August Wi-Fi Smart Lock vs. Yale Assure Lock SL: Which should you buy?

Right off the bat, you is likely to be a bit confused if you’re trying to purchase a Yale Assure SL. Which model do you get? Yale sells a model that works solely with Apple HomeKit, one which works with Z-Wave, and one other that works with Zigbee. However, the Coup de grâce to all that craziness is the Connected by August model, which packs in a lot of nice once-exclusive August tech and eschews proprietary connection protocols for good old style Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. That makes it an ideal comparability to the brand new August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, which has almost an identical options however caters to very completely different wants.

Touchscreen vs touching your display

Source: Yale

Design-wise, it is clear these are two merchandise with two completely different foundations. August goals to make the sensible lock much less intrusive by including sensible options to your current deadbolt, whereas Yale desires that outdated deadbolt changed fully. This is most evidenced by the smooth touchscreen quantity pad that adorns the entrance of the door that the Yale Assure SL is put in onto. So, proper from the get-go, you’ve bought an enormous choice to make: do you need it to be apparent that your private home is wise and fashionable or would you reasonably have a low-key look?

Aesthetics are only one piece of the puzzle that you’ll must establish earlier than shopping for right here, although. If you haven’t got your telephone with you or are unable to in any other case unlock the door just about, what kind of backup answer would you favor? Both locks assist digital keys inside the August app, which you can use your self to lock or unlock the door remotely and even assign short-term visitor keys.

The distinction right here is that the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock requires a bodily key or telephone in an effort to unlock the door, whereas Yale requires a 4-Eight digit PIN or a telephone to unlock it. That bodily key’s by far the most important distinction, as it’d convey peace of thoughts to some people whereas others shall be joyful to by no means need to take care of bodily keys once more. Both locks additionally assist August’s proximity unlocking characteristic, which locks and unlocks your door robotically when you’re inside vary.

In addition to automated proximity locking and unlocking, each of those locks characteristic August DoorSense, which helps the lock to grasp whether or not or not the door is definitely totally closed earlier than locking. That means you can pull up the August app, irrespective of the place you are, and see that the door is each locked and closed.

A story of two apps

Source: Nick Sutrich / Android Central

Depending on the model of the Yale Assure SL that you buy, you’ll both be utilizing August’s highly-rated app, or Yale’s personal Yale Secure app. In the case of Yale’s personal apps, Yale’s software program does not fairly match up with their {hardware} high quality. If you’re in search of a particular sort of connectivity, whether or not it is iM1 (HomeKit), Zigbee, or Z-Wave, Yale’s choices appear to depart a bit to be desired. It’s because of this that it is best for most people to decide on the Yale Assure SL with the Connected by August module, which is able to connect with your Yale Assure SL lock regionally and get it linked to the Internet.

Regardless of which kind of Yale Assure SL lock that you select, all of them require some form of exterior bridge to connect with the Internet and the next app. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock builds Wi-Fi and Bluetooth proper into the tiny lock, which implies you do not ever need to take care of an exterior bridge.

Simplicity is king

Source: August

Both the Connected by August Yale Assure SL and the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock assist full integration along with your favourite digital assistant. Both make the most of the August app and have many of the similar sensible options, together with DoorSense and distant unlocking. However, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, in the long run, is simply a neater product to decide on, set up, and use. There’s one SKU, one set of options, and one app to make use of.

On prime of this, it’s very renter-safe since you do not need to take away any current door {hardware}, and you may even get a keypad if you completely hate counting on keys. You’ll even hold that exterior key for backup functions, or simply to maintain your landlord joyful. It’s additionally $50 cheaper, and who does not like that?