Kwikset's latest connected lock, the Kevo Touch-to-Open Smart Lock 2nd Gen, offers a few subtle differences from the original version we reviewed back in 2013, including ramped up security features and a more streamlined interior escutcheon. It's more responsive than its predecessor, but at $229, it's also more expensive, and you now have to pay extra for the key fob that was included with the older model. And while it offers integration with certain smart thermostats and video doorbells, it doesn't support voice commands like our Editors' Choice for smart locks, the August Smart Lock HomeKit Enabled.
Design and Features
The Kevo Gen 2 uses Bluetooth wireless technology to communicate with your Android or iOS device and is powered by four AA batteries. It is available in three finishes (Satin Nickel, Polished Brass, and Venetian Bronze) and comes with an exterior cylinder assembly, an interior assembly and cover, an interior mounting plate and hardware, two keys, two deadbolt assemblies (one with a faceplate for notched doors and another without), an adapter ring, four AA batteries, and a SmartKey tool that allows you to re-key the lock. Whereas the original Kevo came with a single key fob, this version doesn't include one at all. You have to shell out an additional $28.99 per fob if you want to grant access to users without a smartphone.
The outer cylinder assembly looks identical to the one used on the first-generation lock. It is 2.7 inches in diameter and 1.2 inches deep and resembles any other keyed cylinder until you tap it to lock or unlock your door. This activates the LED light ring which spins blue, flashes green, and beeps twice when unlocking, and spins blue, flashes amber, and beeps once when locking. If the light spins blue and turns off there's a connectivity issue with your phone or key fob. A solid red light means the batteries need changing and a flashing red light mean the system is resetting or the lock is jammed.
The interior escutcheon shares the same finish as the cylinder and at 5.7 by 2.7 by 1.5 inches (HWD) is a bit more streamlined than the original. It's also made of metal, whereas the original was made of plastic. It has a thumb-turn knob for manual operation and a black window that can be removed to gain access to the batteries, programming button, and dip switches on the assembly. The dip switches can be configured to enable things like the auto lock feature, which locks the door 30 seconds after being unlocked, and the Triple Touch feature, which allows you to lock the door from the outside without the use of a smartphone or fob by tapping the cylinder three times.
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The Kevo Gen2 uses Kwikset's new Advanced SmartKey Security technology which protects against torque attacks, lock picking, and lock bumping. It also allows you to re-key the lock to protect against entry from lost or stolen keys. As with the original Kevo, the lock comes with two eKeys you can transfer between users via email. If you need more than two you can buy additional eKeys for $1.99 each, or you can assign a Guest eKey, which is free but only lasts 24 hours.
As mentioned, the Kevo Gen 2 communicates via Bluetooth, which means your phone must be within range (around 40 feet or less) to control the lock. That is, unless you purchase a Kevo Plus ($99.99) gateway that connects to your router. With Kevo Plus you can lock and unlock doors and manage user accounts from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
App
When we reviewed the first Kevo lock it worked exclusively with iOS mobile devices, with support for Android devices coming more than a year later. Fortunately, this version of the lock supports both out of the box. The mobile app has the same look and feel as the previous version; it opens to a list of installed locks. Tapping the three bars at the top of this page opens the App Settings, Create, Manage, and Information menus.
In App Settings you can enable sounds, change the passcode, and link the Kevo to your Nest and specific Honeywell thermostats to automatically set the temperature when you arrive at or leave your home. The Kevo also works with the Ring and SkyBell video doorbells, allowing you access the Kevo app from within the doorbell's app. As with the Poly-Control Danalock V2 BT, it supports IFTTT (If This Then That) recipes, but it doesn't support voice commands like the Schlage Sense and August Smart Lock HomeKit Enabled locks.
Using the Create menu you can send an eKey, set up a lock, and purchase and set up a Kevo Plus gateway. The Manage menu is where you go to control the lock and add users. Tap My Locks and eKeys to see a list of each installed lock, and tap a lock to access its control page. If the lock is engaged (locked) it appears as a large gold circle, and if it's disengaged it is green. To lock or unlock the door, simply tap the circle.
At the bottom of the page are a Key icon, a History icon, a Settings icon, and a Lock icon that takes you back to the control page. Tap the Key icon to see a list of active eKey holders and to send an eKey using your phone contacts or by entering an email address. Here you can choose to send an Anytime (unrestricted) key, a Scheduled key, or a Guest key. Tapping the History icon accesses a log of openings and closings as well as a record of eKeys that have been sent and deleted. The Settings icon opens a page where you can edit the lock name, update the firmware, and delete a lock.
Installation and Performance
The Kevo Gen 2 is easy to install. Start by downloading the app and creating an account. At this point you can select Pair A Device if you have already installed the lock, or you can view the Interactive Installation Guide which uses animation and detailed instructions to help you uninstall your old lock and install the Kevo. There's also an option to download written instructions.
Next, I hit Pair A Device, pressed the program button, and touched the back of my iPhone to the interior assembly. Within seconds the two devices were paired and I was asked to name the lock. I attached the interior cover and was finished. The entire process took less than fifteen minutes.
The Kevo Gen 2's response time is a bit faster than its predecessor. The lock opened and closed immediately when touched, unlike the Gen 1 lock, which had a slight delay. The log was updated immediately with all openings and closings, and eKey schedules worked flawlessly. When I linked the Kevo to a Ring doorbell it showed up in the Ring+ menu, allowing me to access the Kevo app from within the Ring app's live video screen. Both the Auto Lock and Triple Touch features worked like a charm.
Conclusions
Kwikset's Kevo Touch–to-Open Smart Lock 2nd Gen isn't all that different from the original, but it does offer enhanced security and a more durable and thinner interior escutcheon, and was definitely more responsive in testing. It's easy to install and the app makes it simple to send and manage eKeys, but you have to pay extra for eKeys once you've used up the two freebies. At $229 this lock doesn't come cheap, but it's no more expensive than the August Smart Lock HomeKit Enabled. That said, the August lock offers voice commands, and you can add as many users as you'd like without having to pay extra. As such, it remains our Editors' Choice for smart locks.
Kwikset's new Kevo Touch-to-Open Smart Lock is more responsive than its predecessor, but it's also a bit more expensive and lacks some of the features you get with the latest crop of connected door locks.
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