Aqara’s U50 smart lock supports Matter and Home Key, but has no fingerprint reader
While the early-backer release of Aqara’s U200 smart lock has been fraught with delays, the company recently launched a new entry-level smart lock for homeowners on a budget. The Aqara U50 is a Matter-compatible smart lock that works with Apple Home Key via HomeKit that costs under $150. Or, less verbosely, a bargain-priced version of last year's smart lock U100.
During its debut at CES 2023, the U100 earned the place of the most affordable Apple Home Key lock and was one of the first to support Matter. For a budget lock going for $189.99 on Amazon, the U100 delivers a good range of unlocking options including passcodes, a fingerprint sensor, NFC key cards, Apple Home Key, as well as a physical key. These features are mirrored by the U50 smart lock albeit with the crucial exception of biometric access. To sweeten the pot, Aqara lets you re-key the U50 smart lock so you can continue using your existing 5-pin key – a feature lacking in its pricier sibling.
Currently, all major smart home platforms – Google Home, SmartThings, Alexa, and of course HomeKit, – support locks via Matter, so you can also use voice assistants to remotely unlock your door. That's certainly not something commonly observed at this price point for a smart lock, courtesy of Bluetooth and ZigBee 3.0.
Matter-compatibility also implies the U50 smart lock works well with other smart home gadgets within the Aqara ecosystem such as the Video Doorbell G4. It also works seamlessly with other Matter-compatible smart home gadgets as long as an Aqara bridge is available. And if the hub goes offline, the U50 lets you use temporary one-time/periodic passwords to grant access, as long as it has power. Aqara claims the U50 should have a battery life of up to six months, but on merely two pairs of 1.5V AA batteries, this is likely an over-optimistic result. Battery replacements are relatively easy however.
While the Aqara U50 smart lock might not be the ideal upgrade for homeowners who already have a smart lock U100, it certainly has its appeal for those on a budget who may be setting up a smart home for the first time.
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