Kwikset’s newest smart lock gets almost everything right
Legacy lock maker Kwikset has been producing innovative smart locks since 2013, when it released the first touch-to-open lock, the Kwikset Kevo. The company followed that up with the launch of one of the first key-free locks in 2016, one of the earliest Apple HomeKit locks, and one of the first fingerprint-only locks. Kwikset has not shied away from new tech.
Its latest model, the Halo Select ($279.99), is one of the first full-replacement, Matter-over-Thread smart locks. I've tested almost every smart lock that Kwikset has made over the years, and this is its best yet. It's super-responsive with solid features and broad smart home compatibility. It's just too bad that using Matter means giving up its best feature.
The Halo Select is a sleek-looking lock that should fit in with both traditional and contemporary door sets, although it has a modern slant. As Kwikset is one of two major residential lock companies (the other being Schlage), you may already have Kwikset locks and handle sets on your outer doors, meaning the Select might fit in with what you already have - something few other smart locks do.
It offers four entry methods: a keyway (which is rekeyable), a touchscreen …