A smart lock is an easy solution to some common problems. Locked yourself out? Need to let a friend in to water the plants? Your latchkey kid lost their key? Hands are full, and it’s raining cats and dogs? A smart lock solves all of these problems and more.
Technology
Revyze, a ‘TikTok for education’ startup, draws on Duolingo to add bite-sized learning too
Middle and high schoolers are both the easiest and most difficult audience. If you’re developing a neat little video game, chances are they’re willing to download it right away. But if, like the team behind Revyze, you’re working on a learning app, good luck pitching them.
And yet, the French startup has defied the odds and attracted one million users over the last two years. In June, the Revyze app even reached the coveted #1 spot for free downloads in Apple’s App Store.
One-third of all 9th graders in France turned to Revyze for some last-minute schoolwork before the national middle school exam. Around 2,000 content creators have shared 40,000 videos and quizzes in the app. They’ve attracted 150 million views in total.
All that traction has helped the startup’s fundraising pitch. On Monday Revyze announced close of a seed round of €5.5 million ($6 million at current exchange rates) led by Speedinvest and Moonfire.
Motier Ventures, Station F (where the startup is currently headquartered), Supercell co-founder Illka Paananen, King co-founders Riccardo Zacconni and Sebastian Knusson, and Duolingo’s Nickey Skarstad also participated.
Revyze previously raised a €2 million pre-seed round (around $2.2 million) back in 2022.
Non-exam season
Yet it hasn’t been such a smooth and easy ride for Revyze over in the U.S.
When we first covered the startup its pitch was simple: to build the TikTok of education. While there are some great learning videos on TikTok, users’ feeds are diluted with real-time true crime stories and, er, a bunch of everything (imagine this writer waving his hand in the air).
In 2023, the team decided to launch the app in the U.S. TikTok has various challenges in the market, with many U.S. parents having concerns about content issues and local lawmakers also going after TikTok over national security concerns. So Revyze’s positioning as an alternative — education-focused — platform could work. At least on paper.
“I moved to the U.S. exactly one year ago and I spent four months there,” co-founder Guillaume Perrot told TechCrunch. “The aim was to replicate what we’d done in France, to build the company around these periods of stress and exams in the U.S., which is the SAT [the main college admissions test].”
But they found that doesn’t necessarily lead to strong and consistent user growth. Maybe there wasn’t enough content or it wasn’t specific enough for SAT tests. “What we actually learned was that we had to rework the product before we could try and expand to the U.S.” he added.
In particular, while the app worked well right before a stressful exam, U.S. users didn’t open it during the rest of the year. So they went back to the drawing board to find ways to create more consistent engagement.
The Revyze team refined the app experience so that it’s not just a feed of vertical videos that push learning at people who are stressed enough about their looming exams to spend every waking minute learning. Now, content is curated in a way so that you can dip into the app in a more laid back way or be more focused. In other words, it now draws inspiration from both TikTok and Duolingo.
“We’ve launched a product called capsules with the idea that we’ll try to get people to use the app every week for their tests,” Perrot said.
Capsules are designed by Revyze’s top content creators around a single topic. It’s a collection of videos, quizzes and summary sheets. It works a bit like a lesson in Duolingo. There’s a beginning, a middle and an end, which means that you get a sense of achievement when you finish a capsule.
There are also some gamification features around capsules. “You unlock a capsule with coins that you earn by coming back every day — a bit like on Duolingo with the streak flame — and by doing quizzes every day,” co-founder Florent Sciberras told TechCrunch.
“[Capsules] also allow top creators to monetize their content. We’ve introduced a creator monetization program for our top 5% for each universe. Let’s say you live in Michigan and you’ve taken your math exam, which is a bit Michigan-specific. You can say, ‘I know what they need, I can create the content and I’ll earn a proportion of the coins that are spent on my capsule,’” Sciberras said.
While everything is still free, Revyze plans to monetize its app at some point by adding paid access to extra features, such as personalized analytics and social features, and letting users pay to unlock content more quickly.
Right now, Revyze is still very much focused on finding product-market fit and growing its communities of users and content creators. The community of top creators is surprisingly diverse. There are some, top-performing teenagers that want to give back and share knowledge but also some teachers who want to reach a wider audience.
It’s particularly visible when the startup invites its creator community to Station F. “You’ve got the tenth-grader rubbing shoulders with the 45-year-old history teacher from Agen,” Sciberras said. “And they’re all here together with one goal in mind: helping students learn differently.”
Technology
Dave Clark, formerly of Amazon and Flexport, just landed $100M for new supply chain venture
Dave Clark has had a rollercoaster of a time these past two years.
After stepping down in June 2022 as CEO of Amazon’s worldwide consumer division — a role he held for over two decades — Clark relocated to Dallas to join supply chain logistics company Flexport. With a board mandate to prepare Flexport to go public, Clark led as co-CEO, and later on as CEO, while founder Ryan Peterson transitioned to executive chairman.
But all did not go smoothly. In September 2023, Flexport’s board, led by Peterson, pressured Clark to resign, accusing him of mismanagement. Clark maintained he was only trying to fix what he considered “extensive” organizational problems. Subsequent reporting backed up Clark’s claims, but the damage was done. Clark was out.
Clark mulled a gubernatorial run in Texas; he hired strategists, too. But the allure of launching a business — one he could run as he saw fit — proved to be stronger.
Clark on Tuesday unveiled his new company, Auger, and he’s raised a mammoth, $100 million seed round led by VC firm Oak HC/FT. Auger is developing an AI-powered tool for supply chain-dependent businesses that integrates with existing inventory management platforms to deliver real-time insights.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen first-hand how broken supply chains don’t just impact companies, but in fact millions of people: delays that prevent products from reaching shelves, miscommunications that force employees into overtime, higher consumer prices, and inefficiencies that contribute to a growing carbon footprint,” Clark told TechCrunch. “These aren’t just business problems — they’re human problems. And it’s time we fix them.”
Clark was vague about what precisely Auger is building, save that it “unifies” supply chain data for various types of aggregation. There seems to a chatbot component, too: Clark says users will be able to “just ask” questions like “Give me inventory information for next week’s shipment,” and Auger will serve up that data “instantly” in a “consumer-grade” portal.
