There are a dozen reasons we choose the devices we put in our house—reliability, compatibility, ease of install, latest tech, and honestly… aesthetics. In this video I use smart locks (specifically Level) as a way to talk about my framework for smart home decision-making, because a lock isn’t like a flaky light bulb. If a lock is unreliable, it’s a non-starter. I also dig into ease of use for real-world situations—hands full at the door, a weekly dog walker, or Airbnb guests who need to figure it out fast without a bad first impression. I break down why we chose the Level Bolt for our front door: it’s Matter over Thread, it’s reliable, and it’s basically invisible—Level is working harder than anyone to make smart locks not look like smart locks. But I’m also candid about what you give up: it’s barebones, it’s not for “latest tech” people, and it doesn’t do Apple Home Key (I work around that with an Apple Watch shortcut). Then I compare it to the Level Lock Pro, which adds Apple Home Key, touch to lock/unlock, motion wake, and door status detection—without adding bulk. The big takeaway: pick the lock that matches your priorities, but if you care about battery life and compatibility, I’d still urge Matter over Thread.