16
Aug, 2024

I'm testing the WELOCK Fingerprint Connected Lock (Touch61)

Objective

On a proposal from the manufacturer, I agreed to test this lock, which can be easily integrated into a domotised house.

The tested model is the all-new model with fingerprint reader suitable for doors between 50 and 90mm wide. The manufacturer's range has several models, it will be necessary to choose the one that corresponds to the width of the door.

Who is Welock??

WELOCK is a company specialising in smart access solutions for homes, combining more than 10 years of experience in developing, manufacturing and marketing smart locks. Founded in 2013, WELOCK quickly established itself as a major player in the connected locks sector, with a particular focus on security and convenience. Their mission is to popularize high-quality smart home products, providing users with a safer and more convenient life experience.

Innovation is at the heart of WELOCK’s strategy, with flagship products such as smart lock cylinders and fingerprint lock cylinders. The company marked the industry by being the first in the world to integrate biometric fingerprint technology into lock cylinders. This technological advance allows modern, secure and simplified access control without the need for physical keys.

WELOCK has expanded its influence globally, building partnerships in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Australia to provide localised services and support to its users. The company is based in Shenzhen, China, under the name MYHAND IN CHINA LIMITED, located in an important technology center of the country.

My interlocutor WELOCK is located in Germany, which confirms the European involvement of the brand.

The WELOCK website is available on https://www.welock.com/ The whole range of its products is presented.

Specificity of the new version Touch61

WELOCK has just released the Touch61, this version is much more versatile, it allows much more integrations.

As a good diagram is better than a complex explanation, here are the new formats supported by Touch61:

Another special feature of the Touch61 is that it can be installed from the inside or from the outside, it is ingenious and practical, here is an excerpt from the explanation:

Where to buy this lock?

Here are the links to the Touch61 version.

Be careful not to be mistaken at the time of ordering, check the necessary barrel.

Unboxing and product discovery

The product is delivered in a particularly strong and protective box, this is reassuring and gives good clues about the quality of the product.

I remove the small self-cut strip, the designers have added small mirror effects very nice, superb packaging.

Inside, everything is tidy, protected I will take everything out to make a beautiful photo of each component.

It seems quite complete, I'll see what each element is for.

I am impressed by this small toolbox, other brands would have put this in a simple bag.

 

A quick note on the instructions for use provided

For being able to compare with the poorly translated user manuals of the previous versions, I note on this one the enormous efforts of translation and explanation.

I did not block on any paragraph, the explanations are clear. 

The order of the sections is strange, I do not understand the logic, nothing is chronological but if you dig a little deeper, you get away with it.

Nice work, thank you because it must not be simple to achieve.

I put batteries in the lock

I will pick up 3 AAA batteries and place them in the lock, as explained in the instructions for use.

It is quite simple, just slide the receptacle of the batteries and insert the 3 AAA batteries.

Inside side of the lock

I take care of the inner side, also called the rear handle on the instructions for use.

I note that there is a great capacity for adaptation on this side, an extension of the cylinder is even proposed (with its fixing screw).

The materials are of high quality, the two parts are perfectly intertwined.

Finally, the rear handle is rather heavy, so full, I imagine, it adjusts and attaches itself with an allen key.

Exterior side of the lock

It is on this side that we find the intelligence of the lock, the biometric reader of course, but also the lock/unlocking of the lock.

I am impressed by the ingenuity of this mark. They separated the barrel from the electronics to allow the distance setting and assembly but the whole becomes united again and communicates through a set of connectors Usb type-C (at least it looks like it), a male and a female who once the device is connected ensure the link. Here are the connectors:

Once we understand that the male comes into the female 😉 we understand how it will work.

So I will make sure that the small hole is up and the numbers of the measurement, I will insert the connector in the right direction, at the distance from the barrel of my door and then I will fix the whole with a small screw.

