August Smart Lock vs. Pro vs. Gen 2

Did anyone come by while you were away? Did the dog walker come on time? Smart home technology allows you to stay connected to your home even when you’re away. And one of the best ways to monitor your front door is with an August smart lock. Every time someone opens or closes the door, you’re the first to know about it. But what about choosing the best smart lock for your home? We’ll compare all three August smart locks available on the market — August Smart Lock vs. Pro vs. Gen 2.

About August Smart Locks

Sometimes with smart home tech, you end up overpaying for features you’ll never use. With August smart locks, you’re getting features that really matter.

An expanded product line of August smart locks has two new family members as of September 2017 — the August Smart Lock Gen 3 and the August Smart Lock Pro. With these two new additions, everyone can pick the right August smart lock for their household.

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All three locks offer a different set of features and benefits which means you can choose the perfect lock for your home without overpaying for unnecessary features. Smart locks are no longer a luxury — they’re an essential part of a connected home.

Before we dive into differences between all three locks — August Smart Lock vs. Pro vs. Gen 2 — let’s try to figure out what makes August locks so awesome.


August Smart Lock vs. Pro vs. Gen 2 — Things in Common

August Smart Lock Installation Review

What makes August smart locks so special? Is it their unique features or sleek design, or both? The answer is yes — to all of it. August locks offer truly smart features which make them stand out from their competition. And one of those features is “Auto-Unlock”.

What is Auto-Unlock? It’s a unique-to-August-Smart-Locks feature that initially made the August Gen 2 so popular. This is how it works: the August lock uses a combination of geo-location and proximity of your smartphone to sense your approach. Once August detects your smartphone within a certain range, it’ll unlock your front door without you having to reach for your phone. Pretty handy especially when you’re coming back home with your hands full of grocery bags, assuming you didn’t order them online. August is constantly working on fine tuning the experience of the Auto-Unlock feature to improve its speed and reliability.

In addition to Auto-Unlock, all three August smart locks also offer Auto-Lock — a timer based feature that will automatically lock your door after someone has opened it. You can adjust the timer anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. So even if you forgot to lock the front door, August will do it for you.

Besides Auto Lock/Unlock features, August smart locks allow you to create virtual keys for guests. Whether you have family or friends visiting, or are simply renting out your home on Airbnb, with August smart locks you can provide access to your home to everyone who is welcome. Send guest keys instantly from anywhere you are, check the record of who is coming and going with a 24/7 Activity Feed — and it’s all from your smartphone.

What we really like about August smart locks is how easy it is to install them. First of all, the August app guides you through the whole installation via video clips, making it a smooth and simple installation (around 15 minutes or so). And, you get to keep the exterior door lock because the August smart lock replaces only the interior side of your standard lock. Which means two things: less attention to your lock from passer-bys, and less stress about smart home technology since you can always use a traditional key to unlock your front door.

So, are you a Siri or Alexa fan? Maybe both? Why is the new August Smart Lock Gen 3 so cheap? We’ll go over these and all the differences between all three locks — August Smart Lock vs. Pro vs. Gen 2 — below to help you find the perfect lock with perfect balance between price and features.


August Smart Lock vs. Pro vs. Gen 2 — Differences

  • Difference #1: Technology – The new August Smart Lock (Gen 3) features Bluetooth only. So your smart lock control will be limited to Bluetooth range, which (honestly) is more than enough if you’re just looking to use a smartphone as a key. The August Smart Lock Gen 3 offers simple smart control over your lock. Create keyless entries for your family, friends, or other visitors and they’ll have access to your home even when you’re away.

    The older August Smart Lock Gen 2 offers a bit more than just Bluetooth — it offers Apple Homekit. So, you can ask Siri to lock, unlock or check the status of your front door lock.

    The August Smart Lock Pro, in addition to all of the above mentioned technologies, features Z-wave Plus — a new certification program. Some of the major Z-Wave Plus benefits include increased range (up to 150m), 50% improvement in battery life, and 250% more bandwidth. The August Smart Lock Pro has all types of technology you’ll need to enjoy truly smart control of your smart lock from anywhere you are.

