Thank you Anweller for sending us this smart doorknob to review!

This is the second smart lock we have received from Anweller to review. The gym fingerprint lock is well designed and I welcomed the opportunity to check out their smart door lock. I should start off by stating that I work in IT and don’t trust anything that can be opened remotely. As a general rule if you can open it remotely, so can a hacker. For paranoia reasons I installed this door handle in a room not accessible from the outside. It’s currently installed in our spare bedroom/guestroom because I thought it would be funny to offer visitors a room access card like hotels do.

You’ll need 4 AAA batteries and Anweller’s phone app to fully utilize this door handle. The Amazon store page states that the batteries will last close to a year. I won’t make them wait that long for this review, but I can say that it’s very power efficient and hasn’t been draining the batteries too badly. The app and door handle will remind you when the batteries are low. If the batteries are dead, you can plug in a power bank temporarily via the USB-C connection or use the traditional keys to unlock the door.

Installation is pretty straight forward, and I appreciate that this smart door handle came with a Philips head screwdriver. Because my existing door knob’s lock latch and strike plate cover were not compatible, I had to remove them and use the ones provided with this door handle.

The door handle has three lock settings. The default setting is to have the door lock every time it’s closed and will only remain in an unlocked state for a short period of time. I found this out the hard way after closing the door after just installing it. Thankfully, I was able to pair it in the app and unlock it quickly! Passage mode will leave the door in an unlocked state by default. The final mode is an anti-unlock mode that only lets the admin unlock it from the app (or anyone with the physical keys). You can change the locking mode by pressing the lock or unlock buttons on the inside of the door.

Because I already reviewed Anweller’s biometric gym lock, the necessary app was already installed on my phone. Through the app you can register fingerprints, codes, and RFID cards. You can set both temporary and long-term passcodes. By default, the door latch will audibly tell you when it is locked and unlocked. Thankfully, I was able to mute the voice through the app. Allowing any fingerprint is also the default configuration, and you’ll have to set up at least one fingerprint to properly secure it.

In order for changes to be made via the app, the door handle must be in an awakened state and within range of my phone’s Bluetooth. In other words, I cannot tell it to unlock or change any settings from far away. From a security standpoint, activity of every pin, fingerprint, RFID card, use is recorded. If there was any unauthorized access, it would have to be done close by within Bluetooth range. Wi-Fi connectivity is not used or available as an option with this door handle.

If you’re in the market for a door handle that supports multiple users via codes, cards, and fingerprints, the Anweller H1BCF Smart Fingerprint Door Handle Lock is a solid option. Outside of the blurry screen, the rest of the door handle is solid and feels sturdy. The price is reasonable at $69.99. They offer a 6 month money back guarantee and 12 months of free product replacements.