I have been converting my house into a "smart home" piece by piece, and getting this lock was the next step. I read countless reviews on different products, and decided on the August smart lock due to a few features that I really liked. I have only been using this for about 2 weeks, thus may end up updating in the future, however for now it has been working flawlessly.
1) It was EXTREMELY easy to install. I mean.....super easy. I feel like every time I install a smart device (switch/outlet) in my home, while it claims to be easy, there always seems to be something that doesn't go right for one reason or another, such that it takes some troubleshooting. You literally follow the instructions on the app, and bam it is installed. It took me just a few minutes. Without a doubt the easiest smart device installation I have ever had
2) The auto unlock feature was a big selling point for me. I am always coming into the house with my hands full, and inevitably have my keys in a pocket that is more difficult to get to etc. There were varying reviews on this feature, some saying it was faulty, some saying it was great. Thus far, it has worked every time. I will continue to monitor this feature going forward. Other reviews I have read made it seem like recent firmware updates increased this feature's reliability, so this very well could be the case
3) It works great with all of my smart devices. "Alexa goodnight" now not only turns off the lights, but locks the smart lock (the lock can auto lock on its own after the door is closed as well). The app is accessible from my apple watch too, which is nice. It is a very simple applet that has an option to lock and unlock the door, no other bells and whistles, which to me, if the auto unlock feature does malfunction, unlocking the door from my watch will take 2 seconds. To unlock the door with a smart home assistant device, you do have to say something like "Alexa tell August to unlock the door with PIN ####". This I guess seems like a pain, but I have yet to have a need to unlock the door while I am home with Alexa, thus not a problem in my opinion. No pin is required to lock the door.
4) The august Connect is such that you can control the lock away from home. I purchased the connect to make sure I had the best overall experience, however depending on how you plan on using the lock, it may not be 100% needed for you. I have yet needed to control the lock away from home, and I don't think I will control it away from home probably 99% of the time, however I imagine if and when the time comes it will be a good feature to have, however if you are looking to save money, you may not need the Connect.
5) The design is a bit cumbersome yet still has a cool streamline/minimalist look. You can unlock the door by hand by turning the lock itself, which is nice for any anti smart home people in your household. One other design aspect that I especially like, and why I was able to convince my wife to get the lock, was that the outside deadbolt doesn't change. Thus, you can still use a key to get inside if you want, and for those who might worry about smart lock security, no one outside your home has any idea that you have a smart lock on the inside, which I think is really cool.
Overall after a few weeks I would definitely recommend the lock to anyone. If things change I will make sure to update my review accordingly.
*12/4 UPDATE*
Thus far the lock has been working great. There have been 2 times that the auto unlock didn't perform fast enough, meaning I was standing at the door for about 15 seconds before it unlocked, but otherwise is really working as advertised. I am still very happy with this product, as it really seems like updates to the firmware have made this a much more reliable lock than previous reviews would indicate. I would highly recommend this product.
| Manufacturer | August Home Inc |
|---|---|
| Part Number | AUG-SL03-C02-S03 |
| Item Weight | 13.9 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 3.4 x 2.22 x 3.4 inches |
| Item model number | ASL-03, AC-R1 |
| Batteries | 4 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 100 |
| Color | Silver |
| Style | with Connect |
| Finish | Brushed |
| Material | Metal |
| Shape | Circle |
| Voltage | 1.5 Volts |
| Installation Method | Retrofit deadbolt lock |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number Of Pieces | 1 |
| Special Features | Keyless, Auto Lock |
| Included Components | August Smart Lock Pro, August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, DoorSense Sensor, 4 AA Batteries, Lock Adapter and Mounting Hardware |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | 1 year manufacturer |
