Google Nest and Yale partnered before on the Nest x Yale smart lock, so I wasn't surprised to see the spring announcement of a new lock from Yale designed to work even more closely with Nest products, especially the Nest Doorbell, a personal favorite of mine. Called the Yale Smart Lock with Matter, it's now available for $190.
The Matter standard gives the new lock compatibility with platforms like Apple Home and Alexa, but the real value lies in its connections to the Nest Doorbell. Not only does the new oval design look a bit like the doorbell itself, but users can operate the lock directly from the Doorbell video feed, like if they get an app alert and see a family member has stopped by. It reminds me a bit of the Yale/Nest compatibility with the ADT Plus app, but you don't need a security system or extra app this time, just Google Home.
Yale's new smart lock is a great option for Nest users.
Even without the Nest Doorbell compatibility, the Yale Smart Lock with Matter gets plenty of expected smart lock features, including remote control, notifications about lock activity, autolocking, and the ability to set up literally hundreds of guest profiles and codes if necessary. The lock also has a vacation mode that turns off the keypad if the house won't be accessed for a while.
Matter technology promises to give the Yale Lock a lengthy battery life of up to 12 months. Of course, I'll have to test it for an extended period of time to get a better idea of that part, but provide any noteworthy updates. For now, if you're a Google Nest fan, then you should consider picking this lock up -- or maybe wait for Amazon Prime Day(s) to see if it goes on sale.Â