Before I ever heard of Lockly, we had reviewed a number of door locks, and even had a video doorbell shootout a couple of years ago. A neighbor installed one of the other Lockly door lock models. I was impressed with its fingerprint scanning capability. We had never reviewed a lock with this feature. I don’t know if Lockly was first, as today a couple of the big name brands have a model or two with fingerprint. But, I believe it is Lockly that has pushed that capability to us end users, as a better solution.
like the idea of integrating everything into a single product. Of course, there’s likely to be a feature or two that you can’t find on a combination unit like this Lockly model, that might show up on individual video doorbells or door locks, but, not having “every” feature, is typical for multi-function devices.
This Video DoorBell Review – Background: I just replaced a very small I replaced my front door lock every year or two, to do my next review. In this case so I can review the Lockly Vision Elite – their flagship device. It was time. My last lock was the Kwikset Obsidian, which only had a keypad to open it – no backup key, etc.
My problem with that older lock, is “old tech”. I switched almost two years ago to the Eero 6 Pro Wi-Fi router system – reviewed here, they do mesh Wi-Fi between the 3 Eeros, to cover larger areas.
Like virtually all smart locks, until just a few years ago, my Kwikset relied on Z-wave technology, which was the dominant communications solution for security. But more and more locks and other security devices are going to Wi-Fi and or Bluetooth. In other words, without router Z-Wave compatibility (think SmartThings – Samsung), my old Smart Lock wasn’t very smart at all. It was basically reduced to being a Keypad lock where you could have multiple codes for different people. It was complemented by a Ring Doorbell. This Lockly easily replaces both!
One issue that comes with combining multiple products in one, is that you are likely to be able to find that using multiple devices instead, gives you a bit more flexibility than a single device.
The tradeoff, of course, a single unit is “simpler” to install, and probably to use, and usually less money than multiple devices to do the same job.
For example, if you wanted 4K video, that’s out there, but in a door lock? or just a stand alone video doorbell (like my Ring). Compatibility with other “integrated” solutions, such as Amazon/Ring, or Google/Nest, or Apple Siri/HomeKit, are limited, but, most folks just want the lock, doorbell, and video. Most of the rest – is often nice, but not needed.
Since the Lockly Vision Elite, relies on Wifi, and a browser, or their App to view what the doorbell sees, it is very capable, but these are a few things it can not do.
- No Apple Homekit support – thus no Siri control, although the Lockly website says they are working on adding that technology, but, I suspect that it won’t be on current products just forthcoming ones. I have no good data on that, but “adding homekit” support to smart lights, etc., usually ends up in the next generation product.
- No optional remote doorbell at this time. (Note, the built in doorbell carries my one story home, but can’t be heard in the master bedroom at the far end, if the bedroom door is closed.
- In fairness, that doorbell button being pressed on the lock will of course notify you on your phone, etc.
- Amazon Echo Show (I own and reviewed one) – basically not very compatible with the Show because the Show doesn’t offer an easily accessible web browser, out of the box. If there was just browser support by Lockly, then if you wanted to be able to see who’s at the door, with a Show etc., you would be able to get Amazon’s SILK browser from their App store. But Lockly will need to provide browser support for that not very successful browser. Probably not likely! Of course, there are plenty of alternative solutions, to the Show, nanny cams, web cams, iPads etc.
- I find the auto record function based on movement to be a bit slow starting. A neighbor (the same one that owns a Lockly video doorbell), likes to drop off our Amazon packages, and head right down the stairs across from our door. He drops them off so quickly, that by the time the motion sensor starts the video, he’s usually out of view, with that door sometimes still closing. It seems to take a couple of seconds, quicker would be better. Still it’s no problem 98% of the time. I think he intentionally tries to beat the door lock’s video. Now if he presses the doorbell, th3e video loads very quickly on the app.
Of course, anytime you try to build a product that replaces multiple products, it’s likely that you end up with one with less features in some areas, then a dedicated product would have.
On the Plus side, though – it’s an all-in-one product, and despite some limitations consider the advantages:
- One Lockly product instead of two (or more) others
- No cost recording of activity, vs monthly subscriptions – putting in a 32Gig TF card into the Lockly will provide up to 91 hours of recording (resolution dependent of course)
- For comparison, Ring charges $39.99 a year for its most basic
- Has built in doorbell, with the “bell” located in the lock on the inside of the door, easy to hear through most of our 2500 sq ft home
- And, of course, can be unlocked/locked using fingerprint, code, key, and digital passkey!
- App can control several units, so will have appeal to small Airbnb owners, but not those with many locations. Those folks need a full Matisse Lock App, that can control a great many locks.
