Why the Keypad 2 NFC Matters
A smart lock is only as useful as the ways you can open it. The lock itself handles Bluetooth and Auto Unlock via phone, but there are situations where your phone is dead, upstairs, or belongs to a family member who does not have the app. The Keypad fills those gaps with three phone-free methods: fingerprint, PIN code, and NFC.
Since the Aliro update, there is a fourth: Apple Home Key. Double-tap your Apple Watch or hold your iPhone near the Keypad, and the door unlocks via NFC — no Nuki app needed, no PIN to remember. For Apple users, this alone justifies the €179.
Aliro & Apple Home Key Explained
Aliro is an industry standard for NFC-based access control, backed by Apple, Google, Samsung, and the CSA. The Nuki Keypad 2 NFC was among the first certified devices when the standard launched in early 2026.
In practical terms, Aliro enables Apple Home Key: your Nuki lock appears in the Apple Wallet alongside hotel keys and transit passes. You unlock by holding your iPhone or Apple Watch near the Keypad. It works even when your phone battery is critically low (NFC operates in Express Mode with reserve power). The experience is identical to tapping into the London Underground with your Watch — fast, silent, and reliable.
Google is expected to add Wallet-based Aliro support later in 2026, but at the time of writing it is Apple-only for the Keypad 2.
Features & Specs
The Keypad 2 NFC stores up to 20 fingerprints with a recognition time under 0.3 seconds. The fingerprint sensor is capacitive, not optical — it reads sub-surface patterns, which means wet fingers work better than on cheap optical sensors. In our testing, recognition rate was about 95% on the first touch. A second press always worked.
PIN codes support 6-digit combinations, with a scrambled virtual keypad option to prevent smudge-pattern attacks. You can create temporary PINs that expire after a set date — ideal for Airbnb guests or house cleaners.
Power comes from two CR123A batteries with a rated life of about 12 months. We measured 10 months with roughly 15 unlock events per day across all methods. The Keypad alerts you at 20% remaining. Replacement batteries cost about €8.
Installation & Weatherproofing
The Keypad mounts outdoors next to your door with the included adhesive strip or two screws. IP67 means it is fully dustproof and survives submersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. In practice, it has endured a Dutch winter (rain, frost, occasional snow) without issue. The fingerprint sensor works in rain — we tested it deliberately.
Pairing with the Smart Lock takes about two minutes via the Nuki app. The Keypad communicates with the lock over Bluetooth — there is no WiFi in the Keypad itself. Range is about 5 meters, which covers any normal door-to-keypad mounting distance.
One practical note: mount the Keypad at a height where everyone can reach the fingerprint sensor comfortably. For families with small children, that means lower than you might expect.
Who Needs a Keypad?
Three groups benefit most. Airbnb hosts get time-limited PIN codes — no keys to hand over, no risk of copies. Families with children get fingerprint access for kids who do not have phones. Apple Watch users get tap-to-unlock via Home Key.
If you live alone, always carry your phone, and never have guests, the Keypad is less essential. Auto Unlock and the Nuki app cover daily use. But the moment you need phone-free access for someone else, the Keypad pays for itself in convenience.
Compared to the Nuki Fob (€29), the Keypad costs more but does everything the Fob does plus fingerprint and PIN. The Fob makes sense only if you need a physical key for one person who will not use the Keypad.