Eufy’s new smart lock may Matter to Apple Home users

Sep 18, 2024 01:18 AM - 4 months ago 149565

The latest smart fastener from Eufy is its first merchandise to support Matter. The Eufy Smart Lock E30 ($169.99) useful complete Thread, which should let for faster responsiveness, longer artillery life, and amended connectivity than locks that activity conscionable over Wi-Fi aliases Bluetooth.

The E30 is besides the first smart fastener from Anker’s smart location limb that useful pinch Apple Home, though Home Key is not supported. While Eufy offers a handful of older information cameras pinch HomeKit compatibility, it hasn’t released a caller Apple Home merchandise for years.

The E30 tin usage a accepted cardinal but besides has a fingerprint scholar for biometric entree and a keypad for keycode access. It tin beryllium controlled done the Eufy app complete built-in Wi-Fi, including out-of-home control, and pinch immoderate Matter-compatible app, specified arsenic Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, aliases Samsung SmartThings, via Thread.

Using an app allows for location automation, including mounting schedules, adding the fastener to routines, and controlling it via a sound assistant.

The Eufy E30 is the first Matter-over-Thread smart fastener you tin bargain that has a fingerprint reader.

Image: Eufy

To usage the E30 successful a smart location level via Thread, you’ll request a Matter controller from that level and a Thread separator router. These tin beryllium the aforesaid device, specified arsenic an Apple HomePod aliases a Google Home Nest Hub, aliases separate, specified arsenic an Amazon Alexa Echo Dot and an Eero mesh Wi-Fi router.

We’ve seen very fewer smart locks pinch Thread and only a fistful of Matter-over-Thread locks.

As a low-power, mesh-networking protocol, Thread makes a batch of consciousness for a doorway lock. Door locks are located astatine the edges of your location wherever Wi-Fi whitethorn beryllium anemic and are battery-powered. Using a little power-hungry protocol than Wi-Fi should support them moving for longer betwixt artillery swaps.

But we’ve seen very fewer locks pinch Thread. Schlage has one, but it doesn't support Matter, and truthful far, location are only a fistful of Matter-over-Thread locks, including the retrofit Aqara U200, the Yale Assure Lock SL, and the Nuki (Europe only). U-Tec announced 1 astatine CES but it isn’t disposable yet, and while Level said its locks will beryllium upgraded to support Thread and Matter, we’re still waiting connected that.

The E30 useful pinch 8 AA batteries, which the institution claims will supply up to 8 months of artillery life. According to listings connected the Thread Group website, Eufy is besides processing a type with a rechargeable Lithium battery.

I’m looking guardant to testing this fastener arsenic it’s 1 of the first fully-featured, full-replacement smart locks pinch Matter and Thread support. Eufy was not connected my database of the companies I thought would merchandise a fastener pinch these capabilities, but I’ve tested a fewer of its locks and been mostly impressed by their function, if not truthful enamored of the form.