Kwikset is expanding its Signature Series with Brentford, a new front‑door handleset that aims to give custom integrators a more design‑forward (and technologically simplistic) companion to the company’s growing portfolio of smart locks.
Central to the Brentford’s aesthetic presentation is its transitional design, offering a gently arched exterior grip and squared‑off rose tap that nods to both contemporary and traditional styles and allows it to blend better into both retrofits and new construction without clashing with door styles or sidelight geometry.
Finish options include Matte Black and Satin Nickel, both infused with Microban technology that suppresses 99.9 percent of surface bacteria for the life of the finish.
Installation should also feel familiar to anyone used to installing door handles in general, as a fully adjustable through‑bolt accommodates most existing 8‑ to 9‑inch door preps. Kwikset even says the package requires nothing more than a Phillips screwdriver.
The Brentford’s Security Story
On the security side, Kwikset highlights the new handleset comes with a Grade AAA score under the BHMA residential ratings program.
In the BHMA lexicon, “A” is the best grade awarded in each of the three categories; a triple‑A therefore represents the highest overall residential score available in the categories of security, durability and finish.
Backing that rating is the company’s fifth‑generation SmartKey Security cylinder. According to Kwikset, the system’s “side‑locking bar” design resists traditional lock‑bumping and picking, while the consumer‑facing pitch retains its 30‑second self‑re‑key procedure.
Mechanical Hardware in a Smart Lock World
Compared to Kwikset’s other hardware offerings like the Home Connect 620 keypad deadbolt or the Wi‑Fi‑enabled Halo Touch fingerprint lock, the Brentford is far more simplistic, with the SmartKey cylinder being the only “technological” touch on offer.
Kwikset points out, however, that it’s the SmartKey core that ultimately unites the product sets, allowing them to be paired together to create a unified physical key system when mixing and matching mechanical and connected products.
This ability to pair smarter door hardware with simpler ones mirrors a broader industry trend that seeks to keep the ornamental (“hand feel”) portion of the lock mechanical for cost and design flexibility, while reserving electronics for the deadbolt where battery swaps and software updates are easier to service.
Brentford Pricing and Availability
Kwikset lists Brentford at $112.99 MSRP for the keyed model, positioning it just above commodity import handlesets, but below premium European hardware brands.
The product is already shipping through Kwikset’s pro‑channel distributors and is set to roll out to “major retailers and online platforms” later this quarter.
