Though the August smart lock has only been around for a year, it’s had to grow up quickly to stay in step with an expanding list of competitors. That includes Schlage’s Sense Deadbolt, which was the first door lock to be compatible with Apple’s HomeKit.
It’s therefore not a coincidence that on its one-year anniversary, August is announcing a whole new version of its lock, plus some additional products. The new smart lock works with HomeKit, so you’ll be able to ask Siri to unlock your door, as long as you’re in Bluetooth range. The company needed to include certain components to be compatible with Apple’s certification, but it also added a magnetic faceplate to help hold the lock in place, and an indicator showing whether the door is locked or unlocked.
The August doorbell cam and smart keypad are also new. Like Ring and SkyBell, the doorbell includes a one-way camera, so you can see who’s on the front porch. But once you’ve opened the app to see your dog walker there, you can grant her access to your home via the lock. They keypad lets you give her — or the plumber, your Airbnb guest, and so on — access codes, and also lets you leave your keys and phone at home when you’re out for a jog.
That’s three separate pieces of hardware for two tasks: seeing who’s at your door and letting them in. Westinghouse rolled everything into one, though admittedly its solution, the Nucli, is not as pretty as August’s. What’s a bit more unique is August Access, a service you can opt into if you want the company’s partners — like the delivery guy from Postmates or the plumber from Pro.com — to be able to easily access your home. It’s meant to be convenient, not creepy, and users are notified when the individual shows up at the house.
The new smart lock ($229), smart keypad ($79), and doorbell cam ($199) are all available for preorder now.
