One of the best features you’ll find on locks that support Apple Home Keys is the ability to open the lock simply by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch against it. Owners of the Ultraloq Bolt NFC have been able to do that since the smart lock launched in June 2025. Now, a software update brings the same convenient feature to Android smartphone users (but apparently not Android smart watch wearers).
The Ultraloq Bolt NFC ($200) also has a numeric PIN pad arranged in a semi-circle around a conventional key cylinder, but it doesn’t have a fingerprint reader (you will find that feature on the Bolt Fingerprint Matter smart lock we reviewed in January, but that lock doesn’t support near-field communications).
The Ultraloq Bolt NFC can also be opened with an NFC card or, as shown here, with an NFC key fob.
Ultraloq
The Bolt NFC connects directly to your Wi-Fi network, eliminating the need for a bridge. The Wi-Fi connection allows you to also lock and unlock with the Ultraloq app, of course, but the NFC feature means you don’t need to launch the Ultraloq app, unlock your phone, or even wake it up.
Ultraloq also offers two other alternatives to keys and PIN codes: There’s a pair of NFC cards for $9, and a four-pack of much smaller NFC key fobs for $17.
The manufacturer says the update to its U-Home app was released on September 5, and that the tap-to-unlock feature should work with 99 percent of NFC-enabled Android smartphones.
This news is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks.