Level Lock+ review: Must-have HomeKit smart lock with Apple Home Key support

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Created in partnership with Apple, the new Level Lock+ is a shining example of a near-perfect smart lock with support for Apple Home Key and an entirely hidden design. Let's test it out.

Level Lock+ has Home Key
Level Lock+ has Home Key


Level Lock+ is the third smart lock from the namesake company. It follows the Level Bolt, which is compatible with your existing door hardware and the Level Lock, which swaps out the interior and exterior hardware plus the deadbolt.

Comparitively, Level Lock+ is a minor upgrade, boasting only an improved NFC antenna and support for Apple Home Key as the changes versus the preceding Level Lock.

With the addition of Home Key, the Level Lock+ is poised to become the de facto choice for Apple users looking for the best solution in their HomeKit-enabled home.




Quick, easy installation

Unsurprisingly, Level includes everything you need to get going in the box. As you slide the cover off, you'll see a getting started guide with your printed HomeKit pairing code -- and a small folio with a pair of access cards.

Level Lock+ components
Level Lock+ components


Then you have the lock components. It's broken down into the interior throw, the exterior keyhole, the deadbolt, and the motor. Strike plates, screws, a set of physical keys, and a deadbolt extender are in a small accessories box.

To install, we removed our existing deadbolt -- which happened to be an original Level Lock sans the "+" monicker. We then screwed the deadbolt into the door's body via the faceplate and slid the motor onto the other end of the bolt assembly inside the door's cutout.

We then slipped the exterior keyhole into place before screwing on the interior throw. The thumb turn connects magnetically, snapping into place.

Inserting the CR2 in the Level Lock+
Inserting the CR2 in the Level Lock+


The battery, a standard Lithium 3V CR2, hides within the bolt. Extend the deadbolt while the door is opened and unscrew the cap on the end.

Many have asked, so we'll try to get ahead of it -- housing the battery inside the bolt in no way compromises the strength of the Level Lock+. It carries a BHMA AAA certification, the highest rating for a residential door lock.

Installing the smart lock
Installing the smart lock


That means it has a "best" rating in all three tested categories: security, durability, and resilience. There's a chance Level Lock+ is stronger than the existing lock you have on your door.

Design

Level Lock+ isn't too dissimilar to the original Level Lock. It looks innocuous, resembling any traditional deadbolt found on a residential door. We chose Satin Nickel, though matte black is an option too.

Considering the wealth of different door handle hardware, we'd like to see Level offer a few additional finishes.

Unlike most smart locks that often employ large interior or exterior panels with most of the electronics and motors, Level Lock+ looks unassuming, with all of the smarts hidden inside the door.

Visually, you'd never know the difference between the Level Lock+ and a typical deadbolt. Hence Level's nickname as the "invisible" smart lock.

If you've ever installed a deadbolt in the past, you may be familiar with how much space resides around the various rods and screws that run through the door. This space is what Level utilizes in the Level Bolt, Level Lock, and the new Level Lock+.

What's great about this approach is it is approachable. Some smart locks, like August, have adopted different mechanisms to control the door, making them confusing for those who aren't familiar with them.

Touch Surface on the Level Lock+
The Level Lock+ touch surface


The exterior surface around the keyhole is capacitive, allowing you to touch it to lock or unlock your door. This was hit or miss for us, though.

We found ourselves entering our home, accidentally bumping into the door lock with our forearm as we closed it, causing the deadbolt to extend before crashing into the doorframe.

You don't need to use the touch-to-lock feature though, and we left only touch to unlock enabled. Instead, we have the lock automatically lock itself after a few minutes.

With such an unremarkable exterior, it blends in, is easy to understand, and is effortless to use. A good smart home product should be just as easy to operate manually as it is with smart home tech.

Level has this down pat.

The Level app

With support for Apple Home, there's very little need for Level's first-party app but we still recommend you give it a download. It guides you through its onboarding process and offers additional features found outside of HomeKit. Plus, it's the only way to install firmware updates.

