• 2 min read
Huawei smart locks gain visitor video messages
Huawei’s HarmonyOS 6.1.0.1 update lets Smart Lock owners receive visitor video messages and switch from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi automatically.
Image: ITzine
Huawei has released HarmonyOS 6.1.0.1 for its smart door locks, adding a way for visitors to leave video and audio messages when the homeowner is unavailable. The owner can later view the full recording in the Smart Living app.
New messaging and call controls
The update turns the lock into more than an access device. It can show the visitor on its display, accept a video message, and function as a compact intercom and camera within Huawei’s smart-home ecosystem.
During a call, users can now disable the lock’s camera with a single tap from a smartphone while keeping voice communication active. That may be particularly useful in homes where several people use the same lock and switch between phones.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
When a lock is connected through a Bluetooth gateway and the signal weakens, the system can automatically switch to Wi-Fi. The change is designed to reduce connection problems without requiring users to adjust their router setup.
The update is already rolling out to a broad range of models, including all versions of the Huawei Smart Lock X1 and Smart Lock 2. In China, Huawei has been positioning “smart entry” as part of a broader home ecosystem. Competitors including Xiaomi, Aqara, and Yale are pursuing a similar combination of lock, camera, and app.
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Ilya Ignatov is a technology journalist and news writer. He graduated from the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics with a degree in information security and has covered hardware, software, and consumer electronics since 2018.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via ITzine
