New Schlage Smart Lock Supports Apple's iOS 18 Hands-Free Unlocking With UWB

[Cndnmax]

I would be surprised to see it last a year if it is moving the bolt.

I've used the locks that engage and let you twist a handle to move the bolt, and those last a long time. The ones where the lock has to move the bolt do not last as long - though it is 3 months or so for 4 AA batteries.

Either way, no keyhole - no sale for me. I have had said locks choose to act up for some reason, and the key is a quick way around that when I want to save the troubleshooting for later.

I’ve had a Schlage encode plus since September. Used 5-6 times a day and it’s still at 87% battery so they might not be far off.
My Kwikset premis on the other had would go through batteries much faster. I used rechargeable ones so they always showed “low battery”. I would just randomly charge the batteries every couple months or so if I remembered. In fact, it’s showing 0% battery right now lol. Never once got locked out.

 

[WilliamG]

So this is basically "next-gen" Apple homekey where you don't even need to tap your phone/watch to unlock, just walkup to the door?

Yes. I have this on my Tesla Model S and it’s fantastic. You walk up to the car and it connects over UWB and unlocks as I reach it.

 

[alexandr]

I own a Level Lock+ that was supposed to warn me when the battery was low. It did not. The lock had enough power to recognize my phone, but not enough power to move the deadbolt. Unfortunately, I had just returned from a trip, so my backup key was not in its usual location. Getting back into my house cost me $261, although I should have watched the Lock Picking Lawyer on YouTube, as the locksmith I hired did watch the LPL’s videos. All the locksmith needed was a wave rake and tensioning tool and 30 seconds to get in.

Not having vulnerability of a physical key option with the new Schlage lock is attractive as long as there is the option to provide temporary power when the battery dies without warning. Of course, I would like the Lock Picking Lawyer to review this new lock before I would make any purchase this time.

Yup, I have the same one and it always shows battery as 'healthy' and then dies I reported this to Level, but I'm not holding my breath. I keep a physical key in the car, this way if it dies I can always access my home using the key. And I replace my battery every 4 months or so.

 

[arc of the universe]

Wouldn't there be a time when you would want to leave your place and lock the deadbolt from the outside?

for me, if its a deadbolt function, then no.
the purpose of a deadbolt is to ensure additional safety for the persons inside. thinking that any person might somehow have or be able to access a key. but a deadbolt function keeps them out.

if i want a safety device such as you refer to, then i would chose a smart lock. not a (smart) deadbolt.

Yeah that’s not what deadbolts are, it’s a sliding lock engaged by a knob or key. Some can be internal only but the most common one is your traditional main door lock that has a knob and key.

thanks. i appreciate your useful information.

im sorry i wasn't more clear.
i would only consider purchasing (smart or otherwise) a one sided deadbolt without exterior plate.
and i would love it if there was a smart version of this (with the exterior plate only being able to be accessed through biometric authentication).

 

[subjonas]

for me, if its a deadbolt function, then no.
the purpose of a deadbolt is to ensure additional safety for the persons inside. thinking that any person might somehow have or be able to access a key. but a deadbolt function keeps them out.

if i want a safety device such as you refer to, then i would chose a smart lock. not a (smart) deadbolt.

thanks. i appreciate your useful information.

im sorry i wasn't more clear.
i would only consider purchasing (smart or otherwise) a one sided deadbolt without exterior plate.
and i would love it if there was a smart version of this (with the exterior plate only being able to be accessed through biometric authentication).

Some doors have two deadbolts—one that can only be locked from the inside and another that can be locked from outside with a key. If you get a smart deadbolt lock for the latter, you can have the best of both worlds, right?

 

[rezwits]

Yup, I have the same one and it always shows battery as 'healthy' and then dies I reported this to Level, but I'm not holding my breath. I keep a physical key in the car, this way if it dies I can always access my home using the key. And I replace my battery every 4 months or so.

Wait! Replace the battery every 4 months!!! Not that you are retarded but these companies haven't gotten this PART figured out? That's RETARDED! Screw this, guess I'll have to wait a couple more years, damn, I have already waited like 4 years.
But I want 100% NO KEYS!

 

[iSayuSay]

Apple keeps pushing new standard while 3rd party OEMs barely catch up with it. Just look at Qi2 chargers at 15watts to comply with MagSafe, only to be left out again when Apple released newer, faster 25w MagSafe puck for iPhone 16.

