Kwikset Halo Select review: Wi-Fi and Matter in a single smart lock

Matter over Thread continues to work its way into the smart lock space, with the latest option arriving from Kwikset and its Halo Select lock. Unlike the U-tec Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter Edition, the Halo Select also works over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, so users have added flexibility when it comes to connecting this lock to their smart home ecosystems, albeit not without some caveats.

The lock itself is fairly basic, offering only a numeric touchscreen keypad in addition to physical key and app-based access. The 6 x 3-inch exterior escutcheon is dominated by the keypad, which illuminates when tapped. A simple (but re-keyable) keyhole is available underneath. There is no emergency power port available.

Design

The unit is available in a matte black (tested) or satin nickel finish option, though even the nickel version of the lock is mostly black, inside the home and out. Also of particular note, the lock is certified with the highest available BHMA grade of AAA and features a Microban antibacterial coating designed to keep the door hardware germ-free.

Inside the house, the interior escutcheon, also 6 x 3 inches in size, features an understated thumbturn and a black cover that conceals four included AA batteries. The batteries are themselves contained within a removeable tray which makes it marginally easier to replace cells when they die. Kwikset says a fresh set will last for up to 6 months if connected to Wi-Fi, but over 12 months if connected via Matter.

Of additional note: A small magnet is included that you can install on the door jamb above the strike plate; this works to alert the lock if the door is open or closed, with no external sensor required. Installation is optional.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Installation

Kwikset has been iterating its smart locks for years, and it’s clearly reached a point of maturity here: The Halo Select makes for one of the easiest installations I’ve encountered to date, requiring just four bolts and minutes to complete. There’s no printed manual included, but the Kwikset app capably walks you through the process with ease. Once the components are attached, you simply press a button on the interior escutcheon when instructed by the app to activate pairing, and you’re connected.

I did encounter one rather major problem after the lock updated its firmware, as the lock refused to connect to my Wi-Fi network, even after repeated reboots of both the app and power cycling the lock. Tech support directed me to perform “at least one” complete factory reset before further troubleshooting. Fortunately, it only took that first factory reset for things to start working, and I was able to proceed with setup (after starting over from the beginning, that is).

Features and functionality

Because the lock only works with the app and numeric PINs (4 to 8 digits), there’s not a lot to user management. You can configure up to 250 of them–a huge number compared to most locks–and users can be set as permanent, time-limited, or recurring based on time of day and day of week. There is no ability however to create one-time codes. All access is recorded on the helpful logging system, which color-codes lock and unlock activities (including manual actions) for easy viewing.

Extra features are limited to a time-based auto-lock mechanism (30 seconds to 10 minutes) and a geofencing option which can both auto-unlock when you arrive home and auto-lock when you leave. The geofencing feature worked exceptionally well in my testing and didn’t miss a beat whether I was coming or going.

Wi-Fi and Matter configuration

If you’re using the lock with a Matter connection (a Thread border router is required), you will lose access to a few of the above features, including the geofencing feature and access to the door sensor. Matter connections also don’t support the lock’s intrusion detection system, which can notify you if the lock is tampered with. And finally, Matter users receive a smaller number of guest user codes than Wi-Fi users, though how many depends on which ecosystem you’re connecting to.

Unlike U-tec’s implementation, the Kwikset lock can be configured to use either Wi-Fi or Matter, but not both simultaneously. This is a good thing, as it eliminates the potential for conflicting settings and access codes. After my Wi-Fi testing, I switched the Kwikset lock to Matter mode (connecting it to Apple Home), which purportedly erases all the lock’s settings and PIN codes and starts everything over from scratch. The system mostly worked fine within the iOS Home ecosystem, though again there is considerably less you can do with it here.

Christopher Null/Foundry

PIN codes can be set up and shared with anyone, but app-based access is restricted to users with a valid iCloud account. Since PINs set up with Matter can’t be time-restricted, app-based access is the only way to configure an account that expires at a given time or which is restricted to specific days of the week and times of day. This particularly restricts the lock’s utility vs. usage in its Wi-Fi configuration. (Features will vary further based on which ecosystem you’re on.)

Oddly, while the transition to Matter caused the lock’s touchscreen to no longer recognize the master PIN I’d already set up – which I expected to happen from the system reset – it also would not let me reuse it, with iOS Home saying the PIN was already assigned. There was no way to correct this issue short of another factory reset. I expect this is a small bug, but it’s something to keep in mind if you do transition the lock from Wi-Fi to Matter. Note that even if you don’t use Matter, the lock will still work with Alexa and Google Home if you want to use voice capabilities.

One additional thing of note: The interior escutcheon has a light on it which constantly flashes either green or red indicating if the lock is open or closed. This is obviously to help you see at a glance if the lock is engaged, but it can quickly become an eyesore if the lock is nearby or in a dark room in which you sleep. This behavior can fortunately be turned off in the settings, as can sound from the lock (which namely consists of a number of beeps).

Specifications

• Lock type: Deadbolt
• Dimensions (exterior): 5.4 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches (HxWxD)
• Dimensions (interior): 5.8 x 2.9 x 2.3 inches (HxWxD)
• BHMA grade: AAA (highest)
• Coating: Microban
• Power: 4 x AA batteries
• Connectivity: Matter and Wi-Fi
• Number of codes: 250
• Smart home compatibility: Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings

Should you buy the Halo Select Matter and Wi-Fi smart lock?

At $279, the Halo Select is pricey for a lock that is short on features like biometric-based access. However, its performance and high-grade security certification do some work toward improving that value proposition to a degree.

Matter support, while ultimately limited, sweetens the deal a bit further.