Aqara has today launched the Smart Lock U300, an innovative new smart lock that supports Matter and boasts an easy-to-use lever handle. The most interesting aspect of the U300 is that it doesn’t feature a deadbolt — instead, it’s a simple latch lock that can be used both indoors or outdoors, making it a versatile gadget for your smart home.
The Aqara Smart Lock U300 is the company’s first smart lever lock. It’s designed to replace levers and knobs used with single-bore doors, making it distinct from products like the Yale Assure Lock 2 or August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, which are built around deadbolts. Supporting Matter and Apple Home Key, it looks like a well-rounded smart device that should make it easier than ever to control not just your front door, but any door in your home.
If you’re using Apple Home Key, you’ll be able to unlock the U300 with a simple tap from your iPhone or Apple Watch. Alternatively, it has a fingerprint sensor, keypad, and mechanical key as an emergency backup.
Note that to use the U300 with other Matter platforms, you’ll need a thread border router, though no hub is needed to use it with the standard Aqara Home app.
As you’d expect, the entire device is weatherproof and boasts an IPX4 rating to withstand extreme conditions. Aqara says it should operate fine in temperatures down to -22 degrees Fahrenheit and up to 131 degrees Fahrenheit — making it a good choice for folks in the Alaskan tundra or the Sonoran Desert. Battery life will vary based on usage, but expect to get around 10 months of power out of four AA batteries.
The Aqara Smart Lock U300 is an innovative smart lock, and it should be appealing to shoppers who want a reliable alternative to traditional deadlock-based smart locks. You might also want to check out the new Yale Code, as it’s an unconventional lock that blurs the line between smart and “non-smart”.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.