Yale — the company responsible for the well-reviewed Assure Lock 2 — has just launched its first retrofit smart lock built specifically for renters. The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi is an interior-only smart lock that fits on top of most standard deadbolts, allowing renters to bring a bit of smart functionality to their home without the need to replace the underlying hardware.
Installing the Yale Approach should take just 10 minutes and doesn’t require much more than a screwdriver. And since it doesn’t require a new set of keys or lock swap, there’s a good chance it’ll be supported by most landlords. Along with an easy installation process, the Yale Approach uses features like Auto-Lock and Auto-Unlock to let folks easily enter their home and secure it when they leave.
The Yale Approach is launching alongside the Yale Keypad, which is a wireless accessory that pairs with the Approach (or other compatible smart locks) so users can access the door with a personalized code.
That means if people want to use the Yale Approach as a traditional smart lock — that is, one that lets you set and input passcodes for entry — you’ll need to pick up the bundle that includes both the Approach and Keypad. On its own, the Approach doesn’t include a keypad for passcode entry, limiting its use to the Yale smartphone app.
Despite working as a retrofit for existing deadbolts, the Yale Approach offers pretty much all the same functionality as regular smart locks. This includes the ability to monitor the lock status remotely and sync with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Home, Philips Hue, and Samsung SmartThings. Matter support is also promised in the future. The lock will be available in black suede or silver and offers a streamlined profile that sits less than two inches off the door.
While it’s unfortunate that the Approach doesn’t come with its own keypad, Yale is offering the Approach and Keypad as a bundle for $180. If you don’t want the Keypad and can live with limited access to the Approach via the Yale smartphone app, you can get just the Approach for $130. A standalone Keypad is also available for $70. Yale is hoping to launch a fingerprint-enabled version of the Keypad later this year that allows you to open the door with nothing more than a tap of your finger.
The Yale Assure Lock 2 is one of our favorite smart locks, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Yale Approach lives up to the high expectations set by its older sibling. If you’re looking for alternatives, be sure to check out our list of the best smart locks.
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.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
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.