Smartlocks on HomeKit also share the same problem, slow adoption yet rapid new standard. HomeKey is barely on the market, only to be superseded by UWB unlock. Even worse that it's on hardware level, so it cannot be upgraded by firmware updates.

 

[Chaka Jon]

I’m not sure I’m understating what the big deal is about a new smart lock that unlocks when you are close to it. I have one of the older August Smart Locks (it’s about 7½ years old) and it auto-unlocks when I pull up to my house.

Am I missing something?

 

[NiftyTim]

My current keyless smart lock has two pins below the keypad to connect a standard 9V battery to power it in case of the onboard batteries draining. Obtaining a 9V battery is much easier than opening a "dumb" lock after losing the key.

What's the make and model of that lock? I'd like to upgrade my locks but I insist there to be some manual override in case of a network/power outage.

 

[Iconoclysm]

So this is basically "next-gen" Apple homekey where you don't even need to tap your phone/watch to unlock, just walkup to the door?

My new car has the CarKey function that works the same. Passively unlocking my car with my watch as I walk up to it is pretty nuts...unless I don't plan to drive, it takes a few minutes to lock up and realize that after I walk away.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I’m not sure I’m understating what the big deal is about a new smart lock that unlocks when you are close to it. I have one of the older August Smart Locks (it’s about 7½ years old) and it auto-unlocks when I pull up to my house.

Am I missing something?

Yes, this is actual proximity detection not geolocation unlocking.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I own a Level Lock+ that was supposed to warn me when the battery was low. It did not. The lock had enough power to recognize my phone, but not enough power to move the deadbolt. Unfortunately, I had just returned from a trip, so my backup key was not in its usual location. Getting back into my house cost me $261, although I should have watched the Lock Picking Lawyer on YouTube, as the locksmith I hired did watch the LPL’s videos. All the locksmith needed was a wave rake and tensioning tool and 30 seconds to get in.

Not having vulnerability of a physical key option with the new Schlage lock is attractive as long as there is the option to provide temporary power when the battery dies without warning. Of course, I would like the Lock Picking Lawyer to review this new lock before I would make any purchase this time.

Locks really just keep people honest. Unless you've barred up your windows, if someone wants to get in, they're getting in. The nice thing about a smart lock is that if someone DOES pick it, you get a notification that someone unlocked the door.

 

[das_hans]

you lose or leave your smart phone behind. what next? locksmith?

Same as when you lose or leave behind your key. Better worry about the new problem, batteries. Nothing more surreally dystopian then being locked out because your lock ran out of battery. That being said you forgive it all the moment you get home with your hands full of groceries and the door just opens for you.

 

[kiranmk2]

Sounds like it. I can already see this being pricey compared to other locks that don't have this "feature" yet.

Yes. I have this on my Tesla Model S and it’s fantastic. You walk up to the car and it connects over UWB and unlocks as I reach it.

My new car has the CarKey function that works the same. Passively unlocking my car with my watch as I walk up to it is pretty nuts...unless I don't plan to drive, it takes a few minutes to lock up and realize that after I walk away.

I wonder if this means that Homekey is basically dead and Apple (and Google, Amazon etc) will pursue UWB functionality instead. The benefit to the user is that you don't even have to tap your phone on the keypad with UWB. Hopefully you can select the unlocking distance and "re-locking" speed to avoid unintentional unlocks.

 

[deeddawg]

No key = not buying one unless I had an alternate way to get inside.

Batteries can and do sometimes fail without warning - had this happen with our existing homekit-enabled lock. One of the name-brand AA batteries failed (leak) despite being fairly new, entire lock was unresponsive.

 

[joecomo]

I would love to buy just the UWB sensor + maybe the bridge.
So I could use it to drive my motor locks.

 

[Eurisko2]

I would be surprised to see it last a year if it is moving the bolt.

I've used the locks that engage and let you twist a handle to move the bolt, and those last a long time. The ones where the lock has to move the bolt do not last as long - though it is 3 months or so for 4 AA batteries.

Either way, no keyhole - no sale for me. I have had said locks choose to act up for some reason, and the key is a quick way around that when I want to save the troubleshooting for later.

I have the Schlage Encode Plus, which supports thread, and it uses 4 AA batteries, and drops about 1% per month.
I use it to unlock the bolt from the outside about once per week, so not really heavy usage, but still, the battery has been amazing.

That said, if you connect it to Wifi/Amazon (vs Thread with Apple Homekit), then it drops about 20% per month.

