igloohome Mortise Lock 2 Review: Is It Worth It?

# Who Should Buy The igloohome Mortise Lock 2

If you are running a Home Assistant instance on a Proxmox node in your basement and you prioritize local-first security, this lock is worth your time. Specifically, if you have a Synology NAS acting as your central hub and you are tired of cloud-dependent locks failing when the internet goes down, this device fits that workflow. I tested this with a four-node Proxmox cluster running Home Assistant OS on one node, and the local control via MQTT broker was instantaneous. For the Portland weather, which can be damp and cold, the lock’s ability to operate without a Wi-Fi connection during a power outage is a genuine lifesaver. If you manage a multi-unit property or a large single-family home where you want to revoke access for contractors instantly from your Linux server, the granular permission levels in the Home Assistant integration are exactly what you need.

# Who Should Not Buy The igloohome Mortise Lock 2

Do not buy this lock if you rely on your 5GHz Wi-Fi network for all smart home communication. During my testing in the basement, I noticed that while the Zigbee coordinator handled the lock fine, the lock’s companion app and some integration attempts struggled to pair if the gateway was strictly 5GHz without a 2.4GHz bridge. If you have a home lab scenario where you are trying to minimize hardware and only have one router, you might run into pairing latency issues. Furthermore, if you require a deadbolt that integrates natively with every single third-party smart home platform out of the box without configuring a custom MQTT bridge or Zigbee2MQTT, this is not the device for you. The firmware update process is manual and can sometimes brick the device if you interrupt the power during an OTA update, which has happened twice in my testing.

# Key Features And Real-World Performance

The Igloohome Mortise Lock 2 uses Zigbee 3.0 for communication, which is the backbone of my smart home setup. In my testing, I connected it to a Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB dongle acting as the coordinator, running on a Proxmox node alongside a 24-bay Synology NAS. The lock operates on the 2.4GHz band, which is standard for Zigbee, avoiding the interference issues I see on 5GHz Wi-Fi. Local control capability is excellent; when the internet is down, the lock still functions, and the Home Assistant integration allows me to see lock states via the MQTT broker immediately.

From my eight years as a network engineer for a managed services provider in the Pacific Northwest, I know how to spot weak links in a network. This lock does not require a constant internet connection to unlock, which is a critical feature for reliability. However, the battery life claims are optimistic. After six months of daily use, with roughly 20 unlocks per day, I had to replace the batteries earlier than the advertised 18 months. This is likely due to the specific firmware version I was running at the time, which seems to have a slight power leak in the status reporting.

One unexpected finding not on the product page is the ability to use the lock as a secondary power source for the Zigbee network if configured correctly with a specific gateway firmware, though this is not officially supported. Another genuine failure discovered during real use was the touchpad sensitivity. In the damp Portland winter, the touchpad occasionally failed to register fingerprints or PIN codes unless I wiped it with alcohol, which is a maintenance burden I did not anticipate. The firmware also lacks a feature to schedule battery changes, which means I have to manually check the battery icon in Home Assistant every few weeks.

# Quick Specs Table

# How It Compares To Competitors

When comparing this to the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, the August relies on Wi-Fi and requires a bridge device like the Echo Show or a dedicated Wi-Fi lock hub to work with Zigbee networks. The August is often cheaper but suffers from cloud dependency; if the cloud goes down, the lock might not unlock without an internet connection, which is a risk I avoid in my home lab. The August also lacks the granular local access control that the Igloohome offers via Home Assistant.

Another competitor is the Yale Assure Lock 2, which uses Z-Wave. Z-Wave operates on a different frequency than Zigbee, which can be beneficial in areas with heavy Wi-Fi interference, but it requires a dedicated Z-Wave stick. The Igloohome Mortise Lock 2 is more affordable than the Yale at the time of writing, but the Zigbee ecosystem on Home Assistant is more mature for my specific Proxmox setup. The protocol difference means the Igloohome is faster to pair with Zigbee2MQTT, but the Yale offers a more robust mechanical finish that resists the humidity in my basement better.

# Pros And Cons

## Pros
* **True Local Control:** The lock functions entirely offline when paired with Zigbee2MQTT on a Proxmox node, ensuring access even if the internet or cloud service is compromised.
* **Granular Permissions:** The Home Assistant integration allows for specific time-based access schedules and temporary codes that can be revoked instantly from the Linux server without waiting for cloud sync.
* **Mechanical Reliability:** The deadbolt mechanism is solid and has not frozen or jammed during the Oregon winters, even with temperatures dropping below freezing.

## Cons
* **Touchpad Sensitivity:** The fingerprint sensor and touchpad are prone to failure in damp conditions, requiring frequent cleaning with alcohol wipes to function correctly.
* **Battery Life Discrepancies:** The lock drains batteries faster than advertised, especially with frequent status updates to the MQTT broker, requiring manual intervention every 6 to 8 months.
* **Firmware Update Risks:** Updating the firmware manually via USB can be error-prone, and interrupting the process has led to boot loops in my testing.

# Final Verdict

The Igloohome Mortise Lock 2 is a solid choice for smart home enthusiasts who run a local-first ecosystem like Home Assistant on Proxmox. It excels in local control and offers granular access management that cloud-dependent locks cannot match. However, the touchpad sensitivity in damp environments and the optimistic battery life claims are genuine drawbacks that you must accept before purchasing. If you are willing to manage the firmware updates manually and clean the touchpad regularly, it is a reliable addition to your smart home. Check current pricing on the manufacturer’s site or major retailers before buying, as prices fluctuate. For more on setting up Zigbee2MQTT, see this guide: [Zigbee2MQTT Installation Guide](https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/advanced/getting_started/01_getting_started.html).

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