The Yale Smart Lock with Matter is set to be released tomorrow, June 24th, at a price of $189.99, reflecting a $20 increase since its announcement in March. According to Yale, the price hike can be attributed to tariff impacts. The lock will be available for purchase on Amazon and Yale’s official website.
Yale has emphasized that the new smart lock is designed for compatibility with Google Home and Matter, specifically tailored to integrate with Google Home’s Nest video doorbells. Its Matter-over-Thread connectivity allows it to operate seamlessly across various smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant.
During a briefing, Catelyn Herman, senior product manager at Yale, explained, “tariff costs and overall product costs led us to have to increase the price slightly.” The essential features of the lock remain unchanged from its initial announcement, coinciding with the discontinuation of the collaboration between Yale and Google on the previous model, the Nest x Yale lock.
The Yale Smart Lock with Matter is available in three colors: white, black, and gray, the latter set to launch in the fall. Boasting a 12-month battery life powered by four AA batteries, the lock benefits from Matter-over-Thread connectivity, which offers improved response times compared to traditional Wi-Fi or Bluetooth locks. This product joins a rising list of full-deadbolt replacement options utilizing the new protocol, alongside competitors such as Kwikset Halo Select, Level Lock Plus, Eufy E30, and others.
Users can engage with the lock through various means, including a backlit push-button keypad, traditional key access, and remote locking or unlocking via the Google Home app and other Matter-compatible apps. Voice control functionalities are supported using Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple’s Siri. Product manager Jesse Stroh from Google Home confirmed the new Matter locks can be unlocked using a voice PIN code with Google Assistant.
In contrast to its predecessor, the Nest x Yale lock, the new smart lock does not offer integration with security systems at the time of its launch. This is notable given both Yale and Google’s established partnership with security company ADT.
This new smart lock, unlike previous Yale models such as the Yale Assure 2 series, lacks an auto-unlock feature, though it does include an automatic locking capability. Additionally, it incorporates a keyway, a departure from the Nest x Yale lock’s design. Herman pointed out that research indicates consumers favor having both push-button and keyed options. While the backlit buttons are a welcome feature, it may be aesthetically preferable for the lock to have a sleeker design without a visible keyhole.
The Yale Smart Lock is versatile, compatible with all platforms supporting Matter, but has been optimized for use with Google Home. Stroh stated that the lock takes “full advantage of the Matter features Google Home supports.”
Current features include the ability to create and modify pin codes, including guest codes with specified schedules, along with viewing activity logs through the Home app, and receiving notifications for lock and unlock events. The integration with existing Google Nest doorbells allows users to view live feeds while controlling the lock.
From previous experiences using Matter-enabled locks with Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings, it’s expected that similar features will be available on those platforms as well. Although the lock is compatible with a range of systems, it is primarily tailored for Google Home users. There may be mixed feelings among those upgrading from the Nest x Yale lock, especially due to the lack of color options previously available, such as rubbed bronze or satin nickel, which may not blend seamlessly with existing hardware.
One significant advantage of the new Yale lock is the ability to set it up directly within the Google Home app, or any compatible Matter app, without necessitating the Yale app. However, it requires a Matter controller and Thread border router, with the Google Matter hub being necessary for integration in the Google Home application.
In the absence of these components, users can still control the lock via the Yale Home app over Bluetooth, a feature not found in Yale’s previous Matter-over-Thread model, the Assure SL. This option, however, is limited to when within range, as it lacks built-in Wi-Fi connectivity.
The lock can connect to Wi-Fi through the purchase of Yale’s $90 Wi-Fi Connect bridge. However, it may be more economical to consider other devices, such as the Google TV Streamer priced at $95, which offers Thread connectivity, functionality as a Google Home Matter hub, and serves as a streaming device. A review of the Yale Smart Lock is forthcoming.
