Review: Yale’s new Linus smart lock finally feels worthy of the name
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Yale’s cheaper Linus L2 Lite smart lock is quick, quiet and impressively reliable, though compatibility checks and battery visibility stop it being entirely fuss-free.
If you're going to trust anyone to produce a reliable smart lock, you'd think it would be Yale. Here's a company that can trace its roots back to the mid-19th Century, so it's as far from a crowd-funded tech startup as you can get.
Yale's forays into smart locks haven't been plain sailing, though. Its early Conexis lock should have had the perfect recipe, but it had a few flaws.
Now, though, there's the Linus series, a simpler, more conventional smart lock, and I'm testing the newest version, the Linus Smart Lock L2 Lite.
It's called "Lite" because it's not only small and light, but it's relatively cheap, at £130.
True to form with Yale, it feels very well made and robust, and it's a neat, rounded design. Certainly less incongruous than many rivals.
Yale also suggests it's "easy to install", and if you've never fitted a smart lock before, please take this with a reasonable dose of salt.
The problem isn't the technical application of marrying the lock with the door, Yale's right, that bit's a doddle, it's making sure your lock is compatible. And I can assure you, it probably isn't.
The Linus L2 Lite works by physically turning your lock mechanism for you, from the inside. And to do that it needs to either have a thumb-turn, or it needs to have a key inserted. And, in the UK, if we have a key on the inside, nine times out of 10 you won't be able to use the key on the outside. Check this, you could be lucky, but the chances are you'll have to change your lock barrel.
That's easier than it sounds, it's a DIY job, but the barrels can cost a fair bit, potentially up to £40.
This isn't a problem unique to Yale, to be absolutely fair. Most smart locks use this kind of mechanism, but it is something to budget for.
The only other compatibility requirement is that your lock mechanism must protrude by at least 3mm to allow the lock to clamp on to it. But as you're probably going to be changing your barrel anyway, that isn't so much of a problem.
With this little bump in the road aside, it's really easy to connect, and a pleasure to use. No hubs, no tricky connecting, it sets up in minutes.
The Yale app has improved a lot and it walks you through the install very clearly.
It has a fairly quiet motor, and the operation is pretty quick, and the geofencing, which detects whether you're nearby, is one of the best I've tested. They are often hit and miss.
You don't get any sort of facial recognition or fingerprint scanning, which is to be expected at this price, but unlocking from your phone is nice and easy, and it's proven to be completely reliable in the time I've been using it.
It's a shame the app doesn't convey the battery life remaining, and this might be my biggest qualm. It's kind of crucial information because, if the lock dies, you can't get in.
You do get daily reminders once the replaceable battery gets down below 20%, but a percentage indicator would be nice.
Aside from that, it's a genuinely decent smart lock for the price. Yale might not have a solid reputation for its smart locks yet, but this new Linus L2 Lite really does start with a clean sheet, and it's finally deserving of carrying that prestigious badge.