What's New

International market research firm Parks Associates has formally published its 2025 market assessment report, Access Control in the Smart Home: Locks and Garage Door Openers, offering a systematic examination of the US smart lock and smart garage door opener landscape, consumer purchasing behavior, and the trajectory for growth over the next five years.

The findings indicate that smart access control solutions have solidified their position as a core category within the smart home ecosystem. Market momentum is being driven primarily by sustained consumer demand for three key value propositions: convenience, peace of mind, and perimeter security. As new entrants continue to crowd the access control sector, established lock and garage door manufacturers are accelerating the expansion of their product portfolios and service ecosystems.

Standards: Competition Moves to a Deeper Phase

The report notes that as access control becomes increasingly embedded within broader security, platform, and service ecosystems, future success will hinge on standards alignment, transparency regarding product lifecycles, and channel partnership strategies that effectively balance control with interoperability. Parks Associates Senior Analyst Daniel Holcomb emphasized in the report: "As access control becomes embedded within security, platform, and service ecosystems, success will hinge on standards alignment, lifecycle transparency, and channel partnerships that balance control with interoperability."

This assessment captures the central challenge currently defining competition in the smart lock industry. In early 2026, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) officially released the Aliro standard, paving the way for cross-brand, hands-free unlocking using Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. Simultaneously, the deployment of Matter-over-Thread technology in the smart lock sector is accelerating. U-tec introduced the Ultraloq Bolt Fingerprint Matter, the world's first biometric lock with native Matter-over-Thread support, while Philips launched its Matter-compatible 4000 Series smart lock at CES 2025, enabling seamless integration with major ecosystems—including Apple HomeKit, Google Nest, and Amazon Alexa—via the Thread protocol. The trend was further underscored at CES 2026, where UWB-enabled smart locks saw explosive growth, with products such as the Aqara U400, multiple new UWB offerings from ULTRALOQ, and the UK's Avia Aurora signaling that hands-free access is transitioning from concept to commercial scale.

The landscape makes clear that the core competitiveness of smart locks has evolved beyond standalone hardware innovation. The battle is now systemic, defined by interoperability, security standards, and ecosystem compatibility. Brands that can achieve seamless ecosystem alignment in this standards race are best positioned to lead the next wave of industry expansion.

Consumer Drivers as Critical Variables

The report provides a granular analysis of the consumer purchase journey, covering motivations, sales channels, average selling prices, return reasons, and user experience. It places specific emphasis on perceived value regarding next-generation features. On the topic of connected security, the data reveals that approximately nine in ten US broadband households own at least one smart home device, with roughly 9% owning a smart lock (equating to approximately nine million households) and 10% owning a connected camera. Smart locks now rank among the most popular smart home devices, trailing only smart doorbells, smart light bulbs, and smart thermostats. While these figures demonstrate steady growth in adoption rates, they also underscore significant headroom for expansion, with security concerns, data privacy anxieties, and battery life limitations remaining primary obstacles to broader uptake.

The research also specifically evaluated consumer interest in biometric authentication methods—including fingerprint and palm vein recognition—and next-generation credential standards. This trend was vividly reflected in the 2026 market, where leading manufacturers such as Desman, Kaadas, and Lockin unveiled new products centered on AI-driven smart assistants, multi-camera coordination, and outdoor screen interfaces. Notably, the Lockin V7 Max, unveiled by Lockin at CES 2026, addressed the long-standing pain point of battery life through over-the-air charging technology. The evolution marks a shift from "passive unlocking" to "active guardianship," transforming the smart lock from a simple entry tool into a critical hub for comprehensive home security.

Multi-Family Housing Emerges as Growth Engine

Of particular note is a concurrent Parks Associates white paper, Modernizing Multifamily Housing: Retrofitting Access Control, which highlights substantial potential within the business-to-business (B2B) sector. The white paper's survey data shows that nearly 72% of multifamily property owners and operators plan to upgrade smart building solutions in at least one of their properties over the next 12 months, with access control identified as the highest-priority area for retrofitting. Parks Associates Research Director Kristen Hanich noted that investors increasingly recognise the value of smart building technology in driving operational efficiency, reducing costs, and attracting and retaining tenants. Existing properties, she added, are actively seeking to modernise access systems to remain competitive amid a surge in new housing supply. This push aligns with owner and operator goals to justify rent increases by enhancing the resident experience through intelligent access upgrades.

From the DIY consumer self-installation market to professional security channels and large-scale B2B deployments across multifamily housing, the smart lock sector is building a diversified growth trajectory. Looking ahead, the next five years are likely to favor companies that can strike an optimal balance between protocol standards, ecosystem openness, and consumer trust, thereby gaining the advantage in the long-term evolution of smart home access control.