August Wi-Fi Review and Pricing Guide 2023

The New August Wi-Fi Smart Lock: Better Than Before

The new August Wi-Fi Smart Lock ditches the traditional thumb turn for a smooth, round face.

Better Design

Slimmer isn’t necessarily better, but in the case of the significantly leaner August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, it really is — for a number of reasons. First, take a look at that photo above. You’ll notice there’s no traditional thumb turn lock. Instead, the new Wi-Fi Smart Lock has a minimal, circular knob, which is simply a beauty. This isn’t just my own taste speaking. August has won design awards for their Smart Lock reboot.1

Second, in terms of functionality, without the clunky thumb turn, August salvaged prime real estate for a little light that told me whether my door was locked or unlocked. Unlocked flashed red. Locked, green. A small touch, but very handy on the day to day.

Finally, even with all the trunk space they took out, the folks at August still managed to make room for some pretty powerful lithium batteries, not the usual AAs. I’ll have more to say about how the new power set-up did in terms of battery life below. For now, I’ll just say that in the design department, August’s new lighter, smarter Wi-Fi Smart Lock scores straight 10s.

Built-in Wi-Fi

Better design goes hand in hand with better functionality. The key functionality August diehards are going to be celebrating with the release of August’s Smart Lock 2.0 is built-in Wi-Fi. Just to be clear, August has had Wi-Fi functionality for a while. You just needed a separate device — a bridge — that acted as a middleman between your lock and phone. Now you don’t, which was one less link to worry about in my home security chain.

Now that the August Smart Lock was Wi-Fi-ready, it also supported built-in geofencing. Sounds a little cloak and dagger, I know, but geofencing is really just super convenient. With geofencing enabled, my August lock knew when I was within 25 feet of my front door — as long as I was carrying my phone. Bookmark that because it’s important. Once I was on the radar, my Smart Lock unlocked my door automatically. That was a major headache resolved because I hate fumbling with smart lock apps when I’m standing on my stoop.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Before we dive into the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock on the day to day, let’s take a quick look at how it compares to August’s other premium models.

August Smart Lock Pricing

One quick takeaway from the table above: August isn’t cheap. Even the entry-level Smart Lock is $149.99. If you want to add a keypad, say goodbye to another $60. So, if it’s a cheap smart lock you want, try the new Wyze Lock Bolt. The Lock Bolt is a solid Bluetooth smart lock that sells for $70.

On the other hand, the new August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is very versatile, secure, and easy to use. It’s also compatible with all major smart home platforms so you can integrate it easily into your routines. This is a smart lock, in other words, that you’ll be happy to have on your door for a while.

And at $229, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock really isn’t that expensive. The Yale Assure, one of our favorite smart locks this year, starts at around $210. The more traditional-looking Schlage Encode, another premium pick, goes for $269. You see where this is going. The $229 for a best-in-class smart lock isn’t coming out of left field.

Installing the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a 10-minute install.

Installing your August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is a 10-minute job. Check out our August Wi-Fi Smart Lock easy installation guide for a play-by-play tour. Here are the key points to keep in mind.

• Download the August app first, and create an account.
• Don’t worry if you don’t see a deadbolt in your box. The Wi-Fi Smart Lock fits over your existing deadbolt.
• Align the mounting plate, and choose the right deadbolt adapter for your door. Without the right adapter, your smart lock won’t work.
• Install the batteries, and screw on your DoorSense sensor. The sensor tells your app if your door is open, shut, or ajar.

A Week With the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock

I had a lot of fun using the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, and experienced very few hiccups. But like with every smart gadget you bring into the house, the Wi-Fi Smart Lock takes some getting used to.

Hitting My Stride With Auto-Locking

Hitting the Wi-Fi Smart Lock’s auto-locking sweet spot took a little tweaking. I’d recommend giving yourself more than 30 seconds to get out the door, especially if you’ve got kids. Mine forget everything — backpacks, water bottles, the shoes on their feet. All that locking and unlocking began to drive me and my smart lock bonkers.

Keyless, Not Phoneless

There was one close call when I actually did leave the house without my phone, something I swore I never did and a big no-no when you’re going keyless and keypadless. Fortunately, my wife, who was with me, had her phone with her, with the August app installed. If she hadn’t, that would have been a call to grandma, who has an extra physical key.

Battery Life

Now that we’re on the subject of locking our doors, we might as well talk about battery life, because the two go hand in hand. Unlike your cheaper Bluetooth smart locks, which can go a year without a battery change, the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock can only last up to six months tops. I’d actually wager that four to five months is more accurate.

How much life you milk out of your batteries depends on a bunch of factors. How often you go in and out of your house and how much effort it is for your lock to communicate with your network are the two biggies. Lousy connections that cut in and out will reduce battery life. So will locking and unlocking your door 20 times per day.

The bottom line here is that lithium batteries aren’t cheap. A two-pack will set you back around $8 or $9 at the supermarket. So if you fall in love with the new August Smart Lock, you can knock down the battery bills with an efficient home network and a Sam’s Club membership.

Final Thoughts

Smart locks aren’t all great to look at. They don’t all sport flawless auto locking and unlocking, give you remote access, or integrate with your smart home automations. The latest August Wi-Fi Smart Lock checks all those boxes. And, at the end of the day, it doesn’t cost a dime more than any of its Wi-Fi-ready competition.

The only issue I might have with the new August Smart Lock is battery life. I say “might” because I used the Wi-Fi Smart Lock for nine days. If my lock conked out in three months, and it cost $9 to get it working again, I might have a different story to tell.

But that would be a worst case scenario. You can find cheap batteries, and hopefully your Smart Lock will last you four or five months. In that case, I don’t think you could ask for a better addition to your home security arsenal.

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock FAQs