Yale Real Living Key Free Touchscreen Deadbolt T1L Review

Our Verdict

This primal-free deadbolt from Yale has a small, sturdy and stylish build.

For

Minor, archetype blueprint
Number pad only
no keys required

Against

Requires tertiary-political party Z-Wave hub for avant-garde features
Deadening setup procedure
Lacks alert

Tom's Guide Verdict

This fundamental-free deadbolt from Yale has a pocket-size, sturdy and fashionable build.

Pros

+
Minor, classic blueprint
+
Number pad only
+
no keys required

Cons

-
Requires third-party Z-Wave hub for avant-garde features
-
Slow setup process
-
Lacks warning

With more and more home products going the way of automation, information technology'southward no surprise that home door locks have joined the crowd. These "smart" locks offering actress security, connectivity and remote capabilities. The Yale Primal Free Touchscreen Deadbolt T1L is a cylinderless lock with central code access but on the outside, so that in lodge to interruption in, someone will have to figure out your code.

Design

The Key Free Touchscreen Deadbolt looks modern and is pleasing to the eye, with a smooth interface and rounded edges. According to Yale, it's the smallest keypad for a residential Z-Wave-based lock, but it still packs some heft and feels heavy and solid.

The Touchscreen T1L has a safety gasket to protect its internal parts from the weather, likewise equally a 9V battery contact at the lesser of the lock as a backup in case its AA batteries die. Considering at that place's no key, and you lot need a power source to operate the lock, this is a smart addition.

The T1L is offered in three metallic finishes: Satin Nickel, Oil Rubbed Statuary or Polished Brass. The body of the lock does not take up much space on the door, and Yale as well sells doorknobs in the same colors for extra "blendability" with your abode décor.

Every bit someone used to a typical deadbolt with a cardinal, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the keypad-only blueprint, but I was pleased with how unobtrusive information technology looked on the outside. The touch screen remains black until you activate it with your hand, and is visible even under bright sunlight.

Installation

Yale's T1L is no more difficult to install than a typical deadbolt. Information technology took me nigh 25 minutes to get it on a door and powered up. Equally with nearly other smart locks, information technology replaces your traditional deadbolt. Yale provides detailed instructions with helpful diagrams and pictures.

You lot have to follow audio vocalisation prompts, which can be disruptive.

Once the deadbolt is ready to become, information technology volition enquire you to create a "primary code," as well as programme in any other codes you'd like to share to open the lock. You tin can then program upwardly to 25 unlike user codes into the lock.

All of the T1L's programming is washed manually on the touch screen. You have to follow audio voice prompts, which can be, if non confusing, and then certainly a fleck tedious. There was no easy way to manage the codes, other than to follow the lock'south voice commands through a lengthy menu procedure to reprogram. Other smart locks, such as the Kwikset Kevo, let you programme the lock through a smartphone app.

More: Best Smart Locks

To exist fair, the T1L does not really have its own app; it's a stand-alone, independently programmable deadbolt. Only if you put the included Z-Wave module into the lock, it will be able to communicate with compatible smart dwelling hubs.

Performance

As a stand-alone lock, the T1L works well. It's nice knowing that you never have to worry about losing a key – your master PIN will always get you into the firm. The bear upon screen's illuminated keypad is easy to see, fifty-fifty in bright lite, but you accept to tap information technology to "wake information technology up."

The lock is very basic to operate. I just had to tap the keypad, enter my 4-viii digit Pivot, hit the star button, and the lock would engage. The keypad besides allowed for i-touch locking, which I liked, and so when you close the door on the style out, simply tapping the impact screen to activate it will automatically lock the door.

Unless you're controlling the Y1L through a smart habitation system, you lot can't schedule fourth dimension constraints – such every bit for a maintenance-man visit – that would employ to temporary codes on the deadbolt.

Security

As someone who likes the reassuring, solid click of a transmission deadbolt, I was nervous well-nigh using Yale's Central Less deadbolt, but I found that it does take its advantages. Cylinderless locks are touted as being more secure than regular deadbolts, because at that place'due south no real way for an intruder to jimmy the lock. There'south no picking or bumping, and no demand to ever re-key.

The lock likewise has an ANSI/ BHMA Class 2 rating, the second-highest possible security rating. Simply unlike the Schlage Connect, the Yale lock lacks an warning to deter intruders who try to forcefulness their way in.

While I might non utilise the T1L on the only door to my firm, the lock's tapered smoothen locking machinery and quick response make it a secure and reliable lock.

Only equally a battery-operated lock without a key, what happens if the T1L's motorized deadbolt mechanism fails? Yale has a clever answer for that. If the lock's 4 AA batteries die (for which you would go a warning well in advance), there's a spot at the lesser of the exterior lock where you can touch a 9V battery to give just enough power to enter the master code and gain entrance. This shouldn't be too much of a problem, every bit the AA batteries will terminal nigh one full year.

This is reassuring, and undoubtedly secure. While I might not use the T1L on the only door to my house, the lock's tapered bolt, smooth locking mechanism and quick response make it a good, secure and reliable lock.

Smart Home Compatibility

The Yale Touchscreen T1L can be connected to several smart home hubs that have Z-Wave technology, including the Samsung SmartThings, Revolv and Logitech Abode Harmony. While the T1L doesn't work with Nest devices, the Yale Linus lock (due out in 2016) will connect with that network.

In addition to locking and unlocking the T1L remotely, you can program the Touchscreen T1L to interact with your home-security, automatic-lighting or climate-control systems, depending on the types of smart products you have connected to your hub. For instance, you can accept your Z-Wave-controlled lights turn on when you go home, or automatically switch on your security camera when the door lock behinds you. You lot tin too schedule the T1L to automatically lock itself at night at the time yous normally go to bed, or to automatically unlock whenever your telephone gets back into range of the network.

Bottom Line

The Yale Primal Less Touchscreen Deadbolt T1L is a sturdy, super-secure lock that is competitively priced compared with other smart-capable deadbolts on the market. The bear upon-screen keypad entry is convenient, but hooking the T1L up to a Z-Wave hub volition allow you to reap the most benefits, giving you lot remote and automated control of the T1L device. If you lot want to carry 1 fewer key with you lot, the Yale T1L could be a proficient option.