Aqara
Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500
- Native integration
- Local control
- Thread
- Matter
- Bluetooth
Prices verified September 2026
See more smart locks picks on our Amazon storefront →Our verdict
Launched in the UK in May 2026 alongside Aqara's Gate Lock and Glass Door Lock, this is a genuinely different UK door type from the U200 range: a surface-mounted rim lock (nightlatch-style) for classic UK entrance doors, rather than a euro-cylinder retrofit. Matter over Thread gives fully local Home Assistant control, same pattern as U200/U200 Lite, but you'll need a Matter controller and a Thread border router — and check the 40-45mm backset and drilling template against your door before ordering, since it's not a no-modification retrofit.
What can Home Assistant control on the Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500?
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Lock | Lock | Local Matter door lock cluster exposed as a standard HA lock entity; commands execute without a cloud round-trip. |
| Battery | Sensor (%) | Matter power-source cluster battery percentage, same as the U200. |
| Changed by | Attribute (extrapolated) | Matter's lock-event source attribute; on the U200 this frequently reports generic/unspecified rather than distinguishing keypad, NFC, or app — expected to carry over given shared firmware lineage. |
| User codes | Service | Managed through HA's built-in user/credential UI for Matter locks, same mechanism as the U200, rather than through the Aqara app. |
| Door/jam state | Unsupported | No door-open or bolt-jam sensor is surfaced over Matter — same limitation as the U200; only locked/unlocked state is reported. |
No U500-specific Home Assistant reports exist yet given how recent this launch is — this is extrapolated from Aqara's U200, whose Matter firmware the U500 likely shares. Expect the same unreliable changed-by attribute, where Matter's lock-event source often reports unspecified instead of keypad, NFC, or app, while native HA user/credential management should work the same way it does on the U200. The nightlatch/rim bolt is mechanically binary — thrown or retracted, with no partial-turn cylinder position in between — so the reported lock state should read more reliably than a cylinder-turn mechanism can; door/jam sensing is still not exposed over Matter, the same gap as the U200.
Specs
| power | 4x AA batteries, ~7 months, USB-C emergency charging |
|---|---|
| door fit | Surface-mounted rim lock (nightlatch-style) for UK timber entrance doors; 40-45mm backset, 20-60mm door thickness, requires drilling to template — not a no-modification retrofit |
How does the Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 compare?
| Product | From | Protocol | Local control | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 (this product) | £279.98 | Matter, Thread, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
| Aqara Smart Lock U200 | £169.99 | Thread, Matter, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
| Aqara Smart Lock U200 Lite | £105.99 | Thread, Matter, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
| igloohome Mortise 2+ | £439.99 | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Cloud | Cloud |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 work with Home Assistant locally?
- Yes. The Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 is controlled locally in Home Assistant through a built-in Home Assistant core integration (matter), so it keeps working if your internet connection or the Aqara cloud goes down. Control and state updates stay on your own network.
- Which protocol does the Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 use, and do I need a hub?
- The Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 uses Matter and Thread and Bluetooth. To pair it with Home Assistant you need a Thread border router if it is Matter-over-Thread, or just your Wi-Fi network if it is Matter-over-Wi-Fi; or a Thread border router (Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1, Apple TV 4K or a HomePod mini all work); or a Bluetooth adapter on your Home Assistant host or an ESPHome Bluetooth proxy. Aqara's own hub is not required when you integrate through a built-in Home Assistant core integration (matter).
- How much does the Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 cost in the UK?
- The lowest price we have listed for the Aqara Smart Rim Lock U500 is £279.98 at Aqara UK store. Prices were last checked in September 2026 and change often, so confirm on the retailer's page before buying.