One of the more helpful abilities is calibrating the lock for your door. You open and close it a few times as you follow the onscreen steps and it will know how much to open and close for your home's door.

This app is also where you can enroll your NFC key cards. These key cards are great for kids or those who need access to your home, but you retain the right to remove access at any time.

Level app
Level app


If you gave out a physical key, you can't revoke access without getting the key back, or rekeying the lock.

You can add guests through the Level app, view the lock's access history, and create a shareable pass with temporary access. There are settings too, such as enabling touch to lock/unlock, auto lock/unlock, and volume level.

HomeKit control

Level Lock+ is well-integrated into HomeKit, which shouldn't be a surprise as it was created in partnership with the iPhone maker. Once added to Apple Home, the lock appears inside the Home app.

You can tap the lock to engage or disengage the lock at any time while you're in your home. If you have a Home Hub -- i.e. a HomePod or Apple TV -- you can remotely access the lock too.

The Home app provides a few suggested scenes for your lock, some of which we use. Our go-to scene is the goodnight scene.

Home app
Home app


In our home, when we tell Siri goodnight, the front door Level Lock+ secures, the window shades shut, the lights turn off, the air purifiers drop down to a quieter volume, and our thermostat adjusts.

That all brings us to the standout feature of this smart lock -- Home Key.

It's all about Home Key

There's only one reason to buy the Level Lock+ over the previous generation Level Lock -- Home Key. Home Key is a relatively new feature of Apple Home that puts the key to your house, directly into the Wallet app.

That makes the Wallet app more like an actual wallet where it now stores loyalty cards, credit and debit cards, your ID, your car key, and now your house key.

Home Key on Apple Watch
Home Key on Apple Watch


It works via NFC -- same as credit cards or your car key -- and can be authenticated via Face ID or Touch ID before granting access to your home. Select the Home Key and bring it near your lock and it disengages.

Using it is seamless. There's no need to open your Home app, dig around your pocket for a key, or wait for an auto-unlock method to trigger -- just tap the phone in your hand and you're in. Not to mention that it works with Apple Watch too.

There have been very few locks that have supported Home Key yet, the most high profile being the Schlage Encode Plus that has been nearly impossible to purchase since its launch earlier this year.

Setup for Home Key is automatic. Once the lock was added to Apple Home, we saw a banner at the top of the Home app informing us of the ability.

We selected it and the Home Key was added to the Wallet app instantly. If you share your home, the key will appear for everyone else, nixing the need for additional setup on ancillary devices.

One concern many may have is the inability to access your lock if your phone dies. Fortunately, Apple has considered this very situation.

Should your iPhone die, Home Key will remain active, working for hours after the battery is depleted. It may not last days, but it's enough time that you'd make your way into your home or find a charge for your phone.

Is it just hype?

As cool as Home Key is, it is only one of several methods of entry and it's important to weigh all your options to decipher what works best for you in your situation.

With the Level Lock+, you can still use the NFC key cards, physical keys, the Bluetooth Level number pad, the Home app manually, Apple Home automations, the Level app automations, or touching the physical exterior of the lock (which authenticates to the Level app).

You can use NFC key cards
You can use NFC key cards


Before Home Key, we had our non-plus version Level Lock set to lock automatically when we left and then had it unlocked when we arrived home. Apple Home makes you manually trigger these automations but the Level app does them on its own.

When it works, this is an even better experience as you don't even need to pull out your phone. It just happens in the background.

In practice though, there are times when it doesn't automatically unlock for us, leaving us to open the Home app to manually unlock it. There are other benefits with Home Key too.

When iOS 16.1 launches, scheduled for Monday, October 23, users will be able to share Home Keys with others outside the home. They can send a key to friends or external family members that need access.

Cleaning services, dog walkers, or perhaps renters can all get into your home this way without needing to download the Level app themselves.

We found immediate use for Home Key not long after our lock was set up. We were outside working in the garden and the lock secured itself after five or so minutes.

As we were working, we didn't have our phone with us and since we didn't leave the property, it wasn't going to automatically unlock. Our Apple Watch was on our wrist though, providing instant access as soon as we needed back inside.

