The catch
Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
Unable to replace a deadbolt.
Side by side
Aqara U300 vs U100: U100 replaces a separate deadbolt, while U300 replaces a lever latch
Quick verdict
A compatible lever-latch door calls for U300, and a separate deadbolt calls for U100. Both have fingerprint and Home Key, but that does not make their hardware interchangeable.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
No app setting can fix the wrong door
Look at the lock opening first, and compare smart features afterward.
Where this comes from
U300 works a lever latch and U100 works a deadbolt. Both offer Home Key and fingerprint entry, yet their mechanical jobs stay different.
The catch
Aqara Smart Lock U100
Unable to replace a lever latch.
Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
- Why pick it
- The door you are targeting has a compatible handle latch. A separate deadbolt does not qualify.
- Matter over Thread is what you want, and its controller infrastructure is already in place.
- The catch
- Unable to replace a deadbolt.
Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Why pick it
- It is the separate deadbolt above the door handle that you are replacing.
- An Aqara Zigbee hub already runs in your smart home.
- The catch
- Unable to replace a lever latch.
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What this page compares
Aqara U300 and U100 differ in the door hardware they replace, their Matter connection, Home Key requirements and exterior weather ratings.
A compatible lever-latch door calls for U300, and a separate deadbolt calls for U100. Both have fingerprint and Home Key, but that does not make their hardware interchangeable.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Swap out a separate deadbolt you already have
U300 is a lever latch and does not replace a deadbolt.
- Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
- Not suitable
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Better fit
Make a lever-only office door automatic
A compatible deadbolt opening is needed for U100.
- Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
- Better fit
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Not suitable
The sole smart requirement is fingerprint entry
A fingerprint reader comes with both, provided the hardware fits correctly.
- Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
- Similar
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Similar
You want all existing exterior hardware to stay
Each replaces the exterior hardware. An interior retrofit belongs to a different product type.
- Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
- Not suitable
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
No app setting can fix the wrong door
Look at the lock opening first, and compare smart features afterward.
How we worked this out
U300 works a lever latch and U100 works a deadbolt. Both offer Home Key and fingerprint entry, yet their mechanical jobs stay different.
Two different doors may be solved by two locks
It makes sense for a home to run U100 at the front and U300 at an interior office.
How we worked this out
A front entrance can have a separate deadbolt while an office has a lever latch. It is more useful to match each product to its hardware than to name one household-wide winner.
The same Apple feature can come with different setup costs
Factor the required Apple Thread hub into the budget for U300.
How we worked this out
U300’s Home Key route needs the compatible Apple Thread home hub. U100’s local Home Key route doesn’t need an Aqara hub, though its remote Aqara features do.
Option A
Aqara, DL-D02D
Smart Lock with Handle U300
This Matter-over-Thread smart lever is for doors with a handle latch and brings together fingerprint entry, Apple Home Key and a physical backup key.
- Best for
- an office or garage side door that has a lever latch
Facts we checked
- Documented access methods are Matter over Thread, Bluetooth, fingerprint, keypad, Home Key and mechanical key.
- Under its test conditions, the manufacturer estimates up to ten months from four AA batteries.
- IPX4 is the exterior's rating.
- It supports doors 35 to 55 mm thick, a 54 mm bore and a 60 or 70 mm backset.
Option B
Aqara, DL-D01D
Smart Lock U100
Entry options listed are fingerprint, home-key, keypad and phone, and the documented door range is 1.375 to 2.17 inches thick.
- Best for
- unlock with a fingerprint on a replacement for my deadbolt
Facts we checked
- The documented door range is 1.375 to 2.17 inches thick.
- Entry options include fingerprint, home-key, keypad, phone.
- The documented platform list includes alexa, apple, google, matter.
- The documented installation is a full deadbolt replacement.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300 | Aqara Smart Lock U100 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door hardware | Lever handle and latch replacement | Deadbolt replacement | How the door is prepared determines which product can physically do the job. |
| Matter connection | Native Matter over Thread | Matter through compatible Aqara hub | Smart-home hardware you already have can point to one installation route. |
| Home Key setup | Compatible Thread-enabled Apple home hub required | Home Key supported without an Aqara hub for local tapping | Buying U300 can bring an Apple hub requirement, even though both locks advertise Home Key. |
| Exterior rating | IPX4 | IP65 | Dust protection is specified for U100, along with a different water-test level. |
| Passage routine | Lever passage mode keeps the latch accessible | Deadbolt can be left unlocked | For frequent traffic through an office or side door, a passage lever is a good match. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
- A compatible Thread-enabled Apple home hub is needed for Home Key.
With Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Remote Aqara and Matter features go through an Aqara hub.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Inspecting the door reveals a lever-only opening
Go with Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300. U300 is suited to that mechanical job.
What is being replaced is a separate deadbolt
Go with Aqara Smart Lock U100. U100 is suited to the deadbolt job.
Your landlord wants no change to the exterior hardware
Neither model fits. Instead, pick a compatible interior retrofit and get permission.
Decision guide
How to decide
U300 is for a compatible lever-latch door and U100 is for a separate deadbolt. Sharing fingerprint and Home Key features does not make the hardware interchangeable.
Check the door first
Seeing a lever below a deadbolt does not prove that either product will fit the same opening. Decide which component you want to automate, then measure its bore, backset and thickness.
Sort out the network hardware
U300 belongs in a Thread-based Matter installation. U100 is a Zigbee device, and its fuller connected feature set runs through an Aqara hub. Do not order a hub just because it carries the same brand name.
Busy office doors and exposed entrances
A door that gets used over and over during the day may suit the U300 passage feature. On an exposed entrance, follow the exact installation and weather guidance instead of treating any IP rating as permission for all conditions.
What this page can’t tell you
- Fit also turns on bore, backset, trim clearance and local installation requirements, and no winner on security grade is inferred from the shape of the lock.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the smart locks we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 2 of the 25 models checked meet every need here: “Swap out my deadbolt”, “Use a fingerprint to unlock”, “Get in by tapping my phone or watch”, and “Base the setup on Matter”.
2 models fit, out of 25 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Swap out my deadbolt”, “Use a fingerprint to unlock”, “Get in by tapping my phone or watch”, and “Base the setup on Matter”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300 |
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| Aqara Smart Lock U100 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Aqara Smart Lock with Handle U300
The door you are targeting has a compatible handle latch. A separate deadbolt does not qualify.
See price & reviews on AmazonAqara Smart Lock U100
It is the separate deadbolt above the door handle that you are replacing.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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