The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) recently released the Aliro spec, and the market is already seeing its first major implementation. Electronics giant Samsung has officially launched its “Digital Home Key” feature within Samsung Wallet, becoming the first major platform to announce public availability for the new access standard.
Partnering closely with smart home manufacturers, including Aqara, Nuki, Schlage and Xthings, Samsung is rolling out the feature to compatible Galaxy smartphones beginning in March. This integration allows users to unlock their front doors using near-field communication (NFC) and ultra-wideband (UWB) tech, bypassing the need for proprietary vendor apps and standards.
Tap with Galaxy phones
The core promise of the Aliro standard is to bring smart lock credentials directly into the ecosystem wallets that consumers already use for payment cards and transit passes. With the introduction of the new home key feature, Samsung Wallet expands its digital credential capabilities from vehicles directly to the front door, streamlining daily routines.
Users can add a digital key to their Samsung Wallet during the standard smart lock onboarding process. According to the press release, this setup requires the lock to be connected through the Samsung SmartThings platform via Matter. Once configured, the digital credential is securely stored on the smartphone.
For security, Samsung relies on its Knox platform to safeguard the digital keys. The company noted that the solution aligns with high grade certification standards, specifically evaluated for protection against advanced attack vectors and side channel attacks.
If a user misplaces their phone, they can remotely manage or revoke access using the Samsung Find service. Furthermore, accessing the key on the device requires standard biometric or personal identification number authentication, ensuring that unauthorized individuals cannot simply tap a stolen phone to enter a home.
First hardware arrives with Aqara
Hardware availability is crucial for any new standard, and Aqara is the first manufacturer to officially support the Samsung implementation. Starting March 2, Aqara Smart Lock U400 users can unlock their doors by simply tapping their compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphones against the lock reader, according to a media notice sent to Matter Alpha.
This initial rollout relies entirely on NFC, offering an app free unlocking experience. Aqara expects to enable hands-free unlocking based on UWB for Samsung smartphones in the second quarter of 2026. This upcoming feature will allow users to unlock their doors simply by walking up to them, without needing to remove the phone from their pocket or purse.
Device compatibility and requirements
Due to the tech stacks Samsung chose for Aliro (NFC + UWB), only selected Samsung phones will support the full range of features. The base requirement for the tap to unlock feature using near-field communication is a device running the Android 14 or newer.
The list of supported devices for standard tap access is extensive. It includes a foldable line-up from the Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 released in 2021 up to the newly announced Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 series.
The standard Galaxy S and A series is also broadly supported for NFC features.
However, the more advanced hands-free unlocking feature requires UWB hardware, which is typically reserved for premium devices. This proximity feature also requires the phone to run Android 16 or a newer operating system.
UWB support is primarily found on the larger foldable devices, including the Z Fold 4 through the Z Fold 7. For the standard Galaxy S line-up, UWB is restricted to the Plus and Ultra variants, starting from the S22 generation through the newest releases.
Standard models, FE variants, and flip style foldables largely do not include the necessary hardware for hands-free proximity unlocking.
The missing piece
While the launch of native Aliro support is a major milestone for the smart home industry, the specific implementation by Samsung reveals a potential hurdle for the standard. The official rollout focuses entirely on NFC and UWB tech. Conspicuously absent from both the platform announcement and the hardware integration is any mention of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) unlocking.
Within the Aliro specification, BLE is designed as a foundational, low-cost transport method for distance unlocking. UWB is actually considered an optional approach that works alongside Bluetooth to provide better distance accuracy and security. By excluding the BLE-only unlocking method within the SmartThings ecosystem, Samsung is heavily favoring premium hardware implementations for Aliro.
It is not an encouraging sign for the broader market. A BLE-only unlocking method serves as a highly accessible, cheaper solution that could act as a strong market promoter. It allows budget-friendly lock manufacturers to adopt the Aliro standard without paying for expensive UWB chipsets, which drives up the final retail cost.
If major platform holders like Samsung do not support the BLE tier of the standard, hardware vendors may be forced to either absorb the cost of premium radios or skip the Aliro certification entirely. For a standard designed to unify the market and reduce fragmentation, leaving out the most cost-effective connectivity option could significantly slow down adoption among average consumers.
Watches and wearables
The initial release did not mention Samsung Galaxy Watches or other wearable and mobile devices (such as the Galaxy Ring and Tab), which is another missing part of the expected Aliro support. We may see this included in future updates, but it’s not part of Samsung’s promises as of now.
Another finding is that Samsung seems to require the lock to support Matter via the SmartThings platform, meaning you would likely need a SmartThings hub as well. That’s an interesting combination and a passive guideline for vendors. Because Aliro and Matter are two different, unrelated, parallel standards from CSA, a lock or access system doesn’t need Matter to support Aliro at all.
Supported Matter hubs are:
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SmartThings / Aeotec / Things One V3, V4
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SmartThings Station
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Samsung Products (TV & Home appliances) - with hub embedded from 2023
Matter Alpha has reached out to Samsung for comments. The firm did not provide an immediate response. Meanwhile, we will be watching closely to see if Apple and Google take a similar approach when they roll out their respective Aliro updates.
(Source: Samsung, Aqara; Image: Samsung, Aqara)
