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Lockly spent years selling smart locks that did more than almost anything else on the door: fingerprint readers, video feeds, hack-resistant keypads. The catch was always the price and the hub. At CES 2026 the company flipped the script. The Affirm series strips out the biometrics, keeps the clever keypad, adds Matter over Thread plus built-in Wi-Fi, and lands at $179.99. That positioning puts it in a direct fight with the Aqara U300 and Yale’s budget line rather than the $300 camera locks Lockly is known for.
One thing before we start: this review is built from published specifications, CES 2026 launch coverage from PCWorld, TechRadar, and HomeKit News, plus documented owner feedback on Lockly’s existing hardware. It is a spec-and-research analysis, not a hands-on test. When review units ship and long-term owner data lands, this page gets updated.
Is the Lockly Affirm smart lock worth buying?
The Lockly Affirm is worth buying if you want Matter-over-Thread, built-in Wi-Fi, NFC tap-to-unlock, and a scrambling PIN Genie keypad for $179.99. It skips fingerprint and camera hardware entirely, so shoppers who want biometric entry should pay $50 more for the Aqara U300 instead. Availability began late Q2 2026.
Key takeaways
- The Lockly Affirm costs $179.99 in both deadbolt and latch versions, announced at CES 2026 with availability set for late Q2 2026.
- It is Lockly’s first lock with built-in Wi-Fi and native Matter, using Matter over Thread (2.4GHz) as the primary connection and Wi-Fi as backup, so no hub is required.
- The keypad stores roughly 300 PIN codes and supports one-time and recurring offline codes, which is far more than the 50-fingerprint cap on the Aqara U300.
- Power comes from 8 AA batteries rated for up to 8 months, with a USB-C port on the exterior for emergency charging and an IP65 weather rating.
- There is no fingerprint reader, no palm vein sensor, and no camera. Entry is PIN, NFC card/fob, phone wallet, app, or physical backup key.
- Lockly backs its hardware with a 2-year electronics warranty and a limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty.
What is the Lockly Affirm smart lock?
The Lockly Affirm is a $179.99 Matter-certified smart lock line, announced at CES 2026 in deadbolt and latch versions, that combines a backlit PIN Genie keypad, NFC tap entry, built-in Wi-Fi, Thread radio, and an integrated doorbell button in a matte black housing.
That single paragraph hides a strategic shift. Lockly built its reputation on premium hardware such as the Vision Elite and the PIN Genie Pro, locks that regularly cross $300. The Affirm series is the company’s play for the mainstream buyer, and Lockly itself frames it as “affordable luxury”. You get two body styles: a traditional deadbolt for standard front doors, and a latch version with a lever handle and integrated doorbell aimed at apartments, side doors, and rentals.
The signature feature carries over from the expensive models. PIN Genie shuffles digits across the keypad buttons each time someone approaches, so a smudge pattern or a shoulder-surfing neighbor cannot reconstruct your code. Each button shows multiple digits, and the layout changes every use. Lockly has shipped this on its locks since 2017, and it remains the best anti-peeking keypad design in the industry.
What the Affirm deliberately leaves out matters just as much: no fingerprint sensor, no palm recognition, no camera in the deadbolt version. TechRadar’s CES coverage flagged the absence of biometrics as the trade-off for the price. Lockly is betting that NFC tap-to-unlock from a phone or watch wallet has replaced the fingerprint as the fast entry method most people actually use.
How much does the Lockly Affirm cost, and when can you buy it?
Both the Lockly Affirm deadbolt and the latch version cost $179.99, confirmed by PCWorld’s CES 2026 report, with retail availability scheduled for late Q2 2026 in matte black.
As of July 19, 2026, the Affirm is rolling out through Lockly’s own store, and Amazon listings are expected to follow the pattern of previous Lockly launches within weeks of retail availability. Check the Lockly smart lock store for current stock. For context on where that price sits: Lockly’s own PIN Genie Pro Zeno with Apple Home Key runs about $249, the Aqara U300 lever lock lists at $229.99, and eufy’s camera-equipped E330 sits at $299.99. At $179.99 the Affirm undercuts every Matter-over-Thread lock with a keypad that we can find from a major brand.
One pricing footnote worth knowing before you buy. The latch model’s video calling feature runs through Lockly’s new TapCom platform, which is a separate $19.99 base purchase with optional subscriptions at $1.99 or $3.99 per month, per AndroidGuys’ launch coverage. The lock works fully without it. But if the doorbell-to-phone video chat demo is what sold you, budget roughly $200 all-in, not $179.99.
