How does the Salto Neo cylinder work as a retrofit?

Neo replaces only the cylinder inside your existing mechanical hardware. The lock body, escutcheon, and lever all stay in place, with no drilling and no door-prep change. That makes it the go-to for occupied units, historic buildings, and custom millwork where the door cannot be modified.

Can the Neo cylinder be used outdoors?

Yes. Neo ships in an indoor version and an IP66-rated outdoor version, so the same system covers interior unit doors and exterior gates. Paired with Salto wall readers and the Neoxx padlock, one credential governs the unit, the perimeter, and amenity spaces.

How many openings does a Neo cylinder get per battery?

Up to about 130,000 openings on one set of four LR1 batteries, typically one to two years of service depending on traffic. Because Neo is a cylinder swap, its mechanical durability follows the host lockset it sits in.

When should I choose Neo over XS4 One?

Choose Neo when keeping the existing door and hardware intact matters most, which is the common case in multifamily and office retrofits. Choose XS4 One when you need the deepest PMS and mobile-key support or a full electronic lock body, as in branded hospitality guest rooms.

Salto · Cylinder and deadbolt retrofit electronic lock

Salto Neo.

Current lineRetrofitMobile credentials

Neo is Salto's cylinder-based system. It replaces the cylinder inside existing mechanical hardware without changing the door prep, the escutcheon, or the lever. The whole lock body stays in place. That makes Neo the obvious choice for multifamily retrofits, office buildings, government office space, and any commercial property where door modification is impractical, expensive, or impossible (occupied units, historic buildings, custom millwork). Neo's credential ceiling is below XS4 One on mobile and PMS integration depth, so projects where mobile keys and deep PMS integration matter most usually default to XS4 One. For projects where keeping the door intact matters most, Neo is the answer.

Specs

Form factorCylinder (Euro profile, US profile available)

Door prepNone (uses existing mechanical lock body)

CredentialsBLE, NFC, RFID (Mifare Classic, DESFire)

Apple WalletLimited (firmware-dependent)

PlatformSalto Space offline + BLUEnet; Homelok or KS for cloud

PowerBattery (1-2 year life typical)

Brand standardsLess common in branded hospitality; widely used in multifamily, office, and government

Integrations

Neo connects to hotel PMS, guest-journey, and check-in platforms through Salto’s integration ecosystem, which is extensive and updated frequently. Rather than freeze a partial list, we point you to Salto’s own directory for the current set.

Neo offers building-management integration and limited PMS depth: credential control without the deep PMS integration of the XS4 hotel locks.

Browse Salto’s integration directory →

Decision aid

Not sure if Neo is the right line for your property? The Salto Product Selector compares this against the rest of the Salto portfolio based on your property type and priorities.

Where we install Neo

MultifamilyDefault for unit-door retrofits. Cylinder swap leaves resident door hardware intact.
GovernmentOffice space retrofits where existing hardware should stay in place.
CommercialOffice buildings, tenant doors, mixed-use retrofits.
HospitalityRarely used for guest rooms (XS4 One is standard); occasionally used for back-of-house cylinder retrofits.

Neo models we configure

Neo is a family, not a single SKU. These are the specific models and variants we spec and install, each on its own page with its configuration and use cases.

Neo Mortise ANSINeo configured as a mortise replacement for ANSI prepView model →Neo Cylinder RIM ANSINeo cylinder for RIM (surface-mounted) lock bodiesView model →Neo Deadbolt ANSINeo deadbolt cylinder for additional security tierView model →

Datasheets & documents

Manufacturer documentation for Neo, straight from Salto.

SALTO Neo datasheet (PDF)

Where Neo fits, and where it doesn’t

EnvironmentIndoor / outdoor (IP66 (outdoor version))

Form factorCylinder (in-place retrofit)

Battery4x LR1 alkaline, ~130,000 openings per set 1-2 years typical; up to 130,000 openings per battery set.

Durability gradeCylinder retrofit: mechanical durability is governed by the host lockset, not the cylinder.

Ideal trafficModerate traffic Because Neo replaces only the cylinder inside the existing mechanical hardware, its mechanical wear profile follows the host lock body it sits in.

Best for

Multifamily and office retrofits where door prep cannot change
Occupied units, historic buildings, and custom millwork (no drilling or prep change)
Outdoor gates and perimeter doors (IP66 outdoor version)
Bringing perimeter, amenity, and unit access under one credential

Not ideal for

Branded hospitality guest doors needing the deepest PMS and mobile-key support (XS4 One)
New construction where a full electronic lock body is preferred
Doors where Apple Wallet keying is a hard requirement (firmware-dependent on Neo)

Sourced from SALTO Neo Cylinder datasheet, ANSI/BHMA A156 grade levels. Reviewed 2026-06-23 by RevKey.

Things to think about

Durability follows the host lockset

Neo replaces only the cylinder inside your existing mechanical hardware. Its mechanical wear profile is whatever the host lock body provides, which is why Neo is a great answer for doors that already work but need credential control. The electronics are rated to about 130,000 openings per battery set, well into multi-year life on a typical unit door.

Retrofit reach is the whole point

Because there is no drilling and no prep change, Neo goes where a full electronic lock cannot: occupied apartments, historic buildings, and custom millwork. If your project is new construction or you want a full electronic lock body, Neo's mortise variant or XS4 One is usually the better spec.

Indoor and outdoor, under one credential

Neo ships in an indoor version and an IP66 outdoor version, so the same system covers unit doors and exterior gates. Pair it with Salto wall readers and the Neoxx padlock and a single resident or staff credential governs the apartment, the perimeter, and the amenity spaces.

Sources: SALTO Neo datasheet (PDF), SALTO Neo product page. Reviewed 2026-06-23 by RevKey.

Next step: get a scope for Neo

Send us your property details and we will come back with a real scope for a Neo install, including phasing, brand-standard compliance, and a dated timeline.

Neo: frequently asked

How does the Salto Neo cylinder work as a retrofit?
Neo replaces only the cylinder inside your existing mechanical hardware. The lock body, escutcheon, and lever all stay in place, with no drilling and no door-prep change. That makes it the go-to for occupied units, historic buildings, and custom millwork where the door cannot be modified.
Can the Neo cylinder be used outdoors?
Yes. Neo ships in an indoor version and an IP66-rated outdoor version, so the same system covers interior unit doors and exterior gates. Paired with Salto wall readers and the Neoxx padlock, one credential governs the unit, the perimeter, and amenity spaces.
How many openings does a Neo cylinder get per battery?
Up to about 130,000 openings on one set of four LR1 batteries, typically one to two years of service depending on traffic. Because Neo is a cylinder swap, its mechanical durability follows the host lockset it sits in.
When should I choose Neo over XS4 One?
Choose Neo when keeping the existing door and hardware intact matters most, which is the common case in multifamily and office retrofits. Choose XS4 One when you need the deepest PMS and mobile-key support or a full electronic lock body, as in branded hospitality guest rooms.