August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen + Connect Review
There are many products on the market for all kind of needs. Whenever you search for something related to smart locks you will always see August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen in the suggestions. In this blog we will try to explain you cons and pros of this product as detailed as we can.
Connection Standards and Smart Home Controller Options
August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen is a stable smart lock with lots of helpful features. Lock supports Bluetooth, Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave Plus on its own and with +Connect addon it supports Wi-Fi too. As out of the box it can be controlled over their August smart lock app named August Home by using Blutooth connection.
Amazon Alexa
Alexa is a very widely used voice assistant. August lock has Alexa integration which gives you ability to lock or unlock your door just by your voice via Echo or Echo Dot. To activate this feature first you have to install a skill named “August Home” to your Alexa. After that you can start using your commands such as “Alexa, ask August to unlock the Front Door”.
Unlocking operations will always require your pin to complete. Alexa will ask your pin whenever you want to unlock your August lock by Alexa. For locking operation you can just simply say “Alexa, lock the door” and it will be locked without anything extra needed.
If you don’t want to use Alexa you still have more options as Siri over Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant. This device almost always works pretty fine with Siri.
Apple HomeKit
Apple HomeKit has great and easy integration with August lock. You can control your lock or unlock over siri with your phone. August lock apple watch integration is automatically done once you complete pairing with Apple HomeKit. Apple watch can be used to lock, unlock or check the status of the door by your voice over Siri as you can do over your phone too.
Google Home
August Smart Lock Pro and Google Home works perfectly well together. It will work with all the other devices compatible with the Google Assistant. You can just say “Hey, Google, lock my front door.” and it will directly lock your door. With voice control you can also ask Google Assistant if the door is opened or closed thanks to August DoorSense. If you want to unlock the door by voice you should always say your 4 digit pin to finish the process.
August Smart Lock Pro SmartThings
August Smart Lock Pro SmartThings integration is possible in 2 different ways. If you don’t purchase the Wi-Fi adapter, you can still connect to your SmarTthings hub with your August lock by using Z-Wave connection. As the second option you can buy the August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge and integrate your August Smart Lock Pro to SmarThings app. SmartThings hub is not needed if you have August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. August Keypad events are not supported if you have one. August Smart Lock Pro Smartthings integration works very well.
Ring Alarm System
August Smart Lock Pro works with Ring Alarm System. You can create rules such as locking the door and arming the alarm or just the opposite. Also by using auto unlock feature you can set a rule to unlock the door and disarm the alarm when you come in front of your door. Ring Doorbell is another option for you if you want to watch your door live and unlock the door.
Please keep in mind if you have Apple TV 4th Gen at your house then you won’t need to buy August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge to connect your device to internet. You can easily use your Apple TV 4th Gen to connect your August Lock.
Auto Locking and Unlocking of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
Auto Locking feature might be sounding as a cool feature but you must always be careful not to forget your phone inside the house and go out. In this case your house will be locked and you will stay out without your phone.
Auto lock has timer options as immediate, 30 seconds or 1 to 30 minutes so that lock can auto lock the door after the defined time passes over the last time door closed completely. This means when you close the door August DoorSense sensor will sense and start the timer if you haven’t already locked the door from August Home app.
August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen has also “Auto Unlocking” option too. If you activate this, your phone will work as a wireless key between you and your lock and it will unlock the door when you are in approximately ~15 ft range of the lock.
Auto Unlock uses your phone’s GPS and geofencing to detect your exact position. This feature is very usefull for the situations such as you have many bags in your hand while you are trying to enter to your home. Please keep in mind many Android users having stability problems which results as auto unlocking not working most of the time while they are waiting in front of the door.
Virtual Keys of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
If you have a large family or you are having too many visitors you might be asking yourself “How i will let my guests in even if i am not near the house?” The answer is very simple. You can create 3 types of virtual keys with August lock app.
- Always: This type of key gives the user full time access without any day or time limitations.
- Recurring: This type of key is very useful if there will be visitors at the same day and hours every week repatedly. As an example if you are having a service in your house which is always at Wednesday between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM you can let your guest in at every Wednesday between 10:00 AM and 02:00 PM .
- Temporary: This type of key is very ideal if you want to define specific date and time range which will not repeat every week and expire after ending date and time. As an example a house owner can use this key to let AirBnb guest in the specified date and time range. Owner can create this key for customer A as valid through 01.22.20 – 01.24.20 between 09:00 AM to 03:00 PM. It will not work after 03:00 PM 01.24.20.
Smart Alerts of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
This feature lets you follow who locked or unlocked your door at which date and time. You can also learn if the door is open or closed by August’s DoorSense sensor. There 5 types of alerts which you can choose the receive.
- When the door is locked or unlocked manually
- When a user which is defined by you locks or unlocks the door
- When the door left ajar
- When the door is Auto-Locked
- When door is locked with One – Touch Keyapd
Battery Life of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
Battery life at smart locks generally differ by many factors such as usage frequency, lock’s turn number, condition of the door, weather, etc. August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen is powered by 4 x AA batteries which means you have to always change your batteries continuously if you don’t prefer rechargable batteries. You should always open the lock and take out batteries which is not practical in our opinion but don’t worry it is not difficuly to change them. If there were a charging port like micro usb which can charge batteries without taking them out it would be much better.
