Smart Locks / Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) vs August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)
Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) vs August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)
Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad)
Home Key and Thread on a retrofit — provided you already own a Thread border router.
Wins overall by 1.5 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.5-point gap makes the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) the straightforward choice here. Home Key and Thread on a retrofit — provided you already own a Thread border router.
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) is $30 cheaper than the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) ($169.99 vs $199.99). On Entry Methods, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads (8.5 vs 4.5/10) — keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock. On Battery Life, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads (7.0 vs 3.0/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. On Smart Home Support, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads (8.5 vs 6.0/10) — matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each. Overall, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores 7.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.9/10 for the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $169.99 | $199.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2020 |
| Lock Type | Retrofit over the existing deadbolt, plus a separate wireless keypad | Retrofit over the existing deadbolt's interior thumbturn |
| ANSI/BHMA Grade | Not published by the manufacturer — Aqara says only 'BHMA-certified' on the U-series pages without naming a grade or standard | Not applicable and not published — the retrofit motor carries no BHMA grade and your existing deadbolt keeps its own |
| Keeps Existing Keyway | Yes — the exterior cylinder and your keys stay in place | Yes — the exterior cylinder and your keys are untouched |
| Smart Radio | Matter over Thread plus Bluetooth. No Wi-Fi anywhere in the product | 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, plus Bluetooth, all inside the lock |
| Hub or Bridge Required | Yes — a Thread border router per ecosystem (HomePod mini, HomePod 2, Apple TV 4K, or equivalent). Without one there is no remote access and no Home Key | No — this is the generation that moved Wi-Fi into the lock body. Older August locks needed the separate Connect bridge |
| Apple Home Key | Yes, over NFC at the keypad | No — HomeKit control only, not tap-to-unlock |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No — that is the U400 | No |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint, on the exterior keypad unit | None — there is no keypad and no fingerprint reader in the box |
| Battery Type | Rechargeable lithium pack in the lock (USB-C); keypad takes 4 x AAA or 12-24V DC wiring | 2 x CR123A lithium (included) |
| Claimed Battery Life (months) | 6✓ | 3 |
| Backup Power & Key Override | Your existing exterior key still works; USB-C on the lock body accepts a power bank | Your existing exterior key always works; August does not publish an emergency power contact on this generation |
| Door Thickness / Backset | Standard US single-cylinder deadbolts via the included adapters; slim-profile US deadbolts may need replacing first, and the keypad must sit within about 6 ft (2 m) of the lock | Most single-cylinder deadbolts — check August's compatibility list first. Body is 72mm across and 46mm deep on the inside of the door |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Silver, Black | Silver, Matte Black |
Category Scores
Security
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) are level here, at 4.5/10 each. published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Fail-Safe Access
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on what happens when the battery dies, the Wi-Fi drops or the app is down — physical key, emergency power contact and offline codes. The spec buyers most often discover too late. If that is what you are buying for, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-point margin on which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included. If that is what you are buying for, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Support
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-point margin on matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each. If that is what you are buying for, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Entry Methods
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 4.5 — a 4.0-point margin on keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock. If that is what you are buying for, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Life
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 3.0 — a 4.0-point margin on real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. If that is what you are buying for, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Installation & Fit
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits. If that is what you are buying for, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-point margin on security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately. If that is what you are buying for, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) if…
- • Entry Methods matters most to you — the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores 8.5/10 here (keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock).
- • Battery Life matters most to you — the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores 7.0/10 here (real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands).
- • Smart Home Support matters most to you — the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores 8.5/10 here (matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each).
- • Value matters most to you — the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores 8.0/10 here (security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately).
- • Fail-Safe Access matters most to you — the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores 8.0/10 here (what happens when the battery dies, the Wi-Fi drops or the app is down — physical key, emergency power contact and offline codes. The spec buyers most often discover too late).
Choose the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) if…
- • Your main use case is rentals.
Pros & Cons
Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad)
Pros
- +Apple Home Key, fingerprint and Matter over Thread on a retrofit that keeps your existing keyway — nothing else here does all four
- +Thread sips power, and the lock body recharges over USB-C rather than eating AA cells
- +Works across Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant through Matter rather than a proprietary cloud
- +Keypad is wireless, so it can be mounted away from the door frame if your deadbolt prep is awkward
Cons
- −No Thread border router means no remote control, no Home Key and no smart-home integration — the hub is not in the box and is not optional
- −Aqara says 'BHMA-certified' but publishes no grade, so you cannot compare its security to a Grade 1 Schlage or Level
- −Long-run reliability is the weak point: the Amazon listing sits at 2.7 stars across ~2,000 ratings, with owners reporting jamming and grinding after a year or so
- −Two batteries to manage — a rechargeable pack in the lock and AAAs in the keypad — with different lives
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)
Pros
- +The only retrofit here with dual-band Wi-Fi in the lock — it will join a 5GHz-only guest network that defeats most rivals
- +DoorSense is still the best-implemented door-ajar sensor in the category
- +Mature HomeKit support and an app that has had a decade of iteration
- +Retrofit install takes minutes and is fully reversible for renters
Cons
- −August's own figure is up to 3 months of battery life, and owners routinely report changing the CR123A cells every 90 days — by far the worst battery economics here
- −CR123A cells cost several times what AAs do, so the running cost is real
- −No keypad, no fingerprint, no Home Key: without your phone you are back to the metal key
- −No Matter support has been published for this generation, and it is a 2020 design at a 2026 price
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) or August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Entry Methods, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores higher on Entry Methods (8.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock.
Which is better for Battery Life, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores higher on Battery Life (7.0/10 vs 3.0/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands.
Which is better for Smart Home Support, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores higher on Smart Home Support (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each.
Which is better for Value, the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) scores higher on Value (8.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately.
Is the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) worth the price difference over the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) is the cheaper option at $169.99 versus $199.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Entry Methods.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) is the better fit if you mainly care about fingerprint or apple-home. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) is the better fit for rentals.
What's the warranty on the Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) vs the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) ships with a 12-month warranty; the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad — $179.99
Premium Option
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad — $179.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.