Exactly 1 year ago, I tested my first smart padlock which is the Quicklock Padlock but I wasn’t really impressed because that product was not ready for prime time yet. There are a lot more brands joining the market now, and it’s great news that we have more choices from a well-known security product manufacturer like Master Lock. This is the world’s largest manufacturer of padlocks, so we all hope their products will be safe and reliable.
A few months ago, Master Lock announced a new line of Bluetooth Smart Padlocks, including the 4400D indoor padlock and 4401DLH outdoor padlock. We are taking a look at the Master Lock 4400D in this review.
Testing Video
Features & Performance
The 4400D feels very solid and looks like a premium hardware. However, the version is not weatherproof, so you should only use it indoor. The shackle is made of hardened boron alloy which is said to deliver superior cut resistance. The battery tray is located on the bottom, you will have to unlock the padlock to replace the battery. The battery is non-rechargeable but they use CR2450 battery, so it’s quite easy to replace it. Even in the worst case that the battery is dead and you can’t unlock the padlock, you can use another CR2450 to jump start and complete the battery replacement. Master Lock said that the battery could last up to 2 years in Touch Unlock Mode and 4 months in Swipe Unlock Mode, so you shouldn’t be worried about the replacement anytime soon.
On the front of the padlock, there is a directional keypad and a button with LED indicator at the center. You can use the padlock immediately without a smartphone with the directional keypad, but I’d recommend you to install the Master Lock Vault eLocks app to get the most out of it. After pairing with your smartphone, you can unlock the Master Lock with just a tap on the lock, you can invite guests to share digital keys, limit the access to days or nights, use the Locker mode to store your smartphone inside a locker (unlock with the keypad), monitor access history and receive tamper alerts and low battery notifications.
Everything works well in my test but sometimes I just couldn’t unlock the 4400D padlock. Probably there was an issue with Bluetooth connection or my phone, the problem was solved after I restarted my device.
If you are in the market for a smart padlock, the Master Lock 4400D is obviously one option you should consider. Master Lock uses a robust, military-grade authentication and encryption mechanisms, so I hope it will help protect us from manipulation attempts.
