If you've ever had to break out the bolt cutters because you forgot the combination or lost the keys to your padlock, the Tapplock one+ ($99) is for you.
This sturdy Bluetooth-enabled padlock can be opened with a mobile app, a fingerprint, or even a custom Morse code, and its rechargeable battery lasts up to one year between charges.
You can store up to 500 fingerprints in the database and grant various levels of access to friends, family, and service personnel, though it doesn't offer email or push alerts and you can't access the lock remotely.
Even so, its versatility, durability, and long battery life earn it our Editors' Choice for smart padlocks.
Design and Features
Available in Gun Metal, Midnight Black, or Sterling Silver, the Tapplock one+ looks sharp.
It's a round lock that weighs 10.6 ounces and measures 3.4 inches in length (including shackle), 2.2 inches wide, and 1.3 inches thick.
The lock has a reinforced stainless steel shackle and an anti-shim double-layered zinc alloy body with an IP67 weatherproof rating that protects against rain, dust, and rust.
Other smart padlocks that we've reviewed, such as the Master Lock 4401DLH Outdoor Bluetooth Padlock, can be unlocked using a mobile app, and in the case of the Igloohome Smart Padlock, you also have the option of using a keypad and PIN code.
The Tapplock one+ is unique in that it offers three methods of unlocking: You can use the mobile app while in Bluetooth mode, you can register your fingerprints and use the capacitive sensor on the face of the lock, or you can use the Morse code feature that lets you use the power button, located below the sensor, to tap in a custom code.
The power button doubles as a function switch: Press it once to power up the lock, twice to enable Bluetooth mode, and three times to enable Morse code mode.
A small LED indicator located above the sensor glows white when the lock is powered up, blue when it's in Bluetooth mode, and purple when it's in Morse code mode.
A red LED indicates a low battery and a green LED tells you that the battery is fully charged.
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Master Lock 4401DLH Outdoor Bluetooth Padlock
Master Lock 4400D Indoor Bluetooth Padlock
There's a magnetic battery port on the bottom edge of the lock that connects to a proprietary USB charging cable.
It takes around two hours to charge a drained battery, and according to Tapplock, you'll get a full year of power from a full charge.
The lock goes into sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity and immediately after it has been locked, and it has an auto-lock feature that will re-lock the shackle if it has not been opened after using one of the three unlocking methods.
If the battery should die before you get a chance to charge it, you can power up the lock with a portable USB power pack.
The one+ uses a Bluetooth 4.0 radio to connect to your Android or iOS mobile device so you can unlock and manage it using the Tapp mobile app, but you have to remain within Bluetooth range to do so.
The app opens to a My Tapplock screen with tabs for each installed lock.
Clicking on a tab takes you to a screen with a settings icon, Unlock and Fingerprint buttons, and a battery meter.
To use any of these, make sure the lock is in Bluetooth mode.
Tapping the Unlock button unlocks the shackle, but you have to pull it up to release it.
Tapping the Fingerprint button takes you to a screen where you can register left and right fingerprints, add new users, and register new user's fingerprints.
To register a fingerprint, select the hand and finger from the chart, press OK, and press your finger to the sensor on the lock for three seconds.
The LED will turn green when the fingerprint is successfully registered or red if unsuccessful.
Use the setting button to add a photo to your profile, edit the lock name, and update firmware.
Here you can also configure a Morse code that can be used to open the lock.
Simply press the Short and Long buttons (up to 12 times) in a sequence to create a custom code and press the Save button.
There are four buttons at the bottom of the My Tapplock screen labeled Tapplock, Shared, History, and Setting.
The Tapplock button takes you back to the My Tapplock screen and the Shared button takes you to a screen where you can create new users and grant permanent, one-time, or temporary access with start and end dates and start and end times.
Once you create a user, you can send an email that instructs the recipient to download the app.
The History button takes you to a screen that shows lock and unlock events with times, dates, and user names.
You can filter the list to show all events, fingerprint mode events, or Bluetooth mode events.
Use the Setting button to edit your password, enable/disable the battery meter, and view tutorials.
Installing the Tapplock is very easy.
I downloaded the mobile and created an account, then attached the power cable.
I tapped the power button twice to enable Bluetooth mode, selected Add a New Tapplock in the app, and the lock was immediately identified.
I gave it a name and proceeded to the fingerprint registration screen.
I registered my right thumb by holding it against the reader for three seconds.
The LED went from blinking blue to solid green, indicating that the fingerprint scan was successful.
The app registered the fingerprint and I repeated this for my left thumb and both my left and right forefingers.
I also added my son's thumbprints.
The Tapplock one+ did a great job of identifying all of my fingerprints, as well as my son's fingerprints.
The sensor only denied fingerprint access once in my numerous tests, and that was because my hand was soaking wet from rain.
After shaking the excess water from my hand, the lock opened as expected.
Unlocking the one+ using the mobile app also worked well, as did the Morse code method.
I sent an invite to a family member to share the lock but only granted temporary access for one hour, and the lock followed the time limit without issue.
The History feature logged all lock and unlock events, and the auto-lock feature also worked as intended.
Conclusions
With its fingerprint sensor, mobile app, and Morse code unlocking options, the Tapplock one+ is one of the smartest and more versatile padlocks we've tested.
It's durable and built to withstand the elements, and it performed well in our tests.
Although it doesn't support voice control or offer push alerts, it is very easy to set up and can store up to 500 fingerprints, and it uses a mobile app that makes it easy to add permanent, one-time, and temporary users with specific access times and dates.
All this earns it our Editors' Choice for smart padlocks.
The Bottom Line
The Tapplock one+ is a durable smart padlock that you can open with an app, your fingerprint, or a custom Morse code.
