Yale YRD256-CBA / ZW2 / iM1 Smart Deadbolt Review

The Yale YRD256 line provides options for all home automation enthusiasts regardless of your platform. There are options for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Z-Wave Plus which aligns it with Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, Hubitat, Connected by August and other popular platforms. You can even use it with an app or no automation at all.

Connected by August	Connected by August	Connected by August
Apple HomeKit	Apple HomeKit	Apple HomeKit
Z-Wave Plus	Z-Wave Plus	Z-Wave Plus
Zigbee	Zigbee	Zigbee

Overall Rating 

Overall I was very impressed with this lock. It has many great features that should be standard in a high-end smart lock. It was well thought out, including the aspect of using a single lock frame that can be converted from a Connected by August (CBA), Apple HomeKit (iM1), Z-Wave Plus (ZW2), and Zigbee (HA2).

The CBA model has the most functionality, which is reflected in the price, but the other versions offer more capabilities when compared to the YRD156 for example.

Description

The YRD256 is one of the slimmest smart lock for your home. It has a sleek and modern touchscreen that allows homeowners to enjoy the convenience of 100% key free locking and unlocking. Unlock your home without the hassle of keys by entering your 4-8 digit entry code on the keypad. Lock the door behind you by simply tapping the keypad. The lock is simple to install and even easier to use.

There are five versions of this lock:

• CBA – Connected by August (requires the August) and can also be connected to Apple HomeKit.
• iM1 – Does not require an app and is compatible with Apple HomeKit.
• ZW2 – Z-Wave Plus that requires a Z-Wave hub or Alarm system. Compatible with SmartThings, Wink, Hubitat, Vera, Alarm.com, Iris and more.
• HA2 – Zigbee lock that requires a Zigbee hub.

Ease of Installation 

In most cases the lock can be installed in under 15 minutes. The only tool required is a Phillips screwdriver. My only complaint is that the wire bundle is thick and makes it difficult to orient under the lock housing. This makes putting in the small screws challenging.

The guide pins that extend from the base plate to the keypad greatly improve your ability to install the large mounting screws, however it is still somewhat challenging. Better than most locks.

Ease of Programming 

Programming is simple and straight forward as long as you have the user guide. The lock provides voice prompts, which is nice if you lose the manual. There may be some guessing involved to navigate the menu in voice only mode, but it’s a great feature. Obviously it’s much easier with the manual providing you with the menu navigation.

General Aesthetics 

This is a great looking lock, inside and out. The keypad is short and slim. The interior lock housing is also a very nice size, much smaller than some of the competitive locks.

Smart Home Reliability 

Overall I encountered an issue with the lock I was testing in that the lock didn’t always drive far enough to engage the internal lock and unlock sensor/switch. I have spoken to other owners that have this lock and they don’t seem to have this problem. It is probably just my test unit. Since this is not related to the radio module, the results would be the same for the CBA, iM1, ZW2, and HA2 models.

Cycle and Keypad tests were performed from Hubitat Elevation and SmartThings and all errors appeared to be related to the sensor and not the radio.

Cycle Commands from the Hub – success measures both the command was executed by the lock and the status was successfully sent back to the hub.

Cycle Commands from the Keypad – success measures if the lock sent the status back to the hub and sent the correct user-id that performed the unlock action.

Thumbscrew Cycles – success measure if the lock sent the correct status back to the hub when manually turning the thumbscrew.

Jamming and Alerts 

All Lock Models – When the lock detects a jam it goes into a high power mode to try to move past the problem. If Audio Feedback is turned on, an audible tune plays indicating that there is a problem.

Z-wave – There is no Jam signal that gets sent back to the hub (I believe the generic Z-Wave standard does not support it). If Audio Feedback is turned off, you will also be turning off the audible jam alert.

Connected by August – Not tested.

iM1 – Not tested.

Zibee – Not tested.

Keypad 

The keypad is very sexy and has a rubber gasket to help prevent water ingress. It is also one of the sturdiest keypads I’ve seen to date.

My only complaint is that fingerprints collect on the lock very easily. If you are using 4-digit pins or repeating numbers, this could present a huge security issue. Keep in mind, you should do neither! The lock supports up to 8 digits, I would suggest using at least 6. Since the Yale YRD256 does not accommodate fake pins, this can be an issue.

Pin Codes  

All Lock Models – The lock supports up to 250 pin codes. Pin codes can vary from 4 to 8 digits.

Connected by August – the YRD256-CBA model can be connected to Airbnb and HomeAway however I did not test this capability.

Smart Home Integration 

Connected by August  – uses either the August app or can be integrated with Apple Home Kit. While I did not test the Apple HomeKit side, the August app was average when compared to other smart home apps I’ve encountered. The Auto Unlock on Arrival feature worked GREAT and is demonstrated in the video.

Z-Wave – Being a Z-Wave lock, this has no app other than what is provided by your Z-Wave hub or alarm system. If you wish to have Amazon Echo or Google Home Assistant integration, it must be performed through your hub or alarm. Connecting to the Z-Wave hub was very easy. No issues there.

iM1 and Zigbee  –  Not tested.

Auto Unlock on Arrival 

Connected by August  – This feature worked great and is demonstrated in the video.

Z-Wave  – No capability native the lock. This must be accomplished through a Z-Wave hub rules engine. For Z-Wave hubs, figuring out how to securely accomplish this can be a challenge for the average user.

iM1 and Zigbee  – No capability that I am aware of and therefore not tested.

Door Open Alerts

Connected by August  – the CBA model has a feature called Door Sense. While in concept this is pretty cool, I was never able to get it to work. I’m assuming that it was me and not the lock. I have a 3-rating since 1) I assume the feature did work, and 2) it shouldn’t be that hard to figure out. In my opinion this type of feature will never be as reliable as an actual door sensor. But if you don’t have the capacity or desire to install a door sensor, this could be a cool feature.

Z-Wave  – Being a standard Z-Wave lock that’s meant to be used with an alarm system or a smart home hub, this really isn’t an issue and I didn’t let it influence my overall opinion. Most Z-Wave hub owners and alarm systems will use dedicated door open sensors that are frankly more reliable than door open sensors that are built into a lock.

iM1 and Zigbee – Not tested.

Positive Comments

This is a very nice lock regardless of the model you choose. I found it to be highly reliable.

Negative Comments

Connected by August – my only complaint is the August app. Pairing the lock was a little confusing since it’s not a normal August lock. The picture provided in the app looks nothing like the lock and it took some guessing to figure out that you have to pair this as a Gen 3 lock. The app also isn’t that user friendly in my opinion.

Z-Wave – It seems like it would have been so easy to include Bluetooth in the radio module, which would have enabled the Auto Unlock on Arrival, but that’s just me.