YaleAssure Lock 2 Touch Deadbolt, Black Suede Key-Free Smart Entry Door Lock with Wi-Fi Connected Touchscreen Keypad and Fingerprint Scanner for Code Entry and Remote Access, YRD450-F-WF1-BSP

I recently bought and installed two Yale Assure Lock 2 Touch door locks. I elected to get the keyless version with Bluetooth only.It doesn't take too much searching to find plenty of YouTube videos that show how easy it is to defeat conventionally keyed locks. So right off the bat, going keyless was a step up in security. I chose the Bluetooth-only option mainly to keep battery drain to an acceptable level. But it's also the case that I have no need to remotely activate my locks or view their status - never had it and don't need it. On the other hand, without a Wi-Fi-enabled lock you lose geofencing capabilities and remote/timed entry for house cleaners, dogwalkers, and guests.Here though, something that isn't mentioned (or is easily missed) in their sales info is that Yale does not recommend using keyless locks if you only have one entry door because you can be locked out if there is a lock failure. That warning appears in the user's manual.But with the Assure Touch, there are three ways to open the lock: finger touch, keypad code, or with the app if you are within Bluetooth range. And if the batteries go dead, you can touch a 9-volt battery to contacts on the underside of the keypad to enable the lock. So there is plenty of built-in redundancy. It seems like the only failure mode would be if the actual motor-driven locking mechanism somehow broke or jammed. But there is redundancy there if you have these locks on more than one door since the chances that two locks would fail at the same time is probably highly unlikely.Installation was relatively easy but if you don't know what end of a screwdriver to pick up or are intimated by putting together Ikea furniture, it might be a challenge.My main issue came after installation. The user manual is very good in explaining the installation but not so much with getting the app up and running. After install, the manual just tells you to follow the instructions on the app on your cell phone. But I found it like following a road detour and suddenly there are no more signs to follow. I did not find either the app or user manual documentation to be forthcoming in telling you how to configure the lock and how to add other people. You can grant access to other homeowners and guests but it's not immediately clear how. I suppose there is always Google there to help, but at least at the time of this review, there is a 24/7 Yale customer hotline that proved to be quite responsive and helpful.But after you explore the app and get used to it, it offers a lot of functionality. I opted to install the Yale DoorSense hardware (which is nothing more than a little magnet) that lets the door "know" when it is opened or closed. This enables to door to automatically lock at a time delay of your choosing. So there's no more I-wonder-if-I-locked-the-door anxiety when you leave. You can also program in the number of tries someone gets to guess your keypad entry code before getting locked-out for a period of time that's also programmable.But the best part of the lock is the touch entry. It is amazing. You just have to touch (importantly, not press) the finger of your choice on the fingerprint reader and the lock opens instantly (you LOCK the door using any finger). Easy and convenient.This is a well thought-out lock that looks great and is easy to use. I very much recommend it. The only thing left to be assessed is how well it performs over time in regular use. But my immediate impression is that they are very well made and likely to go the distance.

Summary:I bought this lock mostly for the auto lock feature and ability to ditch physical keys. The short of it is that this lock has been everything I hoped it would be. The fingerprint access method is great and what everyone in my family prefers to use. Security / Access Features:I like the lack of a physical keyhole. Youtube "pick deadbolt" or "bump key" to see that most physical key locks are easy to bypass. No physical key means that vulnerability is eliminated. Also eliminated are the chances of losing a key or having it unknowingly copied. The downside is what to do if the lock batteries die. Yale provides 9V battery contacts on the keypad for this case - still I'd recommend researching solutions with a physical key if you only have a single door.I opted to get the version *without* a Wifi or ZWave module. These optional modules provide remote access but add potential headaches. Issues I've learned about from researching other locks include mysterious rapidly draining batteries, remote lock flakiness and firmware lockups. To be clear, I'm *not* saying *this* lock has any of these issues but a less complex system naturally has less that can go wrong. In any case, the WiFi or ZWave modules can be added later for extra cost if the features they bring become important.Without Wifi / Zwave, the options for unlocking the door include:- Keypad codes, you can program multiple codes and set the times they are active. When choosing this method I suggest using one or more digits multiple times in the code for added security.- Fingerprint. You can add up to 25 fingerprints. This is the most convenient access method. It would seem that with each fingerprint added, the chance of a "false positive" (accepting an invalid fingerprint because it's close enough) would rise but I don't see needing to add a lot of prints as a common need.- Bluetooth proximity. Simply having your phone near the lock. I'm not sure how good it is at determining if you are inside your house or outside so I have it disabled.- Phone app via bluetooth. This method allows anyone that can unlock your phone to unlock the door too (although you can add an extra validation code). Still more secure than an anonymous device like a physical key or apple watch. Of the methods above, my family prefers the fingerprint method because it's convenient and you always have what you need.The lock also had the ability to autolock itself after a configurable 1-30 minutes after being closed. I think this is a great security feature which covers forgetting to lock the door when going to bed or leaving the house. Love it.Installation:I thought that installing this lock was very easy for the most part. Having a door with standard spacings was surely a help. I suggest looking at the manual ahead of time to get the measurements and avoid the potential disappointment of an incompatibility.One thing that did not work out of the box was the "door closed" sensor. There are two installation methods: an "easy" flush with the door method and slightly harder inline-with-door method which requires drilling a 5/8" hole. It turns out that the "in app" instructions contained a critical piece of information not present in the printed instructions: "flush with the door" only works if your door is also flush with the wall. Mine is not. So I switched the install from flush to inline with the door method and all is well.