Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Aqara Smart Lock U100
Best for Apple Home UsersUltraloq Bolt Fingerprint
Most VersatilePrice
$90-$140
$100-$160
Summary
Purpose-built for Apple Home with native HomeKit and Apple Home Key support at a price well under most competitors. Wirecutter picks it as a top value, and it regularly drops below $100.
More unlock methods than almost any competitor — fingerprint, keypad, app, voice, and key — with broad platform support. PCMag calls it one of the most versatile smart locks tested.
Pros
- Apple Home Key support — unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch tap
- Listed at $140 but regularly available below $100
- Fingerprint reader, NFC, keypad, and physical key unlock methods
- Solid AES 128-bit encryption and IPX5 weather resistance
- Fingerprint reader, keypad, app, voice control, and physical key all supported
- Works with Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and SmartThings
- Built-in Wi-Fi for remote access without a separate hub
- Strong value for the number of features offered
Cons
- No built-in Wi-Fi — requires Apple Home hub (HomePod/Apple TV) or Aqara hub for remote access
- Best experience is Apple-only; Alexa/Google require Aqara hub
- Less useful for non-Apple smart home setups
- Brand is less established than Schlage or Yale — long-term reliability less proven
- App experience less polished than Yale or Schlage
- Fingerprint reader can be inconsistent in cold/wet conditions
Our take
If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, the U100 is the obvious choice — Apple Home Key is genuinely magic, and no other lock delivers it this cheaply.
If you have multiple people coming and going with different preferences — some want fingerprint, some want keypad, some want app — the Ultraloq handles it all without forcing everyone into one workflow.
Buy
