Kwikset SmartKey Review – Detailed Test, Guide, FAQs, Verdict
It’s hard not to agree with us when we say that it’s hard to judge whether a lock is secure enough for your home or not unless you buy it.
This is why we decided to test out the Kwikset Smartkey and lay its features bare for you so you can decide whether it’s suitable for you or not.
Today, we’ll discuss what features it has to offer and where it stands among its competitors. We'll also talk about what aspects you should look towards in order to determine whether this product is for you or not.
Main Product
Kwikset Single Cylinder Deadbolt with SmartKey Review
This product comes with a traditional colonial design which ensures that the lock looks just like any other traditional lock. It features side locking bar technology which protects it against lock bumping.
Alternative #1
Kwikset 92640-001 Contemporary Electronic Keypad Single Cylinder Deadbolt Review
This lock provides for keyless entry and comes with a motorized driven deadbolt that enables one-touch locking. It can fit onto doors of many thicknesses.
Alternative #2
Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt Review
This smart deadbolt comes in two elegant designs that work great for any home. It features one-touch locking and a convenient fingerprint-resistant touchscreen.
Quick Summary of the Main Product
If you’ve shopped for home tools or hardware supplies at any point, you may have heard the name of Kwikset. They are a large manufacturer of doorknobs, smart locks, locks and other similar products. You can buy all sorts of equipment from their brand and be at peace because the products they create are of the highest quality. As you can probably imagine, the Kwikset Smartkey is no exception.
So what is Smartkey? Smartkey is a way for you to eliminate all of your regular, household keys and have one single key that can allow you to access all of the doors in your home. So, if you have 10 different keys for different rooms in your home, you can now have just one key for all of them. This key will let you into your front door, back door, garage door, shed, toolbox, outside lock and any other place where you may want to install the Kwikset lock.
You can buy different locks that are compatible with the Smartkey. However, for the sake of this review, we are looking at a basic deadbolt that is also manufactured by Kwikset. It comes with an affordable price tag. Depending on how many doors you want to secure with this Smartkey system, you can get it set up within a very reasonable price.
Features and Benefits
Very Inconspicuous Design
The single-cylinder deadbolt lock has a very traditional design that looks like just any other traditional lock. This works great because it fits in effectively within your house’s interior decor. It’s also effective in the sense that it would catch any burglar off-guard that is trying to break into your home. This would discourage them from trying to break in any further and it makes it act as a very strong deterrent.
Adjustable Latch
It features an adjustable latch along with exposed screws on its interior face. This enables it to fit onto doors of many different thicknesses. It also adds a layer of versatility to this lock. Thus, ensuring that you are able to secure most, if not all, of the doors inside your home and make them a part of your SmartKey ecosystem.
Bump-Proof
Most locks of this traditional design that have an active keyway tend to be vulnerable to lock bumping. Lock bumping is a technique that can be learned very easily online by looking up tutorials. It’s something that a lot of burglars make use of when breaking into homes. Kwikset has done a great job of making this lock resistant to not only lock bumping but also resistant to lock picking and getting kicked in.
Self-Rekeyable Lock
This lock is one of the very few self-rekeyable locks available on the market. You won’t have to call in a locksmith in order to rekey your locks and maintain key control using this lock inside your home. As long as you possess a working SmartKey, you can very easily rekey the lock; It only takes a few seconds. Your old key will then no longer be able to access the lock.
Side Locking Bar Technology
The side locking bar technology of this lock is exactly what enables it to be resistant to lock bumping and lock picking. It’s an innovation pioneered by Kwikset which we predict will soon be copied by its competitors.
Pros and Cons
Pros
It’s extremely easy to use. Getting in and out using this lock uses the same mechanism as you would with any other lock. This makes it great and suitable if you have family members or other people inside your home that are not very tech-savvy. It makes it easy for people that would normally have a hard time operating a lock that involves too many complex controls.
It looks like a traditional lock. We’ve discussed the benefits of this earlier about how having a traditional-looking appearance can help it blend into your home. It can also help deter break-ins by potential burglars.
It’s incredibly sturdy. We spent months testing this lock and during those months, we employed all sorts of techniques to try and break into this lock. These included picking, bumping, drilling and kicking in. Note that all of these techniques were performed on one single lock repeatedly. Despite this, it was able to bear all that punishment and still be resilient. We tried all we could but were not able to break into it.
It’s very easy to install. All you really need is a screwdriver and this lock will be installed onto your door within minutes. Rekeying is also very easy and we have a step-by-step guide on how you can rekey this lock later in this post.
It’s very affordable. The single-cylinder deadbolt along with the SmartKey comes with a price tag of less than $20. This means that if you have five doors in your home that you want to secure then you can massively enhance your home’s safety and security for just under $100.
Cons
Some reviews say it can be easily broken into. This is something that’s highly subjective. We tried our best to break into this lock using tools and techniques that a typical burglar would usually employ and we were unsuccessful. However, we did come across reviews that said otherwise so you can make of that what you will.
Social Proof
Most of the customer reviews we found for this product were overwhelmingly positive. People love the security it provides as well as its incredibly budget-friendly price tag.