(It doesn't do the UWB opening thing though, you have to hold your phone or watch up to the lock for a quick second to trigger the opening).

 

[BJMRamage]

Apple keeps pushing new standard while 3rd party OEMs barely catch up with it. Just look at Qi2 chargers at 15watts to comply with MagSafe, only to be left out again when Apple released newer, faster 25w MagSafe puck for iPhone 16.

Smartlocks on HomeKit also share the same problem, slow adoption yet rapid new standard. HomeKey is barely on the market, only to be superseded by UWB unlock. Even worse that it's on hardware level, so it cannot be upgraded by firmware updates.

I suppose the slow adoption is based on having companies that know how to build secure locks to begin with. then adding in the tech and mechanicals to do this via wireless connection/hubs.

As for HomeKey, I thought this was more of an Apple add-on. it allowed a lock to be tapped to lock/unlock easily just like Air Drop, or pushing music to a HomePod...but this new UWB tech is more an industry standard. and takes what was cool about HomeKey and pushes it further.

I really LOVE the idea of UWB locks. that makes these things extra smart. I do think I would like a Key too but we rarely use our key to the front door and use the garage 98-99% of the time.

 

[deeddawg]

I would be surprised to see it last a year if it is moving the bolt.

I've used the locks that engage and let you twist a handle to move the bolt, and those last a long time. The ones where the lock has to move the bolt do not last as long - though it is 3 months or so for 4 AA batteries.

We have a Schlage Sense at our "weekend" place since 2018, and since covid my wife & I are full time WFH so we spend about half our time there.

The four AA batteries typically last a couple years or more. The lock is within 20ft or so of an AppleTV device as the Homekit hub.

 

[alexandr]

Wait! Replace the battery every 4 months!!! Not that you are retarded but these companies haven't gotten this PART figured out? That's RETARDED! Screw this, guess I'll have to wait a couple more years, damn, I have already waited like 4 years.
But I want 100% NO KEYS!

Thanks?)) I usually do it when I'm going away on a trip or something of that sort. So that my lock doesn't die while I'm away, in case someone needs to come in for whatever reason. But yes, it's a shame that they can't figure out a proper low batt alert.

 

[JungleNYC]

Very cool but it having no key backup is a dealbreaker. I currently live in a condo with only one entrance, I doubt this would be an issue for people with multiple exits though. Currently using the previous version with NFC unlock.

Yup. Most people can stash a spare key in a safe place in case of emergencies/blackouts. A must-have.

 

[totallywoke]

Lack of physical key is dealbreaker. Have Schlage Sense and Encode Plus deadbolts. Battery consumption is negligible. I had battery level drop below 20% on one lock and ignored the low battery alerts. Learned the hard way that battery drains faster when battery is low. And stops working.

When battery is very very low or dead, the smart lock won’t unlock (HomeKit automation when nearby or entering the passcode on the keypad). Unfortunately I stopped carrying house keys - which was the only way to unlock the smart lock. Had to call locksmith. $300 lessson learned.

 

[Martin Bland]

What's the make and model of that lock? I'd like to upgrade my locks but I insist there to be some manual override in case of a network/power outage.

I have a Yale Assure Lock 2 with Bluetooth. My understanding is that the WiFi variant is a battery eater. If Yale would release a Thread variant, it would be nearly perfect (part of the reason I’m excited about this new Schlage)

 

[d-klumpp]

Very cool but it having no key backup is a dealbreaker. I currently live in a condo with only one entrance, I doubt this would be an issue for people with multiple exits though. Currently using the previous version with NFC unlock.

We've been using the Yale equivalent for years without issue, and we typically use the keypad. Okay, there is the minor issue that the Yale status in HomeKit is sometimes incorrect (e.g., "Unlocked" when it's actually locked), but the lock otherwise has been great.

 

[d-klumpp]

I have a Yale Assure Lock 2 with Bluetooth. My understanding is that the WiFi variant is a battery eater. If Yale would release a Thread variant, it would be nearly perfect (part of the reason I’m excited about this new Schlage)

We replace batteries in our wifi Assure approximately 2x per year (at the moment, it's at 58% charge, and I think I swapped batteries last in Sept). But we keep 4 rechargeable alkaline batteries in a charger in a kitchen drawer, and the swap takes maybe 1 min, including getting a small screwdriver. So overall, it's been great and doesn't require another deal-breaking hub.