New design and motor.
The centerpiece of this innovation is the completely new development motor. With this, Nuki once again lives up to its reputation as a pioneer in smart homes and locks. Exactly one year ago, they introduced the world's first lock with native Matter support; now it's the brushless motor. "Until now, the technology and advantages of the brushless motor, in terms of efficiency and longevity, were primarily known for electric vehicles. Now we're using it for the first time in one of our smart locks," explains Jürgen Pansy, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer.
The company refused to compromise on speed or design during development. From the outset, the goal was to achieve the fastest locking mechanism in the smallest possible size, combined with performance and energy efficiency. The result speaks for itself: the Smart Lock Ultra is three times faster and only a third the size of previous generations. Furthermore, users can now choose from three speed modes tailored to their individual needs: 'Insane' (locks or unlocks in under 1.5 seconds), 'Standard' (locks or unlocks in two seconds), and 'Gentle' (lower speed with reduced noise and double locking).
Speaking of commitment, the Austrian company has also made no concessions in terms of recognizability. “In terms of design, it was important for us that it be clearly recognizable as a Nuki Smart Lock, even though the casing is significantly smaller,” emphasizes CEO Martin Pansy. This is achieved with the iconic LED circle. The novelty, however, is a black and white base ring, which complements the high-quality stainless steel look. You no longer have to choose one or the other when buying; it can be changed at any time.
New charging electronics and new data flow
The choice between alkaline batteries and rechargeable batteries is also a thing of the past; the new Smart Lock Ultra operates with an integrated lithium-polymer battery. This allows the new smart lock to fully charge in about two hours and provide power for months. Furthermore, a specially developed magnetic charging connection enables safe and easy charging directly on the door using the two-meter-long cable.
Upgrading from a previous Nuki model to the Ultra is also easier than ever. Thanks to the data migration flow, device settings, features, access authorizations, and connections from a previous Nuki Smart Lock can be effortlessly transferred within the app. “We have hundreds of thousands of users who will be upgrading to new devices in the coming years. This needs to be as simple as possible,”says Martin Pansy.
New cylinder and new step-by-step instructions
Not only has the Smart Lock itself been improved, but so has the universal cylinder created specifically for Nuki electronic locks. For maximum compatibility with all standard door widths and the highest level of physical security, the Ultra comes automatically with this new premium universal cylinder in the highest security class. For the first time, the cylinder must be replaced to use a Nuki Smart Lock. However, cylinder installation takes less than 15 minutes and is performed directly in the app using step-by-step visual instructions. No drilling, additional tools, or technical expertise are required to replace the cylinder.
Proven features and lasting value
Like all previous Nuki smart locks, the Ultra was developed in Austria and is manufactured in Europe. It still doesn't require a user account, features built-in Wi-Fi, and supports Matter and Thread. It's compatible with all Nuki accessories and allows for convenient locking and unlocking using a fingerprint or PIN code. The app lets you manage the lock, assign up to 200 custom access permissions, activate smart features like auto-unlock and night mode, and much more. Like the fourth generation, the Smart Lock Ultra is compatible with Matter, enabling easy integration with various smart home systems such as Google Home, Apple Home, and Amazon Alexa.
New technology and retrofit solution
Nuki understands that not all customers want to change their cylinder or are able to do so due to the conditions of their door. "Around 30% of our customers already replace their cylinders before installing a Nuki smart lock. We are working hard to offer the remaining 70% a solution that allows them to use the latest Nuki Ultra technology without having to replace their cylinder," says Jürgen Pansy.
The Smart Lock Ultra, which includes the universal cylinder, will be available in the Nuki Shop and Nuki Pro Shop for €349 in early December. Pre-registration is already available, also in the Nuki Shop. The new universal cylinder, which includes three physical keys, can be used in all Nuki smart locks from the second generation onwards and is also available as a standalone product for the same price of €99.
