Yale Announces New Matter over Thread Deadbolt Lock

Yale has introduced a new smart lock designed to integrate seamlessly with the Google Home ecosystem and complement Google’s Nest video doorbells. However, thanks to its Matter-over-Thread compatibility, the Yale Smart Lock with Matter is not limited to Google Home, so it’ll also work with all the other Matter compatible platforms – Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and any other Matter-enabled smart home platform (hopefully this will also include Home Assistant). This is a welcome sign that Google may finally be taking things seriously with the smart home in general and Matter in particular.

Through Matter, users can integrate the lock with Google Home to manage passcodes, schedule guest access, enable auto-lock, and receive battery life alerts and notifications for lock events. A history of lock activity will also be available.

According to Yale, the lock operates with the Yale Access app via Bluetooth and can connect to the Google Home app – or as previously stated, any other Matter-compatible smart home app – through a Matter controller and a Thread border router bound to your preferred ecosystem. The company states that the lock offers up to 12 months of battery life using four AA batteries.

Both Yale and Google have confirmed they will no longer manufacture the Nest x Yale Lock, launched in 2018. The new Yale lock is a full deadbolt replacement, featuring both a keypad and a keyway for access. It is available in grey, white, and black, with the grey and white options matching some of the finishes available for Google’s Nest doorbells. The lock is set to launch this summer at a price of around US$170.