Aqara Good Lock U200 Lite Evaluation

I beforehand reviewed the Aqara Good Lock U200, and on the time, it was my favorite good lock I had tried. I continued to make use of it as my major good lock till Could this yr, after I reviewed the SwitchBot Lock Extremely Imaginative and prescient Combo. I’m tempted to maneuver again as I’ve needed to recalibrate the SwitchBot twice because the evaluation went dwell.

Extra lately, I’ve been reviewing the brand new inexpensive Aqara Good Lock U200 Lite, which, because the identify suggests, is a brand new inexpensive good lock, with an RRP of simply £129

Associated Evaluations

Specification

Options

Design and Set up

The U200 Lite employs a retrofit design that attaches over current lock mechanisms with out requiring door modifications. This strategy preserves the unique key performance for emergency entry while including good capabilities. The lock helps Euro mortise locks with emergency perform necessities and accommodates Euro profile and choose Scandinavian cylinders.

Set up follows a DIY-friendly course of, with the system measuring 62.3 × 60.6 × 152.5 mm and obtainable in black or white finishes. The package deal contains complete set up {hardware}, together with cylinder adaptors, mounting screws, and positioning aids.

Entry Strategies

Cellular Utility Management
The first entry technique utilises the Aqara Dwelling cellular utility, enabling distant unlocking capabilities and customer entry administration. The system operates with out subscription charges for core features together with real-time notifications, exercise logs, and distant operation.

NFC Expertise
Close to Subject Communication entry permits customers to unlock the door by tapping appropriate smartphones in opposition to the included NFC Sticker Card. This technique works with each iOS and Android units and offers fast entry with out requiring app interplay.

Voice Integration
Voice management performance operates by way of Siri and Amazon Alexa platforms, enabling hands-free operation for appropriate good residence ecosystems.

Good Dwelling Integration

The U200 Lite utilises Thread wi-fi protocol with native Matter help, making certain broad compatibility throughout good residence platforms. Supported ecosystems embrace Amazon Alexa, Apple Dwelling, Google Dwelling, Dwelling Assistant, Homey, and Samsung SmartThings.

Integration capabilities prolong to safety units akin to video doorbells, surveillance cameras, and movement sensors, creating complete entry management methods. The Thread protocol offers dependable mesh networking particularly designed for IoT functions.

Automated Capabilities

Auto-Lock Mechanism
The system contains computerized locking performance that engages as soon as the door closes correctly. An acoustic reminder alerts customers when the door hasn’t closed appropriately. This function operates with out further contact sensors, lowering set up complexity and price.

Pull Spring Perform
When activated, the door latch retracts routinely upon unlocking, eliminating the necessity to manually function door handles. This proves notably helpful for doorways with out exterior handles or these opening inward.

Quiet Operation Mode
A silent unlock mode reduces operational noise ranges, accessible by way of the cellular utility. This function prevents disturbance throughout night-time entry.

Technical Specs

Energy Administration
The lock incorporates a 2,000 mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated at 7.4V, offering as much as six months of operation between costs. This eliminates the necessity for normal battery replacements while sustaining constant efficiency.

Environmental Tolerances
Working temperature vary spans -15°C to 55°C, with humidity tolerance as much as 93% relative humidity with out condensation. These specs guarantee dependable operation throughout typical UK climate situations.

Connectivity
Wi-fi communication employs Thread and Bluetooth protocols. Thread offers the first good residence connectivity while Bluetooth allows native system pairing and setup procedures.

Flip-to-Lock Operation
Handbook operation requires roughly 30 to 60 levels of knob rotation to interact or disengage the locking mechanism. This offers tactile suggestions and ensures constructive lock engagement.

Unboxing

Unboxing the U200 Lite, I realised it was strikingly just like the U200+. I used to be solely offering restricted data earlier than this evaluation, so I used to be anticipating it to be smaller with fewer options. However the lock itself appears to be similar. The important thing distinction is the dearth of a keypad.

The package deal contains:

• The primary physique of the good lock
• The steel backplate for mounting
• Precut 3M tape for the backplate
• The battery
• Adaptors that can be utilized to assist flip the spindle/key
• A few NFC tags

The NFC tags caught me off guard, because the U200+ helps NFC tags on the keypad, so I used to be questioning why these have been included on a lock with out the keypad. These are supposed for use to faucet your telephone in opposition to, which then brings up the Aqara app.

They appear a bit pointless, however I’m wondering whether it is doable to arrange an automation the place they load up the app and routinely unlock the door.

Set up

As I’ve reviewed various good locks now, the set up course of is usually self-explanatory and the Aqara locks are one of many higher choices for the best way the lock mounts and the general set up course of.

With UK doorways, the good lock sits awkwardly on high of the deal with {hardware} so you will need to have a safe mounting mechanism.

With the Aqara, you’ve a steel backplate with a powerful pre-cut 3M adhesive, then some foam 3M pads that may stick beneath the deal with for the place the lock overhangs.

Then across the keyhole, you’ve three screws that may clamp the lock in place when you’ve got a cylinder that stands proud barely.

In my case, I did have some points, however this isn’t as a result of Aqara. I reused the {hardware} from the Ultion Good Lock, and this doesn’t have a cylinder that extends out to the internal lock. It then has a protracted steel plate that the good lock turns.

