Look, Brian won’t shut up about his “fancy European” smart lock – thing chirps opera when it unlocks. Opera. Meanwhile, my LS-S61 sounds like a sick pigeon gargling when the Wi-Fi drops. But guess who texts ME when his opera lock freezes during rain? Yep. Here’s why this clunky beast stands out in the top rated smart locks zoo:
1. The Fingerprint Thing Ain’t Fussy (Mostly)
Brian’s lock won’t read his thumb after BBQ sauce. Mine? Glazed donut fingers? S’all good. Post-mowing sweat? Usually fine. Actual dirt clod stuck to finger? Okay, maybe struggle. But 95% success? Way better than Brian’s opera diva lock. Oh, and grandma’s thin fingers? Worked on the first try. Brian’s lock still thinks she’s a “foreign object.” Rude.
2. That Godzilla Tamper Alarm
Most locks beep politely if messed with. Boring. The LS-S61? It shrieks like it’s being murdered by an angry badger. Inside AND outside the house. Set it off once cleaning spiderwebs near the sensor – neighbor Fred called 911 thinking a car alarm exploded. Intruders? Forget it. Raccoons? Convinced one still has PTSD (see: trash panda incident log, Apr 12). Pure chaotic deterrence.
3. Battery Apocalypse Mode
Yeah, it eats AAs like candy if you leave the video feed streaming all day (guilty). BUT. When batteries hit 10%, it doesn’t just die quietly. Nope. Starts a slow, dramatic death march:
- Stage 1: Blue LED blinks mournfully.
- Stage 2: Unlock motor groans like an arthritic skeleton.
- Stage 3: App sends passive-aggressive “HELLO? DYING HERE?” notifications EVERY. HOUR.
- Bonus Stage: Physical key override hatch actually works smoothly (unlike Brian’s ‘hidden’ backup requiring a PhD in origami). You’ll change those batteries FAST. Survival instincts kick in.
4. Video Intercom: The Glitchy Party Trick
Does it have crisp, Hollywood-quality video? LOL no. Steve-from-42’s face looks pixelated like Minecraft. But can you scare the bejeezus out of delivery drivers with Darth Vader voice lag? ABSOLUTELY. Unique value proposition! It also takes blurry screenshots automatically when motion detected at the door. Evidence? Mostly pictures of blurry pigeons. But that one time… caught Brian’s dog pooping on my azaleas. Proof. Payment extracted in BBQ ribs. Justice served.
5. Schedule Stuff That Actually (Kinda) Works?
“Lock every night at 11 PM!” Great idea! Until Brian crashed on the couch after game night and got locked inside the house trying to get more beers at 11:05. True story. His fault? Yes. Hilarious? Also yes. Auto-unlock at sunset just… doesn’t? Maybe it hates my timezone. But temporary guest codes? Flawless. Dog walker never needs a key. Plumber got a code expiring in 2 hours. Ex-boyfriend trying to “drop by”? Ghosted code. Beautiful.
6. Physical Tank Mode
Compared to Brian’s sleek, plasticky opera box? The LS-S61 looks like a mini bank vault welded to your door. It’s chunky. Heavy. Brushed steel(ish?) finish. Kicked it testing durability (twice). Shoulder-slammed it carrying groceries (frequently). Dropped a hammer on it. Still works. Feels like it could survive a zombie apocalypse, or at least Brian’s “helpful” DIY attempts.
The Verdict: Clunky Charm Beats Fancy Flakiness
Does it do zodiac sign predictions? Nope. Opera? Thank god, no. Is it sleek and invisible? Negative. But what it DOES do? It does it like a stubborn, slightly deaf, raccoon-terrorizing bulldog:
- Unlocks reliably with dirty fingers
- Scares thieves (and small mammals) senseless
- Records blurry pigeon crime footage
- Survives blunt force trauma
- Outlasts fancy cousins with dead batteries
For pure, practical, no-nonsense (okay, some nonsense) function over flash? This weirdo outperforms the fragile “smart” options. It’s the honey-badger of top rated smart locks. Messy, loud, kinda weird… but gets the job done. Brian can keep his opera. I’ve got evidence against his dog. Winner: Me.