I had a much easier time setting up and using the lock with an Android phone: Just install the Schlage app and walk through the pairing and setup steps. But if you bypass the latter, you lose out on the iPhone/Apple Watch key feature, which sort of defeats the purpose of choosing the Encode Plus over another smart lock. There’s no such requirement for Android users or Apple users who opt for the Schlage app instead of Apple Home. And an iPad works as a hub only when it’s actually in your home if you travel with it, you’ll no longer have Wi-Fi access to the lock. There’s another important aspect to consider here: Although the Encode Plus has built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, meaning you can control it and get status updates even when away from home, that option isn’t available to Apple Home users unless you also have a hub: Apple TV, HomePod Mini, or iPad. (To delve into settings, you have to long-press the lock icon, then tap a gear icon.) The Home app by itself makes for a confusing (and limited) Encode Plus manager, as there’s no obvious way to do anything but toggle between lock and unlock. The manual suggests choosing one or the other, but I learned that without the latter, you don’t have access to most of the lock’s settings and options. For starters, it’s not clear whether you should use only the Apple Home app or install the Schlage app as well. What we don’t like Apple Home Key setup can be a painĪlthough the Schlage smart lock hardware installs with minimal fuss, Apple users may get a little frustrated by the software part. This all but guarantees protection against porch-piracy, though of course you need to be comfortable with strangers stepping foot across the threshold. Once activated, delivery drivers can unlock your door (without the need for any manual code-sharing or the like) and place packages inside, then lock it again. If you have concerns about package theft, you’ll appreciate the Encode Plus’ support for Amazon Key. The lock supports Amazon Key in-home deliveries And I found it frustrating that my Apple Watch kept asking me if I wanted to run this automation instead of just, you know, running it. But this works only if you have a hub, as described later in the review. This potentially solves the “phone-dead-now-what” problem, though obviously you could just use the lock’s keypad if needed.Īs for automation, Apple’s HomeKit handles that: You can toggle a setting that will automatically unlock the Encode Plus when you get home and lock it again when you leave. That’s because NFC, an ultra-low-power technology, can transmit even when there’s not enough juice to power the phone itself. What’s more, Schlage promises that Home Key will work even if your iPhone has a dead battery (though only within about five hours of that happening). The end result is impressive: Just bring your device within an inch or two of the keypad and it locks or unlocks almost immediately. Typically this is handled via Bluetooth, but the Encode Plus Schlage smart lock leverages Apple’s new Home Key protocol, which adds a digital, NFC-powered “key” to Apple Wallet and Watch. Most smart locks incorporate one or more proximity features, meaning they can unlock when your phone comes near or unlock if it leaves the area. And of course there’s always the option of a mechanical key. If you have an Amazon, Apple or Google smart device in your home, the lock will respond to voice commands. You can unlock the Schlage Encode Plus Wi-Fi deadbolt by tapping your iPhone or Apple Watch to the keypad until the light turns green.Īs you’d expect from a modern smart lock, this one includes a digital keypad with support for up to 100 custom codes, which you can add or remove easily from within the Schlage app.
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