In this video I’m doing the thing I wish existed when I first started shopping for a HomeKey lock: a straight-up comparison of the big Apple HomeKey options from Aqara, Level, Schlage, Yale, Avia, and even a couple of newer/oddball picks like retrofit and lever-style locks. I break down what HomeKey actually is, how it behaves day-to-day on iPhone and Apple Watch, and why “it supports HomeKit” is not the same as “it’s a great smart lock.” Then I go lock-by-lock with the real stuff that matters in an Apple smart home: installation style (deadbolt swap vs retrofit), connectivity and reliability, keypad vs no keypad, and which ones feel polished versus which ones feel like you’re beta testing your front door. I wrap it all up with a recap so you can quickly figure out which lock makes sense for your door and your priorities—whether you want the cleanest look, the easiest setup, or the most dependable HomeKey experience.