“Despite heavy investments, companies still rely on fragmented ‘Franken-software’ — disjointed systems patched together from incompatible technologies that don’t communicate effectively,” Clark said. “This leads to inefficient workarounds and forces critical decisions to be made using tools like Excel, which were never designed to handle the complexity of supply chains at this scale. Auger is creating a new solution for companies seeking better options.”
To Clark’s point, there’s robust demand for technology that helps organizations make sense of their supply chains. According to one source, 56% of retailers hold weeks’ worth of “safety stock” as insurance against supply chain visibility setbacks.
The lack of supply chain awareness — combined with growing supply chain headwinds, from dockworker strikes to turmoil in the Red Sea — is contributing to major global shipping disruptions. About a third of services companies and nearly half of manufacturers are having difficulty obtaining supplies, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey.
“Increasing disruptions and global conflicts [are] creating near-constant modifications in worldwide manufacturing and the flow of goods, stretching existing technology beyond its limits,” Clark said.
The more recent hurdles, combined with challenges introduced by the pandemic, have led to an explosion in the number of startups tackling supply chain visibility and management. The sector for logistics software is on track to reach $46.5 billion by 2025, per Markets and Markets. And funding is flowing healthily into upstart supply chain platform vendors — startups in the space received $15.4 billion in investments this year.
Indeed, Auger, based in Bellevue, Washington, is entering a market chock full of formidable rivals.
Altana, which bagged $200 million from investors in July, uses an AI system to create a shared view of international supply chain networks, drawing from both logistics and B2B data. Everstream and Pando offer their own dashboards for analysis, intended to complement transportation management and supplier relationship management systems.
Clark asserts that what Auger’s making will be truly different.
“Auger will integrate data from multiple sources and use advanced AI and machine learning to generate automated, dynamic insights in real time,” Clark said. “The platform will offer a single pane of glass across planning, forecasting, and financing [to] … enable teams to move beyond manual tasks and focus on driving innovation.”
Clark may well have what it takes to go up against the larger vendors in the SaaS supply chain software space. Logistics is his speciality, after all. At Amazon, Clark was an early proponent of robotic automation, which saved the company tens of millions of dollars. And, during the pandemic, Clark dramatically expanded Amazon’s operations to meet the elevated demand for online goods.
Clark has made big managerial missteps, on the other hand. He misjudged the reception of Amazon’s brick-and-mortar businesses, and, in the final stretch of the pandemic, over-expanded the company’s warehouse capacity. That latter decision led to billions in cost overruns.
Oak general partner Matt Streisfeld has confidence in Clark, calling him a “once-in-a-lifetime” founder with the potential to “reimagine supply chain management software.”
“We are in the midst of a critical shift, with more data shifting to the cloud every day,” Streisfeld said in a statement. “With this shift, we will have more accessible information that can be structured for not only real-time, continuous planning, but also so that AI can be layered on to automate more workflows and deliver more business and financial insights for inventory management and forecasting.”
Clark says that Auger, which has yet to secure customers or generate any revenue, will release more information about its product roadmap and milestones in the coming months. “Our founding team is made up of relentless problem-solvers with a proven track record of delivering transformative supply chain solutions at scale,” he added. “This is just the beginning.”
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Technology
Best smart door lock you can buy
One of the best smart home upgrades you can make, a smart lock gives you remote control over access to your house from anywhere, plus easy, key-free ways to unlock and lock your door. Smart locks also remember everything that happened, so they can tell you when and sometimes who unlocked your door.
For most people, control and convenience are big enough selling points. However, smart locks also work nicely with other smart home devices, including video doorbells and smart lighting. My favorite way to integrate locks in my home is with an evening smart home routine, which locks the doors, dims the lights, and sets my thermostat to sleep mode. We have four exterior doors, so it saves me from walking around the house at night checking everything is secure.
Having a connected lock on your door is as secure, if not more so, than a standard lock. Most smart locks have the same security ratings as their non-smart counterparts (see FAQ for more details), and it’s harder to physically pick a lock without a traditional keyway. Plus, any smart lock is more secure than leaving a spare key under a flowerpot.
I’ve been testing smart door locks for five years and have installed over two dozen for this guide. Here are my top picks for your front door; whether you want the best of the best, don’t want to replace your existing lock, are on a budget, or want a smart lock that doesn’t look like a smart lock, I’ve got the best options for every need.
Best smart lock overall
Connectivity: Bluetooth (can add Wi-Fi, Z-Wave) / Access options: Key, keypad, fingerprint reader, app, voice / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Four AA alkaline batteries / Battery life: Six months to a year / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: ANSI Grade 2 / Works with: Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
The Yale Assure Lock 2 is an inexpensive, good-looking keypad lock that works with every smart home platform with its swappable modules. The slimline design (both front and back), wide smart home compatibility, easy-to-use app, and good selection of unlocking options make it my top pick by a long shot.
There are multiple versions, starting at $160, with or without a keyway, with a touchscreen keypad or a physical keypad, or with Apple Home Key. I recommend whichever fits your specific needs, but the Assure Lock 2 Touch fingerprint version is my favorite. It costs $209.99, and the built-in fingerprint reader is fast and efficient. I tested the touchscreen version, but Yale recently released a keypad version. Unless you really value the clean look of the touchscreen (which is blank when off), go with the keypad — it’s much easier to use.
The lock supports Bluetooth out of the box and works with the Yale Access app and Apple Home app (which adds remote unlocking if you have an Apple Home hub). Along with a keycode, fingerprint reader, or key, you can also choose to use auto-unlocking. Auto-unlock is a decent alternative to fingerprint unlock, but I sometimes have to wait at the door for a second or two before it works. Still, it’s faster than fumbling through a purse for keys when your hands are full.
Support for other platforms and remote unlocking comes through Yale’s ingenious swappable networking modules, which cost around $80 each. There’s a Wi-Fi module to add Alexa and Google Home integration and a Z-Wave module for compatibility with (some) SmartThings hubs, Ring Alarm, and other Z-Wave hubs. Yale has promised support for Matter via a Matter-over-Thread module. However, there’s no timeline for its release.
