The Kwisket Halo Select Touchscreen smart lock brings Matter and Thread to the lock maker’s line-up

The Halo Select is Kwikset's first new smart lock in five years, and its new features, updated design and creative approach to connectivity could be worth the long wait.

The Halo Select is a fundamental redesign of the company's Halo line and is the first lock to support Matter. It works with the new standard via the low-power mesh network protocol Thread and, interestingly, offers the ability to skip Matter and use Wi-Fi.

“You have Wi-Fi, which is what most customers want today, but with Matter and Thread it’s also future-proof.”

It's a smart move from Kwikset. Smart locks today have limited features in Matter, but the standard offers greater interoperability and Thread promises better battery life (a key feature in a motorized lock). Buy this lock today and enjoy all the great smart lock features via WiFi now. Then switch to Matter later – when (or if) things get better.

“This lockdown has been a long time coming,” said Charles Dougherty, product manager at Kwikset The edge in an interview. “We didn’t rush into this lockdown just to be first to market; We have taken our time and believe this is the right time based on market developments. It has WiFi, which is what most customers want today, but with Matter and Thread it’s also future-proof.”

The new Halo Select's touchscreen disappears when not in use. The resealable lock is available in matte black and satin nickel.
Image: Kwikset

Interestingly, no matter which option you choose for locking – Wi-Fi or Matter-over-Thread (you can't do both at the same time) – you'll need to launch into the Kwikset app and connect to Wi-Fi, at least initially.

“We chose this because the functions between ecosystems are limited [in Matter] Right now you might have a bad experience and we have chosen to integrate the switch to Matter into our app flow to inform the customer,” explained Dougherty.

He showed me a demo of the Matter setup steps, and it was the clearest, most straightforward process I've ever seen for a Matter smart lock, and I tested almost all of it. Crucially, Dougherty says you can switch between options if you find one isn't working the way you want.

At least for now, while the standard is updated, this is a smart approach. One of Matter's biggest frustrations for users so far has been the loss of some features, despite gaining things like local control and lower latency.

The lock's touchscreen with its new status button and rear housing.
Image: Kwikset

The Kwikset Halo Select will be available in mid-November for $279. It's a full-fledged deadbolt replacement lock that features a touchscreen keypad and a traditional key channel for physical access – there's no fingerprint reader or NFC for the Apple Home Key.

Its overall design is sleeker and sleeker than Kwikset's previous Halo locks, and there's now a slick new status icon on the touchscreen that shows whether the door is unlocked as you approach.

Kwikset says it has also improved the motor to be more powerful and quieter than its previous locks, and the Halo Select meets the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association's (BHMA) highest AAA certification for physical security. Power is provided by four alkaline AA batteries or a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (which you must purchase separately).

As mentioned, the Halo Select has built-in Wi-Fi and Thread connectivity, giving you the choice of protocols and platform compatibility. If you set it up over Wi-Fi, you can use it without an additional hub and lock and unlock it remotely using Kwikset's app. It also works with Kwikset's new Auto-Unlock by Distance feature, introduced this summer, to unlock your door “hands-free” when you get home.

Other features of the Kwikset app include creating codes for friends, family and temporary visitors, scheduling the lock, setting up an automatic lock and receiving notifications when the door is left open – detected by the new slim magnetic Company door sensor.

Connecting the lock to a smart home platform such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home also adds voice control and the ability to use the lock in smart home routines. Kwikset says the Halo Select should have a battery life of six months over Wi-Fi using AA batteries, and up to nine months if you buy the new lithium-ion battery. This is the first lock I've seen that can use both power options.

The different features and platform support you get with Lock over Wi-Fi compared to Matter-over-Thread.
Image: Kwikset

If you choose Matter-over-Thread connectivity, you won't be able to control the lock with the Kwikset app, but will be able to use any Matter-compatible platform – including Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa and Google Home. You need a matter controller and a thread border router.

Of course, the Matter standard can also work over Wi-Fi, but Thread's advantages are particularly attractive for devices like smart locks. Thread connectivity should significantly improve battery life – “more than 12 months,” says Dougherty. The protocol also offers a local mesh network, which is intended to improve response times and help keep your lock connected even if Wi-Fi goes down.

However, by using Thread, you lose access to most of the Kwikset app's features. This includes creating passwords, automatic locking and door open warnings. Instead, you must rely on the features of the platform(s) you choose. Today these are largely limited to locking and unlocking. Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings also let you set up passcodes for door locks in their apps, but Amazon and Google don't.

“We have been as vocal as possible in encouraging ecosystems to support features and letting them know our opinion on the priorities in this category,” Dougherty said. “We have had some influence here and so we hope that this will be supported in the near future.”

Along with the launch of the Halo Select, Kwikset announced an NFC-enabled lock – the Halo Select Plus – scheduled for release in early 2025. While the company didn't want to reveal any further details, with NFC on board it could be compatible with Apple Home's faucet – to unlock the Home Key feature.

More likely, the lock will support Aliro, a new open standard that makes smart locks compatible with any smartphone or smartwatch for tap unlocking. Both Apple and Samsung are helping to develop the standard and have announced that their phones will support Aliro next year. Kwikset's parent company, Assa Abloy, is “very involved” in Aliro, Dougherty said.

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