Aqara Smart Lock N100 Zigbee Edition Review: Apple Home Key and Fingerprints on a Zigbee Lock
Fingerprint, passcode, NFC and Apple Home Key entry with HomeKit support built in, as long as you add an Aqara hub for remote control.
The Aqara Smart Lock N100 Zigbee Edition is a keypad-and-fingerprint deadbolt aimed at Apple households: it supports Apple HomeKit directly and unlocks with Apple Home Key from an iPhone or Apple Watch, on top of fingerprints, passcodes, NFC tags and a physical key. Zigbee is its smart home radio, which means it needs an Aqara hub to be controlled remotely or through Alexa and Google Home, while Bluetooth covers local control from the app. It runs on eight AA batteries rated for about a year and a half, with a USB emergency power port as backup. It is a strong pick inside the Aqara and HomeKit ecosystem, and a poor one if you were counting on Matter or SmartThings.
- Apple HomeKit homes
- Aqara hub owners
- Households sharing timed access
- Keyless entry with fingerprints
Pros
- Apple HomeKit support with Apple Home Key unlocking from an iPhone or Apple Watch
- Fingerprint reader that stores up to 50 fingerprints
- Passcode, NFC tag, Bluetooth and physical key entry as well
- One-time and scheduled periodic passwords for guests and services
- Auto-lock after the door closes, using a built-in gyroscope
- Lock, unlock, tamper, low battery and failed attempt alerts
- Around 1.5 years on eight AA batteries, with a USB emergency power port
- Home Assistant and IFTTT support
- Built-in doorbell
Cons
- Needs an Aqara hub for remote access, Alexa and Google Home
- No Matter support
- No Samsung SmartThings support
- No camera, face recognition or motion detection
- No anti-peep password entry and no emergency fingerprint
- No auto-lock on leaving (away mode)
- Heavy hardware at roughly 4.2 kg
- One year warranty
Who is the Aqara N100 Zigbee Edition for?
It fits an Apple-centric home that already runs, or is willing to add, an Aqara hub. HomeKit support is native and Apple Home Key means the lock opens with a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch, which is the closest thing to a car key fob experience a front door gets. Home Assistant and IFTTT are supported too, so it is not a closed system. Zigbee is the point of difference against Wi-Fi locks: the lock itself uses a low-power mesh radio rather than your Wi-Fi network, which is easier on batteries but means the hub is not optional for anything remote.
How you get in
The entry methods are the strongest part of the spec sheet. There is an embedded high-precision fingerprint reader that stores up to 50 fingerprints, a keypad for passcodes, NFC tag support, Apple Home Key, Bluetooth unlocking from the app when you are nearby, and a physical key as the fallback. Access sharing goes further than most locks in this price range: one-time passwords for a single visit, and periodic passwords that only work in a defined window, for example every Monday between 10am and 2pm, which is exactly what a cleaner or a dog walker needs. A built-in doorbell function rounds out the front door hardware.
Automation, alerts and power
The lock reports every lock and unlock event, raises a tamper alert if someone interferes with it, warns before the batteries run out, and flags repeated failed unlock attempts. Auto-lock works after the door is closed, using the built-in gyroscope to detect the door state rather than just running a timer. Power comes from eight AA batteries with a stated life of about a year and a half, and if they do die there is a backup path through the USB emergency charging port, so a dead lock does not lock you out.
What to know before you buy
The hub requirement is the main one: Zigbee gives you the battery life, but remote unlocking, Alexa and Google Home all depend on an Aqara hub being present. Without it you are limited to Bluetooth range and HomeKit. Matter is not supported, and neither is Samsung SmartThings, so this is not the lock for a Matter-first setup. There is no camera, no face recognition, no anti-peep password entry and no emergency or duress fingerprint. Auto-lock when you leave (away mode) is not supported, only auto-lock after the door closes. This is a substantial piece of hardware at roughly 4.2 kg, so check that your door can carry it. Warranty is one year.
Is the Aqara N100 Zigbee Edition worth it?
It sits in the mid-to-upper range for smart deadbolts, and what it buys you is entry flexibility: fingerprints, codes, NFC, Apple Home Key and a physical key all on one lock, with proper timed access sharing and a full set of security alerts. If you have an Aqara hub or plan to buy one, and your home runs on HomeKit, the value is clear. If you want a lock that works with Matter controllers or without any hub at all, this is not it.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Aqara N100 Zigbee Edition need a hub?
For remote control, yes. The lock uses Zigbee, so an Aqara hub is required for remote locking and unlocking and for Alexa and Google Home. Apple HomeKit and Bluetooth control from the app work with the lock itself.
Does it work with Apple Home Key?
Yes. You can unlock it with a tap of an iPhone or Apple Watch, and Apple HomeKit is supported natively.
How many fingerprints can it store?
Up to 50, through the embedded high-precision fingerprint reader.
Can I give a cleaner or a guest temporary access?
Yes. It supports one-time passwords and periodic passwords that are valid only during a set window, for example every Monday from 10am to 2pm.
What happens if the batteries die?
It runs on eight AA batteries rated for around 1.5 years and warns you when they are low. If they do run out, there is a USB emergency charging port, and a physical key as the final fallback.
Does it support Matter or SmartThings?
No. Neither Matter nor Samsung SmartThings is supported. Supported platforms are Apple HomeKit, Home Assistant, IFTTT, and Alexa and Google Home through an Aqara hub.