For the Aqara, it appeared to wrestle with this design, and the included adapters didn’t match correctly, because the steel insert that turns the lock was too lengthy.

With a little bit of experimentation, I bought it to work. For many good locks, I take advantage of the Yale Linus adjustable cylinder (affiliate hyperlink), which I’ve discovered works completely, and I don’t have to fret about measuring my door for the correct-sized cylinder.

Aqara App

Integration with different good residence methods with Matter

Similar to the U200+ this good lock makes use of the Thread communication protocol with Matter help. You possibly can due to this fact pair it with good residence ecosystems apart from Aqara, together with Apple Dwelling, Alexa, Google Dwelling, Dwelling Assistant and SmartThings.

As I’m closely invested in Aqara, I paired this with the Aqara Hub M3.

I’ve moaned about difficulties with pairing Thread-enabled Aqara units previously. They sometimes should be very near the hub as a result of it utilizing Bluetooth to determine the preliminary connection.

For this, it labored right away.

With it paired to the Hub M3, I used to be in a position to go to third-party ecosystems and generate a Matter code, which I used so as to add to Dwelling Assistant.

Inside Dwelling Assistant, you’ll be able to:

• Test lock standing
• Test battery standing
• Remotely lock/unlock the door
• Use the lock as a part of automation, and there’s a big selection of triggers obtainable

In-Use / Efficiency

Unsurprisingly, the general efficiency of this lock has been primarily the identical because the U200+. Nevertheless, there may be much less to say about it because of the lack of a keypad.

I’ve discovered locking and unlocking dependable, whether or not that is by way of Bluetooth or remotely.

The thread connectivity seems to be dependable and is extra responsive than Bluetooth. Disabling Bluetooth and urgent unlock within the Aqara app has an nearly prompt response time. There’s a little bit of a delay if I do that from inside Dwelling Assistant.

I’ve left many of the settings as normal, as I don’t actually need the quiet mode. Auto locking is a bit redundant within the UK as a result of our multipoint locking doorways. I naturally lock my door each time I raise the deal with, and if I overlook to raise the deal with and lock, the auto-locking perform received’t work anyway, because of the multipoint locks not being engaged.

Battery Life

I’ve solely been utilizing this lock for a few weeks, so I haven’t examined the battery life completely, nevertheless it ought to carry out about the identical as its costlier brother.

I feel I’ve charged the U200+ twice since putting in it in our home in July 2024, and on each events, it nonetheless had sufficient battery life to maintain going for fairly some time.

There are solely two of us at residence, although after I initially put in it, I used to be working from residence full time, so I used to be out and in a bit. Since September, we’ve got each labored from an workplace, so we sometimes solely lock/unlock a few instances per day.

Certainly one of my favorite options of each these locks is a small however important element. The USB-C charging port faces outward, permitting you to cost it whereas nonetheless in place should you take away the faceplate. It’s such an apparent design determination for good residence units, I can’t perceive why different firms don’t do that by default.

Each instances I charged the U200+ lock, I used an influence financial institution with a protracted USB-C cable and positioned it on a desk to the facet. For the U200+, Aqara even included a little bit pouch so you’ll be able to hold an influence financial institution on the door deal with.

Worth and Various Choices

Aqara Good Lock U200 Lite Equipment is offered for £129 from aqara-shop.co.uk

The Aqara Good Lock U200+ Equipment, which features a keypad, has an RRP of £280 and is offered for £210.

The SwitchBot Good Lock Professional is offered for £140.

The Yale Linus Good Lock L2 is offered for £220.

The most affordable Nuki is the Good Lock Go, which is offered for £139.

General

To one of the best of my data, the Aqara Good Lock U200 Lite is mainly the identical because the Aqara Good Lock U200+ however lacks the keypad.

When you take a look at the RRP, that keypad provides £150 to the worth of the lock, which is a steep worth to pay, however after utilizing it for almost a yr, I’d say it was properly value it.

With the discounted worth of the silver colourway, that worth distinction drops to only £80, and I might say it’s a no-brainer to pay the additional for this keypad.

It’s a disgrace Aqara don’t promote the keypad individually, supplying you with an improve path, however now the U200 Lite is out, I wouldn’t be shocked if they provide this at a later date.

General, I assumed the Aqara Good Lock U200+ was very good, and that is mainly the identical lock minus the keypad at a cheaper price, so I due to this fact suppose additionally it is glorious. However, I’d solely purchase it if I have been positive I didn’t need the keypad and for many eventualities, I don’t see why you wouldn’t need the comfort of a keypad.

I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Enthusiastic about all issues know-how, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cellular, wearables, and good residence units.

As a health fanatic who loves operating and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related know-how, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My numerous pursuits permit me to deliver a novel perspective to tech running a blog, merging way of life, health, and the most recent tech traits.

In my tutorial pursuits, I earned a BSc in Info Programs Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior examine additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the know-how curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has constantly ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many high know-how blogs within the UK. With my dedication to know-how and drive to share my insights, I purpose to proceed offering my readers with partaking and informative content material.

Final replace on 2025-06-17 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photographs from Amazon Product Promoting API