Skip to main content

August celebrates No. 1 ranking with white, limited-edition smart lock

Never mind back in black, August is giving its signature lock the Apple look this month with a crisp, white limited-edition version of its classic August Smart Lock for a limited time. For the celebrated smart home manufacturer, the white lock is meant to celebrate not only hitting one billion lock operations, but also the decision of NPD Group, the American market research company that tracks smart home trends and sales, to name August as the number one-selling smart lock brand in the U.S. in 2018.

The new lock features a narrower oval shape that’s intended to complement contemporary door hardware. As with August’s other popular smart locks, it comes standard with Auto Unlock, Auto Lock, voice assistant integration (Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant are all compatible), and DoorSense, the company’s proprietary technology that can tell whether a door is open or closed.

Recommended Videos

Here’s a little preview of August’s new celebratory white smart lock:

Going back to its roots, August collaborated with co-founder Yves Behar’s design firm, Fuseproject, to tweak and revamp the classic smart lock. Weirdly, even though white is the most common color for doors, the bright white August Smart Lock will be the first white smart lock on the market, as well as August’s first white smart lock. The company promises that installation is still quick and easy, with the lock being a discreet add-on to the inside of the door only. There’s no need to replace the deadbolt and users can still continue to use their existing keys if they want; no complicated retrofit required.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

If you’re deeply into August’s products or sleek and sophisticated smart home technology in general, you’re going to want to jump on this product. August hasn’t said how many of these frosty wingdings it’s going to make, other than saying that the supply will be incredibly limited, only available directly from August, and not sold through any third-party retailers or online outlets.

The smart home manufacturer has been making news all year, announcing collaborations with competing manufacturer Yale and thriving hospitality service AirBnB, as well as most recently laundering a new video doorbell just ahead of CES 2019.

So put on the White Album, break out the marshmallows, and don your best AOC cosplay (or pay homage to the late, great Tom Wolfe) in celebration of August’s new super-white smart lock. Summer may not even be here yet but we think it’s always time for a party to celebrate a cool new smart home gizmo. The limited edition lock will be bundled with the Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for $180 through February 23, and will be available for $220 after that date only at August.com

Sure, it’s a bit of a hike in price – the company’s popular third-generation smart lock has been on sale in recent weeks, ranging from $75 to $100 but it’s hard to put a price on aesthetics, especially for smart home users who want a white hot smart lock that’s just a little bit special compared to the competition.

Clayton Moore
Clayton Moore’s interest in technology is deeply rooted in the work of writers like Warren Ellis, Cory Doctorow and Neal…
Philips launches its first smart lock with Wi-Fi that can be controlled from anywhere
The Philips Smart Deadbolt with Built-In Wi-Fi being installed on a door.

Philips has officially launched its first smart deadbolt with built-in Wi-Fi (aptly named the Philips Smart Deadbolt with Built-In Wi-Fi), giving users the ability to control their front door regardless of location. There's no need for a secondary bridge or other devices, as the lock itself connects directly to the Philips Home Access App via Wi-Fi, making setup a quick and easy process.

Further streamlining the setup process is the retrofit design of the smart lock. It should easily fit over most existing hardware, so you won't have to change out any deadbolts or worry about passing out new keys. That means the outside portion of your front door will largely look unchanged, though you'll still benefit from "smarts" such as voice command integration, auto-unlock function, door position sensing, and remote access via the mobile app.

Read more
Should you buy a new smart lock or retrofit your existing deadbolt?
Schlage Encode Plus smart lock installed on a wooden door to a living room.

When it comes to smart locks, all models essentially fall into two categories. The first category will be familiar to most people, as these are traditional smart locks built to replace your existing deadbolt. That means you'll get a whole new set of keys for your front door, as well as hardware that introduces smart features to your home.

The second kind of smart lock is a retrofit smart lock. These quirky devices are designed to fit over your existing hardware -- allowing you to keep using your old keys while also adding smart features. Both types of smart locks are great ways to upgrade your front door, but which is best for your home? Here's a closer look to help you decide if you should replace your traditional deadbolt with a smart lock or install a retrofit smart lock instead.
Consider your DIY skills

Read more
Yale Assure Lock 2 vs. August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: which is the better smart lock?
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock installed on door.

Smart locks are a powerful way to enhance your front door security, and few products are as popular as the Yale Assure Lock 2 and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. Both are quite expensive (carrying price tags that can climb over $200), but your investment gets you slick designs, tons of functionality, and an easy way to let guests access your home without giving away a physical key.

But which is best -- the Yale Assure Lock 2 or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock? From pricing and installation to mobile companion apps and more, here's a look at these two popular smart locks.
Pricing and design

Read more