Smart Locks / Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) vs Level Lock Pro (Matter)
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) vs Level Lock Pro (Matter)
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR)
Wi-Fi and Thread in one lock — but choosing Matter costs you code management.
Wins overall by 0.7 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.7-point gap makes the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) the straightforward choice here. Wi-Fi and Thread in one lock — but choosing Matter costs you code management.
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) and Level Lock Pro (Matter) are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) is $90 cheaper than the Level Lock Pro (Matter) ($259 vs $349). On Connectivity, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads (8.0 vs 5.0/10) — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included. On Installation & Fit, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads (8.0 vs 5.5/10) — DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits. On Fail-Safe Access, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads (7.5 vs 6.0/10) — what happens when the battery dies, the Wi-Fi drops or the app is down — physical key, emergency power contact and offline codes. The spec buyers most often discover too late. Overall, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores 7.0/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.3/10 for the Level Lock Pro (Matter). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) | Level Lock Pro (Matter) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $259.00 | $349.00 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2025 |
| Lock Type | Full deadbolt replacement | Full deadbolt replacement with the electronics concealed inside the door |
| ANSI/BHMA Grade | BHMA 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 | ANSI Grade 1/A, tested to A156.40 (residential deadbolts) and A156.25 (electrified locking), BHMA AAA certified at 250,000 cycles — all stated on Level's own page |
| Keeps Existing Keyway | No — but the SmartKey cylinder can be re-keyed by the owner to match an existing key | No — new Level cylinder and keys; your existing key will not work |
| Smart Radio | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread both built in, plus Bluetooth | Matter over Thread plus Bluetooth 4.0/5.0 and NFC. There is no Wi-Fi radio in the lock |
| Hub or Bridge Required | No hub for Wi-Fi mode. Matter mode needs a Thread border router | Yes — either a Matter-over-Thread hub (HomePod mini, HomePod 2, Apple TV 4K 3rd gen or equivalent) or Level's own Connect Wi-Fi Bridge, sold separately |
| Apple Home Key | No — Apple Home Key is only on the dearer Halo Select Plus | Yes — tap with iPhone or Apple Watch |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No | No |
| Biometrics | None — touchscreen keypad only | None — and there is no keypad in the box either; the Level Keypad is a separate purchase |
| Battery Type | 4 x AA alkaline (included) | 1 x CR2 lithium (included), concealed inside the bolt |
| Claimed Battery Life (months) | Not published by the manufacturer | 12 |
| Backup Power & Key Override | SmartKey physical cylinder, owner re-keyable; Kwikset does not publish an emergency power contact | Two physical keys and two NFC key fobs in the box; there is no emergency power contact, so a flat CR2 means using the key |
| Door Thickness / Backset | Doors 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 | Door thickness 1.75 in to 2.0 in only, backset 2.375 in or 2.75 in, ANSI 2.125 in bore — the narrowest thickness window of any lock here |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Satin Nickel, Matte Black | Matte Black, Satin Nickel |
Category Scores
Security
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door. If that is what you are buying for, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Fail-Safe Access
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.0 — a 1.5-point margin on what happens when the battery dies, the Wi-Fi drops or the app is down — physical key, emergency power contact and offline codes. The spec buyers most often discover too late. If that is what you are buying for, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.0 — a 3.0-point margin on which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included. If that is what you are buying for, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Support
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each. If that is what you are buying for, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Entry Methods
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 5.0 — a 0.5-point margin on keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock. If that is what you are buying for, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Life
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. If that is what you are buying for, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Installation & Fit
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-point margin on DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits. If that is what you are buying for, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.5 — a 1.5-point margin on security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately. If that is what you are buying for, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores 8.0/10 here (which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included).
- • Installation & Fit matters most to you — the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores 8.0/10 here (DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits).
- • Fail-Safe Access matters most to you — the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores 7.5/10 here (what happens when the battery dies, the Wi-Fi drops or the app is down — physical key, emergency power contact and offline codes. The spec buyers most often discover too late).
- • Value matters most to you — the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores 7.0/10 here (security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately).
- • You want to spend less — it's $90 cheaper.
Choose the Level Lock Pro (Matter) if…
- • Smart Home Support matters most to you — the Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores 8.0/10 here (matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each).
- • Your main use case is apple-home.
Pros & Cons
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR)
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
Level Lock Pro (Matter)
Pros
- +Genuinely invisible: the only lock here that does not announce itself on the outside or bolt a slab of plastic to the inside
- +Publishes ANSI Grade 1/A, BHMA AAA and a 250,000-cycle test figure — the security claims are specific and checkable
- +A single CR2 cell runs it for roughly 9-12 months, so the battery burden is one small cell a year rather than eight AAs
- +Apple Home Key plus two NFC fobs in the box covers guests who do not have an iPhone
Cons
- −The 1.75-2.0 in door thickness limit is the hard trap: plenty of American doors are 1-3/8 in and simply will not take this lock
- −No Wi-Fi in the lock — remote access needs either a Thread hub you already own or Level's Connect bridge as an extra purchase
- −No keypad and no fingerprint in the box; the Level Keypad is another accessory, so out of the box a guest without an iPhone needs a fob or a key
- −$349 with fewer entry methods than an $80 Wyze, and no emergency power contact when the CR2 dies
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or Level Lock Pro (Matter) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores higher on Connectivity (8.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included.
Which is better for Installation & Fit, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores higher on Installation & Fit (8.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits.
Which is better for Fail-Safe Access, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores higher on Fail-Safe Access (7.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — what happens when the battery dies, the Wi-Fi drops or the app is down — physical key, emergency power contact and offline codes. The spec buyers most often discover too late.
Which is better for Smart Home Support, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores higher on Smart Home Support (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each.
Is the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) worth the price difference over the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) is the cheaper option at $259 versus $349. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) is the better fit if you mainly care about rentals. The Level Lock Pro (Matter) is the better fit for apple-home.
What's the warranty on the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) vs the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Level Lock Pro (Matter) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) — $329.00
Premium Option
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) — $329.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.