Yale Conexis L1 Smart Door Lock review
By Tom Calder
A full handle replacement that's genuinely BSI-tested to its own standard, TS621:2018, with a tamper alarm and PIN lockout as useful extras. But TS621 is a smart-lock-specific standard, not the BS3621 mortice deadlock standard insurers usually name, so it isn't an automatic insurance tick.
- Best for
- Households wanting to replace their entire door handle with a keyless smart handle rather than just adding an actuator.
- Skip it if
- You'd rather keep your existing mechanical handle in place
as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Replaces the whole nightlatch/handle assembly rather than just adding an actuator
- BSI-tested to TS621:2018 with a tamper alarm and lockout after repeated wrong PIN entries
- Works via Bluetooth from your phone without needing a separate hub
Worth knowing
- Each finish is a separate option, with its own ASIN, on the same Amazon listing; our link opens on Polished Brass (SD-L1000-PB), so check the finish selected before you buy
- TS621:2018 is a different BSI standard from BS3621 and isn't confirmed to satisfy insurer wording that specifically names BS3621
- Runs on 4 x AA batteries rather than a rechargeable pack
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Our review
A keyless replacement handle for a 92mm multipoint door, opened by phone over Bluetooth, key card or tag, with a mechanical thumbturn inside and a BSI Kitemark to TS621:2018. The point that matters is that it is a complete, attack-tested lock rather than a motor bolted onto one. It suits a uPVC or composite front door where the family would rather tap a card than carry a key.
What it is and what the Kitemark covers
Yale's spec sheet lists Kitemark KM695754 to TS621:2018, the BSI standard written for smart locking devices, and Yale says the Conexis L1 was the first smart lock to earn one. The tests behind it: a 100,000-cycle handle test, the PAS 24:2016 full-door attack test, the TS 007 3-star cylinder attack test, electro-mechanical attacks from wires and drills to freezing agents and gas torches, and electronic hacking assessments. The sheet also gives IP55 weather resistance and a -25 to 55°C operating range. Access is by the Conexis L1 app over Bluetooth, a key card, a key tag or a phone tag; Virtual Keys can be sent to others with schedules and audit trails, five are included and more are bought in the app.
Fitting and the doors it suits
Yale's manual starts by taking out the existing handle and cylinder, and an actuator goes into the cylinder hole, so there is no keyway outside afterwards. Its compatibility guide asks for three things: a door 44 to 70mm thick, exactly 92mm between the cylinder centre and the handle centre, and at least two of the three adjustable screw zones lining up with your existing holes. It is not compatible with Avantis multipoint locks, where the bolt sits above the latch. Yale says a crosshead screwdriver and half an hour do it, and the lock will not lock until the master card is paired and handing is done, to prevent a lock-out during fitting. Locking is still a lift of the lever; a run of beeps means the handle was not lifted far enough and the door is not secured.
Batteries and a power cut
Four AA alkaline cells power it, with a low-battery tune, and Yale's support page says rechargeables cannot be used. Settings and credentials survive a battery change, and 9V contacts under the outside handle run the lock long enough to get in if the cells die. Because everything is local Bluetooth, a power cut changes nothing at the door; only the optional remote modules depend on your router. If the lever is not pressed within 30 seconds of unlocking, the lock secures itself again, and presenting a wrong card or tag five times triggers a three-minute lockout. A tamper alarm sounds if the lock, or the cable between the handles, is tampered with.
Remote access costs extra
Out of the box the L1 is Bluetooth only. Yale's sheet lists plug-in modules that add remote unlocking: for its Sync and SR alarms, Z-Wave for SmartThings, and a remote fob. Yale's UK shop also sells an Access Module with Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, listed as working with the L1: the module moves the lock into the Yale Home app, and the bridge, plugged into a socket within 3m of the lock, adds remote control and Alexa or Google. Yale says the Conexis is not Apple HomeKit compatible. Yale's own UK shop now lists the Conexis L2 rather than the L1, and its end-of-life policy promises spares and support for four years after a product's end-of-sale date, so ask Yale about app support before buying new stock.
How it compares
The ERA Protect Smart Universal Door Handle is the other full-handle option: fingerprints for up to 50 users, a Wi-Fi hub in the box, the same four AA cells plus 9V backup, and, like the L1, fitted in place of the cylinder, but with no BSI mark. The Yale Linus L2 keeps your handle, cylinder and key, with built-in Wi-Fi and a rechargeable pack, at the cost of a bulky unit on the inside. See the smart locks page.
