look news india
Xiaomi, a leading tech company in the field of smart home gadgets and budget-friendly technology, has once again made home security completely easy and smart. Often people want to install a smart door lock on the main door of their house, but hold back due to the hassle of cutting wood, drilling and changing the old lock. Especially for those living in rented flats, it is not possible to make holes in the door without the permission of the landlord. To provide a permanent solution to this problem, the company has launched its new ‘Xiaomi Self-Install Smart Lock’ (Retrofit DIY Smart Lock) has been launched in the global market. The biggest feature of this magical lock is that it does not require any carpenter or technician, rather the user can fit it on his old lock himself (DIY) in a few minutes.
Traditional smart locks are installed by replacing the entire door mechanism, but this self-install lock from Xiaomi is based on a ‘retrofit’ design:
-
No need to change old lock: This lock sits directly above the existing cylinder or thumb-turn knob on the interior side of the door.
-
No-Drill Installation: If the cylinder protrudes by 3 mm or more, it can be tightened only with an Allen wrench and bracket. For flat surfaces, it has the option of high-strength double-sided 3M adhesive tape, which sticks firmly to the door without causing any damage.
-
Boon for tenants: While moving house, it can be easily removed without leaving any marks or vandalism and can be re-installed on the door of the new house.
-
External Keypad Unit: A slim wireless keypad and fingerprint sensor are provided for the exterior of the door, which is waterproof and weatherproof (IP65 rating).
This smart lock of Xiaomi has included many security options for the convenience of the family members and guests:
-
Semiconductor Fingerprint Scanner: The external keypad has a fingerprint sensor with 99.3% accurate identification rate, which opens the lock in less than 0.5 seconds.
-
Password and One-Time OTP: It provides the facility to generate permanent PIN code as well as time-bound temporary code or one-time password for guests, delivery partners or domestic helpers.
-
Smartphone App and Bluetooth: The lock can be unlocked in one-tap via the Mi Home / Xiaomi Home app, either remotely via Bluetooth or remotely via Wi-Fi.
-
Traditional key backup: In case of emergency or battery drain, the door can also be opened by inserting a physical key into the door’s original mechanism.
This smart lock has been designed with future smart home technologies in mind:
-
Matter-over-Thread Support: Xiaomi has equipped it with the universal ‘Matter’ protocol. This means it’s not limited to just the Xiaomi ecosystem, but syncs directly with Apple HomeKit (Siri), Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.
-
Voice Control: You can speak by speaking from your smartphone or smart speaker (e.g. “Hey Siri, unlock the front door”) can open the door directly.
-
Real-time security alerts: If someone tampers with the lock, enters the wrong password repeatedly or the door is left open, the app immediately sends a siren notification to the phone.
The main indoor unit of the device is powered by a 2,450mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which lasts for about 6 months at normal use (opening 8-10 times a day). When the battery is low, you get an alert through a red indicator on the app and lock. It can be charged again with Type-C cable. The external keypad works on two normal AA batteries. On the cyber security front, it has Xiaomi’s special MJA1 security chipset, which is certified by European cyber security standards (EN18031).
This lock has been introduced in the global markets at a very aggressive price. It is priced at around ¥12,980 (approximately ₹7,000 to ₹7,500) in Japan and around AED 359 (approximately ₹8,000) in UAE. It is also expected to be officially launched in India and other Asian markets soon. Without any expensive installation expenses and drilling hassles, this device is a great option for those who want to make their home safe and high-tech.