Hyundai smart door lock is new in 2023 from Korea
There are so many reviews and ratings of smart locks on the net that it would seem that it would not be difficult to make a choice. However, almost all reviews are devoted to well-known Chinese brands. For some reason, the authors ignore the birthplace of electronic locks – South Korea. I decided to fill this gap and tell you about the novelty of this year: a smart lock for the front door from Hyundai.
Hyundai HT (HDL-930)
HT is a division of Hyundai responsible for the development of smart home devices. The company’s product line includes a whole range of devices: smart doorbells, leakage and smoke sensors, motion and light sensors, smart sockets, etc. The electronic lock has become a harmonious part of this smart home ecosystem.
The HDL-930 is brand new, released in April 2023. Not yet represented on the Russian market. Let’s look at the main functions of this smart lock.
Face ID
On the outer panel of the lock there are two sensors that detect movement near the door. They activate 3 built-in cameras that scan the face in 3D. This completely avoids the possibility of scanning the owner’s face from a photo.
Many people think that Face ID on a door lock is as convenient as on your favorite smartphone, but there is one important thing here. But: Angle of view of the cameras. If you hold a mobile phone in your hand directly in front of your face, then the lock is installed on the door at a level just above the waist. This means that if you are taller than average, you will have to move away from the door a bit to get into the field of view of all three cameras.
I must say that a rare Korean manufacturer implements Face ID in their locks. This significantly increases the cost of devices, and the practical side of this feature is a big question. It should be noted that the HDL-930 model is also produced with a fingerprint scanner instead of Face ID. In my personal opinion, a more convenient option.
Electronic mortise part
Following global trends, Hyundai has developed a truly fully electronic lock. Unlike previous generations of locks with a push-pull system (pull-push), in this model, both the bolts and the latch are driven by an electric motor built directly into the mortise. This allows the lock to open and close instantly, without any delay.
External and internal blocking
On smart door locks of most Korean manufacturers, there is a function to block external and internal access.
Let’s say the owner wants to lock himself in the house and not let in even those who have access. The lock activates the internal lock mode, which completely disables the touchpad and Face ID on the outer panel of the lock. The only way to get inside is with a mechanical key. (if the incoming one has it).
An external lock is needed in order to block the possibility of opening the lock from the inside. It’s kind of an alarm. For example, the owner leaves the house for a long time and, leaving, puts the lock in lock mode. The button for opening the lock on the inner panel is immediately disabled. If the lock is opened mechanically, the built-in siren will turn on.
Protection against breaking and entering
The Hyundai smart lock has several functions at once that allow you to secure your home from intruders as much as possible. Let’s look at three main ones:
Built-in burglary alarm. If they try to open the lock by force, they will inevitably damage the electronics of the external panel. In this case, the alarm built into the internal panel will immediately work. The alarm will also be activated in the event of a force impact on the mortise part, in which the electric drive of the crossbars is located.
Opening button on the inner case equipped with a patented sensor that only responds to the touch of a human finger. That is, the lock cannot be opened by pressing the button with a master key inserted through the peephole or a hole drilled in the door leaf.
Mechanical key cylinder protection. In this lock, the key cylinder is located behind the handle, in a very inconvenient place for the burglar. Picking up a master key is very difficult, if at all possible. Trying to drill a hole to get close to the cylinder will inevitably break the control board and trigger an alarm. The key itself is perforated, with a fairly serious degree of protection.
Smart House
As I wrote above, the electronic lock is just one of the elements of the Hyundai smart home ecosystem. Of course, the HDL-930 connects to the smart home hub via a Zigbee module and is controlled via a mobile application. For maximum home protection, you can supplement the security system with a motion sensor and a door opening sensor. They are wireless and battery operated. By combining three devices into a single network through a hub, the owner receives a full-fledged security system.
In the event that an intruder nevertheless breaks the lock, immediately after he opens the door, the alarm mode is activated: the siren on the hub will turn on, the owner will receive a notification on the phone about the penetration. It is reasonable to install a motion sensor near windows. The range of this sensor is up to 7 meters.
emergency food
This lock is powered by 8 regular AA batteries. The manufacturer claims that the charge is enough for a year of work in the usual “family” mode. In the event that the batteries are completely discharged, you can power the lock from a conventional power bank with a USB-C connector. Interestingly, this is the first castle from South Korea where I have seen such an emergency food option. All other Korean locks are powered by 9 watt batteries. Both methods are valid.
Results
Smart lock from Hyundai is a very interesting model both in terms of design and functionality. The ability to connect this device to a smart home system certainly adds points in favor of its purchase. After I install it on the door, I will update the article with real photos on the door. I wish you good shopping!
