Expert's Rating
Pros
- Easy setup with or without the Schlage Home app
- Supports Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit (including ‘home keys’) ecosystems
- Integrated Wi-Fi eliminates need for a bridge
- Physical key included
- Works with Airbnb
Cons
- Google and Alexa apps require the Schlage Home app to work
- Relatively bulky construction
- No fingerprint reader
Our Verdict
With support for Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit–including Apple’s ‘home key’ NFC tech that works with the iPhone and Apple Watch–this new Plus version of the Schlage Encode addresses the biggest concerns we had about smart home platform support in our last review, and makes huge strides in setup and usability. The Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt is a great choice for any of these platforms, and it can work standalone, too.
Best Prices Today: Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Lock maker Schlage has been one of the most dominant American home security brands since the company’s founding in 1920, when San Francisco inventor Walter Schlage produced a lock capable of completing an electrical circuit when the door was opened, able to turn on lights when the homeowner got home. In that sense, smart locks seem like a natural evolution for a company that was founded on innovative tech way before the market was ready.
The Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt iterates and improves on the Encode Smart Deadbolt we reviewed in 2019, adding support for more smart home platforms and improving overall setup and usability along the way. I found this deadbolt easier to set up than many others in the field, and particularly simple for Apple HomeKit configuration without even needing to install the Schlage Home app on my iPhone.
On top of the support for Apple, Google, and Amazon Alexa, the lock works with the Airbnb vacation rental system.
Hardware installation
Installing the lock hardware is as straightforward as any I’ve tried. The kit comes with the deadbolt and strike plate, keypad and interior electronics assembly, batteries, a key, and all the screws and bolts you need.
The Schlage Encode Plus comes with everything you need for a basic installation, including batteries.
The Schlage Encode Plus comes with everything you need for a basic installation, including batteries.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
The Schlage Encode Plus comes with everything you need for a basic installation, including batteries.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
To begin, insert the deadbolt latch, making sure to orient it with the word “top” on top, and screw it into the door edge. As with most locks, you can either install the provided strike plate or, if your existing one works without friction, stick with the one you’ve got.
This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks.
With the deadbolt in place, set the exterior keypad on the outside of the door and run the cable under the latch to the inside. From the inside, place the mounting plate into the hole with the word “top” facing you and facing up, and screw it into the holes in the back of the keypad assembly until it’s snug but not too tight. With smart locks, it’s important to avoid over-tightening components, as that can damage the lock mechanisms.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Next, connect the cable by lining up the slots so the two ends fit together. Schlage’s connector design makes it easy to see which way the cables line up. Once the cable is connected, route it around the tailpiece and slot the tailpiece through the bolt latch to align the inside assembly. Screw it in place with the two provided machine screws. Finally, install the provided four AA batteries into the battery holder and slot it into place. You’ll hear a couple of beeps as the lock powers up, and then you’re ready to pair it with your phone.
The power and signal cable for the Encode Plus is designed to be easy and obvious to connect the right way.
The power and signal cable for the Encode Plus is designed to be easy and obvious to connect the right way.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
The power and signal cable for the Encode Plus is designed to be easy and obvious to connect the right way.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Pairing and software setup
You can use the Schlage Encode Plus as a standalone door lock if you want to. It comes with two preprogrammed codes you can use without ever connecting to your phone. Of course, the lock’s Wi-Fi functionality and smart home connectivity are the best way to tap its full capabilities, so you’ll want to pair it with a mobile app right after installation. I found the iPhone setup to be the easiest of all the options.
The Encode Plus setup on iPhone is easy and mostly automated.
The Encode Plus setup on iPhone is easy and mostly automated.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
The Encode Plus setup on iPhone is easy and mostly automated.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
To add the Schlage Encode Plus to your Apple Home, just press the black button on the inside assembly, hold your phone up to the lock, and wait a few seconds for your iPhone to detect it. Next, follow the prompts to set the lock’s location and name, set your access code, choose whether you want any automations, and finish the setup. Apple’s ‘home key’ NFC tech works automatically, and you can find the key in Apple Wallet, ready to go at the end of the setup.
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
Foundry / Robert Strohmeyer
If you want to use the lock with Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you’ll need to install and configure the Schlage Home app first, then connect Google Home to Schlage Home or add the Schlage Home skill to Alexa to control the lock. This is straightforward enough, but it’s disappointing to need to run Schlage’s app just to use the lock with Google Home or Alexa. Still, the ability to use the lock with all three major smart home platforms is a legitimate plus.
On top of the support for Apple, Google, and Amazon Alexa, the lock works with the Airbnb vacation rental system. This enables Airbnb rental owners to automatically generate access codes for their renters through Airbnb’s system, which is an excellent experience for renters and owners alike.
Design and styling
Being a conventional lock manufacturer and one of the biggest brands in the game, Schlage’s institutional knowledge of lock building is deep. This latest version of its Encode series of smart locks carries the highest BHMA certification–A–in all three categories: Security, durability, and finish. In terms of security, it likewise boasts the highest ANSI commercial certification: Grade 1. We reviewed the Century model of the Encode Plus Smart WiFi, which is available in either satin nickel or matte black. Your other design choice is the more traditional Camelot, which is available in satin nickel or aged bronze.
If you’re an existing Schlage lock owner adding this device as an upgrade to your already-installed Camelot or Century handle or lever set, this lock is a great choice because it’ll match perfectly. If you have any other style of door hardware, the distinctive lines of Schlage’s locks might stand out as a mismatch. Most smart locks are designed to be minimalist and modern because they’re typically installed alongside other door hardware that’s certain not to match. This is a weakness of the smart lock market in general, because hardly anyone buys an entire set of door hardware set at the same time. But with Schlage’s designs, the mismatch is more pronounced than it is with some other brands–Yale and Wyze Labs, for example–which have simpler aesthetics.
In addition to the design aesthetics, the Schlage lock is slightly larger on both sides of the door than some other locks we’ve tried. If you’re looking for a svelte smart lock that doesn’t scream “I installed a smart lock!” to all of your guests, this may not be the one for you.
The keypad is nice and bright on the Schlage, and includes colors to signal how the lock is working. I found the numbers easy to read in full sunlight as well as in the dark.
Daily use
Depending on which app you’re using with the Schlage Encode Plus, your user experience will vary. The lock plays nicely on Apple Home, Google Home, and Key by Amazon (the program that enables Amazon drivers to open your door to place deliveries inside), and it supports voice commands well on all three platforms.
The Schlage Home app is decent, and it includes handy features for creating virtual admin keys as well as time-limited guest keys. It also gives you a activity log that tracks both physical and digital access. Ultimately, though, the lock shines best with Apple’s platform.
This lock doesn’t have any provision for back-up power to operate it should its batteries fail while you’re out, but you can fall back on using its physical key to open the door if necessary. Not having any backup always makes me a little nervous, particularly if your home has a single access door. Schlage stingily provides just one key, but it’s easy and cheap enough to have duplicates made.
Should you buy the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt?
We reviewed the previous version of this lock, the Schlage Encode, and liked it a lot. This new Plus version addresses the biggest concerns we had about Schlage’s smart home platform support in our last review, and makes huge strides in setup and usability. The Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt is a great choice for any of these platforms, and can even work standalone if that’s your thing.
Best Prices Today: Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Author: Robert Strohmeyer, Contributing Writer
Robert has been covering tech since the late 1990s, and served as Executive Editor of PCWorld from 2005 to 2010. His writing has appeared in numerous publications, including Wired, Macworld, Maximum PC, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and many others.