The catch
Aqara Smart Lock U50
Lacks fingerprint entry.
Side by side
Aqara Smart Lock U50 vs Aqara Smart Lock U100: Bridged Matter still needs its hub, even though U100 adds fingerprints
Quick verdict
U50 is the pick when phone taps and keypad codes cover your household and its offer costs less. U100 is the pick when fingerprint entry matters or you want its published IP65 outer-panel rating. Because both use Zigbee and Bluetooth, moving to U100 does not remove the hub that their bridged Matter setup needs.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Home key by itself doesn’t call for the upgrade
Either model works for a household that already prefers tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch. The U100 premium buys a different entry option. Apple home key is already on both.
Where this comes from
Apple home key is documented on both official product pages. U100 also lists fingerprint recognition separately, and U50’s documented entry methods don’t include it.
The catch
Aqara Smart Lock U100
Door-thickness limits and Zigbee bridge requirements stay the same.
Aqara Smart Lock U50
- Why pick it
- Get by on Apple home key and codes without paying for a fingerprint reader you will not use
- The catch
- Lacks fingerprint entry.
Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Why pick it
- Give household members a fingerprint to unlock with
- Go with the documented IP65 outer panel rather than the IPX5 rating of U50
- The catch
- Door-thickness limits and Zigbee bridge requirements stay the same.
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What this page compares
Before replacing a US deadbolt, see how Aqara U50 and U100 differ on fingerprint entry, Apple home key, outdoor exposure and hub requirements.
U50 is the pick when phone taps and keypad codes cover your household and its offer costs less. U100 is the pick when fingerprint entry matters or you want its published IP65 outer-panel rating. Because both use Zigbee and Bluetooth, moving to U100 does not remove the hub that their bridged Matter setup needs.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Mostly we tap in with an iPhone or Apple Watch
Apple home key works on both, using compatible Apple devices.
- Aqara Smart Lock U50
- Good
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Good
Fingerprint entry is wanted by a family member
The fingerprint reader comes only with U100.
- Aqara Smart Lock U50
- Not suitable
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Better fit
I want Matter running natively over Thread, with no Aqara bridge
Each is a Zigbee/Bluetooth lock. The bridged Matter route they use isn’t the same as native Thread.
- Aqara Smart Lock U50
- Not suitable
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Not suitable
My door’s thickness falls outside the 35 to 55 mm range
The thickness limits listed for both are identical. Check all other installation dimensions too.
- Aqara Smart Lock U50
- Not suitable
- Aqara Smart Lock U100
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Home key by itself doesn’t call for the upgrade
Either model works for a household that already prefers tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch. The U100 premium buys a different entry option. Apple home key is already on both.
How we worked this out
Apple home key is documented on both official product pages. U100 also lists fingerprint recognition separately, and U50’s documented entry methods don’t include it.
A model upgrade is not a stand-in for a hub budget
Picking U100 over U50 leaves the broad networking task as it was. For a Matter installation, plan for a compatible Aqara bridge and the requirements of the platform you choose.
How we worked this out
Zigbee and Bluetooth appear in both specification tables. For these Zigbee locks, Aqara documents Matter through a supported Aqara hub.
The battery headline runs one-third longer, but there are caveats
On paper, eight months is about 33% above six months. Treat it as a maintenance estimate. It is not a promise that U100 will last one-third longer given your radio signal and entry habits.
How we worked this out
(8 - 6) / 6 × 100 = 33.3%. Aqara gives up to 6 months for U50 and up to 8 months for U100, based on usage assumptions.
Option A
Aqara, DL-D05D
Smart Lock U50
This keypad deadbolt supports Apple Home Key and comes with physical backup keys. Adding a Zigbee hub extends it to remote access and smart-home routines.
- Best for
- Get by on Apple home key and codes without paying for a fingerprint reader you will not use
Facts we checked
- Fingerprint entry: No fingerprint reader
- Outer-panel rating: IPX5
- Manufacturer battery estimate: Up to 6 months
- Wireless architecture: Bluetooth and Zigbee
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
- Give household members a fingerprint to unlock with
Facts we checked
- Fingerprint entry: Fingerprint reader
- Outer-panel rating: IP65
- Manufacturer battery estimate: Up to 8 months
- Wireless architecture: Bluetooth and Zigbee
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Aqara Smart Lock U50 | Aqara Smart Lock U100 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fingerprint entry | No fingerprint reader | Fingerprint reader | U100 brings an entry method that needs no phone, which U50’s keypad can’t offer. |
| Outer-panel rating | IPX5 | IP65 | Water protection is published for both. Dust protection appears only in U100’s stated rating. |
| Manufacturer battery estimate | Up to 6 months | Up to 8 months | They are manufacturer estimates and not a two-month advantage measured in your home. |
| Wireless architecture | Bluetooth and Zigbee | Bluetooth and Zigbee | Neither lock is native Matter-over-Thread. A compatible Aqara hub carries their Matter route. |
| Door thickness | 35 to 55 mm | 35 to 55 mm | The stated door-thickness range isn’t extended by the more expensive lock. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Aqara Smart Lock U50
- For the outer panel, the stated rating is IPX5 and has no dust-protection digit.
With Aqara Smart Lock U100
- The longer battery estimate doesn’t guarantee a measured runtime.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
You need fingerprint entry every day
Go with Aqara Smart Lock U100. The fingerprint reader is what U100 adds.
Taps from a phone and codes are enough, and U50 costs less
Go with Aqara Smart Lock U50. Its documented entry methods handle that plan and skip the fingerprint upgrade.
Native Matter over Thread has to be supported
Neither model fits. Zigbee is used by both, and each needs a bridge for its Matter route.
Decision guide
How to decide
U50 fits when phone taps and keypad codes cover your household and its offer costs less. U100 fits when fingerprint entry matters or you want its published IP65 outer-panel rating. Both use Zigbee and Bluetooth, which means stepping up to U100 does not remove the hub their bridged Matter setup needs.
Match the lock to how people really enter
Think through how each person gets into the house. A phone or watch tap, codes and a physical backup key are already covered by U50. If someone regularly leaves their phone behind and would rather use a fingerprint than remember a code, U100 is easier to justify. That is a concrete daily difference.
Get the network architecture right
Do not let the Amazon listing subtitles decide your hub purchase. Aqara's own specifications describe these as Zigbee and Bluetooth devices. Basic local operation and the various smart-home integrations each have their own requirements. Before comparing lock-only offers, plan the Aqara hub and Apple-home setup around the features you want.
Keep expectations modest on weather and batteries
Compared with the IPX5 rating of U50, the IP65 rating of U100 adds a documented dust-protection classification. Installation quality still matters with either rating. Battery-life figures rest on manufacturer assumptions too. Keep replacement AAs and a backup entry method on hand, and let actual low-battery notifications tell you when to do maintenance.
What this page can’t tell you
- None of fingerprint recognition, weather resistance, lock security or battery life was tested by us. Manufacturer estimates and IP classifications should not be read as field measurements.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the smart locks we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aqara Smart Lock U50 |
|
| |
| 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 U50
Get by on Apple home key and codes without paying for a fingerprint reader you will not use
See price & reviews on AmazonAqara Smart Lock U100
Give household members a fingerprint to unlock with
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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