What has changed with the Aqara U600?
Aqara lists the U600 (model EL-D11E) on its UK product page as “the only UK slim smart lock with Apple HomeKey”. It replaces the front and rear handle panels on a standard multipoint door and keeps your existing lock body, so you do not swap the cylinder for a motorised unit. The Connectivity Standards Alliance certification entry describes it the same way and lists Matter over Thread, with a certified date written as 06/05/2026 (the format is ambiguous, so it could be 6 May or 5 June).
A UK trade article from 3 August 2026 said distributor EG Direct expected the lock to reach the UK “later this year”. Aqara's product page carries a Buy Now link to its UK store but states no release date or stock position.
| Spec | Aqara Smart Lock U600 |
|---|---|
| Door type | UK multipoint doors, 40–80 mm thick |
| Wireless | Matter over Thread, Bluetooth |
| Unlock methods | Fingerprint, Apple Home Key, Samsung Wallet Digital Home Key, PIN, NFC card, key, app |
| Power | 4 AA batteries, up to 10 months; USB-C emergency power |
| Outer panel rating | IP65 |
| Listed UK price | £229.99 (third-party listing, not confirmed by Aqara) |
Does the Aqara U600 work with Home Assistant?
Yes, in principle: Aqara lists Home Assistant among the Matter ecosystems the U600 supports, and it connects over Thread rather than through an Aqara hub. Each ecosystem needs a Thread-enabled Matter controller, so you need a Thread border router on your network for remote control. Aqara names its own hubs (M3, M200, M100, G5 Pro and G410) as border routers, and any Thread-enabled Matter controller works too, according to the listing we checked.
We have not tested the U600, so we cannot say how much of its feature set Matter exposes. Matter locks in Home Assistant generally give you lock state and lock or unlock, but extras such as fingerprint management usually stay in the vendor app; our Matter lock manager guide covers what is possible for user codes. For more on how Thread networks behave, see our Thread smart home UK guide.
How does it compare with the Aqara U500 range?
The U500 series targets rim, gate and glass doors, while the U600 is aimed squarely at the multipoint uPVC and composite doors found on most British homes. That is a gap our best smart locks for UK homes guide highlights: few Matter locks fit multipoint doors without a cylinder swap, and the Yale Conexis L2 has been the main option there. Our Aqara U500 UK review shows how Aqara's Thread locks have behaved in practice.
Should you wait for the Aqara U600?
Wait if you have a multipoint door and run Home Assistant or Apple Home, because it looks like a rare Matter-native fit. Do not pre-order on the strength of a third-party price. Aqara's page notes that installation means removing the existing cylinder and advises checking with your insurer, and UK policies often specify lock standards, so confirm your cover first. Our smart lock installation guide covers measuring and fitting.
Known drawbacks from the listing: no camera, face recognition or doorbell, a single colour, the NFC card sold separately, and remote unlock depends on a Thread border router. Apple Home Key needs a HomePod or Apple TV as a home hub.
Why does a multipoint Matter lock matter?
Most UK retrofit locks assume a Euro cylinder you can swap or clamp onto. Plenty of uPVC and composite doors instead throw several bolts when you lift the handle, and a motor on the cylinder cannot always drive that mechanism. A handle-replacement lock sidesteps this, which is why Yale's Conexis L2 has dominated the category. A Matter-native alternative would mean one fewer proprietary bridge for Home Assistant owners, though the Thread border router requirement shifts that dependency rather than removing it.
What don't we know yet?
Aqara has not published a UK on-sale date or an official UK price that we could find. We do not know whether it carries a TS007 or BS3621 rating, which matters to insurers, and the pages we read do not say. Check Aqara's UK store before buying.
