Level Home today announced the launch of the Level Touch, a follow up to its invisible Level smart home lock that's meant to look like a traditional lock with a minimalist design.
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The Level Touch features the same unassuming design and minimal footprint as the Level, so it doesn't impact the look of the door like many other smart locks on the market. It is unrecognizable as a smart lock given its resemblance to a traditional lock.
Available in Satin Chrome, Satin Nickel, Polished Brass, and Matte Black, the Level Touch is made from stainless steel. there are options for both keyed and keyless entry. For keyless entry, Level Touch uses Bluetooth, allowing the door to automatically unlock when you're nearby.
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Locking the door can be done with a finger on the lock, but it will also automatically lock after a preselected amount of time. The device also ships with NFC-enabled keycards that work without a phone. It's powered by a CR2 battery that provides power for a year, and it offers HomeKit support.
With HomeKit, the Level Touch can be controlled with Siri voice commands, accessed remotely with a Home hub, and included in home automations alongside other HomeKit-enabled products.
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The Level app that works with the Level Touch can allow you to provide entry for friends, family members, dog walkers, repair people, and others from anywhere. Level says that the Level Touch is BHMA AAA certified "to meet the highest industry standard for security and durability."
The Level Touch can be purchased from the Level website for $329 starting today.
Top Rated Comments
I highly doubt the battery will work for a year. I've had numerous deadbolt smart locks, and right now I have several that are powered by 4xAA batteries and they last about two months on a busy door. Problem is, there's usually some amount of imperfection in the bolt slip and it comes into contact with the jamb, creating friction and more work for the battery. Wood swells and contracts and it makes it tough for a bolt to have a smooth trip in and out of the slip. Just my personal experience with doors and door seals.
The point of the lock is not to make your house impenetrable. If someone wants to get in your house, they will. I suppose you have windows in your home or doors with glass in them...easy points of entry. If I was going to bust in a house I wouldn't do it through the front door where everyone can see me.One bolt in a wooden frame, so a good kick will open it. My front door has two bolts, plus two strong metal hooks, all in a metal frame.
All these things need batteries or replacements or lose wi-fi/Bluetooth connection, or incompatible with other stuff, and use needless electricity waiting for the 0.5% of the time they will be used by your device. Even for me, who loves to tinker they seem like too much effort.
Not sold on smart switches either, but everything else you mentioned really enhances your living space. One of the best things about smart locks is how it can mimic the keyless entry of car doors.I am a massive geek and try and jump on all the new bandwagons, but try as I like, I cant seem to justify a smart home. "Turn a light off" well I am at home, I can do it myself. "Smart lock", I am usually already at the door when I need to use it. "Smart thermostat", mine saves even more energy when its off, and on when I do. I can understand smart security or video intercoms, that's cool. But even then I don't have one.
All these things need batteries or replacements or lose wi-fi/Bluetooth connection, or incompatible with other stuff, and use needless electricity waiting for the 0.5% of the time they will be used by your device. Even for me, who loves to tinker they seem like too much effort.
I bought an August smart lock myself because I have this terrible paranoia of questioning if I had locked the door. I’ve turned my car around several times to double check if the door is locked.
It isn't so much "turn on a light" as it is "set the lights to tropical sunset" while watching a movie in the dead of winter. Hard to set the color and brightness of lights with an on/off wall switch. As for locks, also not terribly useful to me at home but if I had a vacation rental, they would be great and also useful if I had a housecleaner or dog walker.I am a massive geek and try and jump on all the new bandwagons, but try as I like, I cant seem to justify a smart home. "Turn a light off" well I am at home, I can do it myself. "Smart lock", I am usually already at the door when I need to use it. "Smart thermostat", mine saves even more energy when its off, and on when I do. I can understand smart security or video intercoms, that's cool. But even then I don't have one.
All these things need batteries or replacements or lose wi-fi/Bluetooth connection, or incompatible with other stuff, and use needless electricity waiting for the 0.5% of the time they will be used by your device. Even for me, who loves to tinker they seem like too much effort.