Yale Launches New Matter-Over-Thread Smart Lock for Google Home

The Yale Smart Lock with Matter”>Yale Smart Lock is set to launch tomorrow, June 24th, at a price of $189.99, which is $20 more than its previous price when it was first announced in March”>was first introduced. According to Yale, the price increase is attributed to the impact of tariffs”>various cost factors. The lock will be available for purchase on Amazon”>Yale’s website and Yale’s website”>major retail platforms.

Yale’s new smart lock”>smart lock has been specifically designed for Google Home and is compatible with the Matter protocol. This design aims to enhance the user experience within the Google Home ecosystem, particularly with its Nest video doorbells”>smart home features. However, due to its Matter-over-Thread connectivity, the lock is also compatible with various other smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant.

In a recent briefing, Catelyn Herman, senior product manager at Yale, explained to The Verge that “tariff costs and overall product costs led us to have to increase the price slightly.” Despite the price change, all other features remain consistent with the initial announcement, which also included the discontinuation of Yale’s previous collaboration with the Next x Yale lock”>another company.

The new Yale Smart Lock is available in white, black, and will soon be offered in gray. It boasts a battery life of up to 12 months on four AA batteries, thanks to its Matter-over-Thread connectivity, which is expected to provide faster response times compared to traditional Wi-Fi or Bluetooth locks. This lock is part of a growing category of full-deadbolt replacement locks utilizing the Matter protocol, alongside products from Kwikset such as Halo Select”>Kwikset’s model, Level Lock Plus”>another model, Eufy E30″>yet another model, U-tec’s Matter lock”>and more.

Users can control the lock through various methods, including entering a code on its backlit push-button keypad or using a physical key. Additionally, the lock can be locked and unlocked remotely via the Google Home app, as well as through voice commands using Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple’s Siri. Jesse Stroh, product manager at Google Home and Nest, confirmed that users can now unlock Matter locks using a voice PIN code through Google Assistant.

Unlike the previous Nest x Yale lock, which could disarm Google’s Nest Secure security system”>security systems, the new Yale Smart Lock will not integrate with any security systems at launch. This decision is notable given the close relationship between Yale”>Yale and Google.

In contrast to Yale’s other locks, including the Yale Assure 2 line”>Yale model, the new Yale Smart Lock does not feature an auto-unlock function; it only includes an auto-lock feature. The lock also incorporates a keyway, which was absent in the Nest x Yale model. Herman noted that Yale’s research indicates that most users prefer a combination of push-button and keyed options. While the push-button design is appreciated, some users may find the keyhole detracts from the overall aesthetic.

The lock is compatible with any platform that supports Matter, but Stroh emphasized that it offers “best in class integration with the Google Home platform.” He mentioned that it can fully utilize the Matter features Google Home supports”>features of Google Home.

Current features include the ability to create and edit lock codes, including guest codes with specific schedules. Users can also monitor lock activity through the Home app’s activity feed and receive notifications for lock and unlock events. Stroh added that existing Google Nest doorbells will integrate with the lock, allowing users to control it while viewing a live feed from the doorbell.

Based on experiences with Matter-enabled locks in Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings, similar features should be available on those platforms as well. However, while the lock is designed to work with multiple platforms, it is primarily tailored for Google Home users. Those upgrading from the Nest x Yale lock may find the new design less appealing, as the white and gray colors may not match existing door hardware.

One advantage of the new lock is that it can be set up directly within the Google Home app (or other Matter apps) without the need for the Yale app. However, it does require a Matter-over-Thread device”>Matter hub, which must be a Google hub to utilize the lock within the Google Home app.

Without a Matter hub, users can still control the lock using the Yale Home app via Bluetooth, a feature not available in Yale’s previous Matter-over-Thread lock, the Yale Assure SL”>Yale model. However, this Bluetooth functionality is limited to when users are within range, as there is no built-in Wi-Fi capability.

The lock can operate over Wi-Fi with Yale’s $90 Wi-Fi Connect bridge”>additional hardware, but it is advisable not to purchase that solely for this lock. A more cost-effective solution would be to consider options like the Google TV Streamer”>alternative model priced at $95, which provides Thread connectivity, a Google Home Matter hub, and a good streaming box”>compatible device. A review of the Yale Smart Lock is forthcoming.