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So dumb.. supporting UWB doesn’t mean they need to remove the keyhole. For a smart lock, the more ways to open for emergencies the better.

What if the battery dies?
 
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I'm still rocking my OG non-pro Sense. Batteries last forever (18 months to 2 years for me) and I have an automation set up so I say "I'm home" to my watch and it unlocks.
 
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.
I understand this kind of thinking, but I think this is why one would have two deadbolts (which I have seen). One has a key and can be accessed from the outside, while the other does not. This kind of setup does have drawbacks though for those who don't live alone. It's kind of sucky if your roommate decides to lock the door while they take a nap or something, and doesn't hear you pounding on the door. It's especially problematic if you have small kids who decide it would be a funny prank to lock out their parents. This is why every setup I've seen like this has the deadbolt with no exterior access as the one highest up the door.

Deadbolts do provide additional security in that they can't just be defeated with a simple credit card like a simple door lock can. So there is a benefit for having one that can be locked/unlocked from the outside.
 
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I love how many people are assuming that there's no way to power the lock aside from the batteries. As if people who work at these companies are stupid and never thought of the possibility that the batteries could die. All smart locks I've ever seen that don't offer a key backup provide some way of powering it from the outside if the batteries die. My Yale lock has terminals for a 9V battery (someone else mentioned this one). More recently released ones have a USB-C port. That's even better because it can actually be powered from your phone!
 
Deadbolts do provide additional security in that they can't just be defeated with a simple credit card like a simple door lock can. So there is a benefit for having one that can be locked/unlocked from the outside.
Most lockable doorknobs include a "Deadlock Plunger" which prevents this form of attack. The latch bolt extends into the strike plate, but the plunger does not -- and so long as the plunger is pressed into the assembly the latch bolt cannot be pushed back by credit card or other means.

Granted, improper installation (such as incorrect strike plate) might prevent proper function, but that's the problem of the installer not the lock.


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Most lockable doorknobs include a "Deadlock Plunger" which prevents this form of attack. The latch bolt extends into the strike plate, but the plunger does not -- and so long as the plunger is pressed into the assembly the latch bolt cannot be pushed back by credit card or other means.

Granted, improper installation (such as incorrect strike plate) might prevent proper function, but that's the problem of the installer not the lock.


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You can "well actually" me all you want on this, but my point still stands that a deadbolt is more secure than a doorknob lock even if my specific example might not have been the best.
 
You can "well actually" me all you want on this, but my point still stands that a deadbolt is more secure than a doorknob lock even if my specific example might not have been the best.

I merely clarified (for other readers) that doorknob locks generally aren't as insecure as your post suggested.

Nothing in my post addressed deadbolts, of course they're more secure.
 
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Schlage today unveiled a new Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt that's able to connect to smart home platforms like HomeKit using Matter-over-Thread. The device has no key hole as it is exclusively designed to be unlocked with a smartphone.

schlage-uwb-door-lock.jpg

The Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt supports hands-free unlocking over NFC and it integrates Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology. The lock is able to unlock right when a user reaches their door by measuring distance, speed, and trajectory with UWB.

Schlage's lock will be one of the first to support hands-free unlocking using the Ultra Wideband chip in the iPhone. Apple added an "Express Mode" hands-free unlocking feature to iOS 18, but it requires smart locks to have a UWB chip and there are no locks on the market with the functionality as of right now.

The lock also supports tap to unlock over NFC and it includes a keypad for access with an entry code.

To go along with the Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt, Schlage is working on a new Schlage Home app that has a more user-friendly interface and allows for remote lock management.

Schlage has not provided pricing for the Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt, but it will be available for purchase later in 2025.

Article Link: New Schlage Smart Lock Supports Apple's iOS 18 Hands-Free Unlocking With UWB
FWIW, I've had a Schlage Sense deadbolt lock in my home for what must be at least 5 years now and it has been completely rock solid on HomeKit. I've never once had to reconnect it to HomeKit and the batteries last forever.

I have 40+ products connected to HomeKit from at least a dozen different manufacturers. Schlage and Eve have been the best. Belkin/WEMO has been the worst (just sent the last of my WEMO products to electronics recycling yesterday).
 
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As a renter, this lock is a dealbreaker. We have to have a backup key.

If they ever make a backup key version (even if it’s behind the face plate) then we could consider since no keypad or buttons is highly attractive along with UWB support.
 
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.
I have the Schlage Encode Plus as well, and I believe it's wifi-only, not Thread. There's no mention of Thread in the manual, and I think the HomeKit setup passes the wifi credentials from your phone. That being said, I haven't had any issue with battery life, and having the option to just use my regular house key has been great.
 
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I have the Schlage Encode Plus as well, and I believe it's wifi-only, not Thread. There's no mention of Thread in the manual, and I think the HomeKit setup passes the wifi credentials from your phone. That being said, I haven't had any issue with battery life, and having the option to just use my regular house key has been great.
Yeah, it doesn't say anything about it, but it supports it. :)


You can force it to Thread, but you have to wipe it and start over. My battery was only lasting 4-5 months (it's used a lot). After moving it to thread, it went from 97% to 88% in 10 months.
 

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I have the Schlage Encode Plus as well, and I believe it's wifi-only, not Thread. There's no mention of Thread in the manual, and I think the HomeKit setup passes the wifi credentials from your phone. That being said, I haven't had any issue with battery life, and having the option to just use my regular house key has been great.
Encode Plus supports both Bluetooth and Thread. It's not in the manual but reviewers have verified through testing:
 
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