Does the Lockly Affirm work with Apple Home, Alexa, and Google Home?
Yes. The Lockly Affirm is Matter-certified, so it works natively with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant. Thread is the primary connection, with built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi as a fallback and the Lockly Home app covering remote features.
This is the Affirm’s headline achievement, and Tom’s Guide called the series Lockly’s “first to have built-in Wi-Fi with Matter.” Older Lockly models needed a plug-in hub for out-of-home control. The Affirm needs nothing extra: pair it straight to whichever ecosystem runs your house. HomeKit News notes that Thread is intended as the primary transport because it draws less power than Wi-Fi, which directly protects that 8-month battery estimate. You will want a Thread border router (a HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, Echo Hub, or similar) to get the low-power benefit; without one, the lock leans on its Wi-Fi radio and battery life will take a hit.
Apple users get one more perk: Apple Watch support for tap entry via NFC. What the spec sheets do not confirm is Apple Home Key, the specific wallet integration Lockly ships on the pricier Zeno series, and Aliro, the upcoming cross-industry credential standard, is not mentioned in any Affirm launch material either. If tap-to-unlock from a locked iPhone screen is non-negotiable for you, verify Home Key support on the retail box before buying, or look at our Kwikset Aura Reach review for an alternative that handles remote access differently. Alexa households can go deeper on voice routines in our guide to smart locks that work with Alexa.
Does the Lockly Affirm have a fingerprint reader?
No. The Lockly Affirm has no fingerprint reader, no palm vein scanner, and no facial recognition. Entry methods are the scrambling PIN keypad, NFC cards and fobs, phone and smartwatch tap, the Lockly Home app, and a physical backup key.
This will disqualify the Affirm for some buyers, and it should. A good fingerprint reader is still the fastest way through a door when your hands are free, and Lockly clearly agrees, because it sells fingerprint sensors on nearly every other lock in its lineup. The omission here is a cost decision, not a philosophy.
The counterargument is that NFC has quietly gotten better than fingerprints for several groups. Fingerprint sensors reject wet, cold, or worn fingertips; owner reviews of Lockly’s own Secure Plus and Pro models cite fingerprint recognition as the most common complaint, per ButterflyMX’s review roundup. NFC has no such failure mode. A tap of a watch, a phone, or a $2 card in a kid’s backpack works in the rain, in gloves-off winter, and for grandparents whose fingerprints sensors routinely refuse. The Affirm stores hundreds of codes and supports one-time and recurring offline PINs on top, so the practical question is not “does it have biometrics” but “who in your household actually needs them.” If the answer is nobody, you just saved $50 to $120 versus the biometric competition.
How long does the Lockly Affirm battery last?
The Lockly Affirm runs on eight AA batteries rated for up to 8 months of use, according to PCWorld’s launch report. An exterior USB-C port provides emergency power if the batteries die with the door locked, and the physical key is the final fallback.
Eight months is a strong number, and the Thread-first design is why it is plausible. Wi-Fi is the battery killer in smart locks; locks that keep a 2.4GHz radio awake around the clock, like eufy’s E330, need recharging roughly every 3 months. Thread radios sip power by comparison, which is how the Aqara U300 stretches 4 AAs to about 10 months. The Affirm carries twice the batteries of the U300 for a shorter rated life, which suggests Lockly is being conservative or expects the Wi-Fi radio and doorbell to see real use. Either way, expect the true figure to depend heavily on whether a Thread border router is in range.
The IP65 rating on the exterior assembly covers dust and water jets, which matters for exposed doors, and the keypad is rated for outdoor mounting without a storm door. Cold-weather performance is unpublished; alkaline AAs generally sag below minus 20°C, so northern buyers should start with lithium AAs, the same advice we give for every AA-powered lock including the budget models in our TEEHO door lock review.
Lockly Affirm vs Aqara U300 vs eufy E330: which should you buy?
