Smart Locks / Yale
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad
A retrofit with the Wi-Fi bridge actually included — and no Matter yet.
Overall score 7.1/10
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
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad review: what the specs say
A retrofit with the Wi-Fi bridge actually included — and no Matter yet. At $179.99, Yale's 2024 model sits in the middle of the range — the smart Locks we compare run from $79.98 to $399. It scores 7.1/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is Installation & Fit at 9.0/10 — DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits. The weakest is Smart Home Support at 4.5/10, which is the trade-off to weigh before buying: if that is the specification you care about most, one of the alternatives below will serve you better.
Worth knowing before you buy: no Matter today — Yale describes it as coming by software update, which is a promise rather than a feature you can buy; and no Apple Home Key and no HomeKit tap-to-unlock; iPhone owners are in the Yale app. Every specification on this page comes from Yale's own documentation or a verified retail listing — where a figure is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.
Specifications and price last verified . Report an error
Full Specifications
| Lock Type | Retrofit over the existing deadbolt's interior thumbturn, plus a separate keypad |
| ANSI/BHMA Grade | 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 — that is the point of the product; your existing cylinder and keys stay |
| Smart Radio | 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 | 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 |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No |
| Biometrics | 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 | Lock: 4 x AA alkaline (included). Keypad: 4 x AAA alkaline (included) |
| Claimed Battery Life | 12 months |
| Backup Power & Key Override | Your existing exterior key always works; Yale does not publish an emergency power contact on the Approach |
| Door Thickness / Backset | 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 |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (via the included Connect Wi-Fi Bridge) |
| Material | Polycarbonate lock body with a separate touchscreen keypad |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Compare Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad With
Cheaper Alternative
Aqara Smart Lock U200 (with Keypad) — $169.99
Premium Alternative
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen, AUG-SL05) — $199.99