This new fingerprint smart lock is the first to support Matter over Thread

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. Smart lock manufacturer U tec has announced the first deadbolt with a fingerprint reader to support Matter over Thread. A fingerprint reader is the fastest and easiest way to unlock a smart lock, and Matter over Thread connectivity should solve two of the biggest issues of smart locks: poor battery life and poor connectivity.

With most connected locks on the market today, you get either a year of battery life but are stuck with the limited range and smart home compatibility of Bluetooth or just a few months of battery life but all the smart home connections you can eat over Wi Fi. , with its low power mesh network, is specifically designed to help battery operated devices last longer, and the new helps them connect to every smart home platform over a local, secure connection.

U tec’s new Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter ($299) should be able to bridge those two worlds of battery life and connectivity. Through Matter, it’s compatible with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and more. There are a couple of Thread Matter locks out there — Yale has a Thread module for its older that works with Matter, and Nuki has a but only for Europen locks — but neither offers the fingerprint reader, a deal breaker for me.

U tec is launching the new lock at the CES 2024 tech show in Las Vegas next week, where it will showcase its expansion into the broader smart home with the launch of the U home mobile app, a new Wi Fi mesh smart lighting system, and two new security cameras. The company will also show off a new Wi Fi version of its fingerprint lock that works with Apple Home, plus a model without a fingerprint reader that supports Apple’s Home Key.

These are separate locks, though; there’s still no Matter over Thread smart lock that also supports Apple Home Key ( supports Matter and Home Key but works over Zigbee via a hub). Additionally, Clark Ruan, VP at U tec, told that previous versions of U Bolt locks will not be upgraded to support Matter as they require different chips.

All three of U tec’s new locks are full deadbolt replacement locks that feature six in one unlocking options: fingerprint or Home Key, a physical key, entering a code on the keypad, using the app, an auto unlock feature that unlocks the door as you approach, and voice control through Alexa, Google, or Siri.

Along with the new locks, U tec is launching a new A19 smart bulb, smart plug, and smart dimmer switch that are part of its new . The Bright A19 is an 1100 lumen full color bulb that doesn’t need a hub. The Wi Fi mesh system lets you connect multiple Bright bulbs to your Wi Fi — but thanks to the mesh system, only the root bulb actually connects to the router.

This means it counts as just one device, so no matter how many bulbs you have, they shouldn’t . At launch, Bright A19 bulbs WiFi Mesh Edition have individual integrations with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings, Ruan says. A Matter edition (that will add support for Apple Home) will come later.

The new locks and lights will all work with a new U home app that comes along with the new ($12.99) and ($22.99), which also work with the Wi Fi mesh network and launch in February. The lighting products will support Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings, and Ruan says, again, Matter versions will launch later.

Finally, U tec has : a battery powered Ulticam ($69) and a wired spotlight Ulticam ($149) are slated for a June launch, says Ruan. They feature free local storage, three days of free cloud storage, and on device AI for detecting people, animals, packages, and vehicles. They will work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home but not Apple Home.

There’s no word on Matter support here, as Matter . designed to provide a common language for connected devices to communicate locally in your home without relying on a cloud connection. It is built to be , , and widely compatible. Developed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung (and ), Matter is an , IP based connectivity software layer for smart home devices.

It works over Wi Fi, ethernet, and the low power mesh networking protocol and currently supports over 20 device types. These include lighting, plugs and switches, thermostats, locks, security and environment sensors, refrigerators, dishwashers, smoke alarms, air quality monitors, . A smart home gadget with the Matter logo can be set up and used with any Matter compatible ecosystem via a and controlled by them simultaneously, a feature called .

Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple Home are some of the major smart home platforms that support Matter, along with hundreds of device manufacturers. /.