Hi Readers! As a gadget-friendly person, I am obsessed with smart home devices. I have tried smart lights, robot vacuums, and voice assistants, but locks are the area where I am exceptionally picky. Safety matters, right? Recently, I have come across something that made me start reconsidering my own experience of walking to my home and entering it, the Android tap-to-unlock option.
This small addition is already appearing on devices such as the Ultraloq Bolt NFC and, frankly, it is the sort of addition that not only brings a sense of convenience but actually makes life easier. Personally, given that I am in an Apple-dominated household but still have an Android phone as a secondary device, this was a feature of which I was not expecting to be excited.
I would like to share my own experience and reasons why I believe that the Android tap-to-unlock feature is a game changer.
First Impressions: Android, at last, Gets Some Love
Alright, it should be told, I have always believed that Android users receive the short end of the stick regarding smart home functionalities. Apple people are purchased with their Home Key integrated into their Wallet app, which means that they have to get their Apple Watch or iPhone tapped and, then, the door opens. Android users, however, not so much acquainted with this technique.
That is why the first reaction I had when I heard that Ultraloq has introduced the Android tap-to-unlock feature to its Apple Home Key-able lock was that technological nerd shock. Similarly, Android was not the neglected cousin at the smart home party.
Installation: Not as complicated as I had imagined
I tell you, I was prepared to get a headache when I thought about the installation process. You have those clever things that force you to install three apps, create an account, connect it to Google Home, and then possibly kill a goat before it will actually start functioning? It would be one of those, I said to myself.
However, to my delight, the installation of the android tap-to-unlock feature was very easygoing. I put my phone with the Ultraloq Bolt NFC, went through the list of instructions in the app, and after a couple of minutes, I was tapping my phone on the lock the way I had been doing it with the old one for years.
No complex codes, no secret menu, it simply worked. And when tech just works? That’s when you are the happiest as the tech lover in this year.
It’s Every Day: A Little Nugget That Fits Large
Here’s the deal. The initial experiences when I was using the Android tap-to-unlock feature were magic. I would go to the door and I would tap my phone and then I would move my mouse, I would tap my phone and then I would click the bolt opened. No fumbling for keys. No digging into my bag. There is no clumsy hold on I know it is somewhere around here.
It took me a long time to realize that I was wasting my time searching for keys before I stopped. And believe me, when you are carrying along groceries or coffee or the leash of your dog, that one tap of water seems like freedom.
The Apple vs Android Family battle
That is where it becomes interesting now. My house is predominantly Apple driven as I mentioned. We have got Apple Home operating as the central node, and Home Assistant pulling strings in the background. The majority of our gadgets talk Apple.
In my case, this was never so easy. When I had the desire to connect my android device, I normally needed to pass through a lot of loops, or simply do away with it and pick up my iPhone. However, it all seems to be even with the Android tap-to-unlock option.
Whether I am on my Android phone or my parents are using their iPhone, the lock does not mind. It’s universal. And on a homomixed ecosystem ground, that is invaluable.
What I Never Expected: The Cool Factor
I confess it: here is a part of the sport, most, simply showing off. My friends came to visit me a few days ago, and as I was tapping my phone on the lock and swinging my door wide open, as a matter of course, I felt as though I were a character in a sci-fi movie.
Yes, they rolled their eyes , yet you know what? After another ten minutes, they were asking me about the lock I had purchased and the price of the lock. Android tap-to-unlock may seem a minor feature, but it is of the small features that impress one.
Security and Peace of Mind
Naturally, the question that alters everything is: Is it safe? I did my research on Android tap-to-unlock technology is encrypted and secure using NFC technology. It is simply what is used to make contactless payments. Why not trust my phone to open my door as much as I trust it to go and get coffee?
In addition, Ultraloq had in-built backup features such as code, fingerprint or physical key, which means that even when my phone power goes off, I will not be locked out.
Where It Shines the Most
Two weeks of daily usage have provided me with the following highlights of the Android tap-to-unlock feature:
Exits: Running out and going to have a morning run? One tap and I’m gone.
Hands full: Groceries, gym bag, a cup of coffee–it is no difference. Tap, and I’m in.
Guests: I will be able to create temporary codes, though I am simply content to demonstrate the tap feature.
Stability: Works equally in both Android and iPhone of my partner.
It is such as a little quality of life upgrade you could never imagine you needed until you had it.
The Future of Smart Locks?
My prediction here is as follows: the Android tap-to-unlock option will not be a niche feature only. It will become a norm in a year or two. Similarly to the case of wireless charging and face unlock in phones, I believe NFC based unlocking will be the standard of smart locks.
And honestly, I’m here for it.
Final Thoughts: Worth It?
Thus, having lived with it for two weeks, would I suggest that you go with a lock with the android tap-to-unlock feature? Absolutely.
This brings Apple up to the level of Android users who have been long into the envious position of either having no Home Key flex. It is very convenient in case you are in an integrated ecosystem such as in my case. And yet, should you only wish to make yourself feel that you were in the future every time you got your door open–this is it.
The over-the-top tech upgrades are sometimes the best for you. It is sometimes just a mere tap that alters the way you live your life. That has been the case with me and the Android tap-to-unlock feature. Try it today if you are an android lover in this decade.
Also Read:
Google: Discontinuing Bluetooth Security Keys To Shift Focus On NFC Versions
