Ultraloq unveils the Bolt Mission smart lock, employing ultra-wideband to enhance proximity detection and prevent false auto-unlocks, aiming to revolutionise hands-free entry systems.
ULTRALOQ has introduced a smart lock that moves beyond the ordinary Bluetooth-based approach to hands-free entry. The new Bolt Mission uses ultra-wideband, or UWB, to judge not just whether an authorised phone is nearby, but whether the user is actually approaching the door from outside. The company says the lock also combines Bluetooth Low Energy discovery with built-in radar-based presence sensing, with the decision made locally rather than through a cloud service or home hub.
That matters because many auto-unlock systems depend on location services and Bluetooth alone, which can be inconsistent in real homes. ULTRALOQ’s own support material says its existing Auto Unlock feature on earlier Bolt models relies on smartphone location data and Bluetooth. By contrast, the Bolt Mission is designed to use the tighter spatial awareness of UWB, the same class of technology Apple uses for more precise proximity features in AirTags and other devices. ULTRALOQ says the feature works with UWB-equipped iPhones and Android handsets, including selected models from Apple, Samsung, Google and Motorola.
The company is launching the Bolt Mission alongside two other smart locks: the Bolt Pro and the Latch 5 Pro. These are aimed at users who want tap-to-unlock access via the Aliro digital key standard, rather than Apple’s Home Key system. Aliro is the cross-platform specification backed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance and supported by Apple, Google and Samsung. Both locks are Matter-certified and also support fingerprint recognition, PIN entry, app control and physical key backup. The Bolt Pro is a deadbolt, while the Latch 5 Pro is designed for lever-style doors such as side entrances, garages and home offices.
ULTRALOQ says no extra accessory is needed to use the Bolt Mission’s UWB auto-unlock feature, beyond a compatible smartphone and the Xthings Home app. Remote access may still depend on a Thread Border Router or the company’s Wi-Fi Bridge Adaptor, depending on the wider smart home setup. For now, the Bolt Mission stands out as the most technically ambitious model in the range, because it tackles the main weakness of earlier hands-free systems: the gap between being near the home and actually trying to enter it.
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