Ultraloq Announce First Smart Lock with UWB

At WWDC 24, Apple announced the option for manufacturers to include an UWB (Ultra Wideband) chip in their smart locks, thus facilitating auto unlocking when you and your Apple Watch or iPhone are in close proximity to the lock in question. Now U-Tec, the company behind the Ultraloq smart lock brand, has announced the first lock to feature this technology, with the Ultraloq Bolt Mission UWB+NFC, as first reported by securityinfowatch.com.

If you’re not aware of UWB technology, it’s already in use in newer iPhones, as well as Apple’s own AirTags. Basically, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) is a short-range wireless communication technology that uses low-power, short pulses across a wide frequency spectrum for fast data transmission and highly accurate location tracking, often within centimetres. It operates with minimal interference and low power consumption, making it suitable for indoor positioning, smart home devices, keyless entry, and asset tracking. While UWB excels in high-precision applications, its effective range is typically limited to around 10-30 metres. So if you currently use an AirTag with UWB, you can see how relatively accurate it is.

An initial version of the lock will be released in Q4 of 2024 that will support Apple Home and Matter. Before you get too excited, however, this model will only allow proximity unlocking via the company’s own U-Home app (if that matters) which means it doesn’t support the forthcoming Aliro standard. Shipping is expected to commence in Q1 of 2025.

The good news is that U-Tec do plan on a more high-end model for 2025 that will support this new communication standard, so it’ll have more comprehensive support for Matter and Apple.

Both models will support Apple Home, although NFC unlocking is only initially going to be available for Android phones, with the promise of support for Apple HomeKey coming ‘in the future’. It’ll use Matter over WiFi, as opposed to Thread, which is why the lock uses eight AA batteries for an average 12 months between battery changes.

Visually it’s purported to be similar in design to the company’s other North American deadbolt range, featuring a keyhole in the lower third, surrounded by a circular keypad. Ultraloc already have a series of smart locks that work in a variety of ways, which also includes models with either Apple HomeKey or a fingerprint sensor.