    August Gen 3 August Pro August Gen 2
    Bluetooth Yes Yes Yes
    Apple’s Homekit Yes Yes
    Z-Wave Plus Yes
  • Difference #2: Remote Control – Even though the new August Smart Lock only features Bluetooth connectivity, there are still a few options to control it remotely but at an additional cost. One of the ways is buy the August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. The bridge connects the August Smart Lock with your Wi-Fi router, which then allows you to remotely lock/unlock, check your lock’s real time status, and let guests in even when you’re not at home.

    The second option is the August Doorbell Cam Pro — it works just like the August Connect WiFi Bridge and helps you connect the August lock to your Wi-Fi network. However, it also lets you see who is at your door and talk to them. Welcome your friends and family, ask a UPS driver to hide a package for you, or scare off unwanted visitors — the August Doorbell Cam Pro can help you do it all. The only downfall is the cost. The August Connect bridge is a more budget-friendly alternative for remote control.

    The August Smart Lock Gen 2 also has two options for remote control. The first one is via Apple’s Homekit. You can use your Apple TV or an iPad as a hub to control your smart lock remotely. Just make sure the hub is within the Bluetooth range of the smart lock and is plugged in. You can then use Siri remotely or control the lock through the August app. The second option is August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, which, again, you’ll need to buy separately.

    The August Smart Lock Pro already comes in a bundle with the August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge. So, all you need is to connect your smart lock to your Wi-Fi network via the bridge and you’ll be able to enjoy remote control of your smart lock via the August app. The other option is to control it via Apple’s Homekit, just like the August Smart Lock Gen 2.

    In addition, since the August Smart Lock Pro features Z-Wave technology, you can connect it straight to a Z-wave hub like Wink or SmartThings, which makes the August Connect Bridge totally useless. But, good news, you can now get a standalone lock without a Connect (before you could only get the pro lock in a bundle with the bridge).

    So, to sum it all up, you can control all three locks remotely with the help of either the August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge or the August Doorbell Cam Pro. In addition to that, August Smart Lock Gen 2 can be controlled remotely via Apple’s Homekit (Apple TV/iPad hub required). And the August Smart Lock Pro is the most universal of the three; you can control it remotely via all of the methods mentioned above, or by using a Z-Wave hub, like Wink or SmartThings. And if you don’t have a hub yet, check out our take on Wink vs. SmartThings.

  • Difference #3: DoorSense™ – Are you sure your front door is both closed and locked? Well, with the new DoorSense™ feature you can enjoy that peace of mind. One of the biggest problems with some smart home locks is that they would automatically lock the door without first checking if the door is actually closed. This is the total opposite of the safety and security that you’re looking for when buying a smart lock. But with the new August Gen 3 locks, you can be sure that your home is secure: both August Smart Lock and Smart Lock Pro feature DoorSense™ technology. They use magnetic fields to determine whether your door is ajar or not.

    With this technology, you can set your August smart lock to instantly lock whenever it senses that the door is closed. So, even if you forget to lock the door, August smart lock will automatically lock it for you. Plus, before locking the door, it’ll check its status. And if the door is ajar, the August app will alert you to it immediately.

    Unfortunately the older, August Gen 2 is missing this feature. However, you can still set your lock to auto-lock the door after a set time. The problem is that August Gen 2 will do it even if the door is ajar — which is not the best case scenario. One of the ways to fix it is to buy a smart door sensor separately. But then why order extra stuff if you can get a smart lock like August Smart Lock or August Smart Lock Pro which already come with a tiny sensor.

  • August Smart Lock DoorSense Sensor

  • Difference #4: Active Monitoring – This new August feature allows you to receive Smart Alerts about your August Smart Lock’s activity. The Smart Alerts notify you about manual lock events, locked with One-Touch Keypad operation, user specific lock operations, and Auto-Lock notifications. And if you’re looking for a smooth Smart Alerts experience with instant notifications, it’s best to pair your August Smart Lock with the August Connect.

    In addition, since the August Smart Lock and Smart Lock Pro feature DoorSense™ technology, only with these two locks will you also be able to get Smart Alerts for when a door is left open.

  • Difference #5: Design – The Gen 3 August Smart Lock features a brand-new, elongated, industrial design. It has nothing similar to the original round-shaped look of Pro and Gen 2 versions of August locks. It also has an actual thumb-turn on the lock which makes it a little bit more user-friendly.

