The smart lock specialist Nuki (link) is fully committed to Matter. In 2023, the first compatible lock drives came to market – one year after the official launch of the smart home standard. Now, the Austrian company is moving even faster: just one month after the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) published the specifications for the digital home key Aliro, Nuki is already launching the corresponding product.
As of today, the Keypad 2 NFC (link) is available – an accessory that makes the manufacturer’s smart locks Aliro-ready. According to the announcement, it is “the world’s first Aliro-certified keypad for electronic door locks in residential use.” This distinction matters, as the digital key standard was not developed solely for private homes. Its creators also envision use in commercial buildings such as offices and hotels. For that purpose, Last Lock in the United States (link) has already had a smart lock cylinder certified.
Nuki Keypad 2 NFC with Tap to Unlock
The slim, black Nuki keypad pairs wirelessly with one of the manufacturer’s smart locks. This was already possible with the previous Keypad 2, which allowed users to unlock the door wirelessly using a fingerprint or PIN code. The Keypad 2 NFC, however, adds another method: unlocking by tapping. “Tap to Unlock” is what Nuki calls this process, which is standardized by the Aliro protocol. Read more about it in the article “What is the Aliro Standard?”
An integrated radio chip for Near Field Communication (NFC) reacts to proximity, similar to digital payments in retail, when a smartphone or smartwatch authorizes a transaction. In other words, simply tapping the keypad with the watch or phone opens the door. The fact that the manufacturer has incorporated Aliro technology into an accessory has its advantages. This allows multiple products to be retrofitted: “The Keypad 2 NFC works with all of our fourth- and fifth-generation smart locks,” assures Martin Pansy, CEO and co-founder of Nuki.
In this case, the company deliberately chose not to integrate Ultra-Wideband (UWB), a direction-sensitive short-range wireless technology. This decision was based in part on the fact that UWB chips consume relatively high amounts of energy, and the compact Nuki products have limited space for bulky batteries, Pansy told matter-smarthome.de. The Aliro standard supports both NFC and UWB as wireless technologies. Aqara uses both in its Aliro-ready U400 smart lock. However, that’s a model designed for American deadbolt locks without an external keypad. So the UWB reader is connected directly to the device’s lithium-ion battery.
Which Platforms Are Supported?
Apple, Google, and Samsung have announced that they will support Aliro through their digital wallets on NFC-enabled smartphones. This is already the case for the iPhone – and consequently for the Apple Watch – as an initial test of the new keypad on digitalzimmer.de shows (link, in German). Based on the experiences described, the solution works flawlessly. Samsung has also enabled the Digital Home Key in its Wallet. Only Google is currently still holding out. Possibly until the Google I/O developer conference, which takes place in May 2026.
Anyone who does not have a smart home system that supports Matter can still use the keypad alone with the Nuki app. The digital door key is then stored in the manufacturer’s app. A feature called “App Mode” makes it possible. However, full integration into the home requires a Matter setup – because the platforms store their access permissions on a hub with a Matter Controller. For Apple, this can be the HomePod (mini) or an Apple TV. For Samsung, options include the SmartThings Hub from Aeotec or devices with a built-in SmartThings hub, like a smart TV from the brand.
Google will bring its well-known devices – such as the Nest Hub (2nd generation), Nest Audio, and Google TV Streamer – into play when the Aliro era begins for Google Home. It remains unclear what Amazon will do. Especially since the creators of Alexa haven’t had their own smartphone in the lineup since the Fire Phone flopped back in 2014. They essentially lack the means to transport digital door keys using the Aliro standard. That could change if a recent report from the Reuters news agency proves accurate (link). According to the story, Amazon is planning a new smartphone model designed to sync exclusively with Alexa and the provider’s other services.
Important: The smartphone, with its digital key, becomes part of the Matter ecosystem and communicates only within that environment. Therefore, a Galaxy phone with Samsung Wallet cannot open a door lock registered via Matter in Apple Home – and vice versa. The foreign brand is left out because all access permissions are stored in the system hub, to which a third-party device has no access. Households where family members use different mobile phones and smartphone operating systems should keep this in mind.
Is Aliro Repeating Matter’s Early Missteps?
One thing already seems clear: Aliro does not necessarily simplify purchasing decisions – at least not from the start. As with Matter, a certified product alone does not guarantee seamless integration. Smart home ecosystems must also play their part and support Aliro specifications. This makes the platforms’ established “Works with…” programs more important than ever. After all, ultimately only the Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and other logos on the packaging guarantee compatibility. For device manufacturers, this means they must go through the platforms’ programs in addition to Aliro and Matter certification.
Another potential limitation: Aliro locks may not support Multi-Admin setups. The Nuki Keypad 2 NFC and its connected Smart Lock can only be paired with one smart home platform at a time – not with multiple systems simultaneously, as the Matter standard otherwise allows. The CSA has not yet responded to an inquiry on this subject. Nuki points to the nascent Aliro standard and notes that its interoperability with Matter will continue to improve. Or, as Martin Pansy puts it: “We know that, as a manufacturer, we may be penalized for such growing pains of the standard. But that’s the price you have to pay if you want to be the first.”
Update from March 24, 2026: According to the latest information from Nuki, simultaneous use is indeed possible under certain circumstances. Specifically, this is the case if the Smart Lock is first paired with Apple Home and SmartThings is added only afterward. “We’re constantly working with the mobile wallet providers to improve the interoperability between their systems but cannot give any timelines about future changes or improvements,” the company stated.
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