Smart Locks / August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) vs Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) vs Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad
A retrofit with the Wi-Fi bridge actually included — and no Matter yet.
Wins overall by 1.2 points
Quick Verdict
The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad takes this by a clear 1.2 points. A retrofit with the Wi-Fi bridge actually included — and no Matter yet. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) and Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad is $20 cheaper than the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) ($179.99 vs $199.99). On Battery Life, the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad leads (8.5 vs 3.0/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. On Value, the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad leads (8.0 vs 5.5/10) — security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately. On Fail-Safe Access, the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad leads (8.5 vs 7.0/10) — 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. Overall, the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad scores 7.1/10 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 | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) | Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199.99 | $179.99 |
| Release Year | 2020 | 2024 |
| Lock Type | Retrofit over the existing deadbolt's interior thumbturn | Retrofit over the existing deadbolt's interior thumbturn, plus a separate keypad |
| ANSI/BHMA Grade | Not applicable and not published — the retrofit motor carries no BHMA grade and your existing deadbolt keeps its own | Not published by the manufacturer — Yale states no ANSI/BHMA grade for the Approach, and the retrofit inherits the grade of your existing deadbolt |
| Keeps Existing Keyway | Yes — the exterior cylinder and your keys are untouched | Yes — that is the point of the product; your existing cylinder and keys stay |
| Smart Radio | 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, plus Bluetooth, all inside the lock | Bluetooth in the lock and keypad. Wi-Fi comes from the plug-in Connect Bridge, which is included on this bundle |
| Hub or Bridge Required | No — this is the generation that moved Wi-Fi into the lock body. Older August locks needed the separate Connect bridge | Yes, but included — the Connect Wi-Fi Bridge is what provides remote access. The cheaper Approach SKUs omit it and Tom's Guide flags that as their main caveat |
| Apple Home Key | No — HomeKit control only, not tap-to-unlock | No |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No | No |
| Biometrics | None — there is no keypad and no fingerprint reader in the box | Sources conflict: Yale's own bundle page lists the fingerprint-capable Keypad Touch, while the Amazon listing for this bundle describes a code-only Bluetooth touchscreen keypad. Confirm which keypad ships before ordering |
| Battery Type | 2 x CR123A lithium (included) | Lock: 4 x AA alkaline (included). Keypad: 4 x AAA alkaline (included) |
| Claimed Battery Life (months) | 3 | 12✓ |
| Backup Power & Key Override | Your existing exterior key always works; August does not publish an emergency power contact on this generation | Your existing exterior key always works; Yale does not publish an emergency power contact on the Approach |
| Door Thickness / Backset | Most single-cylinder deadbolts — check August's compatibility list first. Body is 72mm across and 46mm deep on the inside of the door | Most single-cylinder deadbolts; the keypad mounts within about 30 ft of the lock over Bluetooth. Lock body is 2.6 x 5.6 x 1.6 in on the inside of the door |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Silver, Matte Black | Black Suede, Satin Nickel |
Category Scores
Security
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) and Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad 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 Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-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) and Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad are level here, at 7.5/10 each. which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Smart Home Support
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.5 — a 1.5-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 Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad does not close the gap elsewhere.
Entry Methods
The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad leads clearly here, 6.0 against 4.5 — a 1.5-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 Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad leads clearly here, 8.5 against 3.0 — a 5.5-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) and Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad are level here, at 9.0/10 each. DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + 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 August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) if…
- • Smart Home Support matters most to you — the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) scores 6.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each).
Choose the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad if…
- • Battery Life matters most to you — the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad scores 8.5/10 here (real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands).
- • Value matters most to you — the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + 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 Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad scores 8.5/10 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).
- • Entry Methods matters most to you — the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad scores 6.0/10 here (keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock).
- • You want to spend less — it's $20 cheaper.
Pros & Cons
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
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad
Pros
- +The bridge is actually in the box at this price, which is not true of the cheaper Approach listings buyers usually land on
- +12 months of claimed lock battery life is the longest AA figure in this set
- +Keeps your keyway and your keys, so nothing about the outside of your door changes
- +Backed by Yale/August's mature app, which is markedly better maintained than most budget lock apps
Cons
- −No Matter today — Yale describes it as coming by software update, which is a promise rather than a feature you can buy
- −No Apple Home Key and no HomeKit tap-to-unlock; iPhone owners are in the Yale app
- −Yale publishes no ANSI/BHMA grade, and a retrofit cannot improve the deadbolt you already have
- −Which keypad you get is genuinely unclear between Yale's own listing and the Amazon listing — fingerprint or code-only changes the value considerably
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) or Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + 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 Battery Life, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) or the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad?+
The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad scores higher on Battery Life (8.5/10 vs 3.0/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands.
Which is better for Value, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) or the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad?+
The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + 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.
Which is better for Fail-Safe Access, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) or the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad?+
The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad scores higher on Fail-Safe Access (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — 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.
Which is better for Smart Home Support, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) or the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad?+
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) scores higher on Smart Home Support (6.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each.
Is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) worth the price difference over the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad?+
The Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad is the cheaper option at $179.99 versus $199.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Battery Life.
What's the warranty on the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) vs the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad?+
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad 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
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) — $199.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.