Level Lock+ With Apple’s Home Key Is a Dream Come True

The Level Lock+ is easily the most convenient (and attractive) smart lock on the market today. Level’s smart locks have been great for a while, but this new model adds the secret sauce with Apple’s home key to make unlocking your door as simple as holding an iPhone or Apple Watch to it.

On Launch, the Level Lock+ retails for $329 and comes in two finishes—satin nickel and matte black. Both variants are exclusive through Apple’s website, while the satin nickel model will be sold in Apple retail stores.

As a reminder, Level’s current lineup features the Lock Touch Edition, which retails for $329 and supports all features except Apple’s home key. The entry model Lock sells for $249 and includes all features except touch to control it, support for physical keycards and home key. Then there’s this new Lock+ model, which also retails for $329 but includes all features. A change to the pricing structure might happen in the future, but for now, the choice between the Touch Edition and the new Lock+ model seems obvious.

The Level Lock+ is certainly a premium option, but I can confidently say, it’s stunning. Not just its simple, elegant look, but also its setup and functionality.

TL;DR

Pros:

• Small footprint and simple installation
• Home key makes locking and unlocking quick

Cons:

• Satin nickel finish is a fingerprint magnet
• Less common battery type (not AA or AAA)

Buy at Apple.

Installation and Overall Look

The good news is that most smart locks now are pretty easy to install. Assuming you have a standard door on which you’re simply replacing a dumb lock with a smart one, it can be done in about 30 minutes. I mention that context because the Level Lock+ took me only about 10 minutes to install, including removing the old lock. The instructions from Level are clear and straightforward, and the tools and screws needed are minimal.

The brilliant thing about Level is that it crams all the smarts inside the deadbolt housing, so there are no bulky or unsightly pieces on the door. Again, this isn’t particularly new for the company; it does this with other products. Still, invisible smarts is impressive.

One thing that is apparent pretty quickly is that the satin nickel version is a fingerprint magnet. I thought it still looked attractive, but it will show where you’ve touched it. Beyond that, there’s nothing to note about its physical appearance. It looks like other products from the company. It also looks like a very traditional deadbolt.

If you crave the keypad functionality, the company sells a separate unit that can pair with this lock. Having a keypad allows people to enter codes without needing a physical key or having their phone. If you need it, the keypad is available, and if you don’t then there’s no need to worry about it.

Level Home Key

Home key allows your iPhone or Apple Watch to tap to unlock, like a keycard. The home key is stored in Apple Wallet and can be triggered just by putting your supported device up next to the lock. If you turn on Express mode, nothing else needs to be done. It just unlocks, or locks, depending on its current state. If you don’t have Express mode turned on, you’ll need to authenticate yourself before your device will work.

I have been using home key since the Schlage Encode Plus was released earlier this spring. I have loved it. As simple as entering a code on a keypad is, relying your phone or watch to open a door is still a much better experience. It’s even better than saying, “Hey Siri, unlock the front door.” Using home key on the Level Lock+ has been equally as good.

Here’s an interesting tidbit about home key—it’s singular. Even though I have two different locks from two different manufacturers, I only have one home key in my Apple Wallet. I was confused by that at first, trying to figure out how to set up a home key for the Lock+, but nothing else was needed. Once I added the lock to the Home app with HomeKit, the current key on my devices (and my wife’s devices) just worked.

Should You Buy the Level Lock Plus?

The biggest hindrance to the Level Lock+ is its price. If your budget allows for it, this is the lock to buy. The slightly harder question to answer is whether this smart lock is a good value, even with its high price. The premium price tag is not without merit. This lock does away with unsightly hardware and hassles around the installation. Less is more in the case of Level, and certainly the Lock+, so If you appreciate aesthetics and simplicity, then you might be able to call this a good value.

I’m not sure that I could personally justify spending the money on a Level door lock on every exterior door at my house. But Level Lock+ for the front door, or for one that’s used all the time, is an easy sell. Its two physical keys, two keycards and virtual access through HomeKit are all too good not to be sucked into its hype. The Level Lock+ is hands down a winner.

Buy at Apple for $329.95.

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