The Lockly Affirm wins on price and code capacity, the Aqara U300 wins on biometrics and battery life, and the eufy E330 wins if you want a camera at the door. Here is how the three stack up on the numbers that matter, with prices checked July 19, 2026.
| Product | Price | Connectivity | Key backup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lockly Affirm (deadbolt or latch) | $179.99 | Matter over Thread + built-in Wi-Fi, NFC | Physical key + USB-C port | Budget Matter homes, rentals, big families needing ~300 codes |
| Aqara U300 (lever latch) | $229.99 | Matter over Thread, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC | Physical key | Apple Home Key fans who want a 0.3-second fingerprint unlock |
| eufy Video Smart Lock E330 (deadbolt) | $299.99 | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, no Matter | Physical key | Anyone who wants a 2K camera, doorbell, and fingerprint in one unit |
| Lockly PIN Genie Pro Zeno (deadbolt) | ~$249 | Built-in Wi-Fi, Apple Home Key | Physical key | Lockly loyalists who want Home Key and a fingerprint reader today |
Three details the table cannot show. First, the U300’s fingerprint reader stores 50 prints and unlocks in 0.3 seconds per Aqara’s spec sheet, and its Home Key tap works even when the batteries are dead, which is a genuinely clever failsafe. Second, the E330 is BHMA Grade 3 certified and its 10,000mAh rechargeable battery lasts about 3 months, so it trades longevity for its 2K camera and 8GB of local storage. Lockly has not published an ANSI/BHMA grade for the Affirm yet, and we will update this section when certification documents appear. Third, only the Affirm and U300 speak Matter; the E330 lives inside eufy’s app with Alexa and Google voice support bolted on.
Which one fits your situation?
If you run an Apple, Google, or SmartThings home and want the cheapest reliable Matter lock with a keypad, get the Lockly Affirm. Nothing else with Thread, Wi-Fi, and NFC comes close to $179.99 from an established lock maker.
If your household wants fingerprint entry and you own an iPhone, get the Aqara U300. The $50 premium buys a 0.3-second sensor, Apple Home Key, and 10-month battery life.
If you want to see who is at the door without installing a separate video doorbell, get the eufy E330. It costs $120 more than the Affirm but replaces two devices, and there is no monthly fee for its local 2K recordings.
If you manage a short-term rental, get the Lockly Affirm plus TapCom. Guests check in by tapping their phone or scanning a QR code, with no app download, and you can issue one-time offline codes per booking. TapCom even talks to Yale and Schlage locks if your properties are mixed.
If your door is a glass-panel or storm-door setup, none of these fit; start with our glass door lock guide instead.
What about renters and Airbnb hosts?
The Lockly Affirm may quietly be the most landlord-friendly lock of 2026, and that is clearly deliberate. The spec that gives it away is code capacity: roughly 300 PINs, per TechRadar, when a typical family needs five. Codes can be one-time, recurring on a schedule, or permanent, and they keep working when the internet is down because they are stored on the lock itself.
The companion piece is LocklyOS, the company’s new management platform for multi-unit operators, and the TapCom guest-access system described above. A cleaning crew gets a recurring Tuesday code. A guest gets a code that dies at checkout. A plumber gets a one-time code that you text from anywhere, since built-in Wi-Fi means remote code creation without hub hardware. Welcome mode holds the door unlocked during an open house and re-locks on schedule.
Two honest caveats for hosts. The Affirm is new hardware on a new radio stack, and Lockly’s existing locks have a documented history of occasional Wi-Fi disconnects and app rough edges, including translation glitches, per owner feedback collected by ButterflyMX. Nothing suggests those issues carry over, but a hands-off rental 200 miles away is the worst place to discover new-product firmware bugs. If uptime is money for you, waiting one firmware cycle, roughly until fall 2026, is a defensible move. And if your unit’s door hardware is unusual, check our front door lock types overview before assuming a standard deadbolt prep.
Is Lockly a good brand?
Yes, with caveats. Lockly has shipped smart locks since 2017, holds the patent on the PIN Genie scrambling keypad, uses 128-bit encryption across its line, and backs hardware with a 2-year electronics warranty plus a limited lifetime mechanical and finish warranty. Its weak points have historically been software polish, not lock hardware.
The praise pattern in owner reviews is consistent: the physical lock mechanisms are solid, the anti-peek keypad genuinely works, and weather durability holds up. The complaint pattern is equally consistent: fingerprint sensors on the Secure Plus and Pro lines misread too often, Wi-Fi connectivity can be spotty, and the app has language and usability rough spots. Notice something? The two most common complaints involve components the Affirm does not have or has replaced. There is no fingerprint sensor to misread, and the old add-on Wi-Fi hub architecture has been replaced by native Thread with Wi-Fi backup. On paper, Lockly cut its two most criticized parts.
