Kwikset Smart Locks Review

Kwikset's smart locks—like the Kwikset Halo Wi-Fi lock—do well enough in a head-to-head battle with competitors like Schlage and Yale, but it stands out for being more affordable overall. Naturally, this means Kwikset smart locks don't sport as many features (like geofencing).

But it makes up for that by offering innovative options like SmartKey rekeying and SecureScreen touchscreen keypads on some models. We're also fans of the style of these smart locks, which is more striking than the competition. Check out our full breakdown of Kwikset's best smart locks to see why we like them and what improvements we'd like.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and learn how to protect your home, loved ones, and belongings.

Although you can customize your Kwikset smart lock plenty of ways, the underlying features are consistent between models. Here are a few similarities and differences to help you decide which model is best for your needs.

Here are the basic features you can expect on most Kwikset smart locks:

• Battery power: All smart locks require batteries; Kwikset's tool of choice is four AA batteries. These go in an enclosure (which is why it's so bulky looking) on the inside of your door. But the batteries on the Wi-Fi (Halo) and Bluetooth (Aura) locks don't last as long as they do on the HomeKit, Z-Wave, or Zigbee models.
• Mobile app controls: All of Kwikset's smart locks work with a mobile app, though the app depends on the smart home platform you use and whether there's a smart hub.
• Automatic locking: This allows the lock to relock after 30 seconds when you unlock it. This setting is off by default but is easy to activate by following steps in the user manual (or in the Kwikset app for Halo, Aura, and Premis).
• Durable construction: Kwikset smart locks offer great protection against lockpicking and physical attacks. This puts Kwikset on par with Yale smart locks but they typically aren't as strong as Schlage.
• Keypads and backup keys: In addition to opening the door through a smartphone app, you can use a PIN code or backup key to unlock Kwikset smart locks. While most models have both a keypad and keyhole, some—like the Obsidian and the Halo Touch—have only one.
• Installation: You can install a Kwikset smart door lock in about 20 minutes or less using a simple screwdriver—there's no drilling or complex wiring.
• SmartKey: Except for the Obsidian—which doesn't have a keyhole—you can rekey your Kwikset locks to use a different key using a special tool. This is most convenient for folks that want to keep existing house keys when upgrading to smart locks. You won't need to pay for new copies of your keys or custom order "keyed-alike" locks.

Because Kwikset smart locks share many of the same features, the biggest differences lie in wireless technology and design aesthetics. Here's a crash course on how these locks differ.

Kwikset's smart locks work with a variety of wireless and smart home platforms:

• Wi-Fi: The Halo and Halo Touch both use Wi-Fi to connect to your home network so you can control the locks remotely using the Kwikset app. These are also the only Kwikset smart locks that work directly with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
• Bluetooth: The Aura's Bluetooth also works without a hub but without the remote controls of Halo. It doesn't link to a smart hub, so this lock works only when you're nearby.
• Z-Wave and Zigbee: Kwikset SmartCode and Obsidian locks work with smart hubs like Samsung SmartThings or a home security system like Abode or Blue by ADT. By linking to these platforms, you can control the locks remotely and adjust settings with your phone. Without a hub, you need to program the devices manually using the keypad.
• Apple HomeKit: The Kwikset Premis connects to Apple HomeKit via an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad to enable remote access and make setup easier. These devices are optional if your iPhone is nearby, but remote access is too useful to ignore.

