Dutch Showdown
LOQED is a Dutch company based in Amsterdam, and they've built a product with distinctly Dutch sensibilities: practical, well-engineered, and designed for the specific realities of European (especially Dutch) apartment doors. Their customer support is responsive and operates in Dutch and English.
Nuki is Austrian, and while they sell heavily in the Netherlands, their product is designed for the broader European market. Both companies understand euro-profile cylinders, but LOQED has tailored their approach specifically around the types of doors and locks you find in Dutch row houses and apartments.
This local focus shows up in small but meaningful ways. LOQED's installation guide references specific Dutch door configurations. Their customer support can troubleshoot with knowledge of SKG-rated cylinders and the typical Nemef and AXA lock bodies found in Dutch homes.
Price & What's Included
Nuki Smart Lock Pro: €269. You get the lock, mounting plates, a rechargeable battery with magnetic charging cable, and all connectivity (WiFi, Thread, Matter, Bluetooth) built in. You'll need your existing euro-cylinder or a new one (€30-80).
LOQED Touch Smart Lock: €349. The box includes the lock, a high-security cylinder (SKG*** rated), and the LOQED Bridge for remote access. No additional cylinder purchase needed.
So the real price comparison is closer than it appears: Nuki (€269) + decent cylinder (€50) = €319 vs LOQED at €349. The gap shrinks to about €30. If you need a new cylinder anyway — which is common when moving into a new apartment — LOQED's bundled approach makes more financial sense than it first appears.
Neither lock charges a subscription. Both offer free remote access and free smart home integration.
Installation
LOQED's installation is more involved because you're replacing the entire cylinder, not just adding a device to the existing one. Plan for 30-45 minutes, and make sure you're comfortable with removing and installing a lock cylinder. It's not hard, but it's not as simple as Nuki's 15-minute mount-and-go approach.
Nuki mounts on the inside of the door over your existing thumb turn. The adapter system covers most euro-cylinders, and the mounting plate snaps into place with adhesive and screws. It's genuinely quick and reversible — important for renters.
The trade-off: LOQED's cylinder replacement means the lock is structurally integrated with the door. It feels more permanent and solid. Nuki's approach means there's a visible device on the inside of the door. For some people that's fine; for others, LOQED's integrated look is worth the extra installation effort.
Daily Use — Touch to Open vs Auto Unlock
LOQED's signature feature is Touch to Open: you touch the cylinder on the outside of the door, and if your phone is detected nearby via Bluetooth, the lock opens. No phone interaction needed, no fumbling with apps. You literally touch the lock and walk in.
In practice, Touch to Open is magical when it works — and it works about 90% of the time in my experience. The remaining 10% involves the Bluetooth detection being slightly slow (you touch before your phone is detected) or occasionally not detecting at all if your phone is in a bag. The solution is always to wait 2-3 seconds and try again.
Nuki's Auto Unlock works differently: the lock uses your phone's GPS and Bluetooth to detect when you're approaching and automatically unlocks before you reach the door. When calibrated correctly, you arrive at your door and it's already unlocked. It's less tactile than LOQED's approach, but when working well, it's faster — you never even need to touch anything.
Nuki's Auto Unlock has a higher initial calibration effort but is more reliable once dialed in. LOQED's Touch to Open requires zero calibration but has slightly more day-to-day variance. Both are significant upgrades over traditional keys.
Smart Home
Nuki leads here with native Matter and Thread support. It works with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and Home Assistant without any additional hardware. Thread means it can participate in mesh networks and act as a Thread border router.
LOQED supports Apple HomeKit (via the included bridge), Google Home, and has a solid Home Assistant integration. The bridge must be plugged in near your door, similar to the Tedee setup. LOQED has Thread support built into the lock itself, which is forward-looking, but the smart home integration still routes through the bridge for most setups.
For Home Assistant power users, LOQED actually has a slight edge: their API is well-documented and the MQTT integration is reliable. But for mainstream smart home platforms, Nuki's bridge-free Matter approach is simpler and more robust.
Battery
Nuki uses a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 12 months. Recharging takes about 2 hours via magnetic cable. Clean, simple, no waste.
LOQED is powered by a rechargeable battery as well, lasting roughly 6-8 months in my experience (LOQED claims up to 12 months, but real-world usage with Touch to Open active drains faster). Charging is via USB-C, which is convenient since you probably already have cables around.
Both are rechargeable — a significant advantage over locks that eat through AA batteries. Nuki's battery lasted longer in my testing, but LOQED's USB-C charging is arguably more convenient than Nuki's proprietary magnetic cable.
Verdict
If you're in the Netherlands and need a new cylinder anyway, LOQED is worth the premium. The included SKG*** cylinder, Touch to Open, local support, and integrated design make it the most tailored option for Dutch homes. It's also the only lock here with a genuinely integrated aesthetic — no visible smart lock device on the inside.
If you want the lowest total cost, broadest smart home compatibility (Matter), and the best battery life, Nuki is the stronger choice. It's more universal, easier to install, and the bridge-free connectivity saves both money and hassle.
My take: LOQED for Dutch homeowners who want a premium, integrated solution. Nuki for everyone else — and for renters who need easy reversibility.