No brand pays us to recommend them. These profiles reflect our experience installing and supporting these products over years of trade use. Each brand has genuine strengths for specific applications — and genuine weaknesses that the marketing material won't mention. We mention both. Browse all brands we stock -> • For a cross-brand comparison of the app platforms that underlie these products, see Chapter 15 — Smart Lock App Platforms Guide.
Residential & Commercial Specialists
Access methods
PIN, Fingerprint, RFID, Bluetooth, Gateway (WiFi remote)
Gateway & app platform
G2 (2.4GHz WiFi) · G3 (PoE Ethernet) · G4 (2.4GHz + 4G SIM, up to 100 locks) · G5 (dual-band, up to 100 locks). Full remote access, audit trail, multi-admin.
Chapter 08 -> All McGrath locks run on the TTLock platform — see
Chapter 14 — TTLock Hardware Ecosystem for passcode types, eKey management, and PMS integration.
Fire door certification
Hamilton Disabled Fire Rated (Black & Satin Nickel) — AS1905.1-2015 certified and DDA lever compliant. The only smart lock range in Australia with both certifications. See
Chapter 05 — Hamilton Fire Rated.
Australian warranty
2 years — mechanical and electronic. Locally supported by LSC.
Weaknesses
App interface is functional rather than polished. Some older models require firmware updates on first use. Not the choice for HomeKit integration.
Access methods
PIN, RFID, Bluetooth, NFC, Facial recognition (Luna Pro+ models)
Smart home
Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa — strongest smart home integration of any Australian smart lock brand
Gateway
Yale Connect Plus Hub 2 — up to 8 locks, cloud audit trail, remote access
Australian warranty
3 years mechanical, 1 year electronic. Read warranty exclusions carefully — coastal/salt air environments may be excluded.
Weaknesses
Coastal/salt air excluded from warranty on most models —
see coastal installation guidance. Requires hub for remote access. Not the choice for fire door applications on most products (Yale Unity DDA is the exception).
Best choice for Apple HomeKit households — no other brand comes close for HomeKit integration in Australia. Also strong for facial recognition (Luna Pro+) and DDA/fire compliance (Yale Unity DDA). Not recommended for coastal properties without confirming warranty coverage.
Key distinction
CDL7200 Digi-Mech: functions as a fully mechanical lock if batteries die. Electronic layer is the addition, not the foundation. Zero battery dependency for basic operation.
Weaknesses
No gateway/remote access capability. No fingerprint on most models. Limited smart home integration. Not for WiFi-connected use cases.
The CDL7200 Digi-Mech is a sleeper product — a fully mechanical lock that also happens to have a keypad. Maximum reliability for users who want electronic convenience without electronic dependency. Our recommendation for any situation where battery management is a concern.
Access methods
PIN, RFID (select), Bluetooth (select). No fingerprint on standard range.
Key strength
The brand most likely to be recognised and trusted by the average Australian homeowner. Solid and reliable for simple PIN use cases.
Weaknesses
Code Handle handing is not field-reversible — confirm before ordering. Limited gateway/remote access options. Digital range is narrower than McGrath or Yale.
Solid choice for straightforward residential PIN use cases where brand familiarity matters. If you need fingerprint, remote access, facial recognition, or fire door compliance, look elsewhere. Note Code Handle handing requirement carefully before ordering.
Flagship products
BL2000 series, BL2605 MG Pro (premium), BL3000 series, BL5000 series (lever format)
Key distinction
100% battery-free. PIN code changed mechanically via a simple procedure. Zero electronics — no circuit board, no motor, no battery. Operational lifespan measured in decades, not years.
Access methods
PIN only (mechanical). No fingerprint, no Bluetooth, no app, no remote access. Not a "smart" lock in the connected sense.
Best applications
High-traffic commercial (retail back-of-house, storerooms, gyms). Any application where battery maintenance is unacceptable. Outdoor exposed positions.
Flagship products
H100 (Forge Smart (Tuya), IP68 double-sided gate lock) and
H10D (its TTLock twin, IP66),
RD1 outdoor rim lock (IP66), A90 push-pull and DBV1 deadbolt (TTLock with Wi-Fi built in, 3D face recognition, video doorbell), A60 / A80 (palm vein, video) and the D5 2K-camera deadbolt (Forge Smart (Tuya))
Access methods
PIN, Fingerprint, RFID, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi built in (every Forge Smart (Tuya) model; the TTLock A90 and DBV1), Palm vein, 3D Face Recognition and video doorbell on the premium models, Gateway (TTLock models), Mechanical key
Two platforms
The only brand in our range sold on both platforms. Its TTLock models behave like every other TTLock lock (gateway for remote management, PMS integration, Alexa/Google — see
Chapter 14); its
Forge Smart (Tuya) models connect straight to Wi-Fi with no gateway, with request-based remote unlock and Tuya scenes but no scheduled passage mode, voice control or API (see
Chapter 15 — Forge Smart (Tuya)). Five models are sold both ways at the same price, so you can pick the lock first and the platform second.
Australian warranty
Two years, handled through Terry’s, with FORGE’s own manuals and app support behind it. As the Australian brand owner, FORGE Electrical (Melbourne) is the manufacturer under the Cyber Security Rules 2025 for the range; compliance paperwork is underway and will be linked from the product pages as it is finalised.
