Kwikset’s new Matter-over-Thread smart lock costs under $200

Kwikset announced a value and merchandise day for its Aura Reach smart lock astatine CES 2026 this week. A much affordable Matter-over-Thread action compared to the fantabulous but costly Halo Select, the Aura Reach is disposable now for $189.

At conscionable nether $100 little than the Halo, you are sacrificing built-in Wi-Fi and an integrated doorway sensor that lets you cognize if the doorway is unfastened aliases closed. The full-replacement deadbolt fastener besides has a Grade 2 information standing compared to Grade 1 connected the Halo line, and a much utilitarian design.

While the Aura does activity pinch Apple Home done Matter, it doesn’t support Apple Home Key’s tap-to-unlock, which is disposable connected the Halo Select Plus. That exemplary costs a whopping $360, acknowledgment to the Apple tax.

However, the Aura does characteristic a touchscreen keypad pinch a built-in backlight that turns connected arsenic you approach, acknowledgment to a proximity sensor — a bully touch.

The Aura besides useful pinch Kwikset’s hands-free auto-unlock feature. This uses a operation of Bluetooth and geofencing to unlock arsenic you approach. Plus, you tin besides unlock it via Bluetooth utilizing Kwikset’s app.

While there’s nary Wi-Fi, because the fastener useful pinch Matter-over-Thread, you tin power it erstwhile you’re distant from location by connecting it to a Matter platform, specified arsenic Amazon Alexa, Google Home, aliases Apple Home. However, you will request a Thread Border Router — which could beryllium an Apple TV aliases an Echo smart speaker.

Kwikset says the Aura besides has a caller optional Signal Range Boost, which “doubles Matter web performance.” This could beryllium useful if your Thread separator router isn’t adjacent your beforehand door.

Finally, you tin besides conscionable usage a accepted key, and it supports Kwikset’s SmartKey Security, which lets you rekey the fastener yourself.