Samsung introduces a new home button similar to Apple's for Galaxy devices.

Next year, Samsung users will be able to enjoy a feature that iPhone owners have had for years: the ability to unlock a smart lock simply by tapping it with their phone or watch. This will eliminate the need to carry keys or unlock the device to access an app; the phone will become the key.

This week, Samsung announced that it will adopt the new Aliro smart lock standard for the Digital Home Key feature of Samsung Wallet. This will allow users to unlock doors with a simple tap, as well as to do so hands-free on compatible locks. Currently, it is possible to add a digital key for a smart lock in Samsung Wallet, but with the new feature, it won’t be necessary to unlock the phone or access the wallet. Just touching the lock with the phone or smartwatch will open it. This tap-to-unlock feature is similar to the Home Key feature offered by Apple, where you just need to approach the door with the device in hand and it unlocks.

Mark Benson, leader of Samsung SmartThings in the U.S., explained in an interview that adopting the Aliro standard will enable Galaxy device users to use the Digital Home Key in Samsung Wallet to open locks compatible with Aliro. He also mentioned that if the device has UWB technology, the door can automatically open as the user approaches.

When both the lock and the mobile device are equipped with UWB technology, they will be able to communicate to determine the user’s exact location and unlock the door as they get closer, thus facilitating a hands-free experience. Apple also recently announced that it will support automatic unlocking via UWB in Apple Home smart locks, and now Samsung is implementing similar capability in its smartphones and smartwatches for next year.

Aliro, a new standard for smart locks, is being developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, which backs the smart home standard known as Matter. Like Matter, Aliro is being collaborated on by Apple, Google, and Samsung, along with major lock and chip manufacturers. The first specification is expected to be published in 2025, including support for both NFC and UWB protocols. The NFC protocol enables the tap-to-unlock function, while UWB allows for hands-free unlocking. The important thing about these protocols is that they can work locally between the phone and the lock, without needing an internet connection.

At the moment, there are no smart locks that are compatible with the Aliro standard, as an established framework is still lacking, but these models are anticipated to start arriving next year. With both Samsung and Apple committed to implementing Aliro, smart lock manufacturers will only need to add support for a single standard that works with digital wallets on devices from both brands.