The free and open-source smart home platform Home Assistant got another vote of confidence today, with the IoT manufacturer Xthings announcing that its Ultraloq U-Bolt series of Z-Wave smart deadbolts will be integrated with it.
Both the U-Bolt Z-Wave ($180) and the up-market U-Bolt Pro Z-Wave ($220) smart locks are getting the Home Assistant treatment; both locks are already compatible with Samsung SmartThings and other Z-Wave smart home hubs, as well as Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and IFTTT.
Both of Xthings’ Ultraloq U-Bolt Z-Wave smart deadbolts will be getting Works with Home Assistant certification. The U-Bolt Z-Wave model is shown here, and the U-Bolt Pro Z-Wave is pictured up top.
Xthings
“We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with Xthings and expand the certified ‘Works with Home Assistant’ Ultraloq products in the coming months,” said Miranda Bishop, Partnership Manager at The Open Home Foundation.
The cheaper U-Bolt Z-Wave is equipped with a key cylinder and a semi-circular PIN pad, while the pricier U-Bolt Pro Z-Wave adds a fingerprint reader. Both models come with a plug-in Z-Wave-to-Wi-Fi bridge and a door sensor that can inform you when the door has been left ajar.
This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks.
When incorporated into a Home Assistant or other smart home platform, either Ultraloq model can arm your security system when you leave, and disarm it when you arrive home and unlock the door. The locks could also trigger smart lights to illuminate your path into the home, turn the path lights off when you leave, command your smart thermostat to kick your HVAC system into high gear when you arrive home (or go dormant when you depart), and more.
Xthings says its latest Z-Wave smart locks deliver 40-percent faster response time and longer range for deployments in larger homes.
Author: Michael Brown, Executive Editor, TechHive
Michael is TechHive's lead editor, with 30+ years of experience covering smart homes, home networking, and home audio/home theater. He holds a BA in Multimedia Journalism, authored the book Desktop Video Production, and was awarded Best Online Review by the Computer Press Association. Michael built a smart home in 2007 and used it as a real-world product-testing lab. Now living in the Pacific Northwest, he is converting his 1890 Victorian bungalow into a modern smart home. Michael has worked at CNET, PCWorld, Electronic Musician, and Maximum PC. As a freelancer, he contributed to New Media, Camcorder, MacWeek, and more.