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Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad vs August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad ranks higher (#2 vs #3 of 8). August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) wins on app & smart home.
The biggest complaint about the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad is needs a plug-in wi-fi bridge; for the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) it's short battery life. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad | August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in smart locks | #2 | #3 |
| Price tier | $ | $$ |
| Type | Retrofit | Retrofit |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 24% | 17% |
| Overall score | 4.2 | 3.9 |
| Reliable locking | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Battery life | — | 2.0 |
| App & smart home | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Easy install | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Durability | — | — |
Price tiers: $ under $150 · $$ $150–250 · $$$ over $250. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad
- Needs a plug-in Wi-Fi bridge
Without the included Yale Connect bridge it works only over Bluetooth. The bridge takes up an outlet and is larger than most smart plugs (Wirecutter, Tom's Guide). Tom's Guide says Wi-Fi would be better built into the lock, as on the August.
- No Apple Home
Wirecutter and Tom's Guide both note it doesn't support Apple Home. Tom's Guide says Matter support was promised by software update.
Source: Wirecutter (NYT), Tom's Guide review - Noisy motor
Tom's Guide lists a noisy motor as a reason to avoid it, in both its review and its buying guide.
Source: Tom's Guide review, Tom's Guide
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)
- Short battery life
PCMag says its two CR123 batteries are expected to last up to three months, so keep spares, and lists short battery life as a con. Amazon's summary says owners report replacing them about every six weeks.
- Auto-unlock and Wi-Fi misfires
Amazon's summary says feedback on auto-unlock and Wi-Fi is mixed, with some owners reporting random unlocking at night and frequent disconnections. Wirecutter warns that geofenced auto-unlock risks accidental unlocking on any lock.
- Bulky and pricey
Tom's Guide calls it 'quite bulky' and prefers the slimmer Yale Approach. CNET says it is still bulky and lacks full Matter support. PCMag lists it as pricey, and some Amazon owners say it isn't worth the price.
Who should pick which
Pick the Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi + Keypad if
Keeping your existing deadbolt and keys
A slim retrofit on a budget
Alexa, Google Home or SmartThings users
Skip it if: You use Apple Home; You have no free outlet near the door for the bridge; You want a quiet motor
Pick the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) if
Renters or anyone keeping their keys
Alexa, Google, Apple Home and IFTTT users
The easiest install
Skip it if: You hate changing batteries; You want a slim lock on the door; You want a keypad without buying an add-on
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