You may not use your Lockly Smart Safe every day, but when you’ve got valuable possessions and other important artifacts that need protecting, this remote-controlled safe is packed to the brim with useful lock-and-key features for you and yours.
Lockly Smart Safe
The Lockly Smart Safe is the perfect smart home companion, allowing you to securely unlock the device in-person and remotely.
- Dimensions (exterior)
- 12.6 x 3.2 x 10in (322 x 82 x 256mm)
- Dimensions (interior)
- 10.1 x 2.5 x 7in (259 x 66 x 179mm)
- Compatibility
- iPhone, Android, Amazon Alexa
Pros
- Well-armored design
- Plenty of ways to unlock with remote and local controls
- Decent amount of internal storage
- Intuitive companion app
Cons
- Heavy
- On the expensive side
- Need to refresh app for lock/unlock status
- App can?t lock the safe
Design: Strength Beyond Strength
- Dimensions (exterior): 12.6 x 3.2 x 10in (322 x 82 x 256mm)
- Dimensions (interior): 10.1 x 2.5 x 7in (259 x 66 x 179mm)
The shell of the Smart Safe is 12.6 inches wide, 3.2 inches tall, and 10 inches from front to back, while the interior compartment measures 10.1 inches wide, 7 inches from front to back, and 2.5 inches tall. Inside and out, a reinforced alloy steel body topped with a corrosion-resistant coating keeps the Smart Safe protected from drops, dings, moisture, and the aggression of would-be thieves, while a fireproof casing covers the inside drawer.
The front of the Smart Safe features a touchscreen keypad that uses PIN Genie technology to shuffle code placement, while the safe’s biometric fingerprint scanner is located to the right of the touchscreen. You’ll be able to use both of these features once you’ve set yourself up in the Lockly app (for iPhone and Android devices). After being unlocked, the Smart Safe’s spring-loaded lid flips open quickly. Beneath the lid, you’ll find a few credit card-sized pockets and a mesh sleeve. Below this is the main storage compartment. A conveniently-placed LED array illuminates the entire interior, and the safe’s AA battery compartment is right next to it.
Additional box contents should include the Secure Link Wi-Fi Hub, an anti-theft cable, a mounting kit, two physical keys, four AA batteries, and a user manual.
Setting Up the Smart Safe: Do Not Lose Your Access Code
Getting the Smart Safe up and running only takes a few minutes. The first step is to insert the four AA batteries into the safe’s battery compartment. Use the manual keys to unlock the safe, open up the compartment, pull out the battery chassis to insert the batteries, then place the chassis back in the compartment and re-seal it. Your next order of business will be downloading the Lockly app and setting up your free Lockly account.
When you launch the app, the first thing you’ll need to do is create an administrative account. To do so, tap “Sign up” at the bottom of the first screen, then enter your name, email, and phone number. Once you’re in the system, you’ll be taken to the home screen of the app, where you’ll want to tap “Add device.” Scroll down and tap the Smart Safe icon to begin registering your Smart Safe.
On the “Select your Smart Safe” screen, you’ll have the choice of remote (using Wi-Fi) or local (digital/manual keys) controls for accessing the safe. Because I wanted to be able to access the product on the go, I opted for a remote setup. On the next screen, you’ll be asked to scan the code on the activation card that came with your Smart Safe (you’ll need to have Bluetooth permissions enabled for the Lockly app in order to do this).
Do. Not. Lose. This. Access. Code.
Write it down (securely) in a million places if you have to. If, for whatever reason, you end up losing the code, you won’t be able to access your Lockly account, which means your Smart Safe will be inaccessible.
Next, you’ll be tasked with creating an admin code for the safe, which you’ll be required to key into the app’s simulated keypad. Now you’ll need to plug in the included Wi-Fi Hub, which Lockly recommends you place no further than 15 feet from your router. When you return to the app, you’ll need to choose your Wi-Fi network and enter its password (2.4GHz only). At this point, the Wi-Fi Hub will attempt to connect to your Wi-Fi, but you’ll also need to have Bluetooth enabled on your setup device during this initial activation. This is so the Smart Safe can establish a secure connection to your phone/tablet.
Using the Smart Safe: Lockly Has Got You Covered
- Works with: iPhone, Android, Amazon Alexa
Once your Smart Safe is up and running, it’s time to put your new safe to the test. I set up my review unit to work with all locking/unlocking methods (each of which are covered below), and I’m more than happy to sing its praises. Every form of Smart Safe access worked as promised, and I only have one complaint to make (it’s at the end of this section).
Both the keypad and fingerprint scanner functioned correctly and quickly. After keying in my code on the keypad, I tapped the action button (located to the right of the numerics), and the safe opened right away. And true to Lockly’s word, when I sealed the safe, the touchscreen changed the placement of the numeric touch-points. As for the fingerprint scanner (I’ll explain the mapping process in the next section), I had the same good fortune. After pressing onto the scanner for just a second or two, the safe opened right up. The two physical keys that came with the Smart Safe worked like a charm, too. Now it’s time to explore locking and unlocking using Wi-Fi/data and Bluetooth through the Lockly app.
