Kwikset Kevo 2nd Gen Touchtoopen Bluetooth Smart Lock Review

Kwikset'southward latest connected lock, the Kevo Touch-to-Open Smart Lock 2d Gen, offers a few subtle differences from the original version we reviewed back in 2013, including ramped upward security features and a more than streamlined interior escutcheon. It's more responsive than its predecessor, merely at $229, it's also more expensive, and you lot now have to pay extra for the central trick that was included with the older model. And while it offers integration with certain smart thermostats and video doorbells, it doesn't support vox commands like our Editors' Selection for smart locks, the August Smart Lock HomeKit Enabled.

Design and Features

The Kevo Gen 2 uses Bluetooth wireless engineering science to communicate with your Android or iOS device and is powered by four AA batteries. It is available in 3 finishes (Satin Nickel, Polished Brass, and Venetian Bronze) and comes with an exterior cylinder assembly, an interior associates and encompass, an interior mounting plate and hardware, two keys, 2 deadbolt assemblies (1 with a faceplate for notched doors and another without), an adapter ring, four AA batteries, and a SmartKey tool that allows y'all to re-key the lock. Whereas the original Kevo came with a single central fob, this version doesn't include one at all. Yous take to shell out an additional $28.99 per trick if you want to grant access to users without a smartphone.

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The outer cylinder associates looks identical to the one used on the first-generation lock. It is 2.7 inches in diameter and 1.2 inches deep and resembles any other keyed cylinder until you lot tap information technology to lock or unlock your door. This activates the LED light ring which spins blue, flashes dark-green, and beeps twice when unlocking, and spins blue, flashes amber, and beeps once when locking. If the light spins blue and turns off at that place's a connectivity issue with your phone or key play a joke on. A solid red light means the batteries need irresolute and a flashing ruby lite hateful the organisation is resetting or the lock is jammed.

The interior escutcheon shares the same stop equally the cylinder and at 5.vii by two.vii by 1.5 inches (HWD) is a bit more streamlined than the original. It'due south likewise made of metal, whereas the original was made of plastic. It has a thumb-turn knob for manual functioning and a black window that tin can exist removed to proceeds admission to the batteries, programming button, and dip switches on the assembly. The dip switches tin can be configured to enable things like the auto lock feature, which locks the door xxx seconds after beingness unlocked, and the Triple Bear on feature, which allows y'all to lock the door from the outside without the use of a smartphone or fob by tapping the cylinder three times.

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The Kevo Gen2 uses Kwikset's new Advanced SmartKey Security applied science which protects against torque attacks, lock picking, and lock bumping. It likewise allows yous to re-fundamental the lock to protect against entry from lost or stolen keys. As with the original Kevo, the lock comes with two eKeys you can transfer betwixt users via electronic mail. If yous need more than ii you lot can buy additional eKeys for $1.99 each, or you can assign a Guest eKey, which is free but only lasts 24 hours.

Kevo Bear upon-to-Open Smart Lock 2d Generation

As mentioned, the Kevo Gen 2 communicates via Bluetooth, which ways your phone must exist within range (around 40 feet or less) to control the lock. That is, unless you lot purchase a Kevo Plus ($99.99) gateway that connects to your router. With Kevo Plus you tin lock and unlock doors and manage user accounts from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.

App

When we reviewed the first Kevo lock it worked exclusively with iOS mobile devices, with support for Android devices coming more than a year later on. Fortunately, this version of the lock supports both out of the box. The mobile app has the same look and feel as the previous version; it opens to a list of installed locks. Borer the three bars at the height of this page opens the App Settings, Create, Manage, and Information menus.

In App Settings you can enable sounds, change the passcode, and link the Kevo to your Nest and specific Honeywell thermostats to automatically ready the temperature when you arrive at or leave your home. The Kevo likewise works with the Band and SkyBell video doorbells, allowing you lot access the Kevo app from within the doorbell's app. As with the Poly-Command Danalock V2 BT, information technology supports IFTTT (If This Then That) recipes, simply it doesn't back up vocalization commands like the Schlage Sense and Baronial Smart Lock HomeKit Enabled locks.

Using the Create carte du jour you tin send an eKey, fix a lock, and buy and set up a Kevo Plus gateway. The Manage menu is where yous become to control the lock and add users. Tap My Locks and eKeys to see a list of each installed lock, and tap a lock to access its command page. If the lock is engaged (locked) it appears as a large gold circle, and if information technology's disengaged information technology is green. To lock or unlock the door, simply tap the circle.

At the bottom of the folio are a Key icon, a History icon, a Settings icon, and a Lock icon that takes yous back to the control folio. Tap the Cardinal icon to see a list of active eKey holders and to send an eKey using your phone contacts or by inbound an email address. Here you can cull to send an Anytime (unrestricted) key, a Scheduled key, or a Guest key. Tapping the History icon accesses a log of openings and closings too as a record of eKeys that have been sent and deleted. The Settings icon opens a folio where you can edit the lock name, update the firmware, and delete a lock.

Installation and Functioning

The Kevo Gen 2 is piece of cake to install. Start by downloading the app and creating an account. At this point you can select Pair A Device if you accept already installed the lock, or you can view the Interactive Installation Guide which uses blitheness and detailed instructions to help you uninstall your former lock and install the Kevo. In that location's also an choice to download written instructions.

Kevo Touch-to-Open Smart Lock 2nd Generation I removed the interior and exterior components of my quondam lock as well equally the deadbolt associates. I replaced my deadbolt assembly with the notched assembly included in the box, installed the cylinder and fastened it to the mounting plate, and attached the cylinder cable to the interior associates. This took a picayune finagling every bit the cable is bulky and must be tucked into a recess in the interior assembly before y'all can secure it to the mounting plate. I so performed the Door Handling procedure, which teaches the lock the orientation of the door, by pressing and holding the Program button while installing the bombardment pack.

Adjacent, I hit Pair A Device, pressed the program button, and touched the dorsum of my iPhone to the interior associates. Within seconds the 2 devices were paired and I was asked to name the lock. I attached the interior cover and was finished. The entire process took less than xv minutes.

The Kevo Gen 2's response fourth dimension is a bit faster than its predecessor. The lock opened and closed immediately when touched, unlike the Gen 1 lock, which had a slight delay. The log was updated immediately with all openings and closings, and eKey schedules worked flawlessly. When I linked the Kevo to a Ring doorbell it showed up in the Ring+ menu, allowing me to admission the Kevo app from inside the Ring app's live video screen. Both the Auto Lock and Triple Impact features worked like a charm.

Conclusions

Kwikset's Kevo Impact–to-Open Smart Lock 2nd Gen isn't all that unlike from the original, simply it does offer enhanced security and a more than durable and thinner interior escutcheon, and was definitely more responsive in testing. It's easy to install and the app makes it simple to send and manage eKeys, only you have to pay extra for eKeys once you've used upwards the two freebies. At $229 this lock doesn't come cheap, just it's no more expensive than the August Smart Lock HomeKit Enabled. That said, the August lock offers vox commands, and you lot can add together as many users as you lot'd similar without having to pay extra. As such, it remains our Editors' Choice for smart locks.

Kwikset Kevo Affect-to-Open Smart Lock (2nd Gen)

The Bottom Line

Kwikset's new Kevo Touch-to-Open Smart Lock is more responsive than its predecessor, merely it's also a bit more expensive and lacks some of the features you lot get with the latest crop of continued door locks.

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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/kwikset-kevo-touch-to-open-smart-lock-2nd-gen

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