Smart locks have long split along phone lines, with Apple Home Key on some models, brand apps on most, and no common way for a lock to accept keys from every phone in a household. Aliro, a standard from the same alliance that runs Matter, is meant to let one lock accept digital keys from Apple, Google and Samsung wallets, so the lock you buy no longer depends on the phone in your pocket.
The specification is final and the first certified products are on sale. What is still filling in is wallet support and the list of locks that carry the label, which makes 2026 an early-adopter year rather than the moment to replace a lock that works.
Trend Signal
42/100 Steady momentum
- Emerging
- Rising
- Mainstream
- Peaking
- Cooling
Standard final and first locks certified, but phone wallet support is uneven
The Connectivity Standards Alliance released Aliro 1.0 on February 26, 2026 with more than 220 member companies behind it, and by June 2026 Nuki and Schlage were selling Aliro-ready hardware in the US while Google Wallet support was still described as coming later in 2026.
Our editorial reading of the cited data, not a forecast. How it is scored
By the numbers
- 220+Member companies the Connectivity Standards Alliance lists behind Aliro at the 1.0 releaseConnectivity Standards Alliance
- 3Connection options in Aliro 1.0: NFC, Bluetooth LE, and Bluetooth LE plus UWBConnectivity Standards Alliance
- $179US launch price of Nuki’s Aliro-certified Keypad 2 NFC, March 20269to5Google
- $399Schlage’s US launch price for its UWB Sense Pro deadbolt, on sale from June 29, 2026Schlage via PR Newswire
What Aliro is and why lock makers signed on
The Connectivity Standards Alliance released the Aliro 1.0 specification on February 26, 2026, alongside a certification program run through authorized test labs. Aliro defines both how a phone or wearable talks to a door reader and the format of the digital credential, and the alliance says it is aligned with Apple, Google and Samsung so credentials can live in the digital wallets built into their phones and wearables.
The alliance lists more than 220 member companies behind the effort and named Apple, Allegion, Aqara, Google, HID, Kastle, Kwikset, Last Lock, Nordic Semiconductor, Nuki, NXP, Qorvo, Samsung and STMicroelectronics as expected to be among the first to certify. Its stated scope covers single and multi-family homes as well as offices, universities and hotels.
MacRumors reported that the standard uses asymmetric cryptography for exchanges between phones and readers, and that features such as secure key sharing will come in future versions. In other words, sending a guest a key through the standard itself is not part of the first release.
Aliro is a credential standard, not a lock brand: the label tells you which phones can open the door.
The first products and what they cost
Samsung announced Digital Home Key for Samsung Wallet on March 2, 2026, naming Nuki and Schlage as partners, with PIN or biometric checks and remote removal through Samsung Find if a phone is lost, and began rolling it out in select regions that month, Engadget reported. Nuki launched the Keypad 2 NFC on March 24 at $179, or $289 bundled with its smart lock, through its own site and Amazon; 9to5Google reported the keypad is Aliro-certified, offers tap-to-unlock for Samsung phones and, according to Nuki, works with Apple Home and Samsung SmartThings.
Ultraloq said on May 4, 2026 that several of its deadbolt and latch models had earned Aliro certification, with availability through its site, retail partners and integrators; it did not list prices. Schlage set a $399 US launch price for its Sense Pro deadbolt, on sale from June 29, 2026, with UWB hands-free unlocking, Matter over Thread, built-in Wi-Fi and home key on iPhone and Apple Watch. Schlage calls it Aliro compatible and says Samsung Wallet and Google Wallet keys are expected later in 2026.
Hands-free UWB unlocking also exists outside the Aliro label. Aqara’s U400 unlocks through Apple Home Key as an iPhone or Apple Watch approaches, 9to5Mac reported in April 2026. Aqara is on the alliance’s list of companies expected to certify early, but the review did not describe the U400 as Aliro-certified.
| Product | US launch price | Aliro status as described | How it unlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuki Keypad 2 NFC | $179 ($289 with lock) | Aliro-certified | NFC tap, fingerprint, code |
| Schlage Sense Pro | $399 | Aliro compatible | UWB hands-free with Home Key, code; NFC tap for Samsung and Google wallets expected |
| Ultraloq, several models | Not disclosed | Aliro-certified | Tap-to-unlock with mobile wallets |
Wallet support decides what works today
A lock is only half of an Aliro setup; the phone’s wallet is the other half. Samsung moved first on Android with Digital Home Key in March 2026, and on iPhone the early Aliro products work through Apple Home and Home Key. Google Wallet lagged in the sources we checked: 9to5Google wrote in March 2026 that Google had yet to fully roll out support, and Schlage’s June 2026 announcement still listed Google Wallet keys as coming later in 2026.
Rollouts are also regional. Engadget reported that Samsung’s Digital Home Key started in select regions, and 9to5Google described Galaxy support in “supported regions.” Check that both your phone model and your country are covered before paying extra for an Aliro-ready lock.
Mixed-phone households stand to gain the most. With a lock like the Nuki keypad, a home with an iPhone and a Galaxy phone can give both people a wallet key instead of pushing one of them into a separate app.
