I tested Apple’s hands-free Home Key — and it’s a big upgrade
The Verge••general
Key Points:
- Aqara has launched the U400 smart deadbolt lock ($269.99) at CES, the first to support Apple’s Home Key hands-free unlocking using the U1 ultra-wideband (UWB) chip in iPhones and Apple Watches, enabling automatic door unlocking as users approach without physical interaction.
- The U400 uses Bluetooth and UWB to establish a direct connection with Apple devices, requiring no app and delivering consistent, reliable unlocking performance, unlike many existing Bluetooth or Wi-Fi based smart locks.
- Compatible with iPhone 11 and later (excluding some models) and Apple Watch Series 6 and later, the U400 also supports the upcoming Aliro universal smart lock standard, which will extend UWB and NFC unlocking to Android devices like
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