This smart lock is built for rentals in all-new ways. / Tyler Lacoma/CNET
Lockly Lyro Lasta
Pros & Cons
- Affordable for its tech and design quality
- Many access options including fingerprint, included cards, keys, keypad and more
- Extra-large battery case rated for up to three years
- Easy to manage access and logs through the app
- Unique sleep mode if the home is going unused for a while
- Effective and simple TapCom communication include for vacation renters and similar situations
- The rental-focused design may not be suited for every home
- The deadbolt requires manual turning when locked/unlock, which differs from most smart locks
Many smart locks introduced innovations in 2026. We saw charging solar panels and ultrawideband sensing. But Lockly went the opposite way: The security company has launched a new lock called Lyro, which aims at a unique mix of affordability, battery life and new features made specifically for vacation rentals, short-term renting, landlords and similar situations. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
To test the Lockly Lyro Lasta ($169), I set it up as if I was the owner, and tried to access it in a variety of ways like I was a newcomer on vacation. It’s interesting what features Lockly has added here, and what the company has done with a lock well under $200 that still has a durable design, fingerprint sensor, RFID tags to give out and more. Here’s what I found.
A design made for durability and battery power
The Lyro Lasta is mostly a normal smart lock — except for several very important additions. On the front of the lock I found the fingerprint reader and Lockly’s stylish touchscreen keypad, a design I’ve seen on other Lockly products before and found them very reliable. That outward-facing section is also IP65 weatherproof, so you shouldn’t need to worry much about operation in heavier weather.
The inside housing, however, is extra large because it’s made to hold eight AA batteries, something I’ve never seen in a smart lock before, since most are made for four AAs or fewer. Lockly says the extra battery boost lets the lock last for up to three years without needing replacement. It’ll take me a while to see if that’s true.
As with most modern locks, this Lyro model doesn’t need a Wi-Fi hub to go online. Installation and setup proved relatively simple. The lock isn’t especially complex, and components are quite sturdy for the price.
Codes, keys and more access options
In addition to standard keys, keypad code, phone connection and the included NFC tags, I tested this lock’s fingerprint sensor, which boasts a 0.2-second response time (I don’t know about that, but it was under a second), and the ability to hold 99 fingerprints.
Everything proved responsive with smooth operation, but I did run into yet another unique feature of the Lasta that took me by surprise. Almost every other smart lock I’ve tested automatically unbolts the lock when it’s unlocked by any means. Not so here: This lock unlocks internally, but you still need to manually turn either the inside or outside thumbturns to move the deadbolt.
I’m not sure why Lockly chose this approach, which could be confusing to those with experience in smart locks. It may cut down on wear and tear, and it could help save even more battery life, but it’s important visitors know they’ll need to manually move the lock. Fortunately, the lock also introduces all-new ways to communicate with guests.
Best Home Security Systems for Renters in 2026: Hassle-Free, No Contracts
You can equip your rental with personalized security options. My picks can fit nearly anywhere — no screws required.
Lockly TapCom and other rental-friendly add-ons
The plethora of unlocking options are convenient for anyone, but this Lyro lock also has features that make it well-suited for vacation rentals, visitors, Airbnbs and similar situations. The extra battery life, for example, is particularly handy for homes that may stay vacant for part of the year, or have off-seasons with little activity. But that’s only the start.
The physical RFID tags make it easy to hand off access methods to others without fussing with extra pairs of physical keys, and you can disable them by the app if they aren’t returned. Speaking of the app, it also provides owners with an easy-to-use log of activity, and an unusual sleep mode that saves even more battery life if a residence is going to stay unused for a while.
But the most useful rental feature of them all is the TapCom, the platform Lockly offers to help connect and coordinate renters with owners. It’s not the first Airbnb-friendly platform I’ve seen announced this year, but it is one of the first to market and I like what I see.
To use TapCom, owners scan a QR code on a card-sized NFC plate, then stick the plate by the Lyro lock. When guests show up, they can scan the code with their phones or just tap directly on the card to get started. Owners control different ways for guests to communicate and announce their arrival, as questions, wait for remote unlocking, finalize payment info and so on.
In my tests, TapCom allowed me to enable video calls, audio calls and requests to unlock, and geofencing that only enables communication when a phone is right by the TapCom plate. Connections worked accurately in seconds on both phones used in the conversations. Of course, you will need to give the platform a certain amount of access to your mics, phone number, etc. to make this all work.
While these features sound like a particularly good fit for Airbnbs, I can imagine standard landlords and property management companies, along with tenants, would also appreciate such on-demand communication options.
Final thoughts on the Lyro Lasta
Lockly’s Lyro Lasta ($169) does a little of everything with unique new features made just for rentals, vacation homes, Airbnbs and similar situations, at a reasonable price.
The extra-long battery life, multitude of access options and free support for the TapCom communication system for new guests all worked flawlessly in my tests, although I was caught off guard by the need to manually turn the deadbolt after it locked/unlocked internally.
The Lyro Lasta is more of a niche product than many smart locks, but it’s a niche with plentiful opportunities, including owners with specific plans on how to manage their property for newcomers. It will be interesting to see what comes of the Lyro line in the future.
