This is more a user type question/discussion but sadly Nuki do not have customer forums.
I have currently a Nuki 2.0 Door lock and that is fine. I am now looking at replacing some windows and planning to also get a new front door. I am therefore looking at having a door made to accept the Siegenia KFV Genius lock and the Nuki Smart Door accessory kit for that lock to provide a built-in mains powered solution.
Does anyone here have any experience of this solution - whether that is with a fully off-the-shelf door with lock as listed on the Nuki site, or with the parts and a built-to-order door. (The mechanics would be effectively the same.)
If so any tips, gotchas, or other comments?
The sorts of things that would be good to know relate to auto-locking, door closed sensing, etc. and if there are any differences compared to the ‘normal’ Nuki 2.0 or 3.0 lock.
I was and am still considering getting a joiner to build a custom door and add the components. The off-the-shelf smart door is not available in the UK and would not necessarily be the size and style I would want anyway.
However whilst the delay is mainly due to other issues I have also been holding off due to my significant disappointment over Nuki’s lack of progress on the technology front.
The tech in the smart door is several generations behind their latest product and even their latest product still does not support Apple HomeKey whereas most competitors are or have already added it. I know manufacturers have a terrible paranoia over disclosing product road maps but I have zero confidence over an upgrade path for their smart door module. On their standalone DIY mortice lock at least we know that their upgrade path - as much as it is, is a small discount off a complete replacement rather than a mere software upgrade.
As it happens my home plans now include a rear extension which would involve patio doors and for this I might consider the Ultion/Nuki lock. Here like the smart door module there is zero news over an upgrade and based on their DIY unit it would involve a complete replacement so hardly worth considering at this point. It is not even clear if this would also require replacing the entire Ultion part of the combined unit - in theory they are separate components.
Thank you for your feedback @jelockwood
Yes, that describes exactly what I want to avoid - vendor lock-in + outdated hardware/software that lacks features. On the other hand there seems no solution that triggers a relay without user interaction. All HomeKey solutions are DIY and only commercial solutions like Salto support Apple Wallet (not HomeKey, but Wallet is also swipe only IMO).
Currently I prefer a standard access control solution and probably build HomeKey support on my own. A standard motor lock that can be integrated into a door costs about 300-400EUR and door access control as fall back is also not too expensive.
I just got a new door installed in the UK with the Nuki bought direct from Ultion. I also specified an Ultion Bolt unit built into the door. Getting the Ultion Bolt sorted was a drama for the builder, he had to change suppliers and even then it took a while to confirm they could do the door without a level!
Once it was all installed, I found the latches in the Ultion Bolt wouldn’t retract enough so you couldn’t open the door without using the key or the knob on the Nuki.
The customer support from Ultion was a bit poor to start with but when I actually managed to get hold of someone decent, they arranged for a lock smith to come out and replace the Ultion Bolt and they provided a new Nuki just in case.
Now it’s up and running properly it was well worth the hassle!
@Tobi_K
Some positive news, I checked with Ultion and they now offer the Nuki 4.0 lock with Matter support.
It still does not change the fact that it does not support Apple HomeKey. It is not clear what the upgrade path is for existing Ultion customers. I cannot tell if Ultion use exactly the same Nuki lock mechanism as a normal Nuki 4.0. If they do then the same upgrade path applies.
Nuki so far have resolutely chosen not to support Apple’s HomeKey - not even on their very latest Nuki Ultra lock. All indications are they intend to never support HomeKeys.
I did come across a couple of sources which suggested Nuki instead were going to go the route of using a new supplier agnostic standard called ‘Aliro’ which I had not heard of before.
I was going to send some feedback to Apple asking if this was something they should look in to as they themselves are moving to a more platform agnostic approach with Matter but…
It turns out that Aliro is a new standard being pushed as part of the Matter standard and will be the smart lock component of Matter. Apparently Aliro means ‘access’. Furthermore apparently Apple, Google and Samsung are working together on this.
It is therefore quite likely that much as Matter was based on a lot of HomeKit work, Aliro may be based on or include HomeKeys work.
There is therefore hope that existing HomeKeys compatible locks may evolve to support Aliro and also hope that existing Matter locks currently without HomeKeys may get the equivalent via Aliro.
Like so far much of Matter this is supposedly due ‘next year’. Whereby next year is always one year ahead :-!