Tapo’s new $70 DL100 budget smart door lock is packed with features

TP-Link has announced a new budget-friendly electronic door lock joining its Tapo smart home line that’s launching today for $69.99. Despite the entry-level pricing, the new Tapo DL100 Smart Deadbolt Door Lock offers multiple unlocking methods including a keypad, a physical key, the Tapo mobile app, or voice commands used through smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and Samsung SmartThings.

The Tapo DL100 is about $10 cheaper than the Wyze Lock Bolt which we selected as the best budget smart lock in our buyer’s guide. The new Tapo doesn’t offer the convenience of a fingerprint scanner like the Lock Bolt, but it does come with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wyze’s budget option is Bluetooth only unless you pair it with the company’s video doorbell.

With Wi-Fi turned on, TP-Link estimates the new Tapo DL100 will run for up to seven months on a set of four AA batteries, but that can be extended to up to 10 months when only using Bluetooth. Should the batteries die unexpectedly and you’ve lost your key, the smart lock can be temporarily powered using a USB-C port.

For enhanced security, the Tapo DL100 supports a feature called pin masking where you can enter your access code as part of a larger string of numbers to help obscure your PIN. You can also set up one-time codes for visiting guests, or codes for service workers like repair technicians that only work during specific times of the day.

The smart door lock is also compatible with Tapo’s smart doorbell giving you the option to unlock the door while seeing a live preview of who’s standing on your porch. The mobile app also delivers notifications when the door has been locked and unlocked, and keeps detailed logs – including those on specific users – based on which codes were used. The Tapo DL100 also comes with an IP54 weather-resistance rating so it can survive getting wet during a rain storm or an accidental blast from a hose.