The headline feature of LG’s $349.95 Smart Deadbolt Lock, unlocking the door as you walk up, only works with certain iPhone and Apple Watch models. According to Apple’s own fine print, you need an iPhone 11 or later or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later, and several current budget models are excluded.
We covered the lock’s price, colours and features in our LG Smart Deadbolt Lock launch story. This piece is only about which devices can use hands-free unlock with home key.
What Apple’s fine print says
Apple’s Home app page carries the clearest rule. Its footnote on hands-free unlock with home key reads: “Available with Apple Watch Series 6 and later, excluding Apple Watch SE, and iPhone 11 and later, excluding iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) and iPhone 16e.”
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The lock’s Apple Store product page explains why. Its footnote states: “Hands-free unlock with home key requires an Ultra Wideband-capable Apple Watch or iPhone.” Apple’s product copy for the lock adds that “Advanced Ultra Wideband technology precisely detects your location and recognizes when you’re entering, enabling more accurate and reliable hands-free access.”
That is the thread running through the exclusions: Apple ties walk-up entry to Ultra Wideband hardware, not just to how new a device is. Apple’s Apple Home Collection press release describes the same feature: as a user with a home key on a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch walks up, “the door unlocks automatically, with no tapping required.”
Devices that work and devices that don’t
| Device | Hands-free unlock | Source |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max | Yes | Home app footnote: iPhone 11 and later |
| iPhone 12 through iPhone 17 models (except 16e and 17e), iPhone Air | Yes | Home app footnote; listed on lock page |
| iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Duo | Yes | Listed on lock page |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation), iPhone SE (3rd generation) | No | Excluded in Home app footnote |
| iPhone 16e | No | Excluded in Home app footnote; not listed on lock page |
| iPhone 17e | No | Not listed on lock page; no Ultra Wideband chip in Apple’s specs |
| Apple Watch Series 6 through Series 12 | Yes | Home app footnote: Series 6 and later |
| Apple Watch Ultra, Ultra 2, Ultra 3, Ultra 4 | Listed | On lock page; not named in Home app footnote |
| Apple Watch SE, SE 2, SE 3 | No | Excluded in Home app footnote; not listed on lock page |
| Apple Watch Series 5 and earlier | No | Below Series 6 cutoff |
The iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e gap
The lock’s compatibility list stands out when you put it next to the rest of Apple Home Collection. The store pages for LG’s Video Doorbell Wired, Floodlight Cam, Indoor Cam, Temperature Sensor and both thermostats all list iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e as compatible. The lock’s page lists neither.
The iPhone 17e is not named in the Home app footnote, but Apple’s evidence points the same way as the 16e. Apple’s iPhone 17e tech specs list Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and NFC with reader mode, with no Ultra Wideband chip. Apple’s Apple TV 4K release also excludes iPhone 17e from Precision Finding for the new Siri Remote.
If either phone is your daily device, treat hands-free unlock as unavailable. Apple does not say whether those phones can still pair the lock or use its other unlock methods, so check with Apple before buying if that is the only iPhone in your home.
iPhone SE: on the list, but not hands-free
The opposite quirk applies to iPhone SE. Both the 2nd and 3rd generation models appear in the lock’s compatibility list, yet the Home app footnote explicitly excludes them from hands-free unlock.
The likely reading is that an iPhone SE can work with the lock, but not for walk-up entry. The store page lists tap-to-unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch, PIN codes and a physical key as additional unlock methods, so SE owners would rely on one of those.
Apple Watch: Series 6 is the floor
On the watch side, Apple Watch SE is excluded in every generation. The doorbell and camera pages list Apple Watch SE, SE 2 and SE 3, but the lock’s page drops all three, which matches the Home app footnote.
Apple Watch Ultra models appear on the lock’s list. The Home app footnote only names the Series line, so Ultra owners should confirm support once the lock goes on sale.
Other requirements for hands-free unlock
A compatible iPhone or Apple Watch is not the only thing you need. The lock’s store page also says the lock requires:
- An iPhone running the latest operating system software for NFC pairing.
- A Thread-enabled Apple Home hub such as HomeView, HomePod mini, or select Apple TV 4K devices running the latest operating system software.
- An internet connection, the Home app and an Apple home hub for alerts and notifications.
Apple says Apple Home Collection will be available starting in December, with select accessories available starting early 2027. The lock is listed for the U.S. and Canada, and its store page currently says “Coming later.”
What to do before you buy
If your only devices are an iPhone SE, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e or any Apple Watch SE, the lock’s walk-up feature will not be available to you.
For households with a mix of devices, each person needs their own compatible iPhone or Apple Watch for hands-free entry. Others can use a PIN code or the physical key, and the store page says user permissions and guest entry schedules are managed in the Home app.
