Alfred DB1 First Look [Alfred DB1 Review]

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Touchscreen enabled on an Alfred DB1.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed living with the Alfred DB2. I absolutely love it–turning the mundane task of opening my front door into a classy experience. However, I recently had the opportunity to try out an Alfred DB1.

First impressions:

1. The touchscreen seems more sensitive than the DB2.
2. THE SOUND IS ON THE OUTSIDE. This is huge for me–I’m leaving it on full blast in all its glory!

I’m not going to ruin an upcoming article on the differences between the DB1 and DB2, but those are two immediate items I noticed within 5 seconds of installing the lock.

Within 5 minutes, I discovered the DB1 and DB2 are pretty much the same lock. So, as the article title hints, this is a picture post–a very lightweight Alfred DB1 review. The previous DB2 article goes massively in-depth on each feature. Head on over there if you’d like engineer arguments on why each feature is very smart and thoughtful–the logic applies to both locks: The BEST Smart Lock in 2020: An Alfred DB2 Review

All of these still apply to the Alfred DB1:

• Embedded pincodes
  

  Alfred DB1 [seemingly] mirror touchscreen enabled.

• One-touch entry
• Micro USB port battery backup
  

  My handy Rockwool micro USB power block on the Alfred DB1.

  

  Testing the Alfred DB1 by pulling out a battery and inserting my micro USB power block. There is a red battery showing in the lower middle of the touchpad.

  

  Location of the micro USB power port battery backup on Alfred DB1

• The benefits of locking the door with any number on the touchscreen
  

  Alfred DB1 successful lock red light indicator.

• A silicone gasket on both sides of the door
  

  Silicone gaskets on both sides of the door protect the lock against weather as well as protects the door from gouging.

• No twisting/turning needed (great for arthritis or other hand/arm problems)
• Security if your phone is misplaced or stolen
• 90% of the same “much more” features the DB2 offers.

The Alfred DB1 has a mirror finish without any keypad showing when the touchscreen is not enabled.

A better look at that mirror finish touchscreen. Do I have anything in my teeth? Why, hello, S10+ phone which is obviously taking this photo…

Welcome home! Another view with the touchscreen enabled.

What it really looks like when you open the door–a green light indicating you successfully unlocked the door.

I’m going to be straight out with you, dear reader–when asked what I wanted to try 6 months ago I requested the DB2. Who wouldn’t want to try out a smart lock that looks as sexy as the latest smart phone?!? Not going to lie–it is the more expensive one with a few minor additional features. VERY MINOR. But I also loved the curved screen and matte finish–not even realizing how amazing it would look with the new paint on the door. So of course, I jumped at that option.

The Alfred DB2

With this in mind, I already had a bias against the Alfred DB1.

Now let me clarify that too.

1. The Alfred DB1 is still a show stopper in it’s own right. If the DB2 was not in existence, everyone in the smart lock arena would STILL be going nuts with over the DB1.
2. If the company had wished me to create a video on the DB1 right from the start, I would have and still had a genuine Cheshire cat grin on my face.

But the DB2 is real and IMHO overshadows the DB1 if you’ve never tried them out.

However, I was blown away with the Alfred DB1 once I installed it. I might actually like it more.

A YouTube video on the full feature list is in the works right now.

For pricing/other reviews you can check it out here. I also use the Wi-Fi Bridge for remote connectivity.

In the meantime, you can check out this fabulous and fun unboxing and install video for a more visual first look:

RELATED VIDEOS:

A lightweight DB2 feature video (which is almost identical to the DB1):

The full version of the features breakdown:

The differences between the DB1 and DB2.