Starting next year, Samsung smartphones will be able to unlock smart locks either with a tap or even hands-free, thanks to UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology. The tap-to-unlock feature will use NFC, similar to how iPhones have had this functionality for some time.
Samsung will integrate the Aliro smart lock standard into its Wallet’s Digital Home Key, allowing users to unlock smart locks locally without requiring an internet connection. Impressively, you won’t even need to unlock your phone to access the feature.
Hands-free unlocking will only be available on Samsung phones that support UWB, which currently includes certain foldables and + and Ultra models from the Galaxy S series. The Aliro standard is developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the same group behind Matter, and involves collaboration between Apple, Google, Samsung, and key lock and chip manufacturers. The first smart locks supporting Aliro are expected to be available next year when Samsung phones will begin supporting the standard.
