Smart Locks / Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) vs Level Lock Pro (Matter)
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) vs Level Lock Pro (Matter)
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)
The rare lock that publishes its Grade 1 rating — and eats AA batteries to do it.
Wins overall by 1.0 points
Quick Verdict
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 1.0 points. The rare lock that publishes its Grade 1 rating — and eats AA batteries to do it.
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) and Level Lock Pro (Matter) are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is $20 cheaper than the Level Lock Pro (Matter) ($329 vs $349). On Connectivity, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads (8.5 vs 5.0/10) — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included. On Battery Life, the Level Lock Pro (Matter) leads (7.0 vs 4.5/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. On Installation & Fit, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads (7.5 vs 5.5/10) — DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits. Overall, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 7.3/10 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 | Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) | Level Lock Pro (Matter) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.00 | $349.00 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2025 |
| Lock Type | Full deadbolt replacement | Full deadbolt replacement with the electronics concealed inside the door |
| 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 | 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 — new Schlage C-keyway cylinder and keys | No — new Level cylinder and keys; your existing key will not work |
| Smart Radio | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in, plus Matter certification with Thread | 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 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 | 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 | Yes — tap to unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch | Yes — tap with iPhone or Apple Watch |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No — that is the Sense Pro | 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 Schlage for the Encode Plus; owners commonly report 2-6 months, and the lock's Wi-Fi radio is the reason | 12 |
| Backup Power & Key Override | Keyed cylinder on the Camelot and Century trims; Schlage does not publish an emergency power contact on the Encode Plus | 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 | 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 | 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 | 36 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Satin Nickel, Matte Black, Bright Chrome, Aged Bronze | Matte Black, Satin Nickel |
Category Scores
Security
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Fail-Safe Access
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.0 — a 3.5-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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Support
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-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 Level Lock Pro (Matter) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Entry Methods
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 5.0 — a 1.5-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 4.5 — 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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Installation & Fit
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.5 — a 2.0-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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) 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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 8.5/10 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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 7.5/10 here (DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits).
- • Entry Methods matters most to you — the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 6.5/10 here (keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock).
- • Value matters most to you — the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) 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 $20 cheaper.
Choose the Level Lock Pro (Matter) if…
- • Battery Life matters most to you — the Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores 7.0/10 here (real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands).
Pros & Cons
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)
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
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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or Level Lock Pro (Matter) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) 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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Connectivity (8.5/10 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 Battery Life, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Level Lock Pro (Matter) scores higher on Battery Life (7.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands.
Which is better for Installation & Fit, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Installation & Fit (7.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — DIY difficulty, retrofit versus full replacement, and door thickness, backset and bore limits.
Which is better for Entry Methods, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Entry Methods (6.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock.
Is the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) worth the price difference over the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is the cheaper option at $329 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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is the better fit if you mainly care about rentals. The Level Lock Pro (Matter) is the better fit for apple-home or matter-thread.
What's the warranty on the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) vs the Level Lock Pro (Matter)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) ships with a 36-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
Level Lock Pro (Matter) — $349.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.