Smart Locks / Level Lock Pro (Matter) vs August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)
Level Lock Pro (Matter) vs August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)
Level Lock Pro (Matter)
Invisible, Grade 1 and beautiful — if your door is between 1.75 and 2 inches thick.
Wins overall by 0.4 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.4-point gap makes the Level Lock Pro (Matter) the straightforward choice here. Invisible, Grade 1 and beautiful — if your door is between 1.75 and 2 inches thick.
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) is $149 cheaper than the Level Lock Pro (Matter) ($199.99 vs $349). On Security, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads (8.5 vs 4.5/10) — published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door. On Battery Life, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads (7.0 vs 3.0/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. On Installation & Fit, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) leads (9.0 vs 5.5/10) — DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits. Overall, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores 6.3/10 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 | Level Lock Pro (Matter) | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.00 | $199.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2020 |
| Lock Type | Full deadbolt replacement with the electronics concealed inside the door | Retrofit over the existing deadbolt's interior thumbturn |
| ANSI/BHMA Grade | ANSI Grade 1/A, tested to A156.40 (residential deadbolts) and A156.25 (electrified locking), BHMA AAA certified at 250,000 cycles — all stated on Level's own page | Not applicable and not published — the retrofit motor carries no BHMA grade and your existing deadbolt keeps its own |
| Keeps Existing Keyway | No — new Level cylinder and keys; your existing key will not work | Yes — the exterior cylinder and your keys are untouched |
| Smart Radio | Matter over Thread plus Bluetooth 4.0/5.0 and NFC. There is no Wi-Fi radio in the lock | 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, plus Bluetooth, all inside the lock |
| Hub or Bridge Required | Yes — either a Matter-over-Thread hub (HomePod mini, HomePod 2, Apple TV 4K 3rd gen or equivalent) or Level's own Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, sold separately | 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 — tap with iPhone or Apple Watch | No — HomeKit control only, not tap-to-unlock |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No | No |
| Biometrics | None — and there is no keypad in the box either; the Level Keypad is a separate purchase | None — there is no keypad and no fingerprint reader in the box |
| Battery Type | 1 x CR2 lithium (included), concealed inside the bolt | 2 x CR123A lithium (included) |
| Claimed Battery Life (months) | 12✓ | 3 |
| Backup Power & Key Override | Two physical keys and two NFC key fobs in the box; there is no emergency power contact, so a flat CR2 means using the key | Your existing exterior key always works; August does not publish an emergency power contact on this generation |
| Door Thickness / Backset | Door thickness 1.75 in to 2.0 in only, backset 2.375 in or 2.75 in, ANSI 2.125 in bore — the narrowest thickness window of any lock here | 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 | Matte Black, Satin Nickel | Silver, Matte Black |
Category Scores
Security
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 4.5 — a 4.0-point margin on published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door. If that is what you are buying for, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Fail-Safe Access
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — 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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.0 — a 2.5-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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Support
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.0 — a 2.0-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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads clearly here, 5.0 against 4.5 — a 0.5-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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) 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 5.5 — a 3.5-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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) and August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) are level here, at 5.5/10 each. security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Level Lock Pro (Matter) if…
- • Security matters most to you — the Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores 8.5/10 here (published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door).
- • Battery Life matters most to you — the Level Lock Pro (Matter) 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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores 8.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each).
- • Your main use case is apple-home or matter-thread.
Choose the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) if…
- • Installation & Fit matters most to you — the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) scores 9.0/10 here (DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) scores 7.5/10 here (which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included).
- • You want to spend less — it's $149 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is retrofit or rentals.
Pros & Cons
Level Lock Pro (Matter)
Pros
- +Genuinely invisible: the only lock here that does not announce itself on the outside or bolt a slab of plastic to the inside
- +Publishes ANSI Grade 1/A, BHMA AAA and a 250,000-cycle test figure — the security claims are specific and checkable
- +A single CR2 cell runs it for roughly 9-12 months, so the battery burden is one small cell a year rather than eight AAs
- +Apple Home Key plus two NFC fobs in the box covers guests who do not have an iPhone
Cons
- −The 1.75-2.0 in door thickness limit is the hard trap: plenty of American doors are 1-3/8 in and simply will not take this lock
- −No Wi-Fi in the lock — remote access needs either a Thread hub you already own or Level's Connect bridge as an extra purchase
- −No keypad and no fingerprint in the box; the Level Keypad is another accessory, so out of the box a guest without an iPhone needs a fob or a key
- −$349 with fewer entry methods than an $80 Wyze, and no emergency power contact when the CR2 dies
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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) or August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) 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 Security, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores higher on Security (8.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door.
Which is better for Battery Life, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) 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 Installation & Fit, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) scores higher on Installation & Fit (9.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) or the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) scores higher on Connectivity (7.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included.
Is the Level Lock Pro (Matter) worth the price difference over the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) is the cheaper option at $199.99 versus $349. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Security.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) is the better fit if you mainly care about apple-home or matter-thread. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) is the better fit for retrofit or rentals.
What's the warranty on the Level Lock Pro (Matter) vs the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05)?+
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) 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
Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) — $399.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.