If you've ever had to break out the bolt cutters because you forgot the combination or lost the keys to your padlock, the Tapplock one+ ($99) is for you.
This sturdy Bluetooth-enabled padlock can be opened with a mobile app, a fingerprint, or even a custom Morse code, and its rechargeable battery lasts up to one year between charges.
You can store up to 500 fingerprints in the database and grant various levels of access to friends, family, and service personnel, though it doesn't offer email or push alerts and you can't access the lock remotely.
Even so, its versatility, durability, and long battery life earn it our Editors' Choice for smart padlocks.
Design and Features
Available in Gun Metal, Midnight Black, or Sterling Silver, the Tapplock one+ looks sharp.
It's a round lock that weighs 10.6 ounces and measures 3.4 inches in length (including shackle), 2.2 inches wide, and 1.3 inches thick.
The lock has a reinforced stainless steel shackle and an anti-shim double-layered zinc alloy body with an IP67 weatherproof rating that protects against rain, dust, and rust.
Other smart padlocks that we've reviewed, such as the Master Lock 4401DLH Outdoor Bluetooth Padlock, can be unlocked using a mobile app, and in the case of the Igloohome Smart Padlock, you also have the option of using a keypad and PIN code.
The Tapplock one+ is unique in that it offers three methods of unlocking: You can use the mobile app while in Bluetooth mode, you can register your fingerprints and use the capacitive sensor on the face of the lock, or you can use the Morse code feature that lets you use the power button, located below the sensor, to tap in a custom code.
The power button doubles as a function switch: Press it once to power up the lock, twice to enable Bluetooth mode, and three times to enable Morse code mode.
A small LED indicator located above the sensor glows white when the lock is powered up, blue when it's in Bluetooth mode, and purple when it's in Morse code mode.
A red LED indicates a low battery and a green LED tells you that the battery is fully charged.
Similar Products
Master Lock 4401DLH Outdoor Bluetooth Padlock
Master Lock 4400D Indoor Bluetooth Padlock
There's a magnetic battery port on the bottom edge of the lock that connects to a proprietary USB charging cable.
It takes around two hours to charge a drained battery, and according to Tapplock, you'll get a full year of power from a full charge.
The lock goes into sleep mode after 10 minutes of inactivity and immediately after it has been locked, and it has an auto-lock feature that will re-lock the shackle if it has not been opened after using one of the three unlocking methods.
If the battery should die before you get a chance to charge it, you can power up the lock with a portable USB power pack.
The one+ uses a Bluetooth 4.0 radio to connect to your Android or iOS mobile device so you can unlock and manage it using the Tapp mobile app, but you have to remain within Bluetooth range to do so.
The app opens to a My Tapplock screen with tabs for each installed lock.
Clicking on a tab takes you to a screen with a settings icon, Unlock and Fingerprint buttons, and a battery meter.
To use any of these, make sure the lock is in Bluetooth mode.
Tapping the Unlock button unlocks the shackle, but you have to pull it up to release it.
Tapping the Fingerprint button takes you to a screen where you can register left and right fingerprints, add new users, and register new user's fingerprints.
To register a fingerprint, select the hand and finger from the chart, press OK, and press your finger to the sensor on the lock for three seconds.
The LED will turn green when the fingerprint is successfully registered or red if unsuccessful.
Use the setting button to add a photo to your profile, edit the lock name, and update firmware.
Here you can also configure a Morse code that can be used to open the lock.
Simply press the Short and Long buttons (up to 12 times) in a sequence to create a custom code and press the Save button.
There are four buttons at the bottom of the My Tapplock screen labeled Tapplock, Shared, History, and Setting.
The Tapplock button takes you back to the My Tapplock screen and the Shared button takes you to a screen where you can create new users and grant permanent, one-time, or temporary access with start and end dates and start and end times.
Once you create a user, you can send an email that instructs the recipient to download the app.
The History button takes you to a screen that shows lock and unlock events with times, dates, and user names.
You can filter the list to show all events, fingerprint mode events, or Bluetooth mode events.
Use the Setting button to edit your password, enable/disable the battery meter, and view tutorials.
Installing the Tapplock is very easy.
I downloaded the mobile and created an account, then attached the power cable.
I tapped the power button twice to enable Bluetooth mode, selected Add a New Tapplock in the app, and the lock was immediately identified.
I gave it a name and proceeded to the fingerprint registration screen.
I registered my right thumb by holding it against the reader for three seconds.
The LED went from blinking blue to solid green, indicating that the fingerprint scan was successful.
The app registered the fingerprint and I repeated this for my left thumb and both my left and right forefingers.
I also added my son's thumbprints.
The Tapplock one+ did a great job of identifying all of my fingerprints, as well as my son's fingerprints.
The sensor only denied fingerprint access once in my numerous tests, and that was because my hand was soaking wet from rain.
After shaking the excess water from my hand, the lock opened as expected.
Unlocking the one+ using the mobile app also worked well, as did the Morse code method.
I sent an invite to a family member to share the lock but only granted temporary access for one hour, and the lock followed the time limit without issue.
The History feature logged all lock and unlock events, and the auto-lock feature also worked as intended.
Conclusions
With its fingerprint sensor, mobile app, and Morse code unlocking options, the Tapplock one+ is one of the smartest and more versatile padlocks we've tested.
It's durable and built to withstand the elements, and it performed well in our tests.
Although it doesn't support voice control or offer push alerts, it is very easy to set up and can store up to 500 fingerprints, and it uses a mobile app that makes it easy to add permanent, one-time, and temporary users with specific access times and dates.
All this earns it our Editors' Choice for smart padlocks.
The Bottom Line
The Tapplock one+ is a durable smart padlock that you can open with an app, your fingerprint, or a custom Morse code.
