Schlage Canada sent us the Schlage Encode Plus smart WiFi deadbolt to test, and as long-term Schlage Sense users since 2017, it was the perfect time for an upgrade.
Built-in WiFi and Thread, No Hub Required
The biggest quality of life improvement over the Sense is that the Encode Plus connects directly to your home network over WiFi. No external bridges or plug-in adapters are required to get it online out of the box, which alone makes the upgrade worthwhile. It also features built-in Thread support, which activates automatically to save battery life if you have a compatible Apple Home hub nearby.
Tap to Unlock With iPhone or Apple Watch
The Encode Plus supports Apple Home Key, which means you and your family can unlock the front door by tapping the back of an iPhone or Apple Watch, just like Apple Pay. It even works when your phone runs out of battery. Just keep in mind that to use Apple Home Key and integrate the lock with HomeKit for Siri or remote automation, you will need an Apple TV or HomePod set up in your house as a home hub.
Out of the box it works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home with no extra adapters required.
This is what you’ll see on your iPhone when you tap to enter. You don’t need to do anything other than place the back of your iPhone up to the Encode Plus. Just make sure to add your family as part of your Home household so they can also use this feature too:
100 Access Codes and a Much Quieter Lock
The Sense maxed out at 30 unique access codes. The Encode Plus bumps that to 100, which is a big deal if you manage guest access, short-term rentals, or a busy household. The lock itself is also noticeably quieter and smoother than the Sense, which was pretty loud by comparison (and would freak out guests if you had autolock on).
Better Battery Design
One of our biggest frustrations with the Sense was the battery pack. It used 4 AA batteries and required disconnecting a terminal before removing it, which always felt fragile and like one wrong move away from pulling out a wire. The Encode Plus fixes this entirely. The battery pack slides in cleanly with a terminal connection at the bottom and no wires involved. Schlage also printed the HomeKit setup QR code directly on the battery pack, so you won’t lose it if you ever need to set things up again.
Installation and Setup
Installation was straightforward, especially coming from a Sense. Scanning the QR code kicks off the process and Schlage’s step-by-step video guides are excellent. One hiccup: adding the lock to HomeKit through the Home app alone didn’t work for us. We had to go through the Schlage app instead, which was a bit frustrating but not a dealbreaker.
A traditional manual screwdriver is your best friend here, as Schlage explicitly warns against using power drills on the delicate lock chassis to prevent over-tightening and motor binding. Save the impact driver strictly for anchoring the heavy-duty security screws into your wooden door frame strike plate. It’s also worth it to have a small level on hand to line everything up perfectly before you tighten the screws (you gotta keep the wife happy right).
One thing to keep in mind if you’re upgrading from a Sense: the Encode Plus hardware on the inside of the house is about three inches shorter, so you may end up with a visible screw hole and a patch of door that hasn’t been exposed to the elements. Budget some time to patch and repaint if that matters to you.
We also swapped in the matching Schlage Century front entry handle ($174) at the same time, which includes an interior Latitude lever. It looks sharp and pairs well with the Encode Plus.
As for a minor gripe? The interior lock lever had a bit of play before engaging the deadbolt. Not a functional issue, but noticeable enough to mention.
Worth the Upgrade?
At $398, the Schlage Encode Plus is not cheap. But if you’re coming from an older Sense, it’s a meaningful upgrade in almost every way. Tap to enter with your iPhone or Apple Watch, no hub required for basic app access, quieter operation, cleaner battery design, and support for 100 access codes. It still has a physical keyhole and backup key, which is a nice touch given that the newer Sense Pro dropped that entirely in favour of UWB hands-free unlocking.
Your aging Sense has had a good run, but the Encode Plus is the one to get. If you’ve been eyeing a smart lock, this one will make a house key obsolete. We haven’t carried one in years.
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We loved ours too. So easy to tap the lock with the iPhone to unlock without needing to unlock the phone first. Prices drop to $329-$349 on Amazon from time to time. The AA lasts about 6 months for us.
I got the Encode Plus the day it was released at Home Depot Canada, had the Sense before that. I would agree with all the improvements you mentioned (the battery pack especially). This is the best lock out there – I recommend it to all my friends.