Schlage Encode Plus

What reviewers agree on

• +Apple Home Key · praised by 4 of 5 sources
  Which sources said this

  • 9to5Mac — positive: Calls it the first consumer lock in the US with Apple Home Key and now his favourite smart lock: tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch locks or unlocks the door.
  • MacRumors — mixed: Home Key worked and Express Mode covers a dead iPhone, but the iPhone or Apple Watch had to be held very close before the lock registered, so the keypad was often quicker.
  • Reviewed — positive: Home Key unlocks within an inch or two of the keypad and keeps working for about five hours after the iPhone battery dies.
  • The Verge — positive: Home Key unlocks without opening an app or waking the phone, Express Mode removes authentication, and the reviewer calls it the simplest smart-lock interaction he has had.
  • Tom's Guide — positive: Unlocking with an iPhone or Apple Watch worked within a second, though tapping the whole watch face against the lock is described as a little awkward.

• +Connectivity · praised by 3 of 5 sources
  Which sources said this

  • 9to5Mac — positive: Home Key runs over NFC and keeps working for about five hours after the iPhone dies through Power Reserve; the lock otherwise uses HomeKit.
  • The Verge — positive: Connects over the more power-efficient Thread protocol through a HomePod mini or a second-generation Apple TV 4K; otherwise it falls back to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
  • Tom's Guide — positive: Runs on Wi-Fi directly, or pairs with an Apple TV or HomePod mini so the batteries last a little longer than on a direct Wi-Fi connection.

• +Installation · praised by 4 of 5 sources
  Which sources said this

  • MacRumors — positive: Straightforward for anyone who has replaced a deadbolt: the interior unit screws onto a metal plate and the keypad wires are fed through the door.
  • Reviewed — positive: Replacing a dumb deadbolt took ten minutes on a standard door using Schlage's instruction guide, with QR-code video walkthroughs for anyone who gets stuck.
  • The Verge — positive: About 15 minutes and a Phillips screwdriver; a taper on each side of the deadbolt helped on an older door that does not close squarely.
  • Tom's Guide — positive: Hardware installation is a 10 to 15 minute job with a Phillips screwdriver; the phone setup is the more involved part.

Common criticisms

• −App and software · criticized by 4 of 5 sources
  Which sources said this

  • 9to5Mac — negative: The touchscreen keypad and its backlight are lower quality than the Yale Assure SL's, and HomeKit still cannot schedule access codes or show access history.
  • MacRumors — negative: The keypad numbers are extremely faint under typical lighting and only illuminate after a key press, which the reviewer calls an easy improvement Schlage has not made in seven years.
  • Reviewed — negative: Apple Home on its own is a confusing and limited manager, and an Apple Home user also needs an Apple TV, HomePod mini or iPad hub to keep Wi-Fi control.
  • The Verge — mixed: Adding the lock to Apple Home needs no Schlage app at all, but guest codes there cannot be limited to a time block or given an expiry date, and the Schlage app is still needed for Alexa and Google setup.
  • Tom's Guide — negative: Setting the lock up through HomeKit first blocks later access to the Schlage Home app, and it stores 100 codes against 250 on the Yale Assure SL.

• −Value · criticized by 3 of 5 sources
  Which sources said this

  • MacRumors — negative: Priced at around $320 at Home Depot and Lowe's, with availability described as spotty.
  • Reviewed — negative: It costs more than most and offers a bit less, skipping geofencing and a fingerprint sensor; the reviewer points buyers to the cheaper Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi.
  • The Verge — negative: Firmly on the expensive side at $299.99 when capable smart locks can be found well under $200.