{"id":5202,"date":"2020-07-16T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviancetechnologies.com\/blog\/blog\/august-wi-fi-smart-lock-review-the-best-known-retrofit-smart-lock-gets-wi-fi-and-shrinks-its-footprint\/"},"modified":"2020-07-16T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T10:00:00","slug":"august-wi-fi-smart-lock-review-the-best-known-retrofit-smart-lock-gets-wi-fi-and-shrinks-its-footprint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviancetechnologies.com\/blog\/august-wi-fi-smart-lock-review-the-best-known-retrofit-smart-lock-gets-wi-fi-and-shrinks-its-footprint\/","title":{"rendered":"August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review: The best-known retrofit smart lock gets Wi-Fi\u2014and shrinks its footprint"},"content":{"rendered":"

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August Wi-Fi Smart Lock review: The best-known retrofit smart lock gets Wi-Fi\u2014and shrinks its footprint<\/h2>\n

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For years, market leader August has relied on a two-product solution to give its smart locks Wi-Fi connectivity. The August locks include only a Bluetooth radio in the door housing. A separate product called the August Connect had to be plugged into a nearby power outlet, bridging the connection from the Bluetooth lock to your Wi-Fi network.<\/p>\n

With the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, the company ditches the inelegant August Connect and puts everything where it really ought to be: In a single device, right on the door. Even better, the lock has gotten considerably smaller despite the extra radio: 45-percent smaller in volume and 20-percent slimmer than the earlier Smart Lock Pro (per August\u2019s specs). As with its recent models, it\u2019s available in the traditional silver or a more fetching matte black finish.<\/p>\n

This review is part of TechHive\u2019s coverage of the best smart locks, <\/span>where you\u2019ll find<\/span> reviews of competing products, plus a buyer\u2019s guide to the features you should consider when shopping.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While the new lock integrates the Wi-Fi radio into the product, the overall operation and feature set of the lock hasn\u2019t really changed. The same August app remains in effect, and you\u2019ll need to install it on your phone to be walked through the lock installation.<\/p>\n

\"august<\/a> August Home<\/small>
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August says its new Wi-Fi Smart Lock (right) is 45-percent smaller in volume, and 20-percent slimmer than its August Smart Lock Pro.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August has always been a retrofit lock (which means you keep your exterior escutcheon, including the physical keyhole), and its hardware installation remains one of the simplest in the industry. You must remove a mere two screws from your existing deadbolt and replace them through the slim frame that holds August\u2019s interior escutcheon. As with other August locks, no additional screws are needed to attach the primary unit to this frame. A clever pair of wings allow you to easily clip it into place, and the faceplate adheres to the front of the unit magnetically.<\/p>\n

\"august<\/a> Christopher Null \/ IDG<\/small>
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The new August Wi-Fi Smart connects directly to your Wi-Fi network, provided it can find your Wi-Fi router.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the hardware installation was a breeze, the software setup with the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock was a bit rocky. Things progressed fine as I walked through the app\u2014until I got to the Wi-Fi portion of the configuration. August found my network, but simply couldn\u2019t connect to it, first failing to join, then complaining that the wireless signal was too weak.<\/p>\n

Following August\u2019s (extensive) troubleshooting guide, I eventually solved the issue by removing the lock from the door and placing right next to my router, after which it was finally able to join my network\u2014although it was clear after moving it back to its regular home that the lock sometimes struggles with range.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, although the lock also supports HomeKit, I was never able to get the lock to join the Apple network successfully.<\/p>\n

August\u2019s app is fairly streamlined and intuitive, as you would expect from an app that\u2019s been around since 2013. It\u2019s easy to open and close the lock on demand, set up users, and configure advanced settings like automatic locking and unlocking (courtesy of a capable geofencing solution). An included magnetic sensor also lets the lock determine whether the door is ajar (and prevent auto-locking if it is). The large white nubbin that enables this feature, however, must be placed right next to the lock itself, at hip height, making for a something of an eyesore. Other than the aforementioned range issues and some random times when the app crashed out of the blue, I had no real issues using the lock or the app.<\/p>\n