Insurance and getting out
TS621 is not BS 3621. Yale's article says some insurers insist on Kitemarked locks and others discount for them, but BS 3621 is a mortice deadlock standard and this is a multipoint handle, so send your insurer the Kitemark number and ask. The inside thumbturn is a mechanical release needing no electronics, designed for fire escape; show everyone in the house how it works, as in what to do in a house fire. Yale's guarantee is two years.
Our verdict
Buy it for a lift-to-lock door when you want a tested, keyless handle and are happy with Bluetooth at the door or a module for more. Skip it if you need remote access without add-ons, Apple Home, or a lock you can keep a key for; the Linus L2 answers all three.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 21 Oct 2026. Sources: Yale UK — Conexis L1 Smart Lock specification sheet (Kitemark KM695754 TS621:2018; 100,000-cycle handle test; PAS24:2016 and TS007 3-star attack tests; IP55; 240-hour salt spray; -25 to 55°C; mechanical inside release; electro-mechanical and hacking tests; 3-minute lockout after 5 wrong cards or tags; tamper alarm; 92mm multipoint; 4 x AA; 9V connection; credentials retained; compatible modules; 2-year guarantee); Yale UK — Conexis L1 manual, 2019 edition (five Virtual Key credits; one paired phone; beeps when the handle is not lifted; low-battery tune; tamper alarm; will not lock until master card paired and handing done; fixing packs by door thickness; remove existing handle and cylinder; actuator); Yale UK — Conexis L1 three-step compatibility guide (44–70mm; 92mm centres; two of three screw zones; not Avantis); Yale UK — Support for Conexis (4 x AA alkaline, no rechargeables; relocks after 30 seconds if the lever is not pressed; PAS24 full door test; Z-Wave module for SmartThings; not Apple HomeKit; document links); Yale UK — Installing the Yale Access Module, Conexis (Yale Home app; Connect Wi-Fi Bridge for remote control and Alexa or Google; re-register tags); Yale UK — Yale Access Module + Connect Wi-Fi Bridge (works with Conexis L1 and Keyless Connected; Yale Home app; remote access; bridge in a socket within 3m of the lock); Yale UK — Setting the standard for smart locks, 5 October 2021 (first smart lock with a British Kitemark; TS621:2018; insurer notes); Yale UK — smart locks range (Conexis L2 listed; no Conexis L1); Yale — End-of-Life Cycle Policy (four years of spares and support after end-of-sale; software support periods); Yale UK — terms and conditions (two-year limited guarantee).
Who shouldn't buy this
Skip this if you'd rather keep your existing mechanical handle in place; this replaces it entirely, which is more work to fit than a clip-on retrofit unit.
Key specs
| Type | Full handle replacement, fits UK multipoint doors |
| Access methods | App via Bluetooth, phone-as-key, Key Card/Tag |
| Battery life | 4× AA (included), low-battery alert, tamper alarm |
| Insurance | BSI-tested to TS621:2018 — a different standard from BS3621 |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for Homeowners who want to add app and PIN access to an existing UK cylinder lock without swapping out their current deadlock.
Best for Adding app and keypad entry to an existing door lock without changing the cylinder, at Nuki's lowest price.
as of 4 Nov 2026, 23:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for Budget buyers who already have, or are happy to separately buy, a 60mm-backset nightlatch and just want PIN-code entry added.
in stock when checkedQuestions
Is the Yale Conexis L1 BS3621 or insurance approved?
It holds a BSI Kitemark to TS621:2018 (KM695754), not BS 3621. Yale says some insurers accept Kitemarked locks; confirm in writing with yours, quoting the standard and the number.
Can the Yale Conexis L1 be unlocked remotely?
Not on its own: it is Bluetooth at the door. Yale's modules, or the Access Module plus a Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, add remote unlocking and voice assistants.
What size door does the Yale Conexis L1 fit?
44 to 70mm thick with 92mm centres between cylinder and handle, on most multipoint locks except Avantis, according to Yale's compatibility guide.
What happens if the Conexis L1 batteries run out?
Hold a fresh 9V battery to the contacts under the outside handle and open with your usual card, tag or phone, then replace the four AA cells; Yale says settings are kept.
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