August’s smart lock didn’t need many changes to be better. It was already easy to install and use. It worked with a lot of other smart home gadgets, and you could use the same keys on your existing deadbolt. But the new August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is one of the best smart locks and smart home devices because it is smaller and connects directly to your Wi-Fi network.
In its fourth generation, the unique retrofit design of the August stays true to its roots. The size is a very big difference. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is about 45% smaller than the ones that came before it. It has a diameter of about 2.8 inches and a depth of only 1.8 inches. Even though the lock has never been especially ugly, putting a big piece of metal on the inside of your door isn’t exactly an interior designer’s dream.
Specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Integrations: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT
- Installation: Interior Escutcheon
- Size: 3 inches (diameter), 1.75 inches (depth)
Where to buy August Wi-Fi Smart Lock?
The design team, which includes the famous designer Yves Béhar, kept the original design but made a few small changes. The sides of the lock have a different pattern of ridges that are meant to make it easier to hold. You can tell if your door is locked or not by looking for the August logo along that ridge. Inside the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, two CR123 batteries keep it running.
The August system is the easiest smart lock to set up, and both the app and the instructions that come in the box are easy to follow. Not a big surprise. If you’re worried about whether or not it will work with your current deadbolt, August has a helpful page that lists models from most brands that will work.
When you open the August app on your phone, you’ll see a Keychain screen with panels for each of your homes (you can use the app to manage multiple locks in multiple locations). When you open the lock screen by tapping a home panel, you can lock and unlock your door by tapping the big circle in the middle of the screen.
When the door is locked, the whole circle is red. When the door is open, the whole circle is green. A broken red circle means that the door is open but the lock is engaged, and a broken amber circle means that the door is open but the lock is not engaged.