The Halo Select is Kwikset's first new smart lock in five years, and its new features, updated design, and creative approach to connectivity could make the long wait worth it.
The Halo Selection It is a redesign of the company from scratch halo line and his first lock to support Matter. It runs on the new standard via the Thread mesh networking protocol and, interestingly, has the option to bypass Matter and use Wi-Fi.
“You have Wi-Fi, which is what most customers want today, but it's also future-proofed with Matter and Thread.”
It's a smart move by Kwikset. Smart locks have limited features on Matter today, but the standard offers greater interoperability and Thread promises better battery life (a key feature in a motorized lock). Buy this lock today and enjoy all the great smart lock features over Wi-Fi now, then switch to Matter later when (or if) you get better.
“This lock was a long time coming,” said Charles Dougherty, Kwikset product manager. The edge in an interview. “We didn't rush this lock just to be first to market; We are taking our time and believe this is the right time based on the way the market has developed. “It has Wi-Fi, which is what most customers want today, but it is also future-proofed with Matter and Thread.”
Interestingly, whichever option you choose for locking (Wi-Fi or Matter-over-Thread (you can't do both simultaneously), you need to start in the Kwikset app and at least initially connect to Wi-Fi.
“We chose this because with the limitations of cross-ecosystem features (in Matter) right now, you could have a bad experience, and we've chosen to make converting to Matter part of our app flow, allowing us to educate the user. customer,” Dougherty explained.
He showed me a demo of the Matter setup steps and it was the clearest and easiest process I've seen for a Matter smart lock, and I've tried almost all of them. Crucially, Dougherty says you can switch between options if you find that one doesn't work as you'd like.
This is a smart approach, at least for now, while the standard is updated. One of Matter's biggest frustrations for users so far has been the loss of some features, even while gaining things like local control and less latency.
The Kwikset Halo Select will be available in mid-November for $279. It is a full deadbolt replacement lock that uses a touch screen keypad and traditional key for physical access; There is no fingerprint reader or NFC for Apple Home Key.
Its overall design is slimmer and sleeker than Kwikset's previous Halo locks, and there's now a nifty new status icon on the touchscreen that shows whether the door is unlocked when you approach it.
Kwikset says it has also improved the motor to make it more powerful and quieter than its previous locks, and the Halo Select meets the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association's (BHMA) superior standards. AAA Certification for physical safety. Powered by four AA alkaline batteries or one rechargeable lithium-ion battery (which must be purchased separately).
As mentioned, Halo Select has built-in Wi-Fi and Thread connectivity, giving you the option to choose protocols and platform compatibility. If you set it up over Wi-Fi, you can use it without an additional hub and lock and unlock it remotely using the Kwikset app. Will also work with Kwikset's new automatic distance unlocking featurewhich launched this summer, to unlock the door “hands-free” when you get home.
Other features of the Kwikset app include creating codes for friends, family and temporary visitors, scheduling the lock, setting up an automatic lock, and receiving alerts when the door is left ajar, detected by the company's new slim magnetic door sensor.
Connecting the lock to a smart home platform like amazon Alexa or Google Home also adds voice control and the option to use the lock in smart home routines. Kwikset says the Halo Select should get six months of battery life with Wi-Fi using AA batteries and up to nine months if you buy its new lithium-ion battery pack. This is the first lock I've seen that can use both power options.
If you opt for Matter-over-Thread connectivity, you won't be able to use the Kwikset app to control the lock, but you can use any Matter-compatible platform, including Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings, amazon Alexa, and Google Home. You will need a Matter controller and a Thread edge router.
Of course, the Matter standard can also work over Wi-Fi, but the benefits of Thread are particularly attractive for devices like smart locks. Thread connectivity should significantly improve battery life: “over 12 months,” says Dougherty. The protocol also offers a local mesh network, which should improve response times and help ensure your lock stays connected, even if Wi-Fi goes out.
However, when using Thread, you will lose access to most of the features of the Kwikset app. This includes password creation, automatic locking, and door ajar alerts. Instead, you should rely on the capabilities offered by the platforms you choose. Nowadays, these are largely limited to locking and unlocking. Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings also let you set up passcodes for door locks in their apps, but amazon and Google don't.
“We've been as vocal as we can encouraging ecosystems to support features, giving them our input on priorities in the category,” Dougherty said. “We have had some influence here, so we hope they will receive support in the near future.”
Along with the launch of the Halo Select, Kwikset teased an NFC-enabled lock, the Halo Select Plus, arriving in early 2025. While the company didn't share any further details, with NFC on board, it could be compatible with Apple's faucet. Home. -to unlock the Home Key function.
The lock will most likely be compatible with Aliro, a new open standard designed to make smart locks compatible with any smartphone or smartwatch that can be unlocked with a touch. Both Apple and Samsung are helping develop the standard and have announced that their phones will support Aliro next year. Kwikset's parent company, Assa Abloy, is “very involved” in Aliro, Dougherty said.
