In this 3 minute review, I put the brand new Aqara U300 Smart Door Handle on the clock and get straight to what matters. It’s a sleek $229 smart handle that’s built for Apple Home with Matter support, and I walk through what you get in the box (everything you need for install minus a screwdriver). I also rate the installation a 6 out of 10—totally doable, but not the absolute easiest lock install I’ve done. I cover the key steps like latch orientation, handle reversal for different door swings, wiring the inner/outer panels, and powering it up with four AA batteries. Then I get into why I like it: the U300 is Matter-enabled and can be added to any Matter-compatible platform, plus it gives you a ton of unlock methods—fingerprint, codes, NFC, Apple Home Key, smart home apps, and physical keys. I installed mine on my office door to keep the kids out without supervision, and it’s been quick and easy to use while still letting me unlock it remotely for my wife or guests. Passage Mode is also better now thanks to updates, including the option to leave it on indefinitely. With up to 10 months of battery life and a USB-C backup port, I honestly couldn’t find a real downside here—I gave it a 10/10.