August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen does have a low battery warning system which comes to you as a notification over app while your battery level is at 20%. Additionally, light on the August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen flashes red when the batteries are at %20 or lower. You can expect to change batteries at every 1 – 1,5 months for 6-10 times daily usage. It is advertised as 6 months as bettery life but in practical life this is not real unfortunately. Even if you don’t change your batteries in the needed time you can still use your key to unlock the door.
August Smart Keypad
August Smart Keypad is a controller which is sold separately. Keypad entrance is widely used so most of the people prefer this option. This keypad is extremely easy to use. You can create any kind of user codes for your needs. As an example we can say you can give access to your guests, your baby sitter,house cleaner, contractor to enter your house in the defined time range. You can set all of these from August lock app.
If you want to track who/when has entered to your house over the app then you should enable Homekit. August Smart Keypad has also one button locking option. August Keypad one touch lock makes locking as simple as pressing the red August logo at the bottom of the keypad. Keypad uses Bluetooth connection.
Keypad has backlights but you should first touch one of the buttons in order to activate. This can cause wrong code entrance some times as you might miss the first correct number of your keypad while you are in the dark but buttons are large and well designed so this not likely to happen usually.
August Smart Keypad has also motion sensor but it can be activated only with August Doorbell Cam Pro . Battery life of the product is not very good. Avarage battery life could be expected as 1,5 months with 5-6 times daily usage but this could change depending on the temperature where device is used and quality of the batteries. It has also low battery warning system over the app and via e-mail. Sizes are pretty small as 1 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches.
Package includes:
– 1 Smart Keypad
– 2 AAA Batteries
– 2 Screws
– 2 Wall Anchors
– Double-Sided Tape
– Getting Started Guide
Installation Process of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
There is nothing special to install August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen on your door if you already know how to install a classic deadbolt on your door. You will need a screwdriver to finish all the process. They have user manuals and videos to show you how to make the installation. Depending on your installation experiences it will be around 10 to 30 minutes to finish whole process which is not too much.
Technical Details Chart of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
| Item Weight | 13.9 ounces |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 3.4 x 2.2 x 3.4 inches |
| Voltage | 1.5 volts |
| Batteries | 4 AA batteries required. (included) |
| Size | 100 |
| Installation Method | Retrofit deadbolt lock |
| Included Components | August Smart Lock Pro, August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, DoorSense Sensor, 4 AA Batteries, Lock Adapter and Mounting Hardware |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Alkaline |
| Warranty Description | 1 year manufacturer |
August Smart Lock Pro Comparison Chart
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| August Smart Lock Pro + Connect | August Smart Lock Pro | August Smart Lock | |
| Use your phone as your key | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-unlock your door as you approach | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto lock your door as you leave | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remotely control your lock | ✓ | Add August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. Sold separately. | Add August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. Sold separately. |
| Works with Alexa, Google Assistant | ✓ | Add August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. Sold separately. | Add August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. Sold separately. |
| Compatible Standards | Bluetooth, Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave Plus, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth, Apple HomeKit, Z-Wave Plus | Bluetooth |
Voice Commands of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
These are the voice commands which you can use on Alexa
- Check if your front door is locked or not: “Alexa, is my front door locked?”
- Locking your door: “Show me the last motion event at the front door”
- Unlock your door: “Show me the front door.” [you will also need to say your pin code]
- Set PIN code: [Configured in Alexa app]
- August View Doorbell Camera: [Alexa will notify]
- August View Doorbell Camera Activate Microphone: “Answer the front door.” [Echo Show and Dot]
These are the voice commands which you can use on Google Assistant
- Lock: “OK, Google, lock my front door.” (use the name assigned to your door in the August app)
- Check Status:“OK, Google, is my front door locked?”
- To check if your door is closed or not, you can use this voice command but your DoorSense should be installed on your door. “Ok, Google, is my front door closed?”
- Unlock: “OK Google, unlock my front door.” Google Assistant will prompt you for your security PIN code. Reply with your PIN to unlock the door.
These are the voice commands which you can use on Apple HomeKit
- Unlock: “Hey Siri, Unlock my door”
- Lock: “Hey Siri, lock my door”
- Check Status: “Hey Siri, is my front door locked?”
Cons and Pros of August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen
August Smart Lock Pro 3rd Gen is a beatiful designed and very well working lock. There are some other products on the market which can be compared to this product but if we have to make a list as top smart locks 2019 then we would definetely write this one in the top. We can easily suggest you to buy this smart lock. We want to list some pros and cons which we have found.
Pros:
Beautiful round design
Easy installation
Custom App
Support for voice assistants Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri
Airbnb options
Custom virtual keys
Notifications on lock activity
Auto unlock and lock
Door sense
Low battery indicator
Multiple smart home controller options
Key usage if battery drains
Keypad contoller option
Cons:
Big dimensions
Short battery life
Auto unlock problems at Android devices
