Electronics › Smart Home & Security
Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt
Smart WiFi deadbolt lock
More about it ↓Quick take
In short: what each side says
AI panel · The press — each opened up in full further down ↓
Best on AI Mode (avg #1.0), weakest on Perplexity (#4.0)
4 of 5 outlets recommend it — a clear editorial consensus.
Every side lands high — Holds up.
Quick read · who it’s for
Main competitors
Top rivals in Smart Home & Security.
About
What it is.
Schlage's Encode Plus is a keyed deadbolt built around a touchscreen keypad and built-in WiFi, letting it connect directly to a home network without a separate hub. It supports Apple HomeKit alongside Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, covering the major voice-control ecosystems, and pairs Bluetooth with WiFi for local and remote operation. The lock body ships in Matte Black, Satin Nickel, and Aged Bronze, and comes with a physical key cylinder as backup to the electronic controls.
Access management runs through user-assigned codes, with activity monitoring that logs entries so households can track who unlocked the door and when. It fits buyers looking for an established manufacturer's take on smart entry rather than a newer, unproven brand, and suits homes already invested in Alexa, Google, or HomeKit routines.
The verdict
Schlage Encode Plus is a smart deadbolt from Schlage, the lock division of Allegion. Released in 2021, it connects directly to WiFi without a separate hub. The lock uses a keypad for entry codes and accepts remote commands via the Schlage Home app. Homeowners install it to control access without carrying keys or waiting for family members to arrive. AI assistants currently rank it number one for best smart locks.
Act one
What the machines think.
Several AI models read the category and place this product — model by model, list by list, over time.
Model by model?
How each AI sees it.
Best on AI Mode (avg #1.0), weakest on Perplexity (#4.0) Averaging across the AI panel, Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt sits around #2.5 this snapshot.
Gemini
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Didn’t rank Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt this snapshot.
Grok
Didn’t rank Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt this snapshot.
Rank trajectory?
Weeks of movement.
Act two · ★ new
What the people say.
The same product, judged by the owners who bought and filmed it — what they praise, what they knock, who it's for.
Video reviews?
What reviewers actually say.
How to Install the Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi Lock for Home or Rental
Dude, I Tried It
What the press says?
Where the established press lands.
The press agrees
4 of 5 outlets recommend it — a clear editorial consensus.
Tie-breakerThe AI models split on Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt. The press tally below breaks the tie.
Across 5 independent outlets · published expert reviews · last 18 months
Find your situation?
Made for some — wrong for others.
You love smart home tech and appreciate thoughtful design.
Design & aesthetics score high; 4.8/5 rating and passionate owner base suggest this delights beyond specs; Schlage's reputation attracts enthusiasts.
You need a proven, low-risk smart lock you can trust.
6566 ratings show broad consensus; Schlage is mature and established; high buyer trust score supports a settled, dependable choice.
You want a prestige smart lock from an established maker.
Schlage is a tier-1 brand with flagship positioning; design scores high, and the price reflects premium positioning, though marketing honesty is weak.
You want a smart lock that works out of the box with minimal fuss.
Mid installation/ease-of-use score and multi-device setup complexity suggest this isn't a plug-and-play experience; simpler alternatives exist.
You demand the best-in-class smart lock with no compromises.
High buyer rating (4.8/5) but owner data shows low marks for hardware quality, reliability, and multi-device compatibility—clear quality gaps vs. top-tier alternatives.
You want a smart lock that does the job without breaking the bank.
At $276–394, it's a premium-tier price point with mid overall value satisfaction; cheaper rivals like the Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen) at ~$197 cover core smart-lock needs. Consider Wi-Fi Smart Lock (4th Gen).
Grounded in our buyer-review, reviewer-video, price and successor signals — a poor fit names a closer pick · as of Aug 3.
Frequent rivals?
What it competes against.
- LockLevelSchlage leads 1–0 · 1 sharedRead
- Smart Lock U100AqaraSchlage leads 1–0 · 1 sharedRead
- Encode Smart WiFi DeadboltSchlageEncode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt leads 1–0 · 1 sharedRead
- Vision EliteLocklySchlage leads 1–0 · 1 sharedRead
- Encode Smart WiFi LeverSchlageEncode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt leads 1–0 · 1 sharedRead
- Sense Smart DeadboltSchlageEncode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt leads 1–0 · 1 sharedRead
- Lock ProSwitchbotSchlage leads 1–0 · 1 sharedRead
Frequently asked
What buyers want to know.
What do owners like most about the Encode Plus?
Buyers praise the sleek design and smooth manual operation. Installation and everyday use are straightforward enough that owners call it easy to operate and worth the investment.
What's the main problem owners run into?
Buyers are deeply divided by HomeKit integration failures and hardware defects. The critical issue: pairing it with both the Schlage Home app and Apple HomeKit simultaneously causes one setup to overwrite the other, requiring a factory reset each time—directly contradicting Schlage's claim of seamless HomeKit integrat…
Is the Encode Plus reliable over time?
Owners rate reliability and hardware quality significantly lower than design and ease of use. Long-term data from 6,566 buyers shows quality gaps—particularly in multi-device compatibility and assembly defects—that undermine the premium price.
Who should buy the Encode Plus?
It fits buyers who love smart home design and want a proven lock from an established manufacturer. Schlage's reputation and broad owner consensus (4.8 out of 5 across thousands of reviews) make it a low-risk choice for homes already invested in Alexa, Google, or HomeKit routines. Skip it if you need a lock that works…
Do the marketing claims hold up?
The claim of seamless HomeKit integration is overstated. Schlage's own marketing does not reflect the widespread owner reports of pairing conflicts and factory resets required to switch between apps. Voice control and remote access remain unverified by the reviews available.
What do reviewers think?
Four of five major outlets recommend it—a clear editorial consensus. One outlet gave a mixed verdict, and none advised against it.
The recap
Where it stands today.
- PositionBest rank #1 across 1 intent tracked (no change vs last snapshot).
- FootprintStrongest in Best Smart Locks (#1).
- TraitsMost often described as “wifi” (2 mentions).
- Closest rivalLock (1–0 across 1 shared intent).
- MakerBy Schlage — see how it ranks across other intents on its brand profile.
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