Should you buy the Level Lock+?

After copious testing, we can't find a niggle with the Level Lock+. Everything about it is well thought out and meticulously crafted.

Many small touches make this product feel magic, like any Apple product. Like the deadbolt, it magnetically locks into place as it opens, ensuring it stays free of the door frame upon opening.

Level Lock+
Level Lock+


It's proven reliable, unlocking almost instantly as we hold up our phone, and will be bolstered by Apple's new Home Key features in iOS 16.1.

The culmination is this -- if you're looking for a smart lock that integrates the best with Apple HomeKit, the Level Lock+ is inarguably the best you can do.

Level Lock+ pros

  • Sleek, near-invisible design

  • Improved NFC antenna

  • Support for Apple Home and Home Key

  • A litany of ways to control the lock

  • Fit and finish at Apple's level

  • Quick and easy installation

  • Gets better with OS 16.1

  • Highest strength rating for a deadbolt

Level Lock+ cons

  • Only two colorways available

  • Not the cheapest smart lock

Rating: 5 out of 5

The Level Lock+ is available in all retail Apple Stores as well as Apple's website for $329. Satin Nickel is available in both, while matte black is an online exclusive.

Read on AppleInsider
PatchyThePirateV.3chaicka
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 37
    My home front door and interior door access to the garage use the same physical key.  Can Level Lock key two locks for use by one physical key?
    2morrowwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 37
    macminion said:
    My home front door and interior door access to the garage use the same physical key.  Can Level Lock key two locks for use by one physical key?
    yes, you can have the lock rekeyed to your current house key if it's a Schlage lock. I'm not sure if it will work with Kwikset keys. Any locksmith can rekey the lock for you
    JP234 said:
    Having to disassemble the lock to replace the AA battery is a non-starter for me. So is having to remember to carry an extra physical key for the inevitable, a dead battery.

    Really getting sick of all the assorted batteries in my life that need constant replacing or recharging. I have to have a box full of AAA, AA, C, D, 2032, 2430. 2025, 312, and spare power tool batteries, to avoid having to go to the store in the middle of some activity. And then there's the rat's nest of adapters, chargers and cables.
    you don't have to disassemble the lock to replace the battery. just unscrew the cap on the bolt and swap out the battery. it's really easy and quick to do. less than a minute


    I'm curious though if the Level Touch will get a firmware upgrade to be able to support HomeKey since the Level+ looks like the replacement for the Level Touch

    edited October 2022 2morrowchaickaStrangeDaysappleinsideruserwatto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 37
    I tried one of the earlier versions of this lock. It did not have enough torque to actually perform the task of locking the door. Have they improved the strength of the motor?  
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 37
    netroxnetrox Posts: 1,415member
    dasjetta said:
    I tried one of the earlier versions of this lock. It did not have enough torque to actually perform the task of locking the door. Have they improved the strength of the motor?  
    If it requires a lot of torque to lock, then it's probably the door is not aligned correctly or the lock itself is not well lubricated. It should not require much effort to turn. 


    williamlondonStrangeDaysdocno42mike1watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 37
    JP234 said:
    Having to disassemble the lock to replace the AA battery is a non-starter for me. So is having to remember to carry an extra physical key for the inevitable, a dead battery.

    Really getting sick of all the assorted batteries in my life that need constant replacing or recharging. I have to have a box full of AAA, AA, C, D, 2032, 2430. 2025, 312, and spare power tool batteries, to avoid having to go to the store in the middle of some activity. And then there's the rat's nest of adapters, chargers and cables.
    This is a ridiculous comment. Do you still have a wired TV remote because changing the batteries once every 2 years is too cumbersome? How would you expect to power the lock without a battery? Constant AC running through your front door?

