The digital key feature has been a staple on Apple iPhones for a while now, and those equipped with UWB chips can do the car or home door unlocking from further away, but that will go for Samsung’s service as well.
Those with older or more midrange handsets will still be able to use the tap to unlock option, i.e. they will have to actually move the phone close to the smart lock and align with the NFC chip inside like with mobile payments.
Aliro counts a lot of major lock makers as well as chip manufacturers among its founders, and is being developed jointly by the Silicon Valley juggernauts like Google, Apple, or Samsung.
Its Galaxy phones will only get access to the Digital Home Key feature next year, on account of the simple fact that the standard’s specifications are expected to be finalized and go into smart locks supporting them in 2025. In any case, the better late than never mantra is fully applicable here.
