CES 2026 trends indicate the industry is moving away from basic connectivity toward homes that understand context, presence and intent. Aqara’s latest announcements, led by one of the first UWB-enabled smart locks, offer a glimpse of how spatial intelligence could finally reach everyday consumers.
Smart homes have spent years promising frictionless living, yet most still rely on apps, voice commands, and manual triggers. Aqara’s announcement at CES reinforces the smart home’s shift from connected to context-aware.
Aqara’s new lock redefines what every automation can feel like by enabling you to open the door as soon as you approach. No more fumbling over keys when your hands are full.
Aqara’s UWB Lock is more than a product launch
Aqara’s Smart Lock U400 utilizes Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, previously used in smartphones and cars, to provide highly accurate and reliable presence detection for smart homes.
UWB differs from Bluetooth by understanding distance and direction, not just proximity. UWB is a short-range, low-power technology that transmits data specifically designed for precise, secure, and real-time measurements of location, distance, and direction. Devices respond based on intent, not guesswork.
This new deadbolt lock also features easy access via NFC, fingerprint recognition, personal passcode and more methods. Built on Matter certified with the Thread protocol support, the U400 ensures broad compatibility with other smart devices across major ecosystems, enabling the holistic connected home experience.
It is the first to combine Apple Home Key and Ultra-Wideband technology for everyday smart access. The U400 lock integrates seamlessly with Apple Wallet's home key, turning your iPhone or Apple Watch into digital keys for hands-free home access upon approach. Household residents automatically receive the home key, and you can share access using the Apple Home app. By combining UWB with Apple Home Key and Matter-over-Thread support, the U400 signals a commitment to real-world security and usability.
What UWB Changes About the Smart Home
The U400's core feature is automatic, secure unlocking as an authorized user approaches, without requiring any physical interaction.
This advancement is significant because UWB's accurate arrival and departure detection fundamentally improves the security, reliability, and trustworthiness of smart home systems, extending beyond just door access. Smart homes have struggled to know when someone is arriving, leaving or simply passing through. UWB’s precision enables systems to bring security, reliability, and trust. This precision solves the major problem of unreliable smart home triggers.
Furthermore, the U400 lock is designed to support the industry-unifying Aliro protocol, ensuring the next-gen experience is ready for all user devices—such as smartphones and wearables—regardless of manufacturers and operating systems.
From Smart Control to Spatial Intelligence
The Smart Lock U400 is not just a standalone product, but it is a broader move toward homes understanding how people move through space.
Instead of users actively controlling devices, spaces become aware of human position, movement, and behavior. This introduction of spatial intelligence is a natural evolution of automation and is shifting this from technology to philosophy. Spatial intelligence shifts the smart home away from explicit commands and toward environments that adapt automatically based on positioning, behavior, and learned routines.
Built with Aqara’s growing sensor ecosystem and AI-driven automation, the Smart Lock U400 shows what is possible when homes rely on automation.
Interoperability Makes Intelligence Possible
Spatial intelligence shows how access, presence, and environmental data work together to create more intuitive spaces. Of course, interoperability is the critical enabler of this future.
Interoperability is no longer just a feature in the smart home. It is infrastructure needed to enable truly intelligent and personal experiences. Even the smartest devices fall short if they operate in isolation, which is why interoperability remains central to Aqara’s strategy.
Spatial intelligence only works if devices can communicate freely across platforms. This is why Aqara’s commitment to Matter with Thread and Aliro matters for consumers who increasingly live in mixed-ecosystem households. Support for Matter, Thread, and future-ready standards like Aliro allows Aqara devices to work seamlessly across Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and other platforms. This ecosystem-agnostic approach reflects a broader industry understanding that smart homes must accommodate mixed-device households to succeed at scale.
2026 is the Smart Lock’s Turning Point
The smart home’s slow progress has less to do with a lack of innovation and more to do with missing foundational pieces like accurate sensing, intelligent automation, and shared standards. Aqara’s new Smart Lock U400 is one example that solves this challenge with secure and effortless access.
CES 2026 highlights how those elements are finally converging, with UWB, AI-driven automation, and Matter interoperability maturing at the same time. Aqara’s Smart Lock U400 with UWB may seem like a small product update, but it signals a larger shift toward homes that respond naturally and reliably without demanding constant attention.
For years, it was all about basic connectivity. Now, the industry is shifting to homes that understand your context, including what you are doing, where you are, and what you intend to do.
If this momentum holds, 2026 will be the year the smart home finally lives up to its effortless promise.