This fingerprint lock is fast and reliable, and the keypad is a good backup option for visitors. It works with Apple Home and can be upgraded to support Wi-Fi — which you’ll need for remote unlocking, Android phones, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home support. Auto-unlock can open the door as you approach, and you can also use a key — if you just can’t let go.
I tested the Wi-Fi module in the Assure 2 Touch, which worked well with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. It allowed me to add the lock to Alexa Routines, lock and unlock it with my voice, and control it away from home. The downside is that control over Wi-Fi is considerably slower than over Bluetooth and drains the battery more quickly. Yale estimates up to a year on Bluetooth only, compared to six months over Wi-Fi; I got about four months.
Read my review of the Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch.
Best budget smart lock
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0 / Access options: Fingerprint, keypad, app / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: One year / Security Grade: ANSI/BHMA Grade 3 / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: N/A
The Wyze Lock Bolt is a good choice if you want something inexpensive and useful and don’t care about smart home integration — or prefer a lock without it. It’s not sleek or stylish; it’s just a big hunk of black plastic (there’s also a satin nickel version). Out of the box, it doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi or integrate with any smart home systems, but it does have an easy-to-use backlit keypad and a lightning-fast fingerprint reader. It’ll auto-lock if you want, and it’s half the price of the Yale Assure Lock 2.
In addition to the fingerprint reader and keypad, the Wyze Lock Bolt can be controlled over Bluetooth, and its range is very good. I could lock the door from my bedroom at the other end of the house using the Wyze app. That’s important, as there’s no way to lock the door on a schedule (although you can enable auto-lock).
The Bolt doesn’t integrate with smart home platforms, but if you don’t need to control your lock with your voice or plan to add it to any smart home routines, you won’t miss those features. It also delivers up to a year of battery life on four AAs — I tested it for three months and it only lost 15 percent.
The Wyze doesn’t connect to Wi-Fi or integrate with any smart home systems
But without Wi-Fi, I couldn’t check on it or control it when I was away from home, so turning on the auto-lock option is a must. If I wanted to let someone in while I was gone, I couldn’t unlock the door remotely, but I could generate an offline code in the Wyze app and share that. This uses similar technology to two-factor authentication codes and worked perfectly in my testing.
Since I tested the lock, Wyze has introduced an integration with its Wyze Video Doorbell Pro that lets you unlock the Bolt remotely when paired with the doorbell — but it doesn’t let you lock it remotely, which is odd. Of course, if you enable auto-lock this is less of an issue.
Best retrofit smart lock
Expensive but with a premium feel, this smart lock is reliable, feels good in your hand, and doesn’t require switching out your entire deadbolt. You can keep your existing key, and it will auto-unlock as you arrive home. But beware of the poor battery life and prepare to stockpile those CR123 batteries.
Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Access options: Existing key, app, voice, keypad (sold separately) / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Two CR123 batteries / Battery life: Up to three months / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is an elegant retrofit door lock that replaces just the thumb turn. This is a better option than the Yale Assure 2 if you want to keep your existing deadbolt, key cylinder, and lock exterior.
The August lock is expensive for a retrofit lock, but it feels premium thanks to its all-metal design. Its compact size means it doesn’t stick out too much on the inside of your door, and it’s attractive enough not to be an eyesore. In contrast to many models I’ve tested, it’s also very quiet when it operates.
Unlike the Yale, it has Wi-Fi built in, so there’s no need for an extra hub, bridge, or module. Like the Yale, it has auto-unlock technology, so it can be set to unlock itself when you walk up to your door. Similarly, this wasn’t 100 percent reliable in my testing, and I had to whip out my phone a couple of times to unlock it since there’s no built-in keypad. (I stopped carrying keys years ago — but you can unlock it with a key).
August sells a compatible Bluetooth keypad, which is discounted when you buy it with the lock. It’s black and kind of chunky, meaning it will stand out on your door frame — negating the whole “my entryway still looks the same” reason for buying this lock.
Yale recently launched a new keypad that’s compatible with the August and adds a fingerprint reader option, something August hasn’t had before. (Yale and August are sister companies, now owned by Fortune Brands) The keypad is expensive, but a nice quality-of-life upgrade when using this lock. Read my thoughts on that below.
The biggest disadvantage of the August Wi-Fi is battery life. Most Wi-Fi locks use four AA batteries that last around six months. To achieve its small form factor, the August Wi-Fi uses two small CR123 batteries, which cost $15 for a six-pack and need to be replaced every two to three months, based on my testing.
Best budget retrofit smart lock
Connectivity: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (with plug-in module) / Access options: Key, app, voice, keypad and fingerprint reader sold separately / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Four AA alkaline batteries / Battery life: 12 months / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
Starting at $130, the Yale Approach is an affordable alternative to the August that is super easy to install, looks fine, and has all the same features (it uses the same app) — auto-lock, auto-unlock, app, and voice control. Add the Bluetooth keypad to get one-touch locking, key code, and fingerprint access.
As with the August, the Approach replaces your thumb turn, so you can still use your current lock and key. While not as small as the August, it has a nice, slim profile and blends in better than the rear housing of most smart locks.
It comes in black or silver and took me less than 5 minutes to install. It uses 4 AA batteries and promises 12 months of battery life — a lot longer than August. This is because there is no built-in Wi-Fi; instead, it uses an included plug-in bridge.
The bridge adds out-of-home control and connection to smart home platforms, including Alexa and Google Home (unlike August, there’s no Apple Home support). This allows for voice control and adding it to smart home routines. Yale told me there is a Thread radio on board that will be activated to support Matter and enable support for all the major platforms, including Apple Home. There’s no timeline for this update yet.
The keypad is the main selling point here, as it lets you control the lock from the outside without using an app or key. You can get a bundle with the keypad for $180, which is a good price. If you want fingerprint access, it gets a lot more expensive — $230 for the bundle. That’s $60 more than the SwitchBot lock with a fingerprint keypad. But the Approach looks much nicer than the SwitchBot.
The keypad controls the lock promptly and reliably. Fingerprint unlock was simple, just touch and open and you can also lock the door when you leave by pressing the Yale logo button. Key code control requires tapping the Yale logo to wake it up and then inputting the code.
