never seems to go smoothly for me, and it’s something I’d like to see addressed if it’s a common problem.
Daily use
Operation is seamless. It’s truly impressive how much of an improvement this is over the U200 I’d been using beforehand. It’s much faster and much quieter, and the overall feel of the lock is a step up. Lift to lock feels great, and everybody in the house agrees it’s a huge improvement.
Issues
My unit arrived with some cosmetic damage: a fairly sizeable area of paint stripped off and some scratch marks on the left side of one of the door handles. I contacted Aqara support, and they suggested it may have been caused by the antenna connector pressing against that part of the lock during shipping. After that, support didn’t address it any further.
A smaller issue: Apple Home doesn’t seem to record unlock events when the door is opened with the inside handle. Locking and unlocking events from the outside are recorded fine.
Security/Insurance
I’d seen mentions on Reddit of Kitemark certification and wasn’t sure whether my house still met insurance requirements with this lock fitted. Aqara’s product manager has since confirmed that the U600 doesn’t currently hold BSI Kitemark certification. It has been tested to EN 16867, and Aqara says it’s talking to BSI about further certification. Because fitting the U600 means replacing your existing handles and cylinder, I’d recommend checking with your insurer before installing it, and getting their answer in writing if you can. Kitemark certification in the future would make this an easy recommendation for many more UK households.
Closing Thoughts
Not including UWB is a big miss in my opinion. It would have really rounded off this product, and I think plenty of other users feel the same. However, despite a few niggles, I think that the U600 is a big step up from the U200 and the best HomeKit lock option I’ve seen for UK multipoint doors. Well done, Aqara and thanks for selecting me to demo the U600 - I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity.
