Back in January, at CES 2024, Aqara took the covers off of a range of new native Matter devices, including the Smart Lock U300, which is now available to buy.
A Matter-over-Thread smart lock that features a multitude of unlocking options, the U300 is a lever-lock sibling to the U200, which went on sale earlier this year.
The U-tec Ultraloq stole a march by being the first first Matter-over-Thread smart lock to feature a fingerprint reader when it was announced at the turn of the year, but the U300 and U200 are now part of that club too, and they all support Apple’s Home Key feature too.
That means you can store a digital key in your Apple Wallet and unlock your door with either a tap of your iPhone or Apple Watch. Plus, with Apple’s Power Reserve feature, you can even open your door up to five hours after your phone or watch has run out of battery.
The U300 is also a native Matter smart home device, using Matter-over-Thread to connect to any Matter controller, such as an Echo Hub or Show 8, Apple TV or a Homey Pro; you don’t actually need to use a Matter Aqara hub, such as the Hub M3, or the Aqara smart home system, but if you do you’ll get the full range of features.
That full set includes a high-precision fingerprint reader (with local local and encrypted storage), shareable pin codes, night latch mode, passage mode and NFC key cards, as well as granting guests access through the app.
It’s designed to replace traditional US lever or knob on single-bore doors.
The Aqara Smart Lock U300 is rated IPX4, and it features a weather-resistant design, so can withstand temperatures ranging from -22°F to 131°F.
Battery life is an impressive 10 months from 4 regular AAs.
It comes in silver or black, although it’s only the black available at launch but we’re assured the silver will land before Christmas.
The Smart Lock U300 costs $230 and is available right now via Aqara’s Amazon storefront.