Check your wallet app before the lock: Aliro only helps if your phone’s wallet already supports it.
NFC, Bluetooth or UWB: what the radio decides
Aliro 1.0 supports three ways to connect: NFC for tap-to-unlock, Bluetooth LE for user-initiated access from farther away, and Bluetooth LE plus UWB for hands-free unlocking as you approach, the alliance says. Which one you get depends on both the lock and the phone.
NFC keypads and locks work with a tap, which is how the $179 Nuki keypad operates. UWB is what lets a door unlock without touching your phone, and it appears on pricier deadbolts such as the $399 Schlage Sense Pro and on Aqara’s U400. Schlage says that once Samsung and Google wallet keys arrive, phones with UWB will get hands-free unlocking on its lock and phones with NFC will get tap-to-unlock.
Power is the tradeoff to check. Schlage rates the Sense Pro at up to six months of battery life, and Aqara says the U400’s rechargeable battery lasts up to six months per charge.
Who should buy an Aliro-ready lock now
Buy now if you are replacing a lock anyway, your household uses iPhones or Galaxy phones, and the lock you want already lists Aliro certification or compatibility. You get wallet keys today and a standard that Google has also aligned with.
Wait if your household relies on Google Wallet, since that support was still pending in the sources above, or if you need guest-key sharing through the standard itself, which MacRumors reported is planned for a later version.
If your current smart lock works, there is no deadline. Aliro adds a way to unlock rather than replacing the codes, fingerprints and apps that locks already use, as the Nuki keypad’s mix of NFC, fingerprint and code entry shows.
What to watch next
- Google Wallet adding Aliro digital home keys, which Schlage said to expect later in 2026
- New Aliro certifications from the companies the alliance named as early adopters, including Kwikset, Allegion and Aqara
- The first Aliro version that adds secure key sharing for guests
Where to start
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Smart lock types to consider in the first Aliro year
| Product type | Good fit for | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| UWB smart deadbolt with hands-free unlock | Fits hands-free entry | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| NFC keypad for a smart lock | Fits upgrading an existing lock | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
| Matter-over-Thread smart deadbolt | Fits Matter smart homes | See listings on AmazonOpens Amazon search results, not one listing: check the model on the product page. |
Product types that fit the trend described above, not tested models. Check the exact listing before you buy. How we pick them.
UWB smart deadbolt with hands-free unlock
Where to look: Amazon
This is where Aliro’s UWB mode matters. Confirm which wallets the listing names today rather than which ones are promised.
- Unlocks as you approach with a UWB phone
- NFC tap as a fallback on some models
- Highest prices in the category
- Hands-free needs a UWB phone
NFC keypad for a smart lock
Where to look: Amazon
A keypad like Nuki’s is the cheapest route to wallet keys for both iPhone and Galaxy users in one home.
- Adds wallet keys to a lock you own
- Lower cost than a new deadbolt
- Tap only, no hands-free
- Works with specific lock brands
Matter-over-Thread smart deadbolt
Where to look: Amazon
Schlage’s Sense Pro shows the direction: Matter over Thread for the smart home and Aliro for the phone key in one lock.
- Works across Matter platforms
- Local control over Thread
- Needs a Thread border router
- Aliro support varies by model
More: Smart Home trends and how the Trend Signal is scored.
Sources
- Introducing Aliro 1.0: a unified standard to transform the access control ecosystem — Connectivity Standards Alliance
- Apple-supported Aliro 1.0 smart lock standard officially released — MacRumors
- This keypad and smart lock combo has tap-to-unlock, but Samsung beat Google to supporting it — 9to5Google
- The Samsung Wallet can now hold your house keys — Engadget
- Schlage launches Sense Pro smart deadbolt with ultra wideband — Schlage via PR Newswire
- ULTRALOQ achieves Aliro certification — Ultraloq via PR Newswire
- Aqara U400 review: HomeKit’s futuristic smart lock has arrived — 9to5Mac
Questions readers ask
What is Aliro?
Aliro is a standard from the Connectivity Standards Alliance for unlocking doors with digital keys stored in phone and watch wallets. Version 1.0 was released on February 26, 2026 and supports NFC, Bluetooth LE, and Bluetooth LE with UWB.
Does Aliro work with iPhone and Android?
The alliance says Aliro is aligned with Apple, Google and Samsung wallets. Samsung launched Digital Home Key in March 2026, early Aliro products work with Apple Home, and Schlage’s June 2026 announcement still described Google Wallet support as coming later in 2026.
Which Aliro smart locks can I buy?
Early products include Nuki’s Aliro-certified Keypad 2 NFC, launched at $179, Schlage’s Aliro-compatible Sense Pro deadbolt, launched at $399, and several Ultraloq deadbolt and latch models that earned certification in May 2026.
Do I need UWB for Aliro?
No. Aliro also works with NFC taps and Bluetooth LE. UWB adds hands-free unlocking as you approach; Schlage says Samsung and Google phones with NFC are expected to get tap-to-unlock on its Sense Pro once those wallet keys arrive.
