Aqara Smart Lock U50 review: A HomeKit lock for the masses

Last year, I said the Aqara Smart Lock U100 was the kind of product that turns a smart lock sceptic into a believer. To this day, it’s still my favourite smart device of all time. My only major criticism of it was the price—at an RRP of about $500, it’s a steep investment. So when Aqara announced it was bringing the features I loved about the U100 to a new, cheaper version, I was extremely keen to give it a go. Although the U50 is mostly a winner, the lower price does come with a few big compromises.

That said, there is one additional purchase that you’ll need to make in order to make the most of your Smart Lock U50—a hub. As the lock itself doesn’t have Wi-Fi built-in, it can’t connect directly to your router. That means you’ll need a hub to act as a bridge between the lock and your router, thus allowing you to control the lock remotely and integrate it with your smart home system of choice. Unfortunately, unlike the more expensive U100, the U50 doesn’t come with a hub included. If you don’t already have a compatible Aqara hub, you’ll need to fork out an additional $47 for the most basic (the E1 hub) to access these features. You’ll also need an Apple Home Pod or Apple TV to act as a hub should you want to link it to your Apple HomeKit setup.

Visually, there’s not a whole lot separating the Aqara Smart Lock U50 and its pricier sibling, the U100. The U50 retains the same modern (yet bulky) design. First, the colour. The U100 comes in two different finishes (silver and shadow grey), while the U50 is only available in black. It’s not the prettiest thing in the world but it does the job. Secondly, there’s no fingerprint scanner on the exterior-facing panel, and in its place is an Away Mode button. Aside from that minor change, the rest of the touch-sensitive keypad is the same, as is the sliding component that hides the traditional mechanical lock.

There is one key difference that isn’t immediately visible, but it is an important one—the IP rating. The original U100 lock is rated IP65, meaning it is dust-tight and resistant to light water pressure. The U50, however, is only rated IPx5, meaning that it has the same water resistance, but no dustproofing. Although it should still be able to withstand most of what the weather can throw at it (including temperatures of up to 66°C), clearly it’s one of the design aspects Aqara has had to compromise on to keep the price low.

That said, Aqara has managed to sneak in a bonus (and much-requested) design feature that the U100 doesn’t offer—rekeyability. Unlike most smart locks, the U50 can be rekeyed to match any existing 5-pin keys, so you don’t have to carry around yet another unique key. I wasn’t able to test this feature myself, nor am I a locksmith, so I can’t attest to how easy it is to do, but it’s still a welcome addition.

Installation, provided you have an existing single-cylinder deadbolt and a standard-sized door, is a breeze, taking me about 10 minutes from start to finish—all you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver. The box itself doesn’t come with an installation guide, so you’ll want to download the Aqara app before you get started, as it has an easy-to-follow video walkthrough for each step.

My favourite feature of the Aqara Smart Lock U100 was its Apple HomeKit integration, and with it, the ability to use Apple Home Keys to unlock the front door using my iPhone or Apple Watch. Fortunately, the U50 offers the same compatibility. In fact, aside from the fingerprint scanner (which, admittedly, I sorely missed), it offers all the same unlocking options.

You can set up individual passcodes for each household member, as well as temporary and offline passwords, making it ideal for Airbnb hosts. If you have a compatible Aqara hub, you can also create periodic passcodes, which allow for access on a pre-selected schedule for regular visitors like dog walkers and babysitters. Whoever has the Aqara app and is given access to the lock can also control it directly from there.

Additionally, the lock comes with two physical keys, and you can also program NFC cards (sold separately) to function as keys. As mentioned previously, an Aqara hub is required for some unlocking methods, including smart assistant voice controls and remote app unlocking.

No sacrifices appear to have been made in terms of performance, with the U50 responding just as quickly to input as the U100. Aqara also seems to have improved its auto-locking feature (let’s just say I didn’t get locked out this time), which was one of my only qualms about the previous model.

Like its predecessor, the U50 is powered by four AA batteries which, based on average use, shouldn’t need replacing for about six months. That’s two months less battery life than that found on the U100, but still a great inning. If the batteries do go flat on you, there’s a USB-C port at the base of the exterior panel, allowing you to power it long enough to allow you back in. That’s standard practice for most smart locks, so we’d recommend keeping a copy of the mechanical key somewhere outside the house (or with a trusted neighbour) in case you don’t have a portable charger handy.

The Aqara Smart Lock U50 is, for all intents and purposes, a more accessible version of our favourite smart lock here at SafeWise. Although the loss of the fingerprint scanner found on the original U100 is a big one, and it sucks that there’s no hub included, I appreciate the brand trying to make HomeKit-compatible accessories more affordable. Personally, I would still choose the U100 over the U50 any day (especially if you can nab it on sale), but for those on a strict budget, the U50 is a no-brainer.