The August Smart Lock is a new iPhone-compatible locking system that has been designed by Jason Johnson and Yves Béhar, who serves as Jawbone's Chief Creative Officer. Béhar, who has worked on products like the Jambox and the UP, has created a simple universal lock that is designed to connect to a smartphone using Bluetooth.

The lock itself is crafted of anodized aluminum and looks similar to a standard home lock. It comes with a number of faceplates and deadbolt adapters to fit the majority of the locks on the market, and it functions on four AA batteries. When battery life is low, the system will send out a notification.

augustsmartlock
Much like competing products Lockitron and Kevo, the August Smart Lock will be available without subscription fees. It will also function with an accompanying app, which can be programmed to allow entry to friends and family. The system monitors guests that enter and it can be customized with specific timers. TechCrunch has some additional information:

In addition to the ability to turn on and off access to the home through an app, users will be able to send invitations to friends or family that have been connected on Facebook or in their mobile contact list. Johnson gave the example of a dinner party, where visitors could be invited and let themselves in without having to ring the doorbell.

The August smart lock is powered by Bluetooth low energy (BLE) technology, which will enable it to work without connecting to a WiFi network. The team claims that it's the smallest electronic door lock on the market, and they say that it only takes 10 minutes to install.

There are no specific details on when the August Smart Lock will launch, but the reservation website says that it will go on sale later in the year with an expected ship date of November or December. The lock will cost $199, with no additional fees.

Top Rated Comments

blakey91 Avatar
155 months ago
If your phone runs out of battery, you're locked out.
Just use the old fashioned key.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bigcat318 Avatar
155 months ago
If your phone runs out of battery, you're locked out.
Just use the old fashioned key.

Im going to guess that similar to lockitron, your standard key still works to open the door. The device goes on the inside of the door.

Watching the video would help.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrg02d Avatar
155 months ago
Yay my iPhone was stolen and the crooks now are able to unlock my HOUSE so they can finish the job!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Arnold624 Avatar
155 months ago
Just slip a spare charger in your porch somewhere
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chupa Chupa Avatar
155 months ago
If your phone runs out of battery, you're locked out.
Just use the old fashioned key.
No more locked out than if the battery on your car's FOB dies if you have the keyless entry option on your car... in other words not. You always have the traditional key backup.

I've had keyless entry since my '07 car. When I first heard about the option I thought how lazy can one be that they can't push a button on a remote. But they were clever and required the option in order to remotely open the trunk w/ top down (convertible) so I got it. I ended up not bothering with the trunk w/ top down but fell in love with just being able to touch the door handle and not having to fumble in my pocket for my key. Ever since I wished something similar was available for homes.

This new slew of locks and lock assists is an interesting start. I have a Lockitron on order but suspect its going to be a dud since it overlays w/ the existing lock. For older homes that have settled and requires a little finesse opening the lock I suspect the Lockitron will fail. The Kevo looks like a potential winner but I'm not changing all my locks to Kwikset -- I want one key that opens all doors. If I already had Kwikset I'd go for it in a second.

----------

Yay my iPhone was stolen and the crooks now are able to unlock my HOUSE so they can finish the job!
1) They'd have to know where you live -- do you really have your address on your phone?

2) If you realize your phone is missing you go online and disable the lock just like you disable your iPhone.

----------

How secure is this thing? Couldn't someone make an app to trick it into opening?
Depends on how secure the code is. But if its like the rolling code on a garage door opener or a keyless entry car it would take a while to crack. Keyless entry isn't new, just new to residential locksets.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Chupa Chupa Avatar
155 months ago
Too Much Technology.

This is one of those cases of applying too much complexity.

How is it too complex? The homeowner or authorized guest touches the handle and the door opens. It's very simple. This type of technology has been available in cars for about 5 years. Frankly I wondered why it took so long to get to residential homes.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
top stories 2025 03 29

Top Stories: WWDC 2025 Announced, iPhone 17 Pro and iOS 19 Rumors, and More

Saturday March 29, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
Apple's big developer event is a little over two months away, and rumors about what we can expect to see in Apple's next major operating system updates are becoming increasingly frequent. A public release of iOS 18.4 is also imminent with a number of updates and improvements, although we won't be getting the major Apple Intelligence Siri upgrades that had reportedly been planned for this...
Magic Mouse Green

What to Expect From the Magic Mouse 3

Saturday March 29, 2025 10:15 am PDT by
Apple is reportedly working on a new Magic Mouse. Below, we recap what to expect. The two key rumors for the Magic Mouse 3 so far include a relocated charging port, along with a more ergonomic design. It was briefly rumored that the Magic Mouse 3 would also feature voice control, but that was misinterpreted information. Relocated Charging Port While the Magic Mouse switched from...
iOS 18

iOS 18.4 Expected Next Week - Here Are the Release Notes

Friday March 28, 2025 2:01 pm PDT by
With the second release candidate of iOS 18.4 that Apple seeded out today, the company finally provided us with release notes that give a full rundown on what to expect. There's an Apple Vision Pro app, new Apple Intelligence features for notifications and additional language support, plus an Apple News Food feature for Apple News+ subscribers, and several updates that should improve the...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Homescreen

Six Things to Know About Apple's Upcoming Foldable iPhone

Friday March 28, 2025 3:54 pm PDT by
We've been hearing rumors about a foldable iPhone for almost a decade now, but it looks like we might finally see the device come to fruition in 2026. We're going to be waiting many more months for the foldable iPhone, but so far we're hearing good things. Apple wants to make it creaseless. It's taken Apple multiple years to design a foldable iPhone that it's satisfied with because Apple ...
iOS 19 visionOS UI Elements

Apple Codename Provides Clue About iOS 19's Rumored New Design

Sunday March 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
Multiple sources have claimed that iOS 19 will introduce a new design with more translucent buttons, menus, notification banners, and more, and there is now another clue that points towards this glass-like appearance. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said the new design project is codenamed "Solarium" internally. A solarium is a room with glass walls that allow in plenty of sunlight, so this...