    Changing the battery is a 30 second exercise. Your phone will notify you when the battery gets low, I have the old version and with normal usage batteries last around 120 days. You’ll get notified in PLENTY of time to change the battery before it dies. Notifications that the battery is low, and then critically low come about 2 weeks later. Sure, the battery is a CR2 - which isnt common to most devices, but theyre readily available wherever you get batteries from.
    williamlondonscstrrfwatto_cobra
  • Reply 6 of 37
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,275member
    This is a ridiculous comment. Do you still have a wired TV remote because changing the batteries once every 2 years is too cumbersome? How would you expect to power the lock without a battery? Constant AC running through your front door?

    Changing the battery is a 30 second exercise. Your phone will notify you when the battery gets low, I have the old version and with normal usage batteries last around 120 days. You’ll get notified in PLENTY of time to change the battery before it dies. Notifications that the battery is low, and then critically low come about 2 weeks later. Sure, the battery is a CR2 - which isnt common to most devices, but theyre readily available wherever you get batteries from.

    And if the battery was totally dead, you can still use the traditional key.


    What's great about this approach is it is approachable. Some smart locks, like August, have adopted different mechanisms to control the door, making them confusing for those who aren't familiar with them.


    This statement makes no sense. The August lock very easily replaces the interior throw of the existing lock, leaving all the other components in place. That said, if I ever need to replace my August lock, I would strongly consider this as its replacement. Love the idea of just tapping with my Watch.

    Auto lock/lock functionality based on leaving or arriving home really doesn't work well if you don't live alone.



    edited October 2022 StrangeDayswatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 37
    JP234 said:
    Really getting sick of all the assorted batteries in my life that need constant replacing or recharging. I have to have a box full of AAA, AA, C, D, 2032, 2430. 2025, 312.
    Agreed about all the different battery types, I’ve ordered wrong battery types several times from Amazon. 
    JP234williamlondon
  • Reply 8 of 37
    So can we assume that you’d support the EU mandating that all such devices use a standardized battery type?
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 37
    netrox said:
    dasjetta said:
    I tried one of the earlier versions of this lock. It did not have enough torque to actually perform the task of locking the door. Have they improved the strength of the motor?  
    If it requires a lot of torque to lock, then it's probably the door is not aligned correctly or the lock itself is not well lubricated. It should not require much effort to turn. 


    Actually I installed it at the time of installing a new lockset.  The bolt actuates easily.  The problem is that there is just a very slight friction at the strike plate that the puny motor cannot overcome.  My contractor also pointed out that if you adjust the door so that there is no friction then the door seals are not completely sealing the door.  
  • Reply 10 of 37
    rraburrabu Posts: 264member
    Many contractors like doing that when it is wrong. The latch should pull the door tightly against the seal. NOT the deadbolt.
    PatchyThePirateV.3StrangeDayswatto_cobra
  • Reply 11 of 37
    I love the approach and features and don’t feel inserting a battery into the bolt every few months to be too much a chore.  My concern is that Consumer Reports gave the previous versions poor marks for security - particularly drilling.  All the tech in the world is great but if it fails at its basic function when properly installed with reinforced fittings, then what’s the point?
    PatchyThePirateV.3williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 12 of 37
    netroxnetrox Posts: 1,415member
    I am surprised it gets 5 because frankly, it doesn't deserve that rating.
     
    It just makes no economical sense. It costs money to buy a lithium battery that last every few months (about $7 to $10 per battery) when it's likely better served with rechargeable batteries that can last much longer and keep costs down.  


      

    williamlondon
  • Reply 13 of 37
    First hit on Amazon: 8pk rechargable Li CR2 with charger, $21
    StrangeDayswatto_cobraPatchyThePirateV.3
  • Reply 14 of 37
    lukeilukei Posts: 379member
    dinkydogs said:
    macminion said:
    My home front door and interior door access to the garage use the same physical key.  Can Level Lock key two locks for use by one physical key?
    yes, you can have the lock rekeyed to your current house key if it's a Schlage lock. I'm not sure if it will work with Kwikset keys. Any locksmith can rekey the lock for you
    JP234 said:
    Having to disassemble the lock to replace the AA battery is a non-starter for me. So is having to remember to carry an extra physical key for the inevitable, a dead battery.