The keys are a bit sensitive; I frequently get a double inputs when pressing. But I liked the LED indicator that notifies you with green if your code worked or red if there’s an issue. This made it easy to know if the input worked, as the lock is very quiet — it’s hard to hear it locking or unlocking.
My biggest disappointment is the look of the keypad. It’s big, wide, and black, with prominent white numbers that don’t disappear when not in use — it looks a bit like a toy keypad on your door.
Best smart lock for renters
$100
A retrofit smart lock that doesn’t require removing any part of your existing lock, the SwitchBot is a unique solution. It can work with many different lock styles, and you can even use two on the same door if you have two locks. It can also turn a key, so it works for double-cylinder locks. It looks very big and weird, though.
Connectivity: Bluetooth / Access options: Key, app, voice (fingerprint, keypad sold separately) / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Two CR123 batteries / Battery life: Six months / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings, Matter (with SwitchBot Hub 2)
This funky-looking retrofit smart lock is for anyone who can’t or doesn’t want to mess with their existing door lock in any way, shape, or form.
The Switchbot Lock is essentially a tiny robot hand that unlocks your door for you. It goes over a deadbolt’s existing thumb turn and sticks to the door with super-strength double-sided tape. You can then lock or unlock it over Bluetooth from a phone or Apple Watch, or use the existing key.
It is not an elegant solution, but it works, and it’s the easiest smart lock I’ve installed; it took me under five minutes to get it set up and I didn’t need to use a screwdriver or remove anything from the back of my door, as I did with the Yale Approach.
Without a hub, the lock communicates over Bluetooth to your phone. Add a SwitchBot Hub and you can connect with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, Switchbot’s Matter-enabled hubs will also let you connect with Apple Home and SmartThings. A hub also adds remote control when you’re away from home, notifications if the door has been left unlocked or ajar (the lock comes with a door sensor), and voice control.
In my testing, all of these integrations worked well and were fast enough, though the auto-lock feature was unreliable, meaning you have to get your phone out to lock it if you don’t carry a key. Battery life is promised at six months, which is low for a Bluetooth lock, but it uses two CR123 batteries, which take up less room but don’t last as long as AAs.
The SwitchBot is a tiny robot hand that unlocks your door
Because it’s a retrofit lock, the only way to unlock it from the outside is with a phone, Apple Watch, or key. This isn’t ideal, so you need one of SwitchBot’s Bluetooth keypads — the version with a fingerprint reader is the best. Keypads are also handy for visitors and service people and allow you to press a button to lock the door.
All of these extras add up, though. The keypad with a fingerprint reader, a hub, and the lock cost $170 together. But that’s still a good price for a fully featured — if somewhat strange-looking — smart lock.
Switchbot has a newer version of its lock, the SwitchBot Lock Pro ($199), which looks nicer. I’ve tested this, and while it’s a decent lock with higher quality materials than the standard lock, it requires you to replace the rear of your lock (as most retrofit locks do). The standard SwitchBot Lock’s ease of installation and the fact that it works with practically any setup make it my pick if you don’t want to mess with your existing lock at all or if no other option will work for your door.
Best smart lock for Amazon Alexa & Ring
Connectivity: Wi-Fi / Access options: Key, keypad, app, voice / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Six months / Security Grade: ANSI Grade 1 / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Ring, and Google Home
The Schlage Encode Wifi lock is chunkier and noisier than most of the locks on this list, and its app is inelegant and slow. But its design will match a Schlage door set, which is important for some people.
It’s also the best option for Amazon Alexa and Ring video doorbell households. It integrates with Amazon Key home delivery service, and you can lock and unlock the Encode from within the Ring app while viewing a live feed from your Ring doorbell. It can be unlocked with Alexa voice commands and works with Google Home, too.
With Wi-Fi on board, the Schlage is simple to install and an excellent choice for someone who wants a basic smart lock that will fit with their existing door hardware. All the standard features are here: remote unlocking, keyed access, voice control, auto-locking, and shareable access codes. It does have a sizable rear housing, though, and is noisy as all get out.
If you have a Ring video doorbell, this is the lock to get
I reviewed the Schlage in 2019 when it first came out, and not much has changed since then. There’s no door-sensing integration or auto-unlock option, but you have three reliable ways to get in: a key, a PIN, and the app. It also lasts at least six months on one set of four AAs. If you have a Ring video doorbell, this is the lock to get.
Best Apple Home Key smart lock
Connectivity: Wi-Fi or Thread / Access options: Key, keypad, app, voice, Apple Home Key / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Up to six months / Security Grade: ANSI Grade 1 / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Apple Home (Home Key), Amazon Alexa, Ring, and Google Home
While support for Apple Home Key is becoming more widespread, the Schlage Encode Plus is still the best — if most expensive — option for this easy way to unlock your door. This is mainly because of connectivity. The Schlage is currently the only full-replacement lock compatible with Home Key that has a Thread radio. While it won’t be updated to support Matter, the Thread radio adds better battery life and more stable connectivity when connected to Apple Home versus using it over Bluetooth. I have had numerous connectivity issues in HomeKit with all the Bluetooth-only locks.
Otherwise, it has all the same capabilities and features as the Schlage Encode Wifi, plus Apple Home and Apple Home Key.
Home Key uses NFC in your device and in the door lock to let you tap to unlock with your Apple Watch or iPhone, just like you tap to pay. There are no apps to open, no buttons to press, and no need to unlock your phone (although you can add that step as an extra security layer).
Adding the lock to the Home app automatically adds the Home Key card to your Wallet, as well as that of anyone else you have added to your app. That’s much easier than getting household members to download a whole new app for the door lock. I should know — I try regularly.
To allow someone not in your household to control the lock, you’ll have to give them a standard PIN, which you can do in the Apple Home app or the Schlage Encode app. Unlike the Yale Assure Lock 2, you can set this lock up entirely in the Home app and never have to use the manufacturer’s app.
Best budget Apple Home Key smart lock
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Zigbee (through a hub) / Access options: Key, app, voice, keypad, key fob, Home Key / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Six months / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: complies with BHMA Level 3 standard / Works with: Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and Matter (with a hub).
