Aqara U50 Smart Lock Review (2025): Affordable Until the Hub

Aqara’s newest lock, the U50, has been connected my beforehand doorway for the amended portion of 3 months. I astir forgot astir it arsenic it smoothly inserted itself into my family's beingness conscionable earlier the vacation season. My household learned the caller code, and adjacent though I handed retired the included 2 keys, nary of america needed them.

It's the astir affordable fastener I've tested. However, it comes with each the features I privation successful a astute lock: automated locking aft a definite clip and the quality to make aggregate introduction codes, and it tin archer if the doorway is unfastened oregon closed without immoderate added other accessories oregon sensors. It doesn't adjacent person immoderate of the sneaky subscription fees that you'll find with immoderate smart-home and information companies.

I truly similar this lock. But you'll privation to get the Aqara M3 Hub ($110) to get entree to each of its features, and the hub's terms tag conscionable astir doubles the outgo of purchasing the lock. If you tin get by without needing Wi-Fi access, though (which means nary smart-home integrations and nary remotely checking connected the door's locked status), this affordable fastener is simply a large purchase.

Slim Formation

The U50 has a minimalist design, with a simple, modern-looking keypad connected the exterior sheet and a sleek deadbolt connected the interior panel. I similar the ample sans serif font Aqara has connected the keypad, and determination are 2 buttons aft the zero: an Away Mode button, which you tin configure successful the Aqara app, and an Enter/Lock Button, which you request to click aft entering the doorway codification oregon to relock the doorway aft yourself. The keypad does necessitate you to pat it and aftermath it up earlier you participate the code, which isn't difficult, but I had to intentionally property a fastener to aftermath it up versus lightly tapping determination connected the keypad.

There's besides a ample country underneath the keypad that is really a hidden keyhole. It's covered with a sheet that you descent downward to uncover the keyhole. The sliding screen volition click into spot to enactment open, truthful you don't request to interest astir holding it unfastened portion you usage your key. It's a bully other information diagnostic if you're disquieted astir fastener pickers, since it's not evident conscionable by looking astatine the fastener that the sheet volition descent open. You tin besides person a nonrecreational locksmith rekey it.