The Austrian smart lock manufacturer Nuki (link) has announced a new door opener. Its Smart Lock Ultra will be available in Europe from December 2024 and support the Matter standard. As in the previous fourth generation, the Thread radio protocol (“Matter over Thread”) will be used. A Nuki Ultra can therefore be connected to the smart home without a bridge. The home installation only needs to have a Thread Border Router. Alternatively – but without Matter – Wi-Fi is available for control via app and other systems.
Smaller and faster than previous Nuki models
The most striking difference to previous models is the design. Smart Lock Ultra is significantly smaller than its predecessors and looks more like a door knob. The usual motor block has disappeared and its function has been integrated into the round housing. According to Nuki, the shrinking process was made possible by several innovations. For the first time, the manufacturer is using a brushless DC motor, which is also used in electric cars, industrial robots and model airplanes.
The maintenance-free drive type is said to be quieter and faster than the motors previously used. Its speed is switchable. There are three modes: In the “Insane” setting, the Smart Lock takes less than one and a half seconds to unlock or lock. According to the manufacturer, “Standard” mode requires around two seconds. In “Gentle” mode, the drive unit takes longer, but is supposed to operate particularly quietly.
Integrated battery and dedicated locking cylinder
To accommodate all the technology in a limited space, the Smart Lock Ultra uses an integrated lithium-polymer battery that is charged directly on the door via a magnetic cable. It can only be replaced by customer service, but should fulfil its purpose for many years because it only requires new energy every few months. The company claims that a complete charging process only takes two hours.
Another novelty is due to the limited space in the housing: For the first time, a Nuki Smart Lock cannot be installed on the existing locking cylinder. A universal cylinder with security level 3 is supplied, and the Nuki app shows step-by-step how to install it. The manufacturer also wants to make it easier to switch from its previous Smart Locks: a data migration wizard transfers settings, functions and access authorizations from an installed Nuki to the Ultra.
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