The Aqara U50 is a very good, inexpensive, full-replacement smart lock that works smoothly with Apple’s Home Key for less than half the price of the Schlage. You can also unlock it with a key, keypad, NFC key fob, and app, and with an Apple Home hub you get control when you’re away from home, Home Key, and Siri voice control.
If you want support for more platforms and/or more features you’ll need to pick up an Aqara Hub. The G3 camera hub is a good option if you want to keep an eye on your entryway at the same time, but it’s expensive at $110. The E1 is the cheapest hub option at $25. Both add support for Matter, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings to the door lock.
The lock is easy to install, super quiet in operation, and has a promised battery life of 6 months. This is because it uses Zigbee and Bluetooth, relying on a hub for internet connectivity.
The main downside is that Aqara’s keypad is a bit finicky. The digital pad sometimes doesn’t recognize key presses the first time — especially when hitting the lock button. When unlocking, you need to remember to tap a key first to wake it up, then put in the code. But if you’re getting this for Home Key support, it’s not so much of an issue.
The Aqara lock is the cheapest Home Key lock by a wide margin. However, it is bulky and has a very black, tech-heavy look. It’s made from zinc alloy, but the overall build feels less solid than some of the other options. The Schlage, Level, and Yale Home Key locks feel more durable, look nicer, and have better build quality.
Aqara’s locks have a ton more features when you pair them in the Aqara app and use an Aqara hub. I like that I can pair the lock with the G3 Camera Hub by the door and can instantly see what’s happening if I get an alert that the door was unlocked. It also pairs with Aqara’s G4 video doorbell and lets you unlock the door while viewing video from the live feed. Aqara also has automations you can set up to have your smart home react differently based on who locks or unlocks the door — which is pretty neat.
Best fingerprint-only smart lock
Connectivity: Bluetooth / Access options: Key, app, voice, fingerprint / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Six months / Guest codes: No (Guest access through app or fingerprint) / Security rating: ANSI Grade 2 / Works with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
The Kwikset Halo Touch is a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi fingerprint lock with a traditional keyway. As there’s no keypad, it looks more like a standard lock with the bonus of easy access. This is more limiting when it comes to sharing access to your door, but it’s a good solution for anyone who wants a simple key-free way into their home and knows they won’t need to share lots of digital keys.
Along with fingerprint, key, and app control, Kwikset now has an auto-unlock option for hands-free entry. The app doesn’t let you share temporary access to the lock remotely; anyone who wants to use the lock will have to download the app and program their fingerprint on the lock. But you can control their access by date and time and revoke it. But it’s probably easier just to remotely lock and unlock the lock if you do want to let someone in temporarily.
Of course, you can still share physical keys, and I like this lock a lot as a more discreet option. As with Schlage, Kwikset has lots of matching door hardware, so this can blend in nicely. Plus, it comes in three colors, satin nickel, matte black, and bronze, and two styles, contemporary and traditional.
The biggest downside is that Kwikset smart locks are very noisy when locking and unlocking. They also have much larger rear housings compared to Yale’s or Schlage’s newer models. However, you can re-key this lock, which is a nice feature and makes it easy to retrofit to your home.
The $250 Lockly Access Touch Pro is the main competitor here but is more expensive and uglier than the Halo. I’ve not tested the Access yet, but I have tested the previous version—the Lockly Flex Touch. It’s cheaper and works fine, but it requires a plug-in Wi-Fi dongle for out-of-home control and is a less elegant solution overall.
Best smart lock that doesn’t look like a smart lock
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi with bridge / Access options: Key, app, voice, keypad (sold separately), Apple Home Key / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: One CR2 battery / Battery life: One year / Guest codes: Yes / Security Grade: ANSI/BHMA: Grade 1 / Works with: Apple Home, Ring (with additional hardware)
Want a smart lock that doesn’t look like a smart lock? Level packs all the technology inside the deadbolt — including the single CR2 battery that gets up to a year of battery life.
There are four options: the Level Bolt, the Level Lock, the Level Lock Touch (with touch-to-open), and the Level Lock Plus. My favorite is the Plus, as it works with the Home Key, which is easier than using the touch-to-unlock feature, which I find very finicky.
If you don’t use an iPhone, or have family members who don’t, you’ll want to get the Bluetooth keypad (from $59) to give you another option for access. The lock also comes with two NFC cards you can hand out.
The Level Lock Plus replaces the whole lock, deadbolt and all, but still looks like a traditional door lock — both in front and behind the door. There is no branding at all — this is the only smart lock I’ve tested that isn’t a tiny advertisement on my front door.
It works over Bluetooth out of the box and can connect to an Apple Home hub for out-of-home control. If you don’t have a HomePod or Apple TV, get the Level Lock Plus with Wi-Fi, which comes with a Connect Wi-Fi bridge.
The Level lock also has auto-unlocking and touch-to-unlock, though with some quirks: it’s one or the other, not both. And neither works unless you leave the geofence area and come back. So if you leave the house, lock the door, get in your car, remember you forgot something, and go back to your door, it won’t unlock automatically. This is why I prefer Home Key or a keypad for unlocking.
Based on my testing of the lock on three different doors, it is worth noting that the full replacement Level locks don’t work well with older doors. I would only consider installing this if your door lines up perfectly with the strike plate.
Level locks are very expensive; the Plus costs $329 ($349 for the Wi-Fi version). But it’s the way to go for an invisible smart lock that works well.
Best smart lever lock
Connectivity: Thread / Access options: Key, app, voice, keypad, NFC tag, Apple Home Key / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: 10 months / Guest codes: Yes / Works with: Matter, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
The Aqara U300 is a lever-style smart lock; it replaces a knob or lever lock on a door with a single borehole rather than a door with a deadbolt lock with two holes. This type of lock is traditionally found on interior doors, pedestrian doors into garages, or side doors.
There are a few options for smart lever locks from Yale, Schlage, and Lockly, but the U300 is the only one with Home Key compatibility and a built-in fingerprint reader. Plus, it works over Thread and supports Matter.
I installed it on my garage door, and it works like a charm. The fingerprint reader is right where you put your thumb to open the door, so I barely notice it unlocking as I walk in. It also has a keypad, and I can use my iPhone or Apple Watch for Home Key. It’s set to auto-lock by default, but you can enable passage mode directly on the lock if you don’t want it to stay locked all the time.
