Level Lock Pro Review (2026): Smart but Stylish | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Office ChairsBone Conduction HeadphonesBest Digital NotebooksSmart Plug GuideStreaming DealsDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign In Nena Farrell GearJan 21, 2026 7:06 AMReview: Level Lock ProYou’d never guess this lock is smart by looking at it, and that’s my favorite part.Courtesy of LevelTriangleUpBuy NowMultiple Buying Options Available$349 at Level$507 at Level (With Keypad and Bridge)CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyRating:8/10Open rating explainerInformationWIREDNo bulk or screen; looks like a regular lock from both sides of the door. Impressive design with the battery hidden inside the lock bolt. Great battery life. App is beautiful and easy to use.TIREDMore expensive than other locks. Best with accessories that need to be purchased separately. Optional keypad’s matte finish shows fingerprints that make it easier to guess your code.Most smart locks are pretty easy to spot. Many models have a keypad on the front, which makes it easy to plug in a code, but this also makes it obvious that the lock runs on Wi-Fi and battery power. Even if the front is discreet, the back is usually bulky, housing battery packs or four AA batteries on top of the dial to control the lock. It's not a huge issue, but it's certainly not stylish or pretty to look at.Level has designed its smart locks with style and secrecy in mind. The company first came to fame for the Level Bolt in 2020, which can be installed with just about any existing lock, turning your existing deadbolt smart without needing new hardware (or a new key). The company also created the Level Lock in 2021, a smart lock that includes its own exterior housing (plus a Matter version that released last year), and then released the newly discontinued Lock+ in 2022. The Lock Pro is the brand's newest iteration, which replaced the Lock+ last fall. It promised nearly a year of battery life, the ability to sense whether your door is open or closed without additional accessories, and a new chipset for better performance.After a couple of months of living with the Lock Pro, I've found that the battery life and performance have held up, and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite smart locks ever. The sleek design packs in all the features I want while leaving behind the bulk. The Lock Pro is a bigger investment than other smart locks, but with its stylish design, it's worth the upgrade. It's even better paired with Level's Keypad ($79), so you don't have to fumble with the app, and the Level Connect Wi-Fi Bridge ($79) for Wi-Fi connection.Hidden SmartsPhotograph: Nena FarrellLooking at this lock, you have to wonder how it's smart. Or, rather, where those smarts are. The Level Lock Pro has a diameter of only about 2.5 inches at its widest point, the back is just the dial, and the front only protrudes forward an inch. Meanwhile, most other locks I've tested have bulky, 4-inch-thick plates on each side, packed with a myriad of wires and batteries.Level Lock ProRating: 8/10$349 at Level$507 at Level (With Keypad and Bridge)But this lock's interior deadbolt manages to hold an impressive amount of technology. There's a new dual-core chipset that has a ton of compatibility and unlocking options, including Matter and NFC tags, and the dual core means it can run Bluetooth and Matter on separate cores. It's also compatible with Apple Home Key, along with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings. It's quick and responsive when I use the app to unlock it, though my go-to unlocking method is usually the optional Level Keypad ($79) (the lock otherwise does not come with a keypad), which connects to the lock via Bluetooth. The lock responds instantly when I enter the code on the pad, which I have installed on my door frame.ScreenshotLevel via Nena FarrellScreenshotLevel via Nena FarrellThe Level Lock Pro can also sense if the door is open or closed without needing any additional accessories. It uses a magnetometer to sense the closed door placement, and you'll calibrate it once when you set it up. It's worked well for me, though it did have a weird week where it claimed my door was open when it wasn't. While the magnetometer is supposed to use the Earth's gravity field, I was able to fix the open door issue by readjusting my strike plate on the doorjamb, which had gotten lose and ended up at a weird angle. (Installing and removing so many smart locks has left my doorjamb and its screw holes worse for wear, to say the least, so this isn't normally an issue people should run into.)The app is also easy to use and easy on the eyes. It's a very pretty interface, with customizable wallpaper and immediate confirmation if your door is locked or unlocked. You'll click the three dots in the corner for your device to see the Settings, Sharing, and Activity options, which you can click into to adjust the various settings, create different access codes, and see when your door was opened and by whom. It synced easily and immediately to my Amazon Alexa ecosystem, and I can ask Alexa if the door is locked and to lock it. Alexa can't unlock it by default, but you can go into the Alexa app to toggle this on. I've opted not to; nobody needs to be able to voice-command my front door open.Power PlayPhotograph: Nena FarrellUnlike other smart locks that use bulky battery packs or several AA batteries, the Level Lock Pro uses a single CR2 lithium battery. The lock comes with a nonrechargeable CR2 battery made by Level, but you can replace it with any CR2 battery once it runs out. It's the same battery the brand has been using with its earlier locks, but the Lock Pro is designed to make better use of it so it lasts longer. Where the previous Lock+ had about six months of battery life, the Level Lock Pro is expected to get about a year of battery life from a single CR2 battery.Level Lock ProRating: 8/10$349 at Level$507 at Level (With Keypad and Bridge)What Level changed to make this possible was how often the lock draws power from the battery, and making those uses of power more efficient. There's now a proximity sensor in the front of the lock so that it won't wake up the NFC and Bluetooth unless someone is actually approaching, creating less drain on the battery than when it would sit around being available for no one.The one thing it doesn't have the power to do, at least on its own, is connect to Wi-Fi. For that, you'll need Level's Connect Wi-Fi Bridge ($79) so the lock can connect to it via Bluetooth to access Wi-Fi. To do that, you'll need an available outlet close to your door. It's a pretty big must to be able to fully remotely control the lock, and it will require an extra spend.Curb AppealPhotograph: Nena FarrellThe Level Lock Pro's biggest appeal is how stylish and discreet it is for a smart lock; its low profile makes for a beautiful door. It's a nice finish too; I have the matte black, which matches my black door handle so nicely that you'd never guess it's not the lock it came with (besides the paint lines that reveal the larger smart lock it had originally). There's also a satin nickel finish option. I wish it came in more finishes like the cheaper Level Lock, though, which also offers satin chrome and polished brass. Still, it's an ideal choice for anyone who wants something smart but still design-forward.The optional keypad also adds to the high-end feel with its sleek buttons and matte finish. However, the matte keypad does show fingerprints after a handful of uses, so I've had to remember to wipe it off to keep my code from being guessable based on the four numbers I use.Level Lock ProRating: 8/10$349 at Level$507 at Level (With Keypad and Bridge)$349 at Level$507 at Level (With Keypad and Bridge)CommentsBack to topTriangleNena Farrell is a writer and reviewer at WIRED. She primarily covers home and sleep products, smart home tech, gift guides, and parenting gear. She’s been a reviewer at WIRED since 2023, and before that was a smart home updates writer at The New York Times’ Wirecutter and an associate ... Read MoreWriter and ReviewerTopicssmart homeShoppinghouseholdreviewReviewsWIRED is obsessed with what comes next. Through rigorous investigations and game-changing reporting, we tell stories that don’t just reflect the moment—they help create it. When you look back in 10, 20, even 50 years, WIRED will be the publication that led the story of the present, mapped the people, products, and ideas defining it, and explained how those forces forged the future. WIRED: For Future Reference.SubscribeNewslettersTravelFAQWIRED StaffWIRED EducationEditorial StandardsArchiveRSSSite MapAccessibility HelpReviewsBuying GuidesStreaming GuidesWearablesCouponsGift GuidesAdvertiseContact UsManage AccountJobsPress CenterCondé Nast StoreUser AgreementPrivacy PolicyYour California Privacy Rights© 2026 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. Ad ChoicesSelect international siteUnited StatesLargeChevronItaliaJapónCzech Republic & SlovakiaFacebookXPinterestYouTubeInstagramTiktok