Attention, for the screw, it took me 5 minutes to understand that I was not using the right one, it is explained nowhere. Are provided 4 screws (2×2) only two are useful, one of each size. To close the battery-operated receptacle, the largest (green) should be used, but to set the distance from the outside, the small (pink) should be used:

The movement of the outer handle in the cylinder is achieved by turning the worm at the end of the biometric detector, turning in the opposite direction of the hands of a watch, the cylinder is brought in. I installed the detector vertically to achieve this, it is ultimately quite simple:

The introduction of the male connector into the female connector is not natural and in order not to force the mini tab under the biometric detector, I preferred to screw to the end, this makes it possible to connect the two parts well. The design is perfect, when you serve until the end, you do not force on the connectors and they are well in each other. Only then can the two holes be aligned to insert the screw.

I barely tightened the screw to keep the two parts aligned but not too much to allow the length of the outer part to be adjusted again.

Once the right length is reached, you have to tighten the small screw and nothing moves.

My first attempt to unlock the lock

I read in the user manual that it was necessary to start with the creation of the administrator profile, I realise that.

I am not going to copy the user manual here, it is very well done, I followed it to initialise the administrator footprint. I then press the button to wake up the module, put my thumb on and it is perfect, it works, the lock works for a few seconds.

I add the lock in the Android Welock app

I had already installed this application, I had documented this installation in the feedback from the key lock.

I therefore add a lock.

An ID is requested, it is on the side of the lock

Once the app is installed, I synchronize the time, it works. I also try to press the big button at the bottom of the centre, it unlocks the lock, as would have been the case with entering the code.

In the settings, I can update the application, I have the latest version. I also find an option to update the firmware.

The application is generally well translated into French, which is nice; some translation dumplings, but nothing incomprehensible.

I'm testing an RFID card

The lock comes with 3 cards, they are of very good quality. Pleasant to touchdown, well finished, to see hanging on car keys how long they hold but at this stage, beautiful realization.

On the back, a QR code will allow the card to be integrated.

On the app, I naturally go to ‘Add a card’, it launches a QR code reader, I scan the card, then you can give a period of validity of the card, it is great to have thought about it. So I can give someone temporary access.

That is all, then, just touch the top of the lock with the card after pressing the key to turn on the case. The lock is unlocked instantly, no latency, perfect.

Conclusion at this stage

Before continuing with theHome automation integration (Alexa and Home Assistant), here is my opinion at this stage of the test.

First important remark: This lock is a lock, not a controlled lock. Unlike models such as the Danalock or Nuki, which allow the door lock to be opened and closed remotely, the Welock unlocks the door, but the handle must be turned manually to open. This is not an issue per se, but it is crucial not to confuse this product with other more expensive models that offer additional functionality.

Cons

  • The Android Welock app deserves improvement. It is currently not very intuitive, with translation problems and an interface that could be simplified. In comparison, the Danalock app has recently been revised to provide a much smoother experience, and Welock could be inspired by it. At the same time, I imagine that few users launch their Welock app to open the door. My goal is to be able to integrate it into Home Assistant, which will make it possible to use the Android application of Home Assistant.
  • To date, the absence of a link with Google Home and Apple HomeKit, for my part I use Amazon Alexa which is supported (via wifibox3)

Pros

  • Features proposed are well thought out: dFingerprint locking, dlocking with an RFID card, dlocking with the Welock app.
  • Technically, up to 100 fingerprints can be associated with each lock, and 20 RFIP cards can be used with multiple locks. 
  • The Biometric Detector is reliable and fast, it is even quite staggering
  • Batteries : The manufacturer announces that the batteries last about a year, with an alert when their charge drops below 20%. This management seems well thought out.
  • A back-up mode is available for failures, including a USB Type C connector and an in-app backup mode. Let's hope we never need these features.
  • The packaging is of high quality, and the materials of the product are solid. 
  • Simple installation and is realized in a few minutes
  • Instructions for use Overall well achieved
  • Design is improved on the Touch61, the QR code is more pleasant and goes well.
  • Compatibility: The Touch61 is compatible with many doors

 

Physically, I did not find any defects in this lock and I highly recommend it. Its price is particularly attractive, placing it among the cheapest options on the market without compromising the quality of materials or functionality.

The brand is based in Europe, and delivery is fast, whether you order on Amazon or directly on the manufacturer's website. In any case, delivery is provided by Amazon.

 

Next steps and other tests related to this lock