The Schlage Encode: A Locksmith's Smart Lock? (Our Review)

The Brains and the Brawn: What This Lock Can Do

So this thing is a total beast, but it's a smart beast. On the outside, you've got the tough, fingerprint-proof touchscreen keypad for easy entry. On the inside, it's got Wi-Fi built right in, so you don't need any other goofy hubs or bridges to make it work with your phone. But here’s the killer feature: a built-in shock alarm. If someone tries to kick the door or tamper with the lock, it can let out a piercing siren. It’s that extra layer of "get away from my house" that you just don't get with a lot of other smart locks.

• It's a Schlage. It's tough.
• You have total remote control.
• It literally has a burglar alarm.

And the guest code feature is a lifesaver for real life. You can text a code to the plumber that only works on Tuesday between noon and 3 PM. You can give your kids their own code so they can't ever lose a key again. You see every single time a code is used in the app, so you're always in the loop about who's coming and going.

Now, you are swapping out your whole deadbolt with this one—it's not a clip-on gadget. But the instructions are amazing, and it feels so much more solid and secure once it's fully integrated into your door. It's a proper, satisfying upgrade that you can feel.

And the look of it—it's substantial. It doesn't look like a flimsy toy; it looks and feels like a serious lock. It runs on 4 normal AA batteries, it tells you in the app when they're getting low, and—most importantly—it still has a keyhole. So if all else fails, your good old-fashioned key will still get you inside.

The Schlage Encode is for the person who wants a smart lock but is not willing to compromise one single bit on security. It's built like a fortress, it's from a name you can trust, and the smart features are super practical and easy to use. If you want peace of mind that you can literally feel when you turn the deadbolt, this is the one.