Smart Locks / Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) vs ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)
$329.00
VSULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter
$199.99
Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) 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 0.1 points
Quick Verdict
This is close. The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter edges ahead by 0.1 points, but that margin is inside the noise — the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is a defensible pick on its own terms. 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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter is $129 cheaper than the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) ($199.99 vs $329). On Battery Life, the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads (8.5 vs 4.5/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands. On Connectivity, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads (8.5 vs 5.5/10) — which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included. On Security, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads (9.0 vs 7.5/10) — published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door. Overall, the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores 7.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.3/10 for the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot), though the gap is close enough that your specific use case should decide it. 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) | ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $329.00 | $199.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2025 |
| Lock Type | Full deadbolt replacement | 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 | 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 — new Schlage C-keyway cylinder and keys | No — the exterior cylinder and keys are replaced |
| Smart Radio | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in, plus Matter certification with Thread | Matter over Thread plus Bluetooth. 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 — 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 | Yes — tap to unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch | No — U-tec confirms no NFC tap-to-unlock on the Bolt series |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | No — that is the Sense Pro | 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 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 | Physical key cylinder included; U-tec does not publish an emergency power contact for this model |
| 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 | Standard US doors. Explicitly not for glass doors, sliding doors, mortise locks or multi-point locks |
| Warranty | 36 months | 18 months |
| Colors | Satin Nickel, Matte Black, Bright Chrome, Aged Bronze | Satin Nickel |
Category Scores
Security
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter does not close the gap elsewhere.
Fail-Safe Access
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.5 — 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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint 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 7.5 — 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 ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter does not close the gap elsewhere.
Entry Methods
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-point margin on keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock. If that is what you are buying for, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Life
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 8.5 against 4.5 — a 4.0-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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Installation & Fit
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) does not close the gap elsewhere.
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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) 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).
- • Security matters most to you — the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 9.0/10 here (published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door).
- • Smart Home Support matters most to you — the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 8.5/10 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 or 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).
- • You want to spend less — it's $129 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is fingerprint.
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
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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) 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 Battery Life, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter scores higher on Battery Life (8.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — real-world runtime, cell cost and how much recharging or replacing it demands.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Connectivity (8.5/10 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 Security, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Security (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door.
Which is better for Smart Home Support, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) or the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Smart Home Support (8.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each.
Is the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) worth the price difference over the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter is the cheaper option at $199.99 versus $329. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Battery Life.
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 apple-home or rentals. The ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter is the better fit for fingerprint.
What's the warranty on the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) vs the ULTRALOQ Bolt Fingerprint Matter?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) ships with a 36-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
Kwikset Halo Select Touchscreen (9800-WIFI-THRD-TSCR) — $259.00
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.