Nuki’s Smart Lock is a better retrofit door lock

The new Nuki Smart Lock ($159), the company’s first designed for US deadbolts, is the most advanced retrofit smart lock I’ve tested. It features a sleek, compact design that looks and works like a regular doorknob, but it’s much more than a doorknob. It can automatically unlock as you approach, lock behind you, unlock using a keypad or your fingerprint, and be controlled from anywhere. It also supports every smart home platform through Matter, and you can still use your existing key — if you’re old-school like that.

I love the button integrated into the stainless steel design that locks and unlocks with a single press — no need to turn the knob. And the Nuki is shockingly fast: quicker than manually turning the lock and easily twice as fast as any other smart lock I’ve tested, locking in under a second.

Exciting new retrofit locks have been few and far between since the fourth-generation August Wifi Smart Lock launched over 5 years ago. While that lock has held up as a good option for a smart lock that doesn’t require replacing your existing deadbolt, the Nuki is a better choice.

It’s faster, smaller, and smarter than the August, plus it works with Matter over Thread and promises up to a year of battery life. That’s significantly more than the two to three months I got with August.

The European-made lock also arrives with an impressive focus on privacy and a competitive price. But a subscription for some features in its app and an interesting approach to charging the lock could be dealbreakers.

The Nuki has a button that can be set to lock and unlock with just a press.

I love trying out all the cool new tech smart locks are leaning into – from palm scanners to facial recognition and built-in cameras, but I get that most people just want their smart lock to look like a regular lock. Unfortunately, design is too often an afterthought for lock manufacturers. Most smart locks are big, black, and bulky, and either plasticky or very expensive. The Austrian-designed Nuki strikes a sweet spot: a minimalist style with a premium look and feel, all for under $160.

The Nuki Smart Lock is its first designed for deadbolts found on US doors, but the company has been making locks for over a decade and is on its fifth generation in Europe. The lock’s small size stems from a clever design that has evolved over the years to be constructed entirely around a new brushless motor. It’s essentially a motor with a lithium-polymer battery attached.

The lock comes with a 6-foot cable designed to plug into a nearby outlet, only there were no outlets nearby for me. It attaches via a magnet, so will pop off easily if the door is opened.

The battery is built-in and non-removable, which helps with the compact design and seamless look. It charges via a proprietary 6-foot USB-C/Magsafe-style cable. The idea is you can charge it without removing the lock, and if someone opens the door while it’s connected, the cable pops off safely.

I love the integrated button that locks and unlocks with a single press.

But I didn’t have an outlet anywhere close enough to the door to try this, and I’m likely not alone. Removing the lock for charging is simple, but then you can’t open your door for the two hours it takes to charge. Not ideal. The cable is almost comically long, but probably needs to be longer. Additionally, a non-removable battery raises concerns about longevity. Nuki claims the battery should last 10 years, and says a replacement plan will be offered.

Installation takes less than 10 minutes. First, I put the supplied tape over my Schlage lock to hold it in place. Then, after removing the thumbturn, I replaced it with a backplate supplied by Nuki, using the existing screws. I selected the attachment that fitted my tailpiece from three provided. Then I attached the lock by lining up two groves by the Nuki logo with the backplate and twisting it on. Done!