One customer found themselves accidentally locked out of their house. They went on to elaborate on how they called a locksmith who was unable to pick the lock because, as we’ve established, this lock is pick-proof. The customer then contacted Kwikset who were more than happy to replace their deadbolt lock and rekey it to match their existing keys.
More Recommendations!
#1: Sturdy Alternative with Motorized Locking - Kwikset 92640-001 Contemporary Electronic Keypad Single Cylinder Deadbolt Review
This is another great product from Kwikset and it features an electronic keypad. You can utilize it to gain access to the lock without having to use your mechanical key. The mechanical key is still present as an option though. This is in case you forget your access code or if the power is unavailable in the deadbolt lock for some reason.
The adjustable latch that it comes with ensures that the lock is able to fit onto doors of all different shapes and sizes.
It also features an auto-locking mechanism. You can customize this to lock itself from anywhere between 10 seconds and 99 seconds after you enter through it.
Features of Kwikset 92640-001 Contemporary Electronic Keypad Single Cylinder Deadbolt
Dimensions: 1.1 inches x 4.56 inches x 3 inches
Weight: 2.5 pounds
Customizable auto-locking
Up to 6 customizable user codes
Backlit Keypad
If you want automatic motorized locking in your single-cylinder deadbolt then this product is ideal for you. It features a keypad as well as a traditional keyway if you want to use your mechanical key in some cases.
#2: A Wifi-Enabled Alternative - Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt Review
Schlage is another household name when it comes to home security such as locks and doorknobs. This product is a shining example of how they have made themselves a fierce competitor in the home security market.
The lock itself features a touchscreen keypad and a traditional keyway on the outside and a thumb-turn handle on the inside. This ensures streamlined use so you have no trouble getting in and out of the door on a regular basis.
You can have up to 100 access codes for this lock and can also lock/unlock it using your smartphone as long as it’s connected to the same Wifi network as the lock.
The cherry on top is the warranty that comes with this product. You get a lifetime warranty on the lock’s mechanical parts and a 3-year warranty on its electronics.
Features of Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Dimensions: 2.24 inches x 3 inches x 5.47 inches
Weight: 2.8 pounds
Built-in Wifi with no additional accessories required
Touchscreen keypad
Built-in alarm
Low-battery indicator
If you want to control your lock through your home’s wifi network then this product is definitely for you. It fits onto your door very easily and is very easy to make use of as well.
Guide to Buy
Here are some factors to consider and keep in mind before you go out and purchase the Kwikset SmartKey:
Do you really need it?
The Kwikset Smartkey is a wonderful solution for homeowners that have several doors in their homes that each requires a lock of their own. However, if you live in a relatively small home that only has one or two doors then you may not really have much use for the Kwikset SmartKey. Be sure to keep this in mind before you go out and buy it.
How do you want your lock to interact with you?
People are often confused between a SmartKey mechanism and a smart lock. It’s important for you to realize that the SmartKey still works like a traditional, mechanical key. This is despite the fact that electronic mechanisms are involved.
If you’re looking for a locking system that allows for keyless entry such as entry through a keypad, Bluetooth or Wifi, this isn't for you. In that case, you will have to look towards purchasing a smart lock. A SmartKey system will not allow for keyless entry in your home.
The Drawback of having One Key for all Doors
When you start installing a Kwikset SmartKey system inside your home. You’re usually provided with two SmartKeys that will work with all of the locks in your home. While this is convenient, you can imagine a scenario where if you lose both keys, you could be completely locked outside your home. So, if you’re a forgetful person that loses their keys often, you may want to reconsider before buying the Kwikset SmartKey.
What are some advantages of buying the Kwikset SmartKey?
There are a number of reasons that can push you to buy a Kwikset Smartkey lock. It has a number of advantages that set them apart from their competitors. Some of these advantages are:
Kwikset SmartKey locks are much more secure than traditional locks.
You don’t have to carry around several different keys for different doors of your home. Your one SmartKey will work for all of them.
They are incredibly easy to re-key if the need arises.
Are Kwikset SmartKey locks safe?
Yes. Kwikset is a reliable brand that has been striving to come up with the best possible security solutions for years. This product definitely is a result of that and we’ve tested it thoroughly over months by using many different tools and techniques.
After our tests, we can safely say that Kwikset SmartKey locks are extremely safe to have in your home.
How do I reset my Kwikset SmartKey?
It’s actually extremely simple to reset a Kwikset lock with a SmartKey. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do so. This is also the same method you would use to set up your Kwikset SmartKey when you first install it in your home. The steps are:
Insert your old key into the lock you want to be rekeyed.
turn the key only half-way.
Insert the rekeying tool that comes with the lock.
Take out your old key with the rekeying tool still inside the lock.
Insert your new SmartKey and turn it completely.
Remove your rekeying tool and Smartkey.
And you’re done! That’s really all there is to it. Now your old key won’t be able to operate the lock and your new key will.
Wrapping Things Up…
In the end, we were very impressed with the performance of the Kwikset SmartKey and its locks through and through. It’s an innovation that we feel we’ll start seeing more and more of in homes as time progresses.
And with that, we’ve arrived at the end of our post for the Kwikset SmartKey review.
Give us feedback and let us know what your experience has been like with the Kwikset SmartKey being installed in your home.
