TCL K1 Smart Door Knob Adds Four Ways to Unlock

TCL packs four unlocking methods into a $79 smart door knob

TCL launched the K1, a budget smart door knob that fits interior doors without a deadbolt and brings four unlocking options into a single device: fingerprint, PIN, physical key, and a mobile app.

Priced at $79, the K1 stores up to 100 fingerprints, claims sub‑second fingerprint recognition, and accepts PINs including one‑time codes. TCL also says the interior knob holds four AAA batteries good for up to 12 months of operation.

• Fingerprint: fast unlock, up to 100 fingerprints stored
• PIN codes: persistent and single‑use options
• Physical key for traditional access
• Mobile app: wireless unlock, user tracking, and scheduled locks

Beyond convenience, the K1 adds practical features: an auto‑lock when the door closes, an interior privacy mode that disables external unlocking methods, and an IP53 rating so it can handle light dust and water—useful for sheds or backyard gates.

That said, the K1 has limits. It’s designed for interior doors (no deadbolt integration) and lacks smart assistant support, so you can’t use voice commands through Alexa or Google Assistant. The mobile app handles schedules and logs, but broader smart‑home automation is not built in.

For homeowners the K1 is a low‑cost path to hands‑free entry for interior rooms, home offices, or storage areas. Installers and property managers should think about the device’s battery placement (inside the interior knob), provisioning processes for many users, and physical key backup procedures.

Security teams assessing K1 adoption should validate biometric accuracy across diverse users, test the reliability of one‑time PIN delivery, and ensure app account security and firmware update mechanisms are robust. Privacy mode helps prevent forced remote entry but is a manual control that teams must train users to use.

In real world terms: the K1 could work well for a co‑working space that wants secure interior rooms without changing existing deadbolts, or a homeowner who wants app access to a basement workshop. But organizations with strict access logs and automation needs may find the lack of integrations limiting.

TCL’s K1 brings notable utility at a low price. It isn’t revolutionary on any single feature, but combining four unlock methods into an easy‑install knob is a pragmatic win for many use cases—provided organizations consider lifecycle maintenance, provisioning, and security tradeoffs.

QuarkyByte’s approach is to pair product intelligence with deployment playbooks: measure biometric performance, map battery and replacement cycles, and build simple audits for app security and physical override policies so administrators can balance cost and safety.