![]() ![]() In addition to its invisibility, the other feature that drew me to the Level Bolt was its compatibility with HomeKit-not a given in the smart lock market right now.įor all of that, the Bolt isn’t cheap: it ordinarily retails for $199, though I managed to snag it while on sale from Amazon for around $150. ![]() Swapping it out just requires unscrewing the end cap.) Another plus: the existing key and thumb turn for the deadbolt work exactly as before, and don’t interfere with the smart lock, or vice versa. (In another particularly ingenious piece of engineering, the bolt also contains a replaceable CR2 battery that powers the whole assembly. The only place you can even see the device is the bolt itself, where Level’s logo is embossed on the end. From the outside, the Bolt is completely invisible. The engineering and design of this device is extremely clever. Inside sits a small motor with a Bluetooth chip, which can turn to shoot the bolt itself. Instead, it fits inside your door, basically sandwiched in between the exterior keyway and the interior thumb turn. The Bolt is unlike most other smart locks in that it doesn’t replace your existing deadbolt. The Bolt keeps its battery inside the bolt itself, and it’s easily replaceable. Which is how I ended up buying a Level Bolt. Personally, I was interested in something a little more understated. Moreover, I wasn’t sure about the styling of some of the smart locks on the market, many of which stand out like a sore thumb thanks to complex keypads or glowing lights. Nor does it seem likely that your average thief is going to spend time reading up on security exploits for your particular brand of smart lock. It’s not as if picking a lock or smashing a window is particularly difficult. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized those fears are largely unfounded. The idea of being able to gain access to my home via a security vulnerability or hack seemed like a worrying prospect. I’ve always been a little bit skittish at the idea of smart locks. I’ve spent a lot of time with different pieces of smart home tech over the last several years, but having finally made the jump from an apartment to a house that I actually own has opened up possibilities that weren’t available to me before. Review: Level Bolt is a stealthy smart lock contending with an imperfect world
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