The company is also expanding fast: CES 2026 brought the OwlGuard camera at $99, the Smart Safe XL at $339.99, and the TapCom platform, alongside the Affirm. A brand investing this heavily in an ecosystem is unlikely to abandon firmware support for its newest lock line, which matters more for smart locks than almost any other gadget category.
Buy the Lockly Affirm if / skip it if
Buy the Lockly Affirm if: you want Matter over Thread and built-in Wi-Fi under $200; you need dozens or hundreds of access codes for guests, tenants, or staff; your family prefers PINs and tap-to-unlock over fingerprints; you own a Thread border router already; or you host short-term rentals and want no-app guest entry via TapCom.
Skip the Lockly Affirm if: fingerprint or palm entry is a must, since the Aqara U300 does it better for $50 more; you want a camera at the door, where the eufy E330 owns the category; you need confirmed Apple Home Key or a published ANSI/BHMA grade today; or you refuse to run first-generation firmware on your front door and would rather wait for the first update cycle.
Verdict: the right lock at the right price, eight months late to nothing
The Lockly Affirm is the most interesting sub-$200 smart lock of 2026 so far. It takes the single best idea Lockly ever had, the scrambling PIN Genie keypad, and attaches it to the connectivity stack the industry is standardizing on, Matter over Thread with Wi-Fi backup, at a price that undercuts every comparable Matter lock from a name brand. The missing biometrics are a real omission, but an honest one at $179.99, and the 300-code capacity plus TapCom guest access give it a rental-market superpower no rival matches at this price. Pending hands-on testing and the first wave of owner reviews, the Affirm looks like the new default recommendation for budget Matter households. Check current availability at the Lockly store, or grab the Aqara U300 on Amazon if fingerprint entry is the feature you cannot give up.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Lockly Affirm come out?
Lockly announced the Affirm series at CES 2026 in January and set availability for late Q2 2026. Both the deadbolt and latch versions launched at $179.99 in matte black, sold through Lockly’s own store first, with wider retail listings following the initial rollout.
Does the Lockly Affirm need a hub?
No. The Lockly Affirm has built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and a Thread radio, so it connects to your network and Matter ecosystems directly. A Thread border router such as a HomePod mini or Echo Hub is recommended for better battery life, but it is not required for remote control.
Does the Lockly Affirm work with Apple Home?
Yes. The Affirm is Matter-certified and pairs with Apple Home, plus Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and Home Assistant. Apple Watch tap entry via NFC is supported. Apple Home Key has not been confirmed in launch materials, so verify that specific feature before buying if it matters to you.
How many codes can the Lockly Affirm store?
Roughly 300 PIN codes, per TechRadar’s CES 2026 coverage, including one-time and recurring codes that work even when the lock is offline. That capacity is aimed at rental hosts and large households, and it far exceeds the 50-credential limits typical of fingerprint-based rivals.
What happens if the Lockly Affirm battery dies?
You have two fallbacks. An exterior USB-C port accepts emergency power from any power bank, letting you wake the keypad and enter your code. A traditional physical key, included in the box, opens the mechanical cylinder directly. The 8 AA batteries are rated for up to 8 months of normal use.
Is the PIN Genie keypad actually secure?
PIN Genie shuffles which digits appear on each button every time the keypad wakes, so fingerprint smudges and onlookers cannot learn your code. Combined with 128-bit encryption on the wireless side, it directly counters the two most common keypad attacks: smudge analysis and shoulder surfing.
Does the Lockly Affirm have a camera?
No camera is built into the Affirm deadbolt. The latch version includes an integrated doorbell, and video communication runs through Lockly’s TapCom platform, a $19.99 add-on with optional $1.99 or $3.99 monthly tiers. If you want a camera inside the lock itself, the eufy E330 at $299.99 is the stronger choice.
Is the Lockly Affirm weatherproof?
The exterior assembly carries an IP65 rating, meaning full dust protection and resistance to water jets. That covers rain, snow, and direct sun on an exposed door without a storm door. Cold-weather limits are unpublished, so use lithium AA batteries below roughly minus 20°C for reliable performance.
Sources
Prices checked July 19, 2026.
- PCWorld: Lockly launches Matter-compatible Affirm smart lock series at CES
- HomeKit News: Lockly Affirm offers deadbolt and latch locks with Matter, Thread
- TechRadar: The next generation of smart locks from CES 2026
- Security Info Watch: Lockly broadens smart access strategy at CES 2026
- AndroidGuys: Lockly expands beyond smart locks at CES 2026
- Aqara: Smart Lock U300 official page
- eufy: Video Smart Lock E330 official page