Nuki is back and now it comes with a new generation of smart locks with which to improve the present. We already knew these smart locks from the brand, and despite the fact that they offered magnificent performance, the brand wanted to improve certain aspects to offer a much more rounded product. But how?
What does the new Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 offer?
The use of a smart lock offers many advantages, and the possibility of being able to leave the house without keys It is basically what completely defines these intelligent systems. With the Nuki Smart Lock we could already verify that the device worked really well, and although there were some details that we thought could be improved, the user experience was really good.
But there was room for improvement, and that is exactly what they propose to us with the new Smart lock 3.0, an improved device that focuses its novelties on the incorporation of a new, more powerful and silent motor that changes the operation of the lock quite a bit.
In our case, the previous generation of the Nuki Smart Lock produced a lot of noise when opening the lock, and although it was perfectly bearable, it was clear that if it made less noise it would be much better. Well, that's what happens with the new model, since the action of opening and closing the lock produces much less noise, being a softer action that doesn't bother as much (especially when you have to leave home very early).
Has the door been opened?
Until now, Nuki locks made use of a small magnet attached to the door that served to control the status of the door. If it was open, the Smart Lock knew at all times that it should not block the lock, however, the use of the magnet on armored and metallic doors produced some calibration problems.
In order to offer better performance, the brand has launched the Door Sensor (in the image above), which is nothing more than a proximity sensor with Bluetooth connectivity that is responsible for communicating the exact status of the door to the lock. The result is perfect aperture control, which greatly improves the use of the previous magnet.
Unfortunately this Door Sensor is only compatible with the Nuki SmartLock 3.0, so it is an exclusive function of the new generation.
now in two versions
Another novelty that comes with the new model is that users can choose between two different versions. We will have the Smart Lock 3.0 and the Smart Lock 3.0 Pro (model that we have been able to test). The differences between the two is that the Pro model includes integrated WiFi and the Nuki PowerPack (battery with USB port for charging instead of AA batteries).
These differences make the Pro model the perfect version for those who want to have remote control of the lock if they need to be at home, since, having WiFi connectivity, the lock will connect to our router to have internet and be visible from outside.
This is not to say that the basic Smart Lock 3.0 can't do the same. In that case we will have to acquire the Nuki Bridge (99 euros) as was the case with the Nuki Smart Lock 2.0. With the bridge we will also enjoy remote access and compatibility with Alexa and the Google assistant. So what's the difference between Smart Lock 2.0 and 3.0? Well, as we mentioned before, the difference will be in the new engine, which is much quieter and more powerful.
Is the Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 worth it?
After enjoying the Nuki smart lock for a year, this new model has basically offered us a much quieter operation. The ecosystem remains the same, and its operation too, so if you have a previous model, you may not notice a big change. It's better, but not as a complete replacement.
In case you are looking for a smart lock, we do not see another more complete and efficient proposal than this one. It is true that the application still does not convince us with its menus and interface, but once configured, it allows things like integration with the assistants, integration with the Apple Watch and an automatic opening function by GPS positioning that works really well.
Once again Nuki demonstrates that this is a safe, reliable product with excellent performance, so we believe that it is a highly recommended purchase for those who want to continue automating their home.
The price of these new locks is $249 for the Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 Pro and $149 for the Nuki Smart Lock 3.0.