I finally found the perfect lock. I never leave reviews but I was so frustrated in my search for the perfect lock and so happy with what I found, I thought I would recount my saga to help anyone in my same position. I am an iPhone/iPad guy that likes to use Google Home wherever possible. It is a little tough to manage integration with Siri and Google Assistant but I mostly have it licked - except for the lock which had been the bane of my existence.
I started with the Yale Nest lock. Should work great with google, right? It does, except google can only lock the door, not unlock it. I understand why for security purposes, but it defeated the purpose I was looking for - not having to use a key OR the keypad when my hands were full. I wanted quick and easy entry. I was going to set up a simple Siri shortcut so I could tell my Apple Watch to unlock the door, and it would tell Google. No dice. Strike one.
I next tried the Sledge Sense. It says it works with Google Assistant and Siri. I knew going in that Google would not unlock this door either, but I read that Siri would. I figured I could make this work. I’ll leave all my google routines for inside the home (lock doors before bed, lock doors for when I am about to leave, etc.) and then just use a Siri routine for returning home (unlock door and disarm security system). Strike 2. First, the Sense does work with Google and HomeKit, but not at the same time. You have to choose one or the other. So no double routines. Still figured I could just cut the locking out of my Google routines by making it auto lock and then run it just on HomeKit to unlock with Siri. This kind of worked, but your iPhone has to be unlocked in order for Siri to unlock the door. This means that you cannot use Siri to unlock the door with your Apple Watch while the phone is in your pocket. So still not accomplishing the easy entry I was looking for.
I was tired of spending money on locks that didn’t do what I wanted and about to give up when I decided I would give this one a try. And I struck gold. First of all, it works with Siri and Google, though I didn’t even bother to set it up with Siri because of the geofencing discussed below. Second, Google actually CAN lock AND unlock this one, unlike the other 2. You do have to speak your code Google to unlock which still makes quick entry awkward, but at least you can use google to unlock the door for a visitor if you are in another room of the house. But the best part is you don’t need to rely on Google OR Siri to unlock the door for yourself when coming home. Just set up geofencing with the Bluetooth on your iPhone, and it will unlock automatically when you get close.
This has everything I was looking for in a lock. It seems to be well built and was easy to set up and get running. It still has a few little quirks that are annoying but not fatal. My only real complaint is how you wake up the keypad if you want to do a manual code entry. You would think you would press the home icon on the top but you would be wrong. You might also hope that you could touch anywhere on the screen to wake it up, but that’s not it either. Instead, you have to press on the bottom left hand side of the screen where the check mark would be (except you can’t see the check mark at that point because the screen is asleep). This is not a big deal at all once you get used to it, but I could see this being very confusing if I have a guest coming to my house and I just give them the code to punch in for the door. I’m sure I will be getting a few calls that the keypad “doesn’t work." I wish they would fix this. Also, I don’t think you can manage pin codes from the app. It appears you have to do this from the keypad. I might be wrong as I haven’t looked into this very much yet, but if you are someone who manages a lot of key codes (Airbnb), you need to look into this and this may not be the lock for you.
Otherwise, I am so very thankful that I took a chance on this lock. It is everything I was looking for and more. I am buying 2 more for my other doors!
| Brand | Yale |
|---|---|
| Special Feature | Alcohol-Free |
| Lock Type | Keypad |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 6 x 6 x 14 inches |
| Material | Nickel |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Door |
| Style | Key-Free Touchscreen |
| Color | Satin Nickel |
| Number of Pieces | 1 |
| Finish Type | Bronze |
| Included Components | Yale Assure Lock SL, Yale Wi-Fi Module, August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, August DoorSense, Deadbolt, Strike Plate, Mounting Hardware, Installation Manual |
| Controller Type | Amazon Echo, Vera, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, SmartThings |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Item Weight | 3 Pounds |
| Control Method | Voice |
| Connectivity Protocol | Z-Wave |
| Manufacturer | Yale - Delivery Box |
| Part Number | YRD256-CBA-619 |
| Item Weight | 3 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 6 x 6 x 14 inches |
| Item model number | YRD256-CBA-619 |
| Batteries | 4 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Size | Key-Free Touchscreen |
| Finish | Bronze |
| Pattern | Lock Only |
| Power Source | Battery |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Head Style | Lock Only |
| Display Style | Touchscreen |
| Special Features | Alcohol-Free |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | Lifetime limited warranty on Finish and Mechanical. One year on Electronics |