Weaknesses
New to the Australian market (October 2026), so its long-term support record is short. The Forge Smart (Tuya) models trade on-demand remote unlock, scheduled passage mode and voice assistants for built-in Wi-Fi, and FORGE rates their battery life “medium” against “long” for its TTLock locks. Grey-import locks on the same Tuya platform are a different proposition and are not something we support. The fire-rated commercial lever is new — ask us before specifying it on a fire door.
The brand to look at first for a gate or an exposed outdoor door — IP66 and IP68 double-sided locks are its strongest ground — and the first brand we can install and support on either platform. Take the TTLock version when you need remote management on demand, PMS automation or voice control; take the Forge Smart (Tuya) version when Wi-Fi reaches the door, you want no gateway, and approving a visitor from your phone is enough.
How FORGE changed our Tuya answer ->
These brands are defined by a specific technology advantage rather than product breadth. Each leads its category in the Australian market. For a full cross-platform comparison of their underlying app ecosystems — including data sovereignty, offline capability, and third-party integrations — see Chapter 15 — Smart Lock App Platforms Guide.
Access methods
PIN (including algoPIN), RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi (with Igloohome Bridge add-on)
Weaknesses
No fingerprint biometric. No facial recognition. Not the choice for smart home (HomeKit/Google Home) integration. Designed for access management, not premium residential aesthetics.
The standout choice for short-term rentals. algoPIN is genuinely clever and solves the real problem Airbnb hosts face — guests always get in, even without property WiFi. If you have a rental property, start with Igloohome. For residential home use, consider whether algoPIN's offline-first approach fits your needs better than a fingerprint lock.
Access methods
3D Face Recognition (Zenith), Fingerprint, PIN, RFID, Bluetooth, WiFi (via gateway)
Key distinction
Vault Zenith: 3D structured light IR facial recognition with liveness detection — cannot be spoofed with a photograph, works in complete darkness. The most technically advanced residential smart lock available in Australia. See
Chapter 06 — Vault Zenith profile.
Weaknesses
Premium price point. No fire door certification. No Airbnb-specific integration. Overkill for straightforward residential use cases.
If budget is secondary and technology is primary, the Vault Zenith is in a category of its own. For accessibility-critical applications, luxury residential, or anyone who wants the highest possible technology in an Australian-made product, this is the recommendation.
Commercial & Institutional Specialists
The following brands are primarily specified for commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and institutional applications. They are significantly more capable than residential smart locks for multi-door, multi-user, and integrated building management scenarios — and significantly more complex and expensive to specify, install, and maintain.
| Brand |
Origin |
Primary Market |
Key Technology / Notes |
| Dormakaba |
Switzerland / Germany |
Commercial, hospitality, institutional |
Full access control systems. RFID and NFC based. Integrates with building management systems (BMS). Standard in Australian hotels and commercial offices. Specify via our commercial team. |
| ABUS |
Germany |
Security-focused commercial and residential |
Strong padlock and mechanical lock heritage. Electronic cylinder and mortice products for residential and light commercial. German engineering and testing standards throughout. |
| Salto |
Spain (global) |
Hospitality, commercial, education |
Wireless RFID access control. Standard in Australian hotels. SVN technology allows online lock management without running data cables to each individual door — significant in retrofit commercial scenarios. |
| SMARTair |
ASSA ABLOY group |
Commercial, multi-tenancy, education |
Wireless access control designed to work with existing door hardware. Updateable RFID credentials via handheld programmer or online. Good for commercial retrofit projects where running cables to each door is impractical. |
Chapter 14 — TTLock Platform Guide
The full platform guide for McGrath and Lockton locks — six passcode types, gateways, eKey management, PMS integration, and CVE security disclosures.
Chapter 15 — Smart Lock App Platforms
TTLock, Igloohome, Yale Home, and Carbine Connect compared across architecture, data sovereignty, offline capability, and use-case fit.
Chapter 07 — Smart Locks for Airbnb & Rentals
algoPIN vs gateway, Igloohome vs TTLock/McGrath, Airbnb Connect, PMS platforms, and audit trails for short-stay operators.
Chapter 06 — Facial Recognition Smart Locks
2D vs 3D facial recognition, liveness detection, privacy considerations, and the Vault Zenith and Yale Luna Pro+ profiles.
Chapter 05 — Fire Door Smart Locks
AS1905.1 certification by door core type, the one-penetration rule, and the only fire door and DDA certified smart lock options in Australia.
Carbine CEL & CDL Digital Lock Range — Complete Buyer's Guide
Every Carbine digital lock model compared — CDL2, CEL-3IN1, CEL2-3IN1, CEL2-BT. Access methods, fire ratings, NCC compliance, and which model suits each application.
Terry's + LSC + McGrath — Long-Term Confidence
Why the Terry's/LSC/McGrath supply chain matters for buyers choosing a platform they'll rely on for years.
Yale Smart Locks in Australia — An Honest Assessment
Yale's strengths, battery life reality, coastal installation guidance, and when to choose Yale over McGrath.
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