One thing that is consistent in all of our lives is protection. Whether it’s having antivirus software on your computer, carrying a firearm, putting on sunscreen or making sure your home is locked and safe. Keeping ourselves safe is always a top priority. Working in EMS, safety is actually our first rule. No matter the situation, or the place, it all comes back to this basic need. Today I will be diving into one of those safeties. I was given a chance to review the Igloohome Smart Deadbolt 2S. Read on to learn my thoughts on the product.
Design/Appearance
As you can see from the image above, this deadbolt is extremely sleek and attractive. The first thing that caught my eye was the stunning black finish on the front and the metal grey on the sides. The front (outside) piece has a very nice black screen that looks deceiving until it lights up with a stunning display for the numbers. The front panel is also only 11mm (.4in) in depth which is incredibly thin.
The back side (indoor) is also very simple but elegant. The back side houses the batteries and is easily accessible without tools or extra equipment, unlike other brands. This feature, although it seems small, is extremely nice because when the batteries do die you don’t want to have to find an extra tool to change them. Speaking of dying batteries, if you somehow let them die and need to gain access, they have two prongs on the bottom of the front that will allow you to “jump start” the door lock with a 9 volt battery.
Functionality/Features
My wife and I are really bad at locking up the house when we leave. This is mainly because we live in a safe neighborhood but also because we have to take our keys out to lock the deadbolt and when you’re carrying a carseat, Yetis and a diaper bag it just becomes too much. One of the nice, and many, features of this deadbolt is the optional auto-lock feature. This is extremely easy to set up by putting the included magnet on the door frame after installing the lock.
The deadbolt gives you 3 choices for how to unlock it when returning home. The most simple is to use the pin code you set up for yourself. You also have options with pin codes to set up others for friends, family, or anyone you choose. The pin codes can be set up as permanent or temporary. This is amazing especially if you have a dog sitter or you operate a BnB. You get multiple choices to have a pin set up for a time duration, for instance a week if you have someone house sitting, or you can use a one time pin that gets texted to the individual. This will then only be able to be used once so once the door closes, it erases the code from use.
The other pin option is for a permanent pin which would be used by you or someone you want to have full access to the home. An additional safety feature is their mock pin entry. If you happen to have someone near you that may be trying to see your code, you can enter up to 16 digits, as long as your pin is included within those 16, it will unlock the door.
The second unlock option is the app that is supported by the deadbolt. Not only does this unlock the door, it also gives you a log of all the people who have opened the door and when. This means you are able to see who used their pin or app to unlock the door and when. This is great for families or again anyone who owns an Air BnB. The deadbolt itself also does not require Wifi to work. It uses bluetooth to use all features. This is helpful in terms of e-safety. That way nobody can hack the wifi and unlock your doors. The only downside is you have to be within bluetooth distance for the updates to transfer to the phone and the app. This is only a small complaint, because the app works flawlessly and has so many options inside and ease of access.
The final way to unlock the deadbolt if the other two just aren’t an option is the included key that they provide. In the event of an emergency or if the batteries are dead and you don’t have a 9 volt handy, OR if too many incorrect pins were put in and you were locked out for 5 minutes, the key is the last option.
Price
The price point for this deadbolt is astonishingly low in my opinion. For the amount of features, and the capabilities that are provided this is a product that I plan to use for many years to come. Currently on their website HERE it is listed on sale at $209.99. There are three options for extended warranty periods between 1 and 3 years. On this website as well you are able to use our EXCLUSIVE promo code “TYSHIP” for free shipping!
Conclusion
At the end of the day I am able to leave the house knowing my door is locked without ever having to look back when we leave. The app they have for this deadbolt is extremely user friendly and easy to use. The install for the deadbolt took all of 5 minutes from start to finish. It was exceptionally smooth and added some appeal to the front door. Having the option to give out specific pins to certain people and always being able to check the app and see who has used them or when they came by is extremely helpful as well. Overall I would rate this as a 9/10 and would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone in the market for a reliable, easy to work and feature packed deadbolt.
