Review: Orvibo C1 WiFi Smart Lock

Orvibo C1 WiFi Smart Lock, recipient of iF Design Award 2020

The ORVIBO Smart Lock C1 is the first intelligent access control system designed for apartment, office and home. It follows basic design principles. The circular fingerprint identification design on the door lock handle unlocks the door for you naturally when you place your hand on the handle.
iF Design Award 2020

The Orvibo C1 WiFi Smart Lock is the latest addition to our saturated Malaysian digital lock market. We were very excited to test this lock because we really liked the previous Orvibo T1 model that had a very responsive fingerprint reader at its handle, making this launch by the same maker very promising.

DESIGN

First impression: we like the feel and look of the lock, A LOT. No surprise that this minimalistic matte black smart lock was a recipient of the iF Design Award 2020.It feels premium, solidly built and cold to the touch as it is made of aviation-grade aluminum alloy, known for its high strength-to-weight ratio. If you are looking for a lock that is squarish and with sophisticated clean lines, this is the lock for you.

Front panel: The fingerprint reader is conveniently placed at its handle, making it easy to unlock and bring down the handle in one seamless movement. Touchscreen panel dominates the upper part of the lock that lights up upon touching the screen, brightly lit numbers will greet you to key in your PIN code. The key hole and USB port is neatly tucked beneath the front panel. The Orvibo logo is simplistically featured at the bottom of the front panel.

Back panel: There is a child-lock button just beneath the handle and a thumbturn for the one-sided bolt. The battery compartment is covered by a battery cover that pops back on easily. The handle direction can be changed to accommodate a left or right opening door.

Features

Orvibo’s stands out from its competitors by having built-in WiFi connectivity, doing away the need for a separate WiFi bridge accessory that is typical of most smart locks in the market. The user need not allocate a separate power point near the door to be able to control the lock remotely from anywhere in the world.

We are impressed with the fingerprint reader performance that successfully reads our fingerprints even when other models have failed, even our colleague’s fingerprint that is dry and worn from eczema. The manufacturer claims that this is because of AI fingerprint recognition that increases the speed the recognition, the more you use it. The registration of the fingerprint was similar to that of an iPhone where the lock requires the user to place the finger in different positions to best capture all possible angles. Voila! A very responsive and pleasant fingerprint unlocking experience.

Other methods of unlocking include PIN Code, NFC and RFID key tag. It works with condominium access cards that we have registered. There is also the cool feature of anti-peep which means that unlimited random digits can be entered before the actual PIN code to throw the peeping tom off guard.

Orvibo develops its own App and can be downloaded on both Apple App Store and Android Play Store. User friendly interface with step-by-step instruction on how to connect the lock to the WiFi.

App features:

Creation of one-time or duration-based PIN code – up to 5 temporary users can be created
Emergency unlock notification: Notifications will be sent to family members via App if unlocked with registered emergency fingerprint, card or PIN code
Unlock notification by registered users
Continuous failed verification alert
Break-in attempt alert
Low battery alert

Security

The Orvibo C1 WiFi Smart Lock is equipped with Swiss control chip STM32 and utilises AES-128 financial-grade encryption. Orvibo develops and manages its own App, as opposed to OEM locks that opts for third-party open source shared App, exposing users to unnecessary security risks.

If you have watched a viral video of a black box unlocking digital locks, be rest assured that Orvibo has ensured that the lock is protected from electromagnetic pulse that prevents abnormal unlocking using the “Tesla black box”.

Orvibo C1 Smart Lock is engineered to last. The smart lock is manufactured using tough aviation-grade aluminum alloy; C-class lock body and core; and solid SUS304 stainless steel bolts.

The mortise lock has got a latch, three major bolts and one internal bolt. The key cylinder placed beneath the bottom of the front panel makes it difficult to drill and tamper. This lock is an exact replacement of existing locks in Malaysia, without leaving any gaps or holes in the door. The lock instantly auto locks the moment you let go of the handle, giving you the peace of mind not having to second guess if you have locked the door.

The 5A grade touchscreen glass panel is as tough as artificial diamond, making it anti-drill and resistant to fingerprint residue.

The handle is highly resistant against corrosion as it is tested to withstand 240 hours of salt spray test. These features make the Orvibo C1 smart lock a tough one to crack.

Extra

The lock is low maintenance, with long battery life of approximately 400 days with just 4 units of AA batteries. If the batteries are flat, the lock can be supplied with temporary power using USB power bank or unlocked mechanically with a key. Two units of high security restricted keys are provided with the lock. The inner panel works with an anti-panic handle which means that no matter what, you are always able to unlock the lock from the inside of your home.

Conclusion

The Orvibo C1 WiFi Smart Lock is a well-rounded smart lock that not only looks good, but packs a punch with unique high-tech features such as built-in WiFi connectivity and the latest AI fingerprint recognition system. The app offers one-of-a-kind feature such as the emergency unlock notifications which will come in handy if one is forced to unlock the door under duress.

The relatively affordable price point of this lock is hard to say no to; making it one of the most value for money smart lock models available in the market without sacrificing on quality and features. Orvibo has successfully launched a worthy successor that is worth shouting about.

If you would like to know more about the Orvibo Smart Lock or have any other questions about security, feel free to reach out to us and we will be more than happy to assist you!