Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro + Wi-Fi Bridge: A Super Smart Lock

The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro from U-tec is one of the most versatile smart locks to hit PC Labs.

- JOHN R. DELANEY

As with most models, it uses a mobile app that lets you lock and unlock your door from anywhere with your phone, and it has a keypad that lets you use permanent and time-based temporary pin codes. It also has a fingerprint scanner, as well as a keyed cylinder hidden behind the keypad. As if that weren’t enough, the U-Bolt Pro can be locked using voice commands, and it’s one of the first smart locks we’ve tested that can also be unlocked using voice commands. Throw in support for third-party smart devices, and you’ve got our new Editors’ Choice for smart locks.

DESIGN AND FEATURES

The U-Bolt Pro we tested is a complete set that comes with interior and exterior escutcheons, a deadbolt assembly, mounting screws, 4 AA batteries, a screwdriver, a drilling template, and a plug-in Wi-Fi bridge. (You can order it without the Wi-Fi bridge for $189.99.) The lock fits standard doors with a thickness of 1-5/16 to 2.0 inches and a 2-1/8-inch diameter hole with a 2-3/8- to 2-3/4-inch backset.

The black-and-silver exterior escutcheon measures 2.9 by 2.9 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and is made of a zinc alloy material. It has a 360-degree capacitive fingerprint scanner in the center, with an LED ring that briefly glows green when the device is locked or unlocked and glows red when an incorrect pin or fingerprint is used. Surrounding the scanner are 10 backlit number buttons (0-9) for entering pin codes and an Ultraloq button that will lock the door from the outside and illuminate the keypad. One of the coolest features is the hidden keyway, which is accessed by pulling the keypad out and folding it down on its hinge. On the bottom edge of the escutcheon behind a rubber cover is a micro USB port that can be used to power up the lock with an external power source in the event of a dead battery.