Nuki is back, and now it's arriving with a new generation of smart locks designed to improve upon what's already been offered. We were already familiar with these smart locks from the brand, and although they offered superb performance, Nuki has sought to enhance certain aspects to deliver a much more complete product. But how?
What does the new Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 offer?
Using a smart lock offers numerous advantages, and the ability to leave home without keys is essentially what defines these smart systems. With the Nuki Smart Lock, we were able to verify that the device worked remarkably well, and although there were a few details that we felt could be improved, the user experience was genuinely positive.
But there was room for improvement, and that's precisely what they're proposing with the new Smart Lock 3.0 , an improved device that focuses its innovations on the incorporation of a new, more powerful and quieter motor that significantly changes the way the lock works.
In our case, the previous generation of the Nuki Smart Lock produced a lot of noise when opening the lock, and although it was perfectly bearable, it was clear that if it made less noise it would be much better. Well, that's what happens with the new model, since the action of opening and closing the lock produces much less noise, being a softer action that doesn't bother as much (especially when you have to leave home very early).
Has the door been opened?
Until now, Nuki locks made use of a small magnet attached to the door that served to control the status of the door. If it was open, the Smart Lock knew at all times that it should not block the lock, however, the use of the magnet on armored and metallic doors produced some calibration problems.
To offer improved functionality, the brand has launched the Door Sensor (pictured above), which is simply a Bluetooth-enabled proximity sensor that communicates the door's exact status to the lock. The result is perfect opening control, a significant improvement over the previous magnetic lock.
Unfortunately, this Door Sensor is only compatible with the Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 , so it is an exclusive feature of the new generation.
now in two versions
Another new feature of the new model is that users can choose between two different versions: the Smart Lock 3.0 and the Smart Lock 3.0 Pro (the model we tested). The difference between the two is that the Pro model includes built-in Wi-Fi and the Nuki Power Pack (a battery with a USB charging port instead of AA batteries).
These differences make the Pro model the perfect version for those who want to have remote control of the lock if they need to be at home, since, having WiFi connectivity, the lock will connect to our router to have internet and be visible from outside.
This doesn't mean the basic Smart Lock 3.0 can't do the same. In that case, we'll need to purchase the Nuki Bridge (€99), just as we did with the Nuki Smart Lock 2.0. With the bridge, we'll also enjoy remote access and compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant. So, what are the differences between the Smart Lock 2.0 and 3.0? Well, as we mentioned before, the difference lies in the new motor, which is much quieter and more powerful.
Is the Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 worth it?
After enjoying the Nuki smart lock for a year, this new model has basically offered us a much quieter operation. The ecosystem remains the same, and its operation too, so if you have a previous model, you may not notice a big change. It's better, but not as a complete replacement.
In case you are looking for a smart lock, we do not see another more complete and efficient proposal than this one. It is true that the application still does not convince us with its menus and interface, but once configured, it allows things like integration with the assistants, integration with the Apple Watch and an automatic opening function by GPS positioning that works really well.
Once again Nuki demonstrates that this is a safe, reliable product with excellent performance, so we believe that it is a highly recommended purchase for those who want to continue automating their home.
The price of these new locks is 249 euros for the Nuki Smart Lock 3.0 Pro and 149 euros for the Nuki Smart Lock 3.0.