Key takeaways

• You can buy a Philips Home Access 4000 Series smart lock for the MSRP of$210
• This smart lock is very responsive, taking quick action when commanded, and features plenty of unlocking options in the user-friendly app
• Thelock is a bit slow in the process of locking itself and then being receptive to a code or fingerprint and makes some errors with fingerprint unlock

$169.99 at Amazon

What's the deal?

The Philips Home Access 4000 Series smart lock is available for 40% off for a limited time, now priced at only$126.

Testing smart locks is more fun than you'd expect for a device with such a simple function: to lock your door with the deadbolt packed within. Different smart locks feature varied unlocking options and a wide range of reliability, while others have flashy features to make them stand out from their competitors. 

But smart locks like the Philips Home Access 4000 Series are a perfect blend of simplicity and convenience. I've been testing this smart lock for weeks and have concluded it's one of the best options most people can buy, with multiple ways to unlock it that include a passcode, a physical key, fingerprint, or through the app. 

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Philips Home Access 4000 Series

The Philips Home Access 4000 Series smart lock can be unlocked using a passcode, fingerprint, the Philips Home Access app, or a physical key.

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Beyond unlocking options, the 4000 Series smart lock also includes a sensor that you put on your doorframe next to the deadbolt to determine whether your door is open or closed. A smart lock that only tells you when your door is unlocked or locked isn't very useful, as your deadbolt can engage when the door is wide open, and the lock would still tell you it's locked.

I appreciate having a sensor that checks whether the door is in fact closed, especially if I'm headed out the door in a hurry and want to peek at the app to ensure I closed my door. Additionally, the sensor adds auto-lock functionality, which lets me unlock and open the door and then have the deadbolt lock within a few seconds of my closing it again, no matter how long I kept it open. 

This Philips smart lock does this reliably, failing to lock itself upon closing only once in the weeks I've used it. 

Installing the Philips Home Access 4000 Series was as easy as replacing a deadbolt, and I encountered no issues during the setup, but I did find some sporadic issues while testing the fingerprint unlocking. 

While I didn't have issues adding fingerprints, I had some trouble reliably unlocking my door by scanning my fingerprint. This didn't happen every time, but the smart lock showed errors about 25% of the time I went to unlock with my fingerprint. Overall, thefingerprint unlocking function was the most buggy feature I found with the Philips Home Access 4000 Series, though it's not bad enough that I wouldn't recommend the smart lock.

Also: This smart lock with facial recognition spoiled every other security device for me

The only other downside I found while testing this smart lock is that it can be a bit slow when switching from one functionality to another. When I closed the door and tried to quickly unlock it again, the Philips Home Access 4000 Series took several seconds from when the deadbolt was engaged to allowing me to wake the screen. This is a problem that users are unlikely to encounter in normal use, and it only happened when I repeatedly tested the lock's limits.

Aside from these minor issues, I found this smart lock to perform very reliably. I like that it features a touchscreen instead of a keypad, and the numbers are large and easy for older users to see. The app is simple to use and snappy and lets you easily customize settings to your needs, like setting the auto-lock timer from 30 to 180 seconds, adding new permanent or temporary passcodes, and adding new users and fingerprints.

's buying advice

Overall, the Philips Home Access 4000 Series smart lock is a perfect choice for most users, whether they're new to the smart home world or are experienced and looking to grow their smart home. The ease of use and readability make it a great choice to give to someone looking for the convenience and ease of keyless entry. 

Also: Everything you need for smart home security

I really like that this lock is easy enough for me and my family to use but also for guests to interact with during their stay and visitors that may need one-time access. 

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