Nuki has rolled out a significant firmware update to its Keypad 2 NFC, bridging a gap many IoT engineers have been watching closely. The Vienna-based firm now supports Aliro, an open standard aiming to unify digital key management across iOS and Android ecosystems. For $179, users can tap phones or watches to unlock doors, bypassing proprietary app dependencies.

From an integration standpoint, the implementation reveals typical growing pains. While the keypad handles both Apple Home Key and Samsung Digital Home Key, Martina Stix from Nuki notes a specific ordering constraint: Apple Home must pair before Samsung SmartThings. It is a reminder that even open standards like Aliro, which leverage NFC, BLE, and UWB, still face interoperability hurdles in 2026.

Unlike the Aqara U400, which utilizes UWB for hands-free entry, Nuki's retrofit design relies on NFC. This distinction matters for architecture decisions. The lock attaches to the interior thumb turn, preserving existing deadbolts, a practical choice for rental markets but limiting external sensor placement. Users can toggle between Smart Home Mode, requiring a Matter/Thread hub, or standalone Nuki App Mode.

The move signals broader acceptance of wallet-based authentication beyond payments. However, with auto-unlock features absent on the keypad itself, engineers should note the reliance on specific hub configurations for full automation. As Aliro matures, expect these friction points to smooth out, but for now, deployment requires careful sequencing. Security teams should also note that digital keys reside in the phone's wallet, reducing cloud dependency for authentication events. This local-first approach aligns with broader shifts toward edge processing in consumer hardware.

For teams evaluating smart home APIs, Nuki's update offers a real-world case study in managing cross-platform identity verification without sacrificing physical security standards.

Source: The Verge