    Really getting sick of all the assorted batteries in my life that need constant replacing or recharging. I have to have a box full of AAA, AA, C, D, 2032, 2430. 2025, 312, and spare power tool batteries, to avoid having to go to the store in the middle of some activity. And then there's the rat's nest of adapters, chargers and cables.
    you don't have to disassemble the lock to replace the battery. just unscrew the cap on the bolt and swap out the battery. it's really easy and quick to do. less than a minute


    I'm curious though if the Level Touch will get a firmware upgrade to be able to support HomeKey since the Level+ looks like the replacement for the Level Touch

    It has a different antenna 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 15 of 37
    DarkMouze said:
    So can we assume that you’d support the EU mandating that all such devices use a standardized battery type?
    Yes Sirry Bob…..EU will soon requires one battery type or perhaps wireless charging 
    williamlondon
  • Reply 16 of 37
    Not on the UK  store therefore I assume this is not compatible with UK doors/locks?
    edited October 2022 williamlondon
  • Reply 17 of 37
    Yes, but does it work for kids with the first gen cellular Apple Watch SE with family setup (no iPhone)? Or is my son going to be locked out or have to use/lose a keycard since he doesn’t carry a wallet?
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
  • Reply 18 of 37
    DAalsethDAalseth Posts: 2,783member
    Must-have HomeKit smart lock 
    No, no it isn’t. I still see no reason to replace a mechanical lock that always works, with one that is dependant on batteries. The locks I have always work, without fail. But with this, and all electronic locks I have to make sure my phone is charged, and the lock has a fresh battery. One more thing to monitor. I have too GD many battery powered things I have to juggle already. They are supposed to be there to help ME but between two iPhones, two Tablets, Two AWs, and yes remotes for the TV, the Ceiling fans (3) and other things it feels like I’m spending an inordinate amount of time feeding and caring for them. Yes changing or plugging in one might take 30 seconds, but they add up. I’m trying to simplify, not add unnecessary complexity and expense. This coming spring I will be replacing the locks in my patio door. I don’t know what I will be getting but I do know it bloody well won’t require batteries.
    edited October 2022 williamlondoncg27
  • Reply 19 of 37
    chaickachaicka Posts: 257member
    dinkydogs said:
    I'm curious though if the Level Touch will get a firmware upgrade to be able to support HomeKey since the Level+ looks like the replacement for the Level Touch

    Same here...Using Level Touch for 2 years now and wonder if it will be firmware upgradeable to add the 'Home Key' support (assuming the existing NFC hardware is the same). It will be nice... :D
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 20 of 37
    macguimacgui Posts: 2,350member
    dasjetta said:
    netrox said:
    dasjetta said:
    I tried one of the earlier versions of this lock. It did not have enough torque to actually perform the task of locking the door. Have they improved the strength of the motor?  
    If it requires a lot of torque to lock, then it's probably the door is not aligned correctly or the lock itself is not well lubricated. It should not require much effort to turn. 


    Actually I installed it at the time of installing a new lockset.  The bolt actuates easily.  The problem is that there is just a very slight friction at the strike plate that the puny motor cannot overcome.  My contractor also pointed out that if you adjust the door so that there is no friction then the door seals are not completely sealing the door.  
    If there's a slight friction because of the bolt hitting the strike, then the original lock was set up and strike were installed incorrectly or the door settled. Shimming a door to make it level is a standard practice and easily accomplished. 

    When first hung a door should have been square with the frame and deadbolt aligned perfectly with the strike. Sealing at that time should have been fairly complete. If settling or sagging causes the bolt to hit the strike but operates "easily" as you claim, the alignment can't be that far off where sealing would be a significant concern. And re-sealing, if even required shouldn't be a difficult fix for a good contractor or even a DIYer. When thresholds are installed they're very often shimmed to provide a good seal.

    If a "contractor" advises against aligning the door properly or adjusting the door strike and bolt hole because it might affect sealing, he's a crap contractor.

    If you don't want to bother with either fix for whatever reason that's your choice. But that's not the lock's problem.
    williamlondonStrangeDayswatto_cobra
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