It paired to Matter easily — I set it up in Apple Home and could add a code and Home Key all without even opening the Aqara app. Because it uses Thread, there’s no need for an Aqara hub. Thread also enables up to 10 months of battery life, according to Aqara.
I love the idea of using smart locks on other doors in my home. I could see this working on a basement door, a home office, or any other room you like to keep people out of. However, it is very large and only comes in black or silver, so it likely won’t blend in with your interior decor. I’d like to see a slimmer option for interior doors in a couple more colors.
It’s expensive at $230, but it’s similar to other outdoor-rated options (it’s IPX4-rated). The addition of Thread — a protocol that works over a mesh network — makes it easier to extend connectivity further to places like a shed or garage.
Best smart lock that’s also a video doorbell
Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (with included bridge) / Access options: Key, fingerprint, keypad, app, voice / Auto-unlock: Yes / Battery type: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (two included), solar power / Battery life: Six months / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: ANSI Grade 2 / Works with: Amazon Alexa and Google Home
The Lockly Vision Elite is a smart lock with a video doorbell. It’s a very good smart lock, but its video doorbell capabilities are compromised by being crammed inside a lock. Motion detection is spotty, and the camera lacks people or package detection, but it does a better job of seeing who is at your door than any other lock on this list. If you don’t have the space, setup, or patience to install two separate devices, this is the lock to buy.
As a lock, it is excellent, with a keypad, fingerprint reader, keyhole, and app and voice control options for locking and unlocking. It’s the only lock in this guide that uses rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Plus, it comes with a replacement battery pack and an incorporated solar panel for trickle charging. And while it requires a bridge to connect it to Wi-Fi (and to store video from the doorbell camera), that’s included — making the $500 price tag a tad more palatable.
It’s a great lock function-wise, but it’s too big and techie-looking for my personal taste (a problem the Eufy Video Smart Lock shares). It works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, but there’s no Apple Home support. Lockly had said it would be updating its locks to support Matter, but the company told me this has been put on hold.
Best Matter smart lock
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Zigbee (through a hub) / Access options: Key, app, voice, fingerprint, keypad, key fob, Home Key / Auto-unlock: No / Battery type: Four AA batteries / Battery life: Eight months / Guest codes: Yes Security rating: complies with BHMA Level 3 standard / Works with: Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Matter (with a hub).
The inexpensive Aqara Smart Lock U100 is the best option for a Matter-compatible smart lock. It’s cheaper than the $229 Yale Assure SL and adds a fingerprint reader that isn’t on the Aqara U50. It works with Apple Home and Home Key as well as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings — when paired with an Aqara hub.
However, the Matter lock landscape is still spotty, and unless you are in immediate need of a Matter-compatible smart lock, maybe wait for more options to arrive. The Aqara ticks a lot of boxes and has every conceivable way to unlock your door (other than auto-unlock), plus the promise of long battery life. Aqara says up to 8 months, and I barely made a dent in the battery with six weeks of use.
But it works better outside of Matter right now, and its plasticky-looking build, too-modern design, and digital keypad are letdowns. It also requires a hub to unlock many of its features and Aqara’s messy app makes it complicated to set up and control.
Unless you are in immediate need of a Matter-compatible smart lock, wait for more options to arrive
The U100 is a full replacement deadlock that can be unlocked by key, keypad, NFC key fob, fingerprint, voice control, through an app, or with Apple Home Key. Fingerprint unlocking is the easiest option and worked instantly. Home Key is the second-best entry method and if you have an Apple Watch is really simple. As noted, Aqara’s keypad is finicky, though, as it’s entirely digital and sometimes doesn’t recognize presses the first time.
The U100 works over Bluetooth and Zigbee. Out of the box, it’s compatible with Aqara’s app via a local Bluetooth connection to your phone. The keypad, keyfobs, fingerprint reader, and app control will all work if you are by the door, but if you want to control it remotely, you’ll need to pair it to an Aqara Hub or Apple Home Hub (like a HomePod or Apple TV). The latter adds Home Key.
Locks in Matter still have some bugs to work out and need broader support — for example, Amazon Alexa and Google Home don’t support setting up PIN codes for Matter locks. But unlike the Yale Assure SL (see below), the Aqara lock can be controlled outside of Matter, making it a good option while you wait for the standard to catch up to its promises.
I tested the lock in Apple Home and Google Home through Matter. It worked well in Apple Home, and I could lock it in Google Home, but I could not unlock it because it said I needed a PIN code, which I could not find a way to set up.
The other problem came when I tried to use Apple’s Home Key. While Home Key is now supported on Matter locks with iOS 17, that’s only on locks that connect directly to Matter — like the Aqara U200 and U300. If a lock uses a bridge, like the U100 and U50, it can’t use Home Key through Matter, so it needs to have separate support for Apple Home. The U100 does, so I then had to set the lock up again in Apple Home to access the Home Key function. And yes, it shows up in the Home app as two separate locks.
Best Matter-over-Thread smart lock
Connectivity: Thread / Access options: keypad, app, voice / Auto-unlock: Yes (through Apple Home) / Battery type: Four AA alkaline batteries / Battery life: Six months to a year / Guest codes: Yes / Security rating: ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 Works with: Matter (Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings)
The Yale Assure SL with Matter Module is the only Matter-over-Thread deadbolt smart lock you can buy today. It’s a simple smart lock with a clean design and a touchscreen keypad for entry. There’s no keyway, fingerprint reader, or Apple Home Key, but in terms of simplicity, reliability, and future-proofing — it’s a good option.
This is how Matter is supposed to work, and it’s promising.
While the Aqara U100 mentioned above has more features than the Yale, this also means it’s more complicated to set up. If you don’t need those features and just want an easy-to-use keypad door lock that works with Matter and Thread, this is the one to go for. (Aqara’s U200 lock also works over Thread — see Other smart locks I tested — but it’s a retrofit lock, not a full deadbolt replacement. And in my testing, I could not get it to connect via Matter despite multiple tries.)
The Yale Assure SL is natively compatible with Matter, so doesn’t need a proprietary hub — just a Matter hub from the platform you want to set it up in and a Thread border router (which can be the same device). It also works over Thread, not Zigbee (as the U100 does). The benefit here is that you can connect it directly to your smart home platform of choice without needing to download the manufacturer’s app — the Assure SL doesn’t even work with the Yale app.
