The Nuki Smart Lock Ultra makes almost everything better

Nuki's new Smart Lock Ultra is much smaller than its predecessors, but opens and closes doors much faster, even “insane fast” on request. The Austrian device also leaves a very good impression in the practical test, but there is still some room for a successor.

Nuki is a pioneer in terms of smart door locks, NTV.de tested the first device from the Austrian manufacturer about seven years ago, most recently the third generation in the Pro variant in 2023. Now the company offers a completely new lock, the almost 350 euro Nuki Smart Lock Ultra. It is much more compact, but in the practical test the predecessors made the predecessors look old in almost every respect.

Much smaller, battery integrated

The size difference is remarkable, according to the manufacturer, the ultra is around three times smaller than the Smart Lock 3.0 Pro. So now you only look at a chic stainless steel look that has integrated all components. This also includes the battery, which is housed in a large box for the predecessors.

This means that you can no longer change the battery yourself. The Smart Lock Ultra should not be a disposable device because of this. If the battery gives up the ghost after one day at least ten years, according to Nuki, there should be an exchange program.

Good endurance

Often you don't have to load the smart lock. According to the previous consumption, this would be necessary for the intensively used test device about every three to four months. According to Nuki, the battery ideally lasts up to nine months. This is exactly what you cannot state, because in addition to the frequency of action, the endurance of the battery depends, among other things, on which operating mode you choose and whether the integrated WLAN module is used for remote access.

A USB-C connection probably fell victim to the slim design. Instead, a proprietary charging cable is magnetically liable on the Smart Lock. It is long enough to reach a little more distant sockets, but you can also easily lose weight to refuel. With a battery emptied up to the security reserve of 20 percent, this takes around two hours.

Cylinder change is mandatory, but child's play

First of all, the Nuki Smart Lock Ultra of course first wants to be installed. The exchange of the door of the door is imperative. So far, this was only necessary in exceptional cases – as in the test of ntv.de. It is a bit annoying that the new door lock does not work with an old Nuki cylinder.

Fortunately, the installation of the included universal cylinder has become much easier compared to the previous variant. Nuki provides everything necessary and offers excellent step-by-step instructions in his app. In addition, the adjustment by less individual parts is no longer as fiddly as before. Even little gifted people can get this in no more than 20 minutes.

The smart lock only has to be put on before you can get started. The easiest way to do this is to exchange the ultra for a predecessor. Because then you can take over the settings in the app. An old Keypad with or without fingerprint sensor or an already installed door sensor are also compatible with the new Smart Lock.

Crazy fast

The heart of the Ultra is the newly developed, brushless engine. With it, three different speeds are possible when closing and opening: Gentle (gently) is the slowest setting, which still works 1.5 times faster than its predecessors. The preset standard is 2.6 times faster. If you choose insane (crazy), the door is open or closed in around 1.5 seconds.

In the test, the great worked, even if the direct comparison is missing, the speed difference is enormous, especially in the two faster modes. According to Nuki, the Ultra should also work much quieter than its predecessors. However, you don't necessarily hear that.

Not necessarily quieter

This may be the case for heavy doors, the new Smart Lock itself is relatively loud in the test in the test in the test, since the thin wood increases the noises. However, the new Nuki sounds more pleasant because it does not serve as much as its predecessors. In order not to wake up anyone sleeping near the door at night, you should open the lock with one of the three included key.

Otherwise, this is only the emergency solution, because what else do you need a smart lock for? Usually the door opens as if by magic itself when you get to Bluetooth range. The prerequisite for this is a smartphone with an installed NUKI app and the necessary permissions. You can also determine that the door is automatically completed when you go.

Many options, but safe

These and other variants worked perfectly in the practical test. Likewise, distance access via the integrated WLAN module was easy. If you want, you can also integrate the Smart Lock Ultra into a networked home with Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Samsung Smartthings. The open standard matter via thread offers further options.

Users don't have to worry about security. According to the manufacturer, personal and safety-relevant data are generally only stored locally on the end devices and not on the Nuki servers. In cloud access via Nuki Web, the data is encrypted. Nuki also states that not only applicable, but also upcoming EU requirements are already met.

The hardware is also safe. Among other things, the locking cylinder in the case of drilling protection, impact protection and core attribution protection passed the exams according to the high security standard SK ***.

Conclusion

The Nuki Smart Lock Ultra is better than its predecessors in almost every respect. It is particularly interesting for users who are looking for a smart door lock for the first time, because you can hardly find a better solution at the moment.

If you have already installed a Nuki device, there are only a few reasons for an upgrade, as the larger and slower predecessors also do a good job. Even if you flirt with it, it may be worth waiting for the next generation. Because it could come with ACCKU and fit on existing Nuki universal cylinders.