Among the popular home security devices are the smart locks. These smart locks give easier access to the homeowners; they can go keyless and gives full control of these on your fingertips. Kwikset and August are the two popular companies that are building innovations in smart locks. Kwikset has locks like Premis, Kevo Lock, and Kevo Convert. August offers three generations of smart locks, August Gen 2, August Gen 3, and August Pro. We will compare the Kwikset Kevo and August Smart Lock Gen 3.
Compatible with iPhone 4S or higher and select Android 5.0 or higher devices; Works with Fob (sold separately) or traditional key with new advanced SmartKey security
From comparing both the products, we do feel that the August Smart Lock Gen 3 is a better product. It offers better features at a reasonable price. It has DoorSense Technology and the best security concerns for the users. The Kwikset Kevo is the right product on its own. But recently, it received a lot of criticism for security reasons.
Kwikset Kevo Vs August Smart Lock Gen 3: ComparisonChart
The Kevo and the Smart Lock Gen 3 have only Bluetooth connectivity. But it also offers the option of a remote control separately. For Kwikset Kevo, there is no remote control that comes with the kit. However, you can purchase the Kwikset Plus that acts as a bridge between your lock and your Wi-Fi. Because of this feature, you can control your locks anywhere until you have Wi-Fi.
On the other hand, August Smart Lock Gen 3 offers control using the August Connect and the August Doorbell Cam Pro. The August Connect is similar to Kevo Plus, which acts as a bridge between your router and the lock. But the perk of August Connect is, it is wireless. So, you don’t have to worry about the wires, and you can easily connect and pair everything through the August App. Talking about the August Doorbell Cam Pro, it as well links to your router and smart locks but also provides extra security. Through this, you can talk and see your visitors as well. Both smart locks prefer Bluetooth than Wi-Fi because it saves more power.
2. DoorSense Technology
Smart locks show the status as “locked,” but is it locked? Well, there are cases where the status has been given as locked, but in reality, it is not. This is because it only shows the status of the lock, rather than that of the door. But in the August Smart Lock Gen 3, we do not have to worry. It has DoorSense Technology that uses a magnetic field to determine if your door is locked or not. The DoorSense feature is a significant feature that all security door locks must-have. But in the Kwikset Kevo, it has no features like this and only gives the status of the door lock.
3. Smart Home Integration
Smart locks that integrate with your other devices are more recommended. The Kevo supports integration with Ring, Nest as well as Amazon. It lets you pair the device with Ring Doorbell so that you can pair your doorbell and your smart lock for high security. Based on your location from the Kevo App, it sets the temperature. Nest Thermostat and Cam can be used with August Lock. It can be paired with Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
4. Security
The Kwikset Kevo has a smart lock feature called the “SmartKey” deadbolt. It prevents lock picking and locks bumping. Even if you lose your key, you do not have to worry as it allows you to re-key the smart lock again. The locks are ANSI certified. For locks, we have three grades. Grade 1 gives the best security; Grade 2 provides moderate protection, and Grade gives us underlying security. The Kevo is given grade 2, which means it protects a residential house. In August Smart Lock Gen 3, the grades depend on the deadbolt we use. But keep in your mind to have a grade 2 in the interior part of your lock for more security.
5. Installation
Installation is yet another difference between the two smart locks. In the Kwikset Kevo, you will have to replace the interior as well as the exterior parts of your standard lock. But in the August Smart Lock Gen 3, you only have to change the interior part. Hence, the Kevo’s installation takes a lot more time when compared with Gen 3. Also, in Kevo, the deadbolt must be placed correctly, or else it could lead to some errors. So, in this case, the installation in Kevo is much easier.
6. Shared Access
A useful feature is that these smart locks allow access to your home with family and friends. All these can be just done from your home. In Kwikset Kevo, you can have a maximum of 25 eKeys. The ones you will sharing your keys need to have a compatible smartphone and the Kevo app. To use it, they need to create a Kevo account. Kevo offers five types of keys. They are the owner eKey, admin eKey, anytime eKey, scheduled eKey, and guest eKey. In the August Smart Lock Gen 3, there is no limit on the number of people you will be sharing access with. You can share it with as many as you like.
There is nothing much common in both devices. The only similarity is both of them use Bluetooth Technology. It prefers BLE rather than Wi-Fi because Wi-Fi consumes a lot of power and data.
Hence this is one of the approaches taken to reduce data consumption. You can control your smart lock with the specific app.
Technical Features And Specification of Kwikset Kevo
The Kwikset Kevo has made security stronger and safer. BLE is preferred as it helps in saving data and power. You can unlock your door with a tap, so you can go keyless as well. You can also use control using the remote control, but for that, we need the Kwikset Plus that acts as a bridge.
For the installation, you need to change the exterior and interiors of your standard lock. You can access your house through the eKeys with two extra keys as a backup. You have eKeys like owner eKey, admin eKey, anytime eKey.
The only similarity between the August Smart Lock Gen 3 and Kevo is the BLE technology. This as well connects over Bluetooth. You can also connect it to Wi-Fi using the August Connect and August Cam Doorbell. The Cam Doorbell adds a feature of a camera with a smart lock. The other advantage is only interiors of the standard lock needs to be changed. Hence it is less time-consuming. You can create as many accesses you want, be it your family or friends. you can also cheque the comparison between Kwikset Kivo and August Smartlock Generation Two.
Things We Like
Better Integration
Unlimited number of access
Easy Installation
Things We Don't Like
Time-consuming
FAQs
1. Are the August smart locks weatherproof?
Yes, they all are weatherproof.
2. Can I use an additional Kevo fob?
Yes, you can purchase a fob if you wish.
Bottom Line
In the end, after we have compared both, we would choose the August Smart Lock Gen 3. It has better integrations, an unlimited number of sharing. Kwikset Kevo has received a lot of security issues in Amazon.
In August Smart Lock Gen 3, the grades depend on the deadbolt we use. But keep in your mind to have a grade 2 in the interior part of your lock for more security. This as well connects over Bluetooth. You can also connect it to Wi-Fi using the August Connect and August Cam Doorbell. The Cam Doorbell adds a feature of a camera with a smart lock.
Neil is the lead technology reporter and in-house expert for BeOnHome.com.His expertise is in smart home devices, security cameras, and home security systems. In addition to this, he loves experimenting with new gadgets and taking up DIY home improvement projects in his free time.
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