- What's up guys, today we're gonna
check out the Smart Lock from Vocolinc.
Which happens to be the cheapest smart lock on the market
that's available for Apple's HomeKit.
It came out a few years ago,
but we're gonna discuss if this is still worth it in 2020.
Let's check it out.
(whoosh)
Welcome back friends.
If this is your first time here, my name is Eric.
If you're into smart home, home automation,
and especially HomeKit, you're definitely here
in the right place.
For full disclosure, Vocolinc did send this to me
for a full, honest review,
but if I don't like something,
I'm definitely gonna let you know.
I'm also gonna be leaving affiliate links down below
and a link to my full pros and cons list on my website,
so if you wanna get more information
or update as I continue using this product,
definitely check out that link down below.
Some clarification, this will only work
with Apple's HomeKit, it will not work
with Lady A or Google even though
there is a logo for the Google Play Store.
There is a Vocolinc app, or they call it Linkwise,
but, unfortunately the lock does not show up in the app.
I actually have an android phone,
put the Vocolinc app on it, it does not show up.
However, Vocolinc's other products,
like their light strips and plugs,
all work with Lady A and Google Home,
but unfortunately, the lock does not.
Now, like I mentioned,
this lock came out a few years ago.
In my research, it actually
was released in September of 2018,
so this lock is not even two years old,
I think it's like a year and a half.
Back then, there was probably maybe
a hundred different smart locks on the market,
but since then, the market has been flooded
and there's probably thousands.
Now, of course, most of those locks
won't work with Apple's HomeKit.
I checked at the list, and there's only a handful,
maybe 15 to 20 current locks on the market
that are enabled with Apple's HomeKit,
and Vocolinc is currently the cheapest one.
So let's go ahead and jump into the box
and see what you get for your money.
Now this smart lock is a entire set
which means that you will be replacing the current deadbolt
that's on your door and the key.
It comes in two different colors,
one is a satin nickel, which you see here,
and then they also have a black bronze option.
On the other side of your door
will be the interior assembly, which is all black plastic.
It does have the mounting hardware,
which is metal, and all the gears
and the motor was all metal.
Now, all the other hardware,
like the deadbolt latch, the screws,
are all included for you.
You will need a Phillips screwdriver,
some tape, and four double A batteries.
When you get to installation, it's pretty straightforward,
I'm not gonna bore you with that information here,
but it's just like any other smart lock.
I did have to cut out the hole for my door
just because it wasn't fully cut out,
but that was no issue.
I didn't have a hole saw so I just
did it with a jigsaw and it came out fine.
Go ahead and install the batteries,
download the app, and get it installed,
which is fairly easy, just scan the QR Code
and it'll walk you right through the process
just like any other HomeKit lock.
Now this lock can be locked and unlocked
multiple ways, just like other smart locks.
You can use the app, which is the Linkwise app,
you can use the HomeKit app, you can also use Siri,
you can use a key, and, of course,
you can use the keypad.
Now, this is just a normal keypad,
there's no random numbers, but I do see
over time that you might get some wear and tear
on the keypad, so you just wanna
maybe change the code every once in a while
just so you're not keep
hitting the same numbers over and over.
There's not a lot of features
in the Linkwise app for this lock.
Of course, you get to lock it, unlock it,
you can set up users, you can set up multiple passwords,
you can set up a timeframe for
those people to come and use it, up to 30 users.
Now, when it came to automations, though,
there's only one automation,
and that is a auto lock feature,
where if you unlock it,
whatever time frame you set, it will auto lock.
So if you set it for 30 seconds,
no matter where it is, it's gonna lock.
So even if the door is open, it's gonna lock.
Now, I see that as an inconvenience to most people
'cause if you walk outside and you shut the door
and you forget your key, guess what?
That is gonna still lock at 30 seconds,
and now you're locked out,
so if you do put that feature on,
just make sure you do have a backup plan
to get into your house.
Now, all the other automations
are gonna be in the Home app,
and it's just like setting up any other automation.
The most useful one, I think, is gonna be
a auto unlock or auto lock, but unfortunately
when you're dealing with locks
with Apple's HomeKit, it's not automatic.
It will prompt you, but unfortunately,
you still have to press it on your phone
for that automation to work.
So even though you can set it up,
you still have to do a little bit of work.
But setting up with other automations
within the House, no problem whatsoever.
For instance, if you want a light to turn on
when you unlock it, that's easy to do.
As with all smart locks, sometimes they will jam.
You do wanna make sure the lock does move freely
and it can go into the deadbolt no issue
when the door is shut, but from time to time,
you still are gonna get a door jam
just because the door wasn't shut all the way.
Unfortunately, no matter which way I tried
to help lock the lock,
I was never notified of a jammed lock.
You actually can look at the app,
both the Vocolinc app or Linkwise app
and the HomeKit, and it will tell you it's jammed,
but unfortunately, you don't get a notification,
so if you use Siri or you're not looking at the lock,
or not looking at the screen,
you're not gonna know that it's jammed.
It does beep, but I do wish
it would constantly beep until
someone comes and unlocks the door.
Now, you can use this with just your phone
if you want to, but I do highly suggest that you
use this with a Apple HomeKit hub,
which can be a fourth generation Apple TV,
it can be a HomePod, or a iPad.
And if you do use a HomeKit hub,
that'll allow you to use the lock
even if you're not home.
So if you're at the office and someone
comes knocking at the door and you wanna let them in,
you can definitely do so.
Now, unfortunately, this lock is Bluetooth,
and Bluetooth is notorious for a very limited range,
so you wanna make sure that HomeKit Hub is nearby.
They say it works best within 20 feet,
but this lock that I'm using right now
is actually around 30 to 40 feet
and I've been using it for a while
and it's actually doing pretty well.
It is almost line of sight,
it goes through one door,
but, otherwise, no problems whatsoever
at that 30 to 40 foot range, but I think
that is just pushing it.
'Course this lock doesn't have
all the bells and whistles of a more expensive lock,
but if you want something basic and useful,
works with HomeKit, works with Siri,
and it saves you a little bit of money,
definitely check out the Vocolinc Smart Lock
which is definitely worth it still in 2020.
If you guys wanna see the video in my HomeKit series,
click that video right there, and if you're brand new here,
I hope you will consider subscribing
by pressing that blue circle.
For more smart home and HomeKit product reviews
right here on Modern_Day_Tech.
Thanks for watchin'.