Editor's Festive Pick: The Smart Lock Edition, 4 Locks That Make Keys Feel Old-Fashioned

Diwali means a house full of people. Cousins who arrive a day early, the bai who comes in at 7, the delivery guy with the fourth sweet box of the afternoon, and you, standing at the door, searching every pocket for the one key that is definitely somewhere.

This is the year the key retires.

Welcome back to Editor's Festive Pick, the segment where I pick products I would genuinely spend my own money on, tell you why, and give you the link to buy. Last time we did the bathroom. This time, we are at the door.

This edit has four smart locks for four very different jobs: a palm-sized fingerprint padlock for your gym bag and cupboard, a Bluetooth lock for bedroom and office doors, a Godrej main door lock with four ways to get in, and a Hafele knob lock in antique brass for the design-minded. Prices run from under ₹1,000 to around ₹7,600. The Main Door

1. Godrej Neo Advantage 4 in 1 Smart Lock

Why I recommend it: If you are going to change one lock this Diwali, change the one on your main door, and this is the one I would put there. Godrej's Neo Advantage gives you four ways in: fingerprint, RFID card, PIN and a mechanical key. That covers everyone in an Indian household. Fingerprint for you, a tap card for your parents or kids, a PIN you can share with a guest for the week, and a key for the day the battery gives up. The 360-degree fingerprint sensor reads your finger from any angle, so no more awkward repositioning with shopping bags in both hands. It stores up to 99 PINs and RFID cards, which is plenty for a joint family. And Privacy Mode blocks entry from outside when you are home, so only the master password or key will open the door.

Good to know: It is a new launch from Godrej with a 3-year warranty, and the listing mentions installation is included (check the listing for the terms that apply in your city). Confirm your door type and thickness before ordering.

Price at time of writing: ₹7,589

Buy the Godrej Neo Advantage on Amazon

The Inside Doors

2. Hafele Stella Digital Knob Lock (Antique Brass)

Why I recommend it: Most smart locks look like they belong in an office lobby. The Hafele Stella looks like it belongs in your home. It is a compact digital knob lock in an antique brass finish, so it sits comfortably on a teak bedroom door or a study with vintage furniture. Inside, it is properly smart: fingerprint access, control through the Hafele Smart Living app over Bluetooth, up to 30 registered users and a full access log with timestamps, so you know exactly who opened the door and when. The stainless steel body resists corrosion, which matters in coastal cities like Mumbai.

Good to know: It runs on a replaceable CR123A lithium battery, with a low-battery alarm and an emergency mechanical key as backup. It comes with a 3-year warranty.

Price at time of writing: ₹5,499

Buy the Hafele Stella Knob Lock on Amazon

3. Speedy Smart Bluetooth Door Lock

Why I recommend it: This is the smartest buy in the edit for anyone renting or sharing a flat. The Speedy lock fits over standard wooden doors between 35 mm and 50 mm thick, so there is no major carpentry involved. You unlock it with your fingerprint, through the OzoLife app over Bluetooth or with the emergency key. The app is the real win: you can see entry logs and give or remove access from your phone, which is perfect for a PG room, a home office or a room you rent out. Speedy also includes doorstep installation by a trained technician, which takes the guesswork out completely.

Good to know: It is built for wooden doors only and comes with a 2-year warranty. Measure your door thickness before you order.

Price at time of writing: ₹3,009

Buy the Speedy Smart Door Lock on Amazon

The Pocket Pick

4. CBK Fingerprint Biometric Padlock

Why I recommend it: The easiest festive gift on this list, and the one everyone will end up borrowing. It is a small metal padlock that opens with your fingerprint in about half a second. No app, no Bluetooth, no key to lose and no combination to forget. That makes it great for parents and grandparents, and equally great for a college locker. Use it on a gym locker, a suitcase, a cupboard, a cycle or the drawer where the Diwali cash envelopes live. It charges over USB, and one hour of charging lasts months of normal use.

Good to know: Set the administrator fingerprint first, before anyone else registers. The listing quotes different fingerprint capacities in different places (10 in the description, 20 in the title), so treat 10 as the safe number.

Price at time of writing: ₹899

Buy the CBK Fingerprint Padlock on Amazon

How the Editor Picks

Every product in Editor's Festive Pick goes through the same three questions. Does it solve a real, everyday problem? Does it hold up in Indian conditions like humidity, power cuts and shared family use? And does the price make sense for what you get? For locks, I added a fourth: is there always a backup way in? Every lock in this edit has one, whether it is a mechanical key or a long-lasting battery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the best smart lock for a main door in India?

For a main door, look for multiple access modes and a mechanical key backup. The Godrej Neo Advantage in this edit offers fingerprint, RFID card, PIN and key access, plus a Privacy Mode, which makes it a strong pick for families.

What happens if the battery of a smart lock dies?

Most good smart locks give a low-battery warning well in advance and include an emergency mechanical key. The Godrej, Hafele and Speedy locks in this edit all have a key backup. The CBK padlock is rechargeable over USB.

Can I install a smart lock on a rented flat's door?

Yes. Retrofit locks like the Speedy Smart Door Lock are designed to fit over existing wooden doors with minimal changes, and the brand includes technician installation. Always check with your landlord before changing a lock.

Are fingerprint locks safe for elderly parents?

Fingerprint locks are often easier for older family members because there is no key to carry and no code to remember. For anyone whose fingerprints are faint, choose a lock with an RFID card or PIN option as well, like the Godrej Neo Advantage.

Is a smart lock a good Diwali gift?

It is one of the most useful ones, especially for someone who has just moved into a new home. The CBK padlock works as a small gift, while the Hafele Stella or Godrej Neo Advantage suit a bigger housewarming present.

The Final Word

A smart lock is one of those upgrades you stop noticing within a week, and that is exactly the point. No more key hunts, no more spare keys under the doormat and no more waiting on the stairs for whoever has the bunch. Pick the one that fits your door, and let Diwali guests come and go without the drama.

That is the Smart Lock Edition. Next week, another corner of the house gets the Editor's Festive Pick treatment. Tell us which one you want next on Instagram at @alt_bollywood.

Missed the last one? Read Editor's Festive Pick: The Bathroom Edition.