The Level Lock Pro: Smart but Stylish

The Level Lock Pro distinguishes itself in the crowded smart lock market through a deliberate focus on design and discreet functionality. As reviewer Nena Farrell notes in her WIRED review, the lock’s appeal lies in its ability to deliver a smart home experience without sacrificing aesthetics. The lock’s fundamentally stylish design, combined with impressive technical features, results in a compelling product—though not without a few caveats. The primary strength of the Level Lock Pro is its size and finish, which allows it to blend seamlessly into a traditional door design, unlike many competitors that prioritize function over form.

The lock’s design represents a significant departure from typical smart lock designs. Its compact diameter of 2.5 inches at its widest point and the minimalist front allows it to fit snugly into almost any doorframe. This contrasts sharply with other smart locks, which often feature bulky housings and prominent keypads. The lock’s battery, a CR2 lithium cell, is housed within the bolt itself, eliminating the need for external battery packs. This is a welcome change, as it creates a cleaner aesthetic and reduces the risk of running out of power due to a misplaced external battery. The lock utilizes a dual-core chipset, which allows it to manage Bluetooth and Matter connectivity separately, resulting in a responsive user experience. Compatibility with Apple Home Key, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings further enhances its versatility, though some features, such as direct Wi-Fi connectivity, require the purchase of a Level Connect Wi-Fi Bridge.

The lock's battery life is particularly impressive, offering around a year of operation on a single CR2 cell. This longevity is achieved through power-saving measures, such as a proximity sensor that reduces standby power consumption. However, the lock's dependence on external accessories, specifically the keypad and Wi-Fi bridge, adds to the overall cost. The Level Keypad, while adding a premium feel with its sleek matte finish, is sold separately and is prone to fingerprint smudging. Similarly, the Level Connect Wi-Fi Bridge is essential for full remote control and connectivity, adding a further expense.

Despite these added costs, the Level Lock Pro’s design and functionality make it a worthy investment, especially for those prioritizing aesthetics and seamless integration into a smart home. The lock’s intuitive app and reliable performance further solidify its position as one of the more stylish and well-rounded smart locks currently available. The initial cost of entry remains higher than some competing models, but the emphasis on a refined user experience is a selling point for the target consumer.