I scanned the Yale’s Matter code directly into Apple Home app, added the lock like any other device, and then Apple Home prompted me to add an access code (this is new with iOS 18). In the device’s settings page, I could create additional access codes, turn on automatic locking after a set period, and view logs of who accessed the door and when. I could also use Apple Home automations to auto-unlock the door when I arrive home (although I need to tap a notification on my watch or phone first) and add the lock to scenes and routines.
In my testing, it worked flawlessly, responding immediately to app and voice commands, both at home and away from home. I tested it with Apple Home and with Samsung SmartThings; sharing the lock from Apple Home to SmartThings using Matter multi-admin. Once shared I was able to add a code through SmartThings as well. I could also add the lock to Alexa and Google Home, but those platforms just let me lock and unlock.
What I like here is the simplicity. Setup was easy, sharing was easy, and when the lock is in multiple platforms it updates everywhere instantly. If I lock the door in SmartThings, Apple Home immediately sends me a notification that the door locked. This is how Matter is supposed to work, and it’s promising.
What’s coming next
- Lockly Visage is one of the first facial recognition smart locks. It’s slated to launch in October 2024 and costs $349. It also has a fingerprint reader, keypad, and regular key. It integrates with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa, but there’s no support for Matter.
- Eufy’s E30 smart lock ($169.99) is a new Matter-over-Thread option. The lock has a key, fingerprint reader, keypad, and built-in Wi-Fi and Thread, so it should work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings via Matter.
- U-tec’s Bolt Fingerprint Matter is a Matter-over-Thread lock that is due to launch this year. Announced at CES, it’s a full deadbolt replacement lock with a keypad and fingerprint reader and costs $299.
- The Ultraloq Bolt NFC (Wi-Fi) ($249) is U-tec’s first Apple Home Key smart lock, there’s no fingerprint reader, but there is a keypad and physical key. Built-in Wi-Fi adds support for Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings.
- The Yale Code is a $99 non-smart lock. It has an electronic keypad but doesn’t work with an app or have any connectivity. It uses a standard key and can store up to 20 codes. The advantage here is mainly the price — making it an option for a side door or garage.
Other smart locks I tested
- The Aqara U200 is $270. That’s a lot for a retrofit lock — even with support for Thread, Matter, and Home Key. It has a keypad/fingerprint reader included; most retrofit locks charge extra for one. The keypad enables Apple Home Key, and this is the only retrofit lock that works with Apple’s unlocking method. If that’s something you want, then this is the only option for now. Otherwise, you can get all the same functionality with the Yale Approach — plus auto-unlock — for $40 less. But if you’re in Europe or the UK and want Home Key, this is compatible with some EU locks, making it the first smart lock of any type to support Home Key in Europe. I have just started testing this lock, but installing it was a lot more complicated than the Yale Approach. Alas, despite repeated tries, I have not been able to connect it to Matter.
- The U-tec Bolt Fingerprint with Wi-Fi ($199 to $249) is the newest version of my previous pick for best lock, the U-Bolt Pro with Wi-Fi ($249). This version adds support for Apple Home (that’s the $249 version), but not Home Key, and a slight redesign — you no longer have to pop half the lock collar off to get to the keyhole, which is a good upgrade. It still has a fingerprint reader and auto-unlock. But the Yale Assure 2 Touch is cheaper without Wi-Fi and only $20 more with Wi-Fi, and has a cleaner look.
- The Bosma Aegis is an inexpensive retrofit lock that works well and costs just $120. It is remarkably similar to the August Wifi lock in terms of function and installation but not build quality (it’s very plasticky). It even has a very similar-looking Bluetooth keypad option (with a fingerprint reader). But it is giant. Like, hulking huge. It’s also very loud and requires a separate bridge.
- The Eufy Smart Lock Touch is a very good lock in terms of function — it has an easy-to-use fingerprint reader, a nice big touchscreen keypad, the option of a key, and Wi-Fi built-in. But it is just too big and techie-looking for most people’s front doors. I do like the removable 10,000mAh battery, which went eight months before needing to recharge (with a USB-A cable). But that’s also why this lock is so big.
- The Eufy Video Smart Lock is similarly huge. Although cheaper than the Lockly Vision Elite video doorbell / lock combo, it’s still expensive and is more of an eyesore.
Photography by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
Update, October 8th: Added new smart lock picks, updated details for existing picks, added a new section about upcoming smart locks, and more information to the FAQ.
Servers computers
Organize Your Servers Or Home Theater Gear, Mount It To The Wall, & Head To Chili's To Celebrate
Not sure what to do with all your servers of home theater gear? Join the Echogear squad as we roll to Chili’s for some thinkin’ juice, then hit up rack city. Echogear racks are made for the DIYer who doesn’t want to waste an entire afternoon putting stuff together. We make it easy to organize all your components on our 10U, 15U, or 20U rack. They are customizable just like a Chili’s margarita so you can store stuff on the included shelves, or attached your servers with the screws. Compatible with all major server types.
Looking to wall mount your rack? Use the lag bolts to mount that sucker securely to the wall, or pick up one of our swing arm attachments to take your AV game up a notch.
One day we hope to meet Chili, the man behind our new favorite place to get to the bottom of all of life’s mysteries. PSA: They have 2 for 1’s all day every day, so get some thinkin’ juice and you’ll come to the conclusion that an Echogear rack is what you need.
Get your 10U rack here: https://www.amazon.com/ECHOGEAR-10U-Open-Frame-Rack/dp/B08P25PBSR?maas=maas_adg_5F853A1D1588001CF8B5370D92E70795_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
15U rack here: https://www.amazon.com/ECHOGEAR-15U-Open-Frame-Rack/dp/B07YYJMCNV?maas=maas_adg_E629E53097638AB4E73F41E0391EA385_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas
20U here: https://www.amazon.com/ECHOGEAR-20U-Open-Frame-Rack/dp/B07YYMSFP1?maas=maas_adg_45E8E91FAC3A41FC1D60C6F1E447192B_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas .
