REASONS TO BUY
Many smart features
Compatible with most smart home platforms
Charging port
REASONS TO AVOID
Requires external smart hub
Initial setup can be tricky
ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro Review
A decent lock with the uniqueness of also including a fingerprint scanner to gain access to your home
Credit: ULTRALOQ
RELATED: Best Smart Locks of 2024
Our Verdict
For those seeking a lock with the most advanced smart features, it's hard to beat the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. It offers many of the same smart features we've seen on other locks, plus a unique fingerprint scanner that lets you unlock the door even if you forgot your keys and phone. It even has a micro USB port that allows you to run the lock from an external power source if the battery dies while you're out and about. Apart from some minor annoyances in the initial setup, we think the Ultraloq offers a great user experience and more smart features than other models in our review of top-ranked smart locks.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Smart Lock |  Best Value Smart Lock | |||
| Price | $169 List $134.99 at Amazon | $230 List $127.98 at Amazon | $269 List $225.72 at Amazon | $124 List | $150 List $79.75 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | The unique fingerprint scanner is the highlight of a long list of available smart features | An easy to install option with great security, good connectivity, and is easily used with just about any smart home system | Streamlined smart features in an easy to install and high-security package | An affordable home device that works well with the Wyze smart home ecosystem | Provides the option for simple and straightforward, if somewhat limited, operation without a smart hub |
| Rating Categories | ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro | August WiFi Smart | Schlage Encode | Wyze Lock | August Smart |
| Smart Features (35%) | |||||
| Keyless Entry (25%) | |||||
| Security (25%) | |||||
| Installation (15%) | |||||
| Specs | ULTRALOQ U-Bolt Pro | August WiFi Smart | Schlage Encode | Wyze Lock | August Smart |
| Apple HomeKit | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google Assistant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smartphone Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | With Hub |
| Z-Wave | No | Yes | No | No | No |
| Zigbee | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| ANSI Rating | N/A | Grade 1 | Grade 1 | Grade 3 | N/A- retrofit |
| Uses Existing Deadbolt or Full Replacement | Replacement | Existing | Replacement | Existing | Existing |
| Deadbolt Included | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Backset | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" | 2 3/8 or 2 3/4 | 2 3/8" or 2 3/4" |
| Door Thickness Range | 1 1/3" - 2" | 1 3/8" - 2 1/4" | 1 3/8" - 1 3/4" | 1 3/8" - 1 3/4" | 1 3/8" - 2 1/4" |
| Face Bore Hole Diameter | 2 1/8" | 1 1/2" or 2 1/8" | 2 1/8" | 2 1/8" | 1 1/2" or 2 1/8" |
| Power Requirement | AA Batteries | Pre-installed batteries | AA Batteries | AA Batteries Hub plugs into the wall |
AA Batteries Hub plugs into the wall |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro replaces your current deadbolt with a high-tech-looking keypad/fingerprint scanner. It's compatible with several other products, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and your smartphone.
Performance Comparison
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro has a circular keypad with a fingerprint scanner in the center.
Credit: Jason Peters
Smart Features
First and foremost, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro has a fingerprint scanner that allows you to unlock the door with a quick tap. This is a feature we haven't seen on any other models and allows easy access even if you forget your phone.
You can also open the door by entering a code on the keypad, by using your phone as a Bluetooth key, or with a physical key by opening the hidden key port. Via the app, you can easily share access with anyone, whether you prefer to use a code or a Bluetooth key (the latter requires the person you're sharing access with to create an account and download the associated app). No matter how you share access, you can put time constraints on that access. This makes remote access sharing far more useful, as you can do things like share access with a dog walker only during the week and at certain times of the day. You also get a log of all your lock's activity, so you know when people access your home.
The circular keypad allows for a sleeker design, but does take a minute to get used to.
Credit: Jason Peters
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro offers broad smart home compatibility, working seamlessly with both Google Assistant and Alexa. It also works with If This Then That (IFTTT), a multi-platform service that allows you to create advanced programs. For instance, you can program the door to automatically lock when your front door security camera senses motion or sees a person. Another unique feature, the Ultraloq has a micro USB charging port. This allows you to run the lock from an external power source in the event that it runs out of battery. This works great in a pinch if the battery runs out when you've left the house without the physical key — as long as you have the right cable handy.
Though it's still in the beta stage, there is also a “magic shake” feature that opens the lock simply by shaking your phone. Right now, this only works if you open the app first, which largely defeats the purpose.
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro's fingerprint scanner is one of the most unique smart features we've come across.
Credit: Jason Peters
Keyless Entry
In our testing, keyless entry for the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro worked flawlessly. We had no issues and almost no delays, whether we were accessing the lock from the app, using a code, or via the fingerprint scanner. There is also an optional geofencing feature, which automatically unlocks the lock when your phone gets close and automatically locks it when it gets a certain distance from your home. This was one of the quickest locks we tested at opening the door when we asked it to.
Security
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is not certified with an official ANSI rating. We contacted customer service concerning its security level, and they told us it was modeled after ANSI Grade 2, which is considered adequate for most residential uses, but again it is not officially certified as such. There is also an auto-lock feature that protects against forgetting to lock the door when you leave your home.
Installation
The physical installation of the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is relatively straightforward compared to other locks on the market. We had some minor issues in setting up the smart features, namely, connecting the lock to its separate smart hub. There were multiple restarts of the app and many unplugging of the hub before they started talking to each other, but once paired, they worked perfectly with no further issues.
The battery chamber is easily accessed. There is also a microUSB port that can be used to power the lock from an external source, if those batteries happen to die.
Credit: Jason Peters
Should You Buy the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro?
While the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro is quite expensive, it's on par with most of its competitors. Though it lacks some smart hub compatibility, it works wonderfully with the few it is compatible with. Its keyless entry options are some of the best we tested. And if you're stoked on the idea of a fingerprint scanner, the functionality and cost of the Ultraloq, we think, are worth it.
What Other Smart Locks Should You Consider?
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro offers exceptional features and functionality when paired with the right hub. If you're running your home on one of the hubs, this lock doesn't support the Schlage Sense or August WiFi Smart may be a better fit for your front door. But if you're just jumping into the smart home life and love the idea of unlocking your door with your fingerprint, the Ultraloq is a great choice.
The sleek interior face.
Credit: Jason Peters
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Max Mutter and Michelle Powell
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