TCRThe Comparison Report

Smart Locks / Kwikset

Kwikset · Halo

Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR)

Wi-Fi and Thread in one lock — but choosing Matter costs you code management.

$259.00$279.00

Overall score 7/10

Pros

  • + Genuinely dual-radio: Wi-Fi for hub-free remote access, or Matter-over-Thread if you already run a Thread mesh
  • + SmartKey lets you re-key the cylinder to your existing house key in under a minute — no locksmith, no new keyring
  • + BHMA Grade AAA and a UL 20-minute fire rating, both published rather than implied
  • + One of the few locks here that states its door thickness, backset and bore limits outright

Cons

  • Matter mode is not a free upgrade: Kwikset's own comparison shows access-code add/remove, code scheduling, event history and door-sensor settings are Kwikset-app-over-Wi-Fi features, not Matter ones
  • No Apple Home Key — that is a separate, dearer Halo Select Plus SKU
  • No fingerprint reader at $259 when $200 locks here have one
  • Kwikset publishes no battery-life figure, and its own product reviews are peppered with Wi-Fi pairing and 'door jammed' complaints

Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) review: what the specs say

Wi-Fi and Thread in one lock — but choosing Matter costs you code management. At $259, Kwikset's 2024 model sits in the middle of the range — the smart Locks we compare run from $79.98 to $399. It scores 7.0/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.

Its strongest showing is Connectivity at 8.0/10 — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included. The weakest is Entry Methods at 5.5/10, which is the trade-off to weigh before buying: if that is the specification you care about most, one of the alternatives below will serve you better.

Worth knowing before you buy: matter mode is not a free upgrade: Kwikset's own comparison shows access-code add/remove, code scheduling, event history and door-sensor settings are Kwikset-app-over-Wi-Fi features, not Matter ones; and no Apple Home Key — that is a separate, dearer Halo Select Plus SKU. Every specification on this page comes from Kwikset's own documentation or a verified retail listing — where a figure is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.

Specifications and price last verified . Report an error

Full Specifications

Lock TypeFull deadbolt replacement
ANSI/BHMA GradeBHMA Grade AAA (Kwikset's published claim), plus a UL 20-minute fire rating. Kwikset publishes the three-letter AAA grade rather than the A156.36 numeric grade
Keeps Existing KeywayNo — but the SmartKey cylinder can be re-keyed by the owner to match an existing key
Smart Radio2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread both built in, plus Bluetooth
Hub or Bridge RequiredNo hub for Wi-Fi mode. Matter mode needs a Thread border router
Apple Home KeyNo — Apple Home Key is only on the dearer Halo Select Plus
UWB Hands-Free UnlockNo
BiometricsNone — touchscreen keypad only
Battery Type4 x AA alkaline (included)
Claimed Battery LifeNot published by the manufacturer months
Backup Power & Key OverrideSmartKey physical cylinder, owner re-keyable; Kwikset does not publish an emergency power contact
Door Thickness / BacksetDoors 1-3/8 in to 1-3/4 in thick, adjustable 2-3/8 in or 2-3/4 in backset, 2-1/8 in cross bore
Connectivity2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Matter over Thread, Bluetooth
MaterialMetal escutcheon with a capacitive touchscreen
Warranty12 months

Compare Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) With

Cheaper Alternative

ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter — $199.99

Premium Alternative

Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) — $329.00