Smart Locks / Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) vs Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)
Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB)
$399.00
VSSchlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)
$329.00
Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) vs Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)
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 0.7 points
Quick Verdict
A 0.7-point gap makes the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) the straightforward choice here. The rare lock that publishes its Grade 1 rating — and eats AA batteries to do it.
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) and Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) are both closely matched smart Lock models, and the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is $70 cheaper than the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) ($329 vs $399). On Fail-Safe Access, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads (7.0 vs 4.0/10) — 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. On Security, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads (9.0 vs 6.5/10) — published ANSI/BHMA grade, bolt and cylinder strength, and whether the lock upgrades or merely inherits the keyway already on your door. On Value, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads (7.0 vs 5.0/10) — security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately. Overall, the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 7.3/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.6/10 for the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB). 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 Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) | Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00 | $329.00 |
| Release Year | 2026 | 2022 |
| Lock Type | Full deadbolt replacement, key-free by design | Full deadbolt replacement |
| ANSI/BHMA Grade | Sources conflict: Schlage markets it as an 'AAA Certified Deadbolt', while Tom's Guide and AppleInsider both report ANSI Grade 2. Schlage's own security-ratings article covers only the Encode family and omits Sense Pro | 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 — and there is no exterior keyway at all on this lock | No — new Schlage C-keyway cylinder and keys |
| Smart Radio | Schlage Converge UWB, Matter over Thread, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in, plus Matter certification with Thread |
| Hub or Bridge Required | Yes for remote access and smart-home control — Schlage's own product page states 'Home Hub Required'. The UWB approach-unlock itself is phone-to-lock and needs no hub | 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 and hands-free unlock with iPhone and Apple Watch | Yes — tap to unlock with iPhone or Apple Watch |
| UWB Hands-Free Unlock | Yes, but iPhone-only today. Schlage says a future Aliro update will bring UWB and NFC to Samsung and other Android devices; that has not shipped | No — that is the Sense Pro |
| Biometrics | None — touchscreen keypad only | None — touchscreen keypad only |
| Battery Type | Sources conflict: Schlage's product page lists AAA cells, while Tom's Guide and AppleInsider both counted four AA alkalines in the review units | 4 x AA alkaline (included) |
| Claimed Battery Life (months) | Schlage claims roughly 6 months on Wi-Fi or 9 months on Thread; Tom's Guide's review unit was down to 51% after two weeks on an unoptimised setup | Not published by Schlage for the Encode Plus; owners commonly report 2-6 months, and the lock's Wi-Fi radio is the reason |
| Backup Power & Key Override | No physical key cylinder at all. The only fallback is the emergency USB-C port on the underside of the exterior escutcheon | 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; Schlage does not publish a thickness range for the Sense Pro | 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 |
| Warranty | 36 months | 36 months |
| Colors | Satin Nickel, Matte Black | Satin Nickel, Matte Black, Bright Chrome, Aged Bronze |
Category Scores
Security
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-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 Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Fail-Safe Access
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 4.0 — a 3.0-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 Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Smart Home Support
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) and Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) are level here, at 8.5/10 each. matter, Thread, Apple Home Key, Alexa, Google and SmartThings breadth — and how many features you lose in each is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Entry Methods
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — 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 Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Battery Life
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) leads clearly here, 5.0 against 4.5 — a 0.5-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 7.0 — 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 Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.0 — a 2.0-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 Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) if…
- • Entry Methods matters most to you — the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) scores 8.0/10 here (keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock).
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) scores 9.0/10 here (which radios are actually inside the lock, and whether a hub or bridge is needed and included).
Choose the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) if…
- • Fail-Safe Access matters most to you — the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores 7.0/10 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).
- • 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).
- • 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 $70 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is rentals.
Pros & Cons
Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB)
Pros
- +UWB approach-unlock genuinely works differently from Bluetooth geofencing — it unlocks when you arrive at the door, not when you are somewhere in the neighbourhood
- +The most radios of any lock here: UWB, Thread, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so it fits any ecosystem you already run
- +Apple Home Key hands-free unlock plus a keypad for guests, with up to 250 codes
- +Schlage's 3-year electronics warranty and a real emergency USB-C power contact
Cons
- −There is no physical key. If the battery dies and you have no USB-C power bank on you, you are locked out — reviewers call this the dealbreaker
- −UWB is iPhone-only. The Aliro support that would bring Android and Samsung in is announced, not shipped
- −Schlage's own page says AAA batteries while two independent reviewers counted four AAs — a basic spec Schlage has not got straight
- −$399 makes it the most expensive lock here, and the Aqara U400 offers UWB plus a fingerprint reader for around $100 less
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
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) or Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) 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 Fail-Safe Access, the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) or the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Fail-Safe Access (7.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — 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 Security, the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) or the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Security (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — 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 Value, the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) or the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) scores higher on Value (7.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — security, entry methods and connectivity relative to price, including accessories you must buy separately.
Which is better for Entry Methods, the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) or the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)?+
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) scores higher on Entry Methods (8.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — keypad, fingerprint, face, NFC fobs, Apple Home Key and UWB approach unlock.
Is the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) worth the price difference over the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)?+
The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is the cheaper option at $329 versus $399. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Fail-Safe Access.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) is the better fit if you mainly care about apple-home or matter-thread. The Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) is the better fit for rentals.
What's the warranty on the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) vs the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot)?+
The Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt (BE889WB) ships with a 36-month warranty; the Schlage Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt (BE499WB, Camelot) ships with a 36-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
Level Lock Pro (Matter) — $349.00
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.