On the Control screen for the Smart Safe, you’ll see a Wi-Fi/data and Bluetooth toggle in the top-left corner. When you choose Wi-Fi (an infinity symbol inside a cloud), you’ll be able to unlock your Smart Safe remotely, meaning you could be at the grocery store and decide you want to open the safe (say for a spouse or trusted individual). If the Wi-Fi Hub is online, the app’s Smart Safe icon should be green with the word “Unlock” in the middle of it. You’ll need to double-tap the green safe icon to open it, which will also bring up a warning message that the app can only unlock the Smart Safe. Once you tap “Yes,” the safe will open. In my experience, there was about a five to eight-second delay from when I unlocked through the app to when the safe actually opened.
Now what happens when there’s a thunderstorm that knocks out power to your home, and you want to open your Smart Safe using the app? With the Wi-Fi Hub down, Wi-Fi/data entry won’t be an option, but you’ll still be able to unlock using Bluetooth. Make sure the top-left toggle is set to Bluetooth, and then double-tap the green safe icon.
As far as Bluetooth range goes, you should have no issues unlocking up to 20 feet away from the Smart Safe. I noticed that I started losing a connection around 25 feet, and if this happens, the green safe icon will display a Bluetooth symbol instead. Get a little closer to the Smart Safe, then tap the Bluetooth symbol to have your mobile device ping the safe. If you’re close enough, the green safe icon should return.
There’s also a QR emblem to the right of the fingerprint scanner that you can scan with your phone to unlock the safe. On the Control screen of the app, tap the minus icon to the right of the lock/unlock safe icon. Now just hold your phone over the QR code, and the safe should open. Do keep in mind that your phone’s Bluetooth needs to be enabled to use this feature.
Oh, and let’s not forget Alexa commands. With your Lockly account linked to your Amazon Alexa account, you’ll also be able to use the Alexa app and voice commands to unlock the Smart Safe and monitor lock status. By default, the Alexa app will have both of these features disabled, but you can easily toggle both on in your Alexa app’s settings menu. Once operational, Alexa controls worked just as well as the other unlocking methods.
Overall, the Smart Safe’s versatility arrives in style and gets the job done. The only gripe I have is with the status updates when using the Lockly app. When you unlock the Smart Safe with the app, the green safe icon will change to red, indicating the safe is open. But when you close the safe, the red icon remains. You have to manually refresh the app to get the correct status, which just means you have to perform any kind of in-app action. For the fastest refresh, I just tapped the “Log” button at the bottom of the Smart Safe dashboard, then immediately went back to the Control screen. Now the Smart Safe icon will display as green and un-lockable. It’s a small nuisance and one that Lockly could easily fix with a quick firmware update.
The Lockly App: Feature-Loaded and Free
While we’ve been referencing the Lockly app (available for iPhone and Android devices) throughout this review, I thought it best to give the companion its own dedicated section to cover some of its more tucked-away features.
When you first open the app, you’ll be on the My Property screen, which lists all the Lockly devices registered to your account. Tap the name of your Smart Safe to get into its main control dashboard. On the Controls screen, your Smart Safe’s current status will be displayed in the middle, with the Wi-Fi/data and Bluetooth toggle located top-left. A battery readout is displayed top-right. Above this indicator, you’ll see a bell icon and two half-arrow icons. The former is your Notification Center, where you’ll receive all Smart Safe alerts, and the latter brings you back to the My Property screen. You can also tap the three horizontal lines icon to access a sub-menu of account settings, with options including setting up a new device, I received an invitation (for secondary users), and Work with Alexa.
At the bottom of the screen, you’ll see four tabs. Tap Log to get into your Smart Safe’s full history of unlocks. The app will display the date and time when an unlock was performed, as well as what type of unlock was executed (fingerprint, mobile device, keypad, etc.). Next to Log is Access, which is where you’ll go to create fingerprints, offline access codes, and to add other users to your Lockly account. Tap the User tab at the top of the page to add profiles and customize each profile’s access management tools. By default, your own name should be displayed here, along with the sub-label “owner.” Tap your name to go to the User Details screen, where you’ll be able to change your email, access code, and create fingerprints. This screen also has an awesome feature called SOS Alert. When enabled, SOS allows you to key in your access code, followed by 911 (or to use an alarm-triggering fingerprint) to send an alert to someone you deem as your emergency contact.
Back on the Access Management screen, you can tap Add user to create another Smart Safe profile, which you’ll be able to authorize as an additional admin account, a trusted user, or as a guest. Tap Offline Access Code Users at the top of the screen to create a one-time or time-sensitive offline code that you can share with friends and family. Once your familiar has the code, they have to double-tap the action button on the Smart Safe’s touchscreen, located to the right of the numeric circles. When the circles start blinking, the user needs to enter the code twice, with each round of inputting followed by a press of the action button. On the final action button tap, the Smart Safe should unlock.
Last but not least is the Settings tab. On this screen, you’ll be able to change your access code, enable/disable the Quick Access Widget, toggle audio on or off for Bluetooth and touchscreen commands, check for firmware updates, along with a few other adjustments.
I’ve used the Lockly app before, and other than delayed status updates (as mentioned above) for locking and unlocking, I think it’s a great companion tool with a ton of useful features and customizations.
Should You Buy the Lockly Smart Safe?
While the Lockly Smart Safe isn’t your cheapest safeguarding option, it’s an amazing device that gives you more than one way to protect your valuables. And with its anti-corrosive materials, internal fireproofing, and many forms of digitized entry, you’re going to have a tough time finding a competitive product that’s just as reliable and user-friendly.
Lockly Smart Safe
The Lockly Smart Safe is the perfect smart home companion, allowing you to securely unlock the device in-person and remotely.