Smart Locks / Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) vs ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR)
$259.00
VSULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter
$199.99
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) vs ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter
ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter
Fingerprint plus Matter-over-Thread at $200 — but no Home Key and no hub in the box.
Wins overall by 0.4 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.4-point gap makes the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter the straightforward choice here. Fingerprint plus Matter-over-Thread at $200 — but no Home Key and no hub in the box.
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) and ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter is $59 cheaper than the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) ($199.99 vs $259). On Connectivity, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads (8.0 vs 5.5/10) — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included. On Battery Life, the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads (8.5 vs 6.0/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. On Entry Methods, the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads (7.5 vs 5.5/10) — keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock. Overall, the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores 7.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.0/10 for the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR). 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) | ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $259.00 | $199.99 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2025 |
| Lock Type | Full deadbolt replacement | Full deadbolt replacement |
| 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/BHMA Grade 1 per U-tec's marketing and review coverage; U-tec does not publish a certification listing number, and its Bolt-series pages elsewhere say only 'tested to BHMA and ANSI standards' |
| Keeps Existing Keyway | No — but the SmartKey cylinder can be re-keyed by the owner to match an existing key | No — the exterior cylinder and keys are replaced |
| Smart Radio | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Matter over Thread both built in, plus Bluetooth | Matter over Thread plus Bluetooth. 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 — a Thread border router for Matter, or U-tec's own Wi-Fi Bridge (sold separately) if you want the Xthings/U-Home app to work remotely |
| Apple Home Key | No — Apple Home Key is only on the dearer Halo Select Plus | No — U-tec confirms no NFC tap-to-unlock on the Bolt series |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No | No — that is the dearer Bolt Mission |
| Biometrics | None — touchscreen keypad only | Fingerprint, up to 100 prints (2 per user) |
| Battery Type | 4 x AA alkaline (included) | 8 x AA alkaline (included) |
| 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 | Physical key cylinder included; U-tec does not publish an emergency power contact for this model |
| 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 | Standard US doors. Explicitly not for glass doors, sliding doors, mortise locks or multi-point locks |
| Warranty | 12 months | 18 months |
| Colors | Satin Nickel, Matte Black | Satin Nickel |
Category Scores
Security
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) and ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter are level here, at 7.5/10 each. published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Fail-Safe Access
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) and ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter are level here, at 7.5/10 each. 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 is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Connectivity
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 5.5 — a 2.5-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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Support
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.5 — a 2.0-point margin on keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock. If that is what you are buying for, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Life
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 8.5 against 6.0 — a 2.5-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) and ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter are level here, at 8.0/10 each. DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Value
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-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 Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) 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).
- • Your main use case is rentals.
Choose the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter if…
- • Battery Life matters most to you — the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores 8.5/10 here (real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands).
- • Entry Methods matters most to you — the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores 7.5/10 here (keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock).
- • Smart Home Support matters most to you — the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores 7.5/10 here (matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each).
- • Value matters most to you — the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores 7.5/10 here (security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately).
- • You want to spend less — it's $59 cheaper.
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
ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter
Pros
- +Thread rather than Wi-Fi: U-tec claims up to a year in Matter mode and two years on Bluetooth, and reviewers back the long-life claim
- +Fingerprint plus Matter at $200 is a combination the big brands still charge $300+ for
- +18-month electronics warranty is the longest in this group
- +Matter setup into Apple Home is a QR scan — no proprietary cloud account needed for the smart-home half
Cons
- −No Apple Home Key at all, so iPhone owners lose the single best reason to buy a Matter lock
- −The 'ANSI Grade 1' claim comes from marketing and reviews, not from a published certification listing you can verify
- −Remote access in U-tec's own app needs the separately sold Wi-Fi Bridge; Matter alone needs a Thread border router. Either way there is a second box
- −Reviewers consistently flag a loud motor, fiddly fingerprint enrolment and a flaky auto-lock timer
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter 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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) scores higher on Connectivity (8.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included.
Which is better for Battery Life, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores higher on Battery Life (8.5/10 vs 6.0/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands.
Which is better for Entry Methods, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores higher on Entry Methods (7.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock.
Which is better for Smart Home Support, the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) or the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores higher on Smart Home Support (7.5/10 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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter is the cheaper option at $199.99 versus $259. 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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter is the better fit for fingerprint.
What's the warranty on the Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) vs the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) ships with a 12-month warranty; the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter ships with a 18-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
ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter — $199.99
Premium Option
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) — $259.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.