    August Smart Lock vs Pro Design Pattern

    The August Smart Lock Pro is just like its predecessor the August Smart Lock Gen 2 — same size and look. However, the Pro version has an updated ring knurling pattern. Nothing crazy, just a little detail that we’ve noticed.

Sale August Home Smart Lock, 3rd Generation – Silver
August Home Smart Lock Pro + Connect Hub - Wi-Fi Smart Lock for Keyless Entry - Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and more – Dark Gray

August Smart Lock vs. Pro — Comparison Chart

August Smart Lock Gen 3 August Smart Lock Pro August Smart Lock Gen 2
Compatible Standards Bluetooth Bluetooth
Apple HomeKit
Z-Wave Plus
Bluetooth
Apple HomeKit
Remote Control via August Connect Yes Yes Yes
Remote Control via August Doorbell Cam Pro Yes Yes Yes
Remote Control via Apple HomeKit No Yes Yes
Remote Control via Z-Wave Hub No Yes No
Works with Amazon Alexa Only via August Connect or Doorbell Cam Pro Only via August Connect or Doorbell Cam Pro Only via August Connect or Doorbell Cam Pro
Works with Google Assistant Only via August Connect or Doorbell Cam Pro Only via August Connect or Doorbell Cam Pro Only via August Connect or Doorbell Cam Pro
August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge included No Available with or without No
DoorSense™ Technology Yes Yes No
Use your phone as your key Yes Yes Yes
Auto-Unlock your door as you approach Yes Yes Yes
Auto-Lock your door when you leave Yes Yes Yes
Dimensions 4.8” x 2.6” x 1.6” 3.39” x 3.39” x 2.22” 3.39” x 3.39” x 2.22”
Device Weight 13.9 oz. (395 g) 13.9 oz. (395 g) 13.9 oz. (395 g)
Warranty 1-year limited warranty 1-year limited warranty 1-year limited warranty

August Smart Lock Accessories

August Connect WiFi Bridge

August Connect Wi-Fi Bridge is a great accessory for any August smart lock. The bridge allows you to have total remote control of your August smart lock right from your iOS or Android smartphone via the August app. However, the August Connect is not the only device that can bridge an August lock with your Wi-Fi network — the August Doorbell Cam Pro can do it too. So, in case you’re looking to expand on smart home technology, we recommend getting the doorbell instead of the bridge to reduce the number of connecting devices that eventually just take space.

Another accessory to the August smart locks is the August Smart Keypad. The keypad allows you to create and share up to 220 unique entry PIN codes at once. With PIN codes, you can unlock the August Smart Lock without a smartphone or traditional key. Plus, with this keypad you can lock the door with only one touch — a perfect addition to any August smart lock.


August Smart Lock vs. Pro — Our Thoughts

August Smart Lock vs Pro - All the Differences

All three August Smart Locks provide security, safety, and peace of mind. But even more important are the options that August offers when it comes to finding a perfect lock for your home.

Get the August Smart Lock if you’re looking for a budget-friendly smart lock with unique smart features (DoorSense™ and Active Monitoring). Use your smartphone as a key to your home, share access with your friends and relatives, and let the lock to auto-lock/unlock your door after you come and go. Plus, if you ever want to control your lock remotely, just get the August Connect or Doorbell Cam Pro separately. The only downfall is that this lock is not HomeKit compatible. But other than that, it’s a great lock to have.

And, in case you’re an Apple HomeKit fan, August has two options for you: August Smart Lock Pro and August Smart Lock Gen 2.

Get the August Smart Lock Pro if you’re looking for the most universal lock technology-wise. Besides HomeKit, it features Z-Wave, which means you can connect it straight to a Z-Wave hub. And if you don’t have a hub yet, just get the August Smart Lock Pro in a bundle with August Connect to enjoy remote control via the August App.

And if all you need from your smart lock is Apple’s HomeKit compatibility, then August Smart Lock Gen 2 is a good choice for your home. Though the lock is lacking a pretty important feature — the DoorSense™ technology, which is only available in new Gen 3 locks. If that feature really matters to you, just get the standalone Pro version.


Last update on 2024-03-29 at 01:02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

5 thoughts on “August Smart Lock vs. Pro vs. Gen 2”

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