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Technology
Uber bets big on electric – 5 new ways it’s planning to tempt you to ride its EVs
Uber chose the Science Museum in London to launch the 2024 installment of its annual climate event, Go-Get Zero, which has highlighted the firm’s commitment to electrifying its fleet – including some new ways to tempt you into riding its EVs.
Alongside affirmation of its autonomous ride-hailing projects, which include Waymo and its recent tie-in with Hyundai, Uber’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi explained that despite the global slowing of EV adoption, the company’s drivers were adopting electric vehicles five-times faster than the average motorist.
Four years ago, when Uber first set its lofty climate targets and introduced Uber Green, there were just 10,000 EV drivers on the platform. There are now 182,000 globally and there have been more than half a billion zero emissions trips in Europe alone.
However, the company says there is still much work today and sees itself as a key player in mass EV adoption in general, citing that many EV owners had their first interaction with an electric vehicle via an Uber ride.
Uber Green, which is the platform’s section reserved exclusive for drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles, will become electric-only from today in more than 40 markets around the world, including France, Australia and the major cities in the USA.
To entice Uber users to “go green”, the company has made a number of changes to its app that both encourage and incentivize both riders and drivers to choose the electric option.
1. EV Preference
Uber wants to take the decision-making process out of either plumping for the closer but more emissions-heavy UberX and the slightly further away Uber Green ride – seeing as the two now cost largely the same.
You’ll be able to toggle an EV Preference setting that will automatically match with an EV anytime one is nearby.
If the difference between Green and UberX is only a couple of minutes, the app will automatically opt for the EV alternative. However, if the software deems the wait is too long, it will select the closest UberX instead.
2. You could ride in a Lotus or a Rivian
Part-publicity stunt and part-brand tie-in, Uber has announced its EV Pop-ups program, which will see a number of ‘premium EVs’ scattered across key cities, available at certain times for users to select and costing a similar amount to Uber Black SUV trips.
In London, Uber has partnered with Lotus and app users will be able to select a new Lotus Eletre as their premium EV ride. In LA, Miami and Dallas, that sleek EV of choice will be Rivian’s R1 electric SUV. But it’s only available between October 14 and 21, so get in fast.
There is no word on the number of models riding around each city at any given moment, nor is there a figure on the likelihood of snaring one. But that’s all part of the fun, isn’t it?
3. Real-time CO2 savings
The Uber app will undergo a number of small design changes that could make selecting the Uber Green option a little bit more exciting. The timeline as you wait for a car to arrive will look like a pice of ivy, complete with bursting shoots, for example, while there are a number of new animations that celebrate the fact a user has chosen the green option.
But more importantly, users will soon be able to see how much CO2 they have saved during and after a journey is complete. This figure adds up over time and will display on the home screen, while CO2 savings made by using Uber’s many eBikes, scooters and even ride-sharing programs will all count.
During the GO-GET Zero event, Sachin Kansal, product manager and bonafide Uber driver, announced that the rider in London who clocks up the highest emissions saving from now until the end of November will get free Uber rides for ten years.
4. There will be many more Uber Green cars available
Alongside rewarding Uber riders, the company says it’s making it a lot easier for its drivers to make the switch to EV. It has developed an AI assistant within the driver’s area of its app that will answer myriad questions surrounding EV ownership.
If speaking to a robot isn’t good enough, the company will also pair hesitant buyers up with one of its many ‘EV Mentors’ – or those Uber drivers that have been driving electric for years.
Naturally, there will also be plenty of subsidies and incentives, such as big discounts on the purchase of new EVs, a huge reduction in the cost of using the public charging network, help with installing chargers at home – including 1,000 free home chargers for UK drivers thanks a tie-in with Octopus energy.
5. BYD will be the Uber car of choice in the UK and Europe
The company stated that it is partnering with BYD to help it speed up the number of ‘more affordable’ electric vehicles it can offers its drivers, and therefore speed up the rate at which Uber Green expands over time.
That said, the company didn’t go into detail about partnership opportunities in the USA, as presumably BYD would be very much off the cards there, seeing as the US government has imposed huge import taxes on Chinese-made EVs and will potentially impose an outright ban on a anything sporting Chinese technology.
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Technology
US teen claims game’s first ever ‘rebirth’
A US teenager is the first known person to get classic video game Tetris to reset to level 0 after beating it.
Michael Artiaga, 16, claimed the historic moment of so-called “rebirth” while livestreaming himself playing Nintendo’s version of the game on Twitch on Sunday.
It took him 82 minutes to successfully clear level 255 on Tetris – the game’s highest. Artiaga, who streams as “dogplayingtetris”, celebrated and watched in shock as it started again from scratch.
“Am I dreaming, bro?” he asked viewers, saying he was in “disbelief”.
The teen carried on playing and eventually finished with 29.4 million points.
“I’m so glad that game is over,” he added, as he prepared to wrap up his stream.
“I never want to play this game again”.
He was reportedly playing an edition of the game made for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) console that prevents crashes after level 155.
The game’s crashes and kill screens have marked the efforts of other young streamers hoping to set new records.
Oklahoma teen Willis “Blue Scuti” Gibson claimed to be the first to ever beat the game earlier this year when he reached level 157 in 38 minutes before it crashed.
Tetris was first created in 1984 by Soviet engineer Alexey Pajitnov, and has spawned into hundreds of versions for arcades, consoles and PCs.
The classic video game has remained popular ever since for its simplicity, yet frustrating difficulty.
Players have to arrange falling different shapes, each composed of four blocks, to make them fit together like a jigsaw into horizontal lines that vanish when completed.
If you fail to clear lines of blocks, which fall more quickly as players progress through levels, before they pile up to the top of the window – it’s game over.
Artiaga is one of several teenage gamers who have livestreamed their attempts to break previous, and each others’, records for the number of levels reached or lines cleared without the game crashing.
He became the world’s youngest Tetris world champion at the age of 13 when he beat his older brother in the Classic Tetris World Championship final in 2020.
“I still cannot believe it… first ever to get Rebirth!” he wrote in the description for his two hour-long stream on YouTube.
“I’m so happy about finally getting this after all of the attempts. Thanks to everyone for the support over the years.
“It’s finally over,” he added.
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