Smart Locks · owner-verdict comparison

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) vs Level Lock+: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Level Lock+: 41% of 133 owners recommend it, vs 35% of 37 for the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen).

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen)

35%of 37 owners recommend
35% recommend · 16% neutral · 49% don't
Full owner report →

Level Lock+

41%of 133 owners recommend
41% recommend · 16% neutral · 43% don't
Owners praise
  • Much more reliable after the Matter/Thread update, going from flaky to fast and solid
  • Unlocks with a tap of an Apple Watch or phone via HomeKey/Apple Wallet
  • Looks like a normal deadbolt, not a smart lock
Owners complain about
  • Connectivity is unreliable, with frequent Bluetooth/HomeKit disconnects and drop-offs
  • Firmware/Matter updates break HomeKit or HomeKey pairing and knock the lock offline
  • Poor battery life, and it dies suddenly with little or no warning
Full owner report →

What August Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) owners say

“One thing i love is i have it running thru z wave to my alarm panel AND HomeKit/alexa simultaneously.”
— tgoz13 on Reddit
“Setting up notifications was a breeze. Alexa setup was a breeze. HomeKit works great. I have had zero issues and have been very impressed.”
— blampen on Reddit
“It hasn’t been as reliable as my old August Pro + Connect. It’s been disconnecting from Wi-Fi frequently and the original batteries had gone completely flat in less than 2 months.”
— d3rw1n on community.home-assistant.io

What Level Lock+ owners say

“I have Level Locks and love them.”
— @peterrasmussen3100 on YouTube
“Maybe it’s fully deserved, but I like mine (Level Touch.)”
— bakerzdosen on Reddit
“Don’t buy this thing you can hit it with a hammer and it will unlock itself”
— @shanemowery7255 on YouTube