In this video I’m testing the Aqara U50, which is basically Aqara’s “budget” smart lock that still checks a lot of the boxes I care about for an Apple Home setup—passcodes, Apple Home support, HomeKey, and even Matter. I walk through the stuff you’ll actually use day-to-day: setting up passcodes, how the lock feels in real life, and the features that make it practical like auto-lock and auto-sense. I also talk about re-keying the lock so you can keep using your existing keys, because that’s one of those real-world details that matters when you’re upgrading an apartment or a house. From there I get into the Apple side: HomeKey (yes, tapping your iPhone/Apple Watch is as convenient as you’d hope), Apple Home codes, and how it fits into automations. I also cover Matter support and what that means in an Apple Home environment, plus the reliability and battery life expectations. I finish with the cons you should know before buying, the pricing/availability, and who I think the U50 is actually for if you’re trying to build a smarter place without spending “flagship smart lock” money.