The August smart lock finally gets a fingerprint option

The Yale Keypad Touch is a fingerprint-enabled wireless keypad for Yale and August retrofit locks that works with the fourth-gen August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, third-gen August Smart Lock Pro, third-gen August Smart Lock, and the new Yale Approach Lock with Wi-Fi. In addition to fingerprint and code unlock, it offers one-touch locking on your way out. It’s available now for $109.99 at ShopYaleHome.com and August.com.

That’s a steep upgrade for those who already have an August lock, though it might be worth it for that touch-to-unlock ease. For those considering a new lock, the new Keypad Touch comes bundled with Yale’s Approach lock for $229.99 or the August Wi-Fi-Smart Lock for $249.99 (just $50 more than the lock alone). There’s also a keypad-only version for $69.99.

Retrofit locks like the August only replace the interior portion of your existing lock, leaving the front unchanged, so you can still use your key. They are great options for renters or people with fancy door hardware they don’t want to swap out. But the design means they don’t have room for features like keypads or fingerprint readers. The solution is a wireless keypad that connects to the lock over Bluetooth.

August already has an optional Bluetooth keypad without a fingerprint reader, but this is the first time biometric access has been an option. I’ve tested many locks, and I find a fingerprint reader the easiest way to unlock a smart door. The new Yale Keypad and Keypad Touch also have a longer Bluetooth range than the existing August keypads — up to 30 feet — giving you more placement options.

If you’re wondering why Yale is making keypads for August locks, it’s because Yale and August have been sister brands since 2017 when they were both purchased by Assa Abloy; both were later sold to Fortune Brands. But over the last few years, while Yale has integrated much of August’s technology — including its automatic unlocking feature and its app — and released a slew of new products, there hasn’t been any innovation from August.