Smart door lock company, PKinno, is set to launch its first HomeKit product within the next few weeks under the Reagle brand. While the company is relatively unknown in the consumer IoT world, PKinno has been a behind-the-scenes player supplying their door lock technology to “renowned companies” for years according to the company’s profile. While the company does not provide any examples of their partnerships, their upcoming door lock’s design is familiar, to say the least, which could indicate who they have provided their technology to.
Reagle HomeKit Enabled Smart Door Lock
The Reagle Smart Door Lock is set to launch within the next few weeks on Amazon according to listings that were recently uncovered. The door lock will come in two variants, Dark Bronze, and Satin Nickel, and have availability dates of July 8th and July 10th. The locks will retail for $189, which puts them right in line with others in the market, so PKinno will have some work to do when it comes to differentiating its product from the established brands. Installation of the door lock is said to take just 10-15 minutes, with just a screwdriver being the only tool required, and the lock utilizes 4 AA batteries for power. Connectivity is provided by a built-in Bluetooth radio, which the company touts as being secure, and available during a power outage.
On the software side of things, the Reagle Smart Door Lock will support HomeKit right out of the box. The aforementioned Bluetooth radio allows the lock to be paired directly to HomeKit, without having to create an account with Reagle which is a huge plus in our book and even has a notice within the Reagle App stating this is an installation option. Of course, the company does point out that several features such as firmware updating is only available through their own App, which does require an account to use. Remote access is enabled through a HomeKit hub, such as an Apple TV, HomePod, or an iPad, and an optional gateway is available for those without a hub or those who use Android. A Gateway is a compact unit that bridges the lock’s Bluetooth connection to your Wi-Fi router and includes a built-in USB-A connector allowing it to be plugged directly into a standard USB port without a power brick.
Rounding out the feature set are the smart lock staples. Notifications, event logs, battery level alerts, and unique pin assignments for guests are all included with the Reagle lock. Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant is also supported, and the hardware itself is backed by a 1-year warranty. What do you think of Reagle’s first foray into HomeKit? Are you thinking about picking one up? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter, @HomeKit_Hero.
