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igloohome Smart PadLock 2 is the successor to the igloohome Smart PadLock which was launched three years ago. The changes are mostly on the hardware side.

One of the major differences is using a rechargeable lithium battery which is chargeable via the USB-C port. If the Padlock 2 battery is flat, you can charge it using a power bank instead of a 9V alkaline battery.

Padlock 2 is also rated IPX7, an improvement over the IP66 on PadLock 1. IPX7 means the PadLock 2 is waterproof, allowing it to be used outdoors. IP66 means it is just water resistant. You can use it outdoors, but it has to be sheltered.

In addition to IPX7, PadLock 2 is also MIL-STD-810H certified and features a fully tamper-proof design. The shackle can withstand 15kN cutting, 5kN pulling, and 100Nm twisting force.

Below is a table highlighting all the differences.

Unboxing

Design
Despite having the same width as PadLock 1, PadLock 2 looks slimmer from the front because it is taller (78 mm vs. 70 mm). Despite being slimmer in front, it is thicker on the side (38 mm vs. 32 mm) and heavier (500 g vs. 450 g).

The shackle is chrome plated for rust resistance. I prefer the “color” of Padlock 2 compared to the black shackle of Padlock 1. The black on Padlock 1 makes me feel the paint will fall off due to wear and tear.

The body is also powder coated for corrosion resistance.

The shackle on PadLock 2 is also slimmer (24.3mm vs. 26 mm) and taller (35.6 mm vs. 24 mm). Its diameter also is lesser by 0.3 mm (8.7 mm vs. 9 mm).

Instead of the 9V alkaline battery connector at the bottom of the PadLock, you now have a USB-C Port.

Setup
The setup is straightforward. You will have to use the igloohome app on iOS or Android. A revamp of the App is coming up sometime in June 2023.

PadLock 2 is not indicated in the App, so that you can choose PadLock.

Here are some settings of the PadLock 2.

Using It
Similar to PadLock 1, PadLock 2 is designed to be front-facing, like on lockers or gates. I have no issues using it as a padlock on my HDB gate.

I find the PadLock 2 fits better on my HDB gate when compared to PadLock 1. Because it is taller and slightly thinner, the shackle has more room to wiggle, making it easier to rotate to remove it from the gate.

There are two ways to unlock PadLock 2, which is identical to PadLock 1. PIN code directly on the padlock or via Bluetooth using the Igloohome App.

You can create a permanent PIN, a temporary PIN with a duration, or a one-time PIN. For Bluetooth unlocking, you can unlock it using your own Igloohome App or give access to another Bluetooth key on any Igloohome App.

A new feature called Auto Unlock is also available in PadLock 1. What it does is it uses geofencing to detect your location and then uses Bluetooth to trigger an unlock to the PadLock when you are near it. This feature works perfectly. There is no need to fiddle with your phone to unlock it using the App or key in the pin on the padlock.

This works well for me, and I love this feature. When I exit the lift and walk towards my unit, I can hear my PadLock 2 being unlocked automatically.

Do note that Auto Unlock will only work with one PadLock per account, which is weird. I hope they fix it in future updates.

A minor nitpick is they do not separate Auto Unlock and Unlock via App in the Logs. Both are being grouped as Unlock via App.

Conclusion
igloohome Smart PadLock 2 is one of the best smart padlocks out there. So if you are looking for a smart padlock, I recommend getting this PadLock 2.

Also, if you cannot use a digital lock on your gate for any reason and still want to make your gate “smart,” PadLock 2 will also suit your needs.