Aqara U200 Smart Lock Review

About the Aqara U200 smart lock

• Compatibility: Works with existing single-cylinder deadbolts
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, 
• Smart home support: Matter over Thread
• Dimensions: 2.4 inches × 2.4 inches × 6 inches
• Keypad dimensions: 1.7 inches × 1.3 inches × 5.7 inches
• Power source: Four AAA batteries; can be wired to doorbell power supply
• Colors: White, black, silver

What we like

It has a retrofit design

The Aqara U200 is a retrofit lock, which doesn't replace your entire lock. Instead, it replaces the part of the lock inside your home, leaving the actual deadbolt and the exterior parts of the lock untouched.

That means that from outside your door, you wouldn't be able to tell that you have a smart lock, and you can continue using your existing keys. Not only does this make the lock more renter-friendly (though you should still check with your landlord), but it also gives you more options in terms of design from outside your door.

Of course, the trade-off is that the interior part of the lock is perhaps slightly bulkier. However, I didn't mind the bulk of this lock—it wasn't over the top.

The included keypad is sleek and stylish, too. It's suitable for outdoor installation and is weatherproof to withstand most normal weather events. We'll get into precisely what it does later, but I like the black-and-silver color scheme. 

This Aqara smart lock has Matter and Thread support

As mentioned, Aqara has quickly adopted new smart home technology, and it shows. The Aqara U200 not only supports Matter, but it supports Matter over Thread—so it can participate in the latest smart home mesh network designed to make all your compatible accessories more responsive. You will need a Thread border router for this to work. For Apple users, a Thread border router can be a recent-generation Apple TV or Home Pod Mini. For Amazon users, a 4th-gen Echo is a Thread border router. A Nest Wi-Fi Pro, 2nd-gen Nest Hub, or Nest Hub Max will do the trick for Google users.

I found the lock very responsive when using the paired keypad and the Apple Home app. Curiously, it was much quicker to react from the keypad or Apple Home than the actual Aqara app, which regularly took a while to recognize the lock. During testing, I did not have an Aqara hub set up, so it seems the app connected to the lock through Bluetooth—which may be why. Ultimately, most users will only use the Aqara app to tweak settings anyway, and it didn't bother me to wait a few seconds when I wanted to tweak settings now and then.

Most third-party smart home ecosystem users don't need to buy an Aqara hub for the U200. However, using the lock with an Aqara hub grants you remote access without connecting the lock through a third-party ecosystem. 

It's ultra versatile

The Aqara U200 is perhaps the most versatile lock I've ever tested—allowing you to lock and unlock it however you want.

For starters, the primary ways are to lock and unlock the device using your phone, whether through the Aqara app or a third-party app like Apple Home. This is the least convenient way to use the lock, but if that's how you want to use it, knock yourself out

The real convenience, however, comes from the included keypad. At first glance, it looks basic—but it's actually highly full-featured. Using the keypad, you can unlock the door with a simple PIN code or register your fingerprint. I found the fingerprint sensor to be accurate and quick—place the registered finger on the sensor, and the lock will immediately unlock. I also really appreciated the presence of a lock button on the keypad. Being able to lock the door so easily made me lock my door more often, even for a quick trip to the store.

Aqara has said that it'll push Home Key support to the U200 in an update later, but I found the feature to work out of the box. I'm not entirely sure why there's confusion about Home Key support—it worked perfectly fine in my testing, including Express Mode.

Additionally, the Aqara U200 can uniquely work with both U.S. deadbolts and European mortise locks. That's impressive, and it's one of the few locks supporting both lock styles.

The battery life is great

This Aqara smart lock is rated for up to a six-month battery life, based on eight entries per day. That's quite good—and I don't know about you, but I don't lock my door eight times per day. Of course, I only tested the lock for a few weeks before writing this review, so I was unable to test the battery life claims fully, but even four months or so would be acceptable—and if that rating is for eight entries per day, you may get far more than six months.

The battery in the lock itself is rechargeable, so you'll have to remember that you can't use the smart features every six months when you charge. It's worth charging the lock overnight, during which the device can stay locked, and you won't need to remember to take a key with you. The keypad uses four AAA batteries; you can wire it into a doorbell power supply. Most people don't have two power supplies set up for a doorbell, so it might have been nice if the keypad doubled as a doorbell—but considering how advanced it is, that's perhaps a bit much to ask.

What we don't like

The installation can be tricky

Unfortunately, installing the Aqara U200 is a more complicated process. As someone who regularly installs and uninstalls smart locks for reviews, I figured it out eventually. However, Aqara could do a better job walking users through the process. Neither the included instructions nor the app has instructions for physically installing the lock.

Instead, they only walk users through the process of calibrating it and linking it to their account once it has already been installed. You will figure it out eventually, but again, even as someone who regularly installs locks, it took me some time to figure out where all the pieces go and which were suitable for my door.

Installation involves unscrewing the interior part of the lock and removing any hardware. Then, place the U200 over your existing deadbolt with the right cylinder attachments. Then, screw it back into the other side of the lock, install the batteries, and follow the in-app instructions to link it to your account. Then, you'll likely want to install the keypad outside your door, which will involve screwing the base plate into your wall, then slotting the keypad into the base plate with the batteries installed. It's much more straightforward than installing the lock; again, there aren't instructions on how to do so.

It's a little pricey

The Aqara U200 is my favorite retrofit lock I have reviewed so far, and it's hard to find a downside. However, if I had to pick one, it might be that the lock is a little expensive.

Not overly so, though. This Aqara smart lock comes at $250, the same price as other smart locks like the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock + Keypad Touch but a little more expensive than the Yale Approach Lock + Keypad Touch. It's more costly than retrofit locks that don't have a keypad, and you can only buy the Aqara with a keypad. But the best thing about the Aqara U200 is the keypad anyway.

Should you buy the Aqara U200 smart lock?

Yes, this is the best smart lock you can buy

A retrofit lock isn't necessarily for everyone. A lock like this requires you separately screw in the keypad outside your door, rather than simply having the keypad installed in the door as part of the lock itself. But I loved using this lock so much that I would consider using it even if I owned my home and could install any lock I wanted.

When it comes to retrofit smart locks, the Aqara U200 is my favorite. However, there are situations in which you might go for an alternative. For example, if you want the most minimalistic smart lock, it's worth going for the Level Bolt Connect, which only replaces the interior deadbolt of your lock. The Yale Approach is another great retrofit lock, and it's cheaper but has far fewer features. Then there's the August Wi-Fi Lock + Keypad Touch, an excellent lock in its own right. It doesn't support Matter, though it does support most major ecosystems, and it doesn't have Apple Home Key.

The Aqara U200 has all of those features, so if you want a retrofit lock that supports Matter over Thread and Home Key, it's not only the best option right now, it's the only option right now. Thankfully, it's a good option—though if August does bring Matter and Home Key to its locks, Aqara will be in for some serious competition.