What Makes the Ultra Different?
The headline change is the brushless motor. Where the Pro already reduced noise compared to older Nuki locks, the Ultra takes it a step further — it is genuinely the quietest retrofit smart lock we have measured. In a silent apartment at night, the difference is noticeable. The motor spins up smoothly without the brief "click-whirr" that the Pro produces.
The second major upgrade is magnetic USB-C charging. Instead of pulling the battery pack out of the lock, you snap a magnetic cable onto the bottom of the unit. It charges in place, on the door. If you have ever fumbled with the Pro's rechargeable battery pack in a dark hallway, you will appreciate this immediately.
Form factor is subtly different — the Ultra is slightly flatter and sits a touch closer to the door. It will not matter for most installations, but on narrow door frames every millimetre counts.
Smart Lock Ultra Specs
The Ultra runs Matter over Thread with built-in WiFi, so no bridge is needed. It unlocks in under one second from a Thread command, and about 1.2 seconds via WiFi. Battery life is rated at 12 months on Thread — we hit 10 months in real-world use with Auto Unlock and moderate Bluetooth traffic.
Like the Pro, it supports 200 access permissions, integrates with Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa via Matter, and works with the Nuki Keypad and Fob accessories. AV-TEST certification carries over as well.
Ultra vs Pro — Which to Choose?
This is the question everyone asks, and honestly, it is close. The Pro costs €269 and the Ultra €349. They. Both support Matter, Thread, and WiFi. Both unlock in under 1.5 seconds. The Ultra wins on motor noise and charging convenience. The Pro wins on nothing specific — it is simply the slightly older, equally capable sibling.
If you live in an apartment where locking noise at midnight might wake a partner or a roommate, the Ultra's brushless motor is a real advantage. If you find removing the battery pack for charging annoying (it is), the magnetic USB-C cable solves that. If neither of those bother you, the Pro is functionally identical.
For new buyers we lean Ultra. For existing Pro owners, there is no reason to upgrade unless motor noise specifically bothers you.
Daily Experience
Day to day, the Ultra disappears into routine — which is exactly what a smart lock should do. Auto Unlock triggers reliably when you approach your door (about 90% of the time in our testing, same as the Pro). The Nuki app shows lock state instantly over Thread. HomeKit automations fire without lag.
The magnetic charging cable stays in a drawer by the front door. When the app warns about low battery, we snap it on before bed and it is full by morning. No dismounting, no spare battery juggling. It is a small quality-of-life win that adds up over months.
Verdict
The Nuki Smart Lock Ultra is the best retrofit smart lock you can buy in Europe right now. The brushless motor is not marketing fluff — it is measurably quieter. Magnetic charging is a genuine convenience upgrade. At the same price as the Pro, there is little reason not to choose the Ultra for a new installation.
The caveat: if you already own a Pro and it works well, the Ultra does not do anything the Pro cannot. It does the same things, slightly more quietly and with easier charging. That is the honest summary.