Smart Locks / Schlage
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)
The rare lock that publishes its Grade 1 rating — and eats AA batteries to do it.
Overall score 7.3/10
Pros
- + The only lock here whose maker names both the numeric ANSI grade (A156.36 Grade 1) and the letter grade (A156.40 AAA) in writing
- + Wi-Fi and Matter-over-Thread together: hub-free remote access from Schlage's app, or Thread if you prefer it
- + Apple Home Key works as advertised, including on Apple Watch, and the taps are local so they survive an internet outage
- + 3-year electronics warranty against the 1-year most rivals give
Cons
- − Battery life is the weak point — Schlage publishes no figure and owners frequently report 2-3 months on AA cells because the Wi-Fi radio never sleeps for long
- − No emergency power contact: when the cells die you are using the key, which several cheaper locks here avoid with a USB-C port
- − No fingerprint reader at $329, when $80 and $200 locks here have one
- − Physically bulky and unmistakably industrial next to a Level or an Aqara
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) review: what the specs say
The rare lock that publishes its Grade 1 rating — and eats AA batteries to do it. At $329, Schlage's 2022 model sits in the middle of the range — the smart Locks we compare run from $79.98 to $399. It scores 7.3/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is Security at 9.0/10 — published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door. The weakest is Battery Life at 4.5/10, 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: battery life is the weak point — Schlage publishes no figure and owners frequently report 2-3 months on AA cells because the Wi-Fi radio never sleeps for long; and no emergency power contact: when the cells die you are using the key, which several cheaper locks here avoid with a USB-C port. Every specification on this page comes from Schlage'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 Type | Full deadbolt replacement |
| ANSI/BHMA Grade | ANSI/BHMA A156.36 Grade 1 and A156.40 Grade AAA, both named explicitly in Schlage's own security-ratings article — the clearest published grade of any lock in this set |
| Keeps Existing Keyway | No — new Schlage C-keyway cylinder and keys |
| Smart Radio | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in, plus Matter certification with Thread |
| Hub or Bridge Required | No for the Schlage Home app — Wi-Fi is in the lock. Home Key taps work locally, but remote Apple Home control and Matter need a home hub / Thread border router |
| Apple Home Key | Yes — tap to unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No — that is the Sense Pro |
| Biometrics | None — touchscreen keypad only |
| Battery Type | 4 x AA alkaline (included) |
| Claimed Battery Life | Not published by Schlage for the Encode Plus; owners commonly report 2-6 months, and the lock's Wi-Fi radio is the reason months |
| Backup Power & Key Override | Keyed cylinder on the Camelot and Century trims; Schlage does not publish an emergency power contact on the Encode Plus |
| Door Thickness / Backset | Single-bore doors with a 2-3/8 in or 2-3/4 in backset; Schlage does not publish a thickness range on the Encode Plus product page |
| Connectivity | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Matter over Thread, Apple Home Key (NFC) |
| Material | Solid metal escutcheon with a capacitive touchscreen |
| Warranty | 36 months |
Compare Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) With
Cheaper Alternative
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) — $259.00
Premium Alternative
Level Lock Pro (Matter) — $349.00