Xiaomi’s new Smart Lock has a fingerprint reader, a USB-C port, and eight AA batteries

Xiaomi has launched the Smart Lock 5 in China with a new push-pull design that allows users to open the door by placing a finger on the handle. Unlike the Smart Door Lock 5C, which Xiaomi recently released with a manually operated handle, the new model automatically locks the door again when it is closed.

The Smart Lock 5 comes in a star black finish with a wear-resistant panel. Its front panel measures 400 x 76 x 21 mm, while the rear panel measures 400 x 76 x 26 mm. The complete unit weighs 3.37 kg. Xiaomi also added an anti-pink baffle to the inside of the front panel to protect fingers when opening or closing the door. There is a separate deadbolt button on the interior panel to manually lock the door from the inside.

What you get inside

Inside, the lock uses a fully automatic locking mechanism that Xiaomi says is quieter than its first-generation model. According to the company, closing the door produces 12 dB less noise, while unlocking it is 13 dB quieter. The lock also uses a direct insertion C-grade cylinder.

For the lock, the fingerprint reader can recognize a print in 0.7 seconds or less. There are several alternatives if you don’t want to use your fingerprint, including a fixed password, virtual password, one-time password, NFC card, Bluetooth and a mechanical key.

The Smart Lock 5 supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3, which allows users to control the status of the lock remotely through the Xiaomi Home app. You can also share temporary access with visitors through a WeChat mini program. The lock sends alerts if the door is left ajar, someone tries to open the panel, or multiple false lock attempts are detected. It also supports a pressure fingerprint, which can be used to alert others if someone forces you to open the door.

It gets its power from eight AA batteries, which is good for about 12 months of typical use. If the batteries become too weak to operate the lock, users can press the emergency start button before entering a fingerprint or password. When the batteries are completely drained, you can connect a power source through the USB-C port at the bottom of the panel to open the door.

Price and availability

The Xiaomi Smart Lock 5 is priced at 1,176 Yuan (about $175) in China; however, with national subsidy, buyers in China can get it for 999.6 yuan (around $149) in eligible regions.

Interestingly, the subsidized price is the same as that of the Smart Door Lock 5C Cat Eye Edition, which means that buyers will not pay more for the new push-pull model than for the camera-equipped version. Pre-orders open tomorrow on JD.com, with first sales scheduled for November 10.

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