• Keypad styles: These smart locks use a variety of different keypads like touchscreens and physical buttons. The physical buttons on SmartCode models come in arrangements of 6 or 11, depending on the number of buttons you want for your lock.
  • SecureScreen: Kwikset's touchscreen locks like the Halo, Premis, and SmartCode 916 have a nifty security feature that requires you to touch two random numbers before entering your code. This helps spread fingerprints across the screen so intruders can't reverse-engineer your PIN code.
• Number of PIN codes: Most Kwikset smart locks top out at 30 user codes, but Halo and Aura support up to 250 codes thanks to their direct communication with mobile apps. The Halo Touch supports up to 100 fingerprints across 50 users.
• Code permissions: The Aura, Halo, and Premis have customizable user code permissions and scheduling:
  • Anytime: users with this permission can come and go as they please, which is best for family and trusted friends.
  • One-time: allow a guest to enter your home once within a 24-hour period, which is great for a neighbor dropping off a tool they borrowed.
  • Time range: If you have a friend who visits at a specific time each day, this setting allows them in, but not at other times. It's also great for enforcing a curfew to have your younger children home by a particular hour—no late-night sneak-ins.
  • Date range: this option is great for your various sitters when you go on vacation (baby, cat, plant) or grant access to short-term renters if you run an Airbnb or VRBO.

Depending on the lock you choose, you customize the finish to match your preferred aesthetics. Except for Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze—which are available on all Kwikset locks—you can expect a different selection of the following finishes on your locks:

• Satin Nickel
• Venetian Bronze
• Polished Brass
• Matte Black
• Satin Chrome
• Polished Chrome

• Kwikset Premis: The Kwikset Premis bears an uncanny resemblance to the SmartCode 916, but it differs by offering Apple HomeKit compatibility and PIN code scheduling. You can control the lock locally if you have an iPhone, but you need a HomeKit hub for remote access.
• Kwikset SmartCode 910: The Kwikset SmartCode 910 is the simplest Z-Wave smart lock that Kwikset makes. It has a simple six-button keypad (one quick-lock button and five two-number buttons). It's not as affordable as the Kwikset Aura but is a good alternative to the 916.
• Kwikset SmartCode 912: The Kwikset SmartCode 912 is virtually identical to the 910 but includes an integrated lever for doors without deadbolts.
• Kwikset SmartCode 914: The Kwikset SmartCode 914 offers a button-style keypad like the 910 but has individual buttons for each number instead of two numbers per button. This increases the number of distinctive PIN combinations you can create, resulting in a more secure lock.

Kwikset has been making locks for 75 years and is one of the most popular brands on the market. Kwikset is also notably more affordable than smart locks from competitors like Schlage, August, and Yale, but its smart locks don't capture lightning in a bottle the way those brands do. Still, it's a great alternative for folks wanting to save some cash on a reliable smart lock.

Kwikset Halo: choose this Wi-Fi smart lock if you want smart home compatibility and if you want remote access from anywhere your phone has an internet connection.

Kwikset Aura: choose this Bluetooth smart lock if you want an affordable option you can program with your phone without remote access.

Kwikset SmartCode 916: choose this Z-Wave lock if you have a smart home hub and want better battery life than most other Kwikset locks.

Kwikset Halo Touch: choose this biometric smart lock for the security and speed of a fingerprint sensor, making it easier to use than other Kwikset locks.

Kwikset Obsidian: choose this keyless lock if you want a minimalist touchscreen keypad without a bulky keyhole, though it requires a smart hub if you want the best features.

Over the years, we've tested various Kwikset smart locks like the Kevo, Obsidian, Premis, and SmartCode 916, so we have a strong understanding of how these deadbolts perform. But we're not content to rely on past experiences, so we also tested the new Kwikset Halo Touch for this review.

For our Halo Touch testing, we focused on whether the lock is a good value for the price, which features we found most useful, how long and complex the installation was, and how we felt about the lock after using it for a few days.

Using our experiences with these locks and a healthy dose of research into online customer reviews, we ranked them for general usefulness and performance. Check out our full testing methodology to see how we rate and review products.

1. Insert the original key and turn it clockwise a quarter turn.
2. With the original key still in the lock, insert and remove the SmartKey tool.
3. Remove the original key.
4. Insert the new key and do a counter-clockwise half-turn.

• Best Smart Locks
• 5 Best Door Locks for Apartments and Renters
• What Are Electric Door Locks and How Do They Work?
• Best Sliding Glass Door Locks
• Best Door Locks for Home Security