The Schlage Sense ($229) is a Bluetooth-enabled touch-screen lock that you can control with your iOS device. It's a slick single cylinder deadbolt lock with a large illuminated keypad, a built-in tamper alarm, and a low battery alert. You can program it manually, or with a user-friendly app that also makes it easy to add users and access codes, and set up schedules. It only works with iPhones, iPads, and iPods, and it'll cost you a bit more than a non-connected touch-screen lock, but it's the first one we've seen that you can lock and unlock using Siri voice commands. It also replaces the August ($149.99 at Amazon) as our new Editors' Choice for smart door locks.
Design, Features, and App
The Sense ($344.95 at Amazon) comes in two distinct styles; the classic Camelot style and the modern Century style (reviewed here). The Century model is nearly identical to Schlage's Century Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock ($300.00 at Amazon) that we reviewed back in 2014. It has the same satin nickel finish, the same 5.0-by-3.0-by-0.6-inch (HWD) form, and the same keyed cylinder. This time around, the 2.5-by-2.3-inch (HW) touch screen is silver rather than black. The Century model is also available in a matte black finish, while the Camelot model is available in satin nickel or aged bronze.
The interior escutcheon measures 8.2 by 3.0 by 2.1 inches (HWD) and contains a thumb turn lever for locking and unlocking the door manually, a speaker hole for the alarm, and a Schlage button that silences it. It has the same finish as the exterior, save for a black top that slides off to expose the battery compartment and a circuit board.
To unlock the door using the keypad, press the Schlage logo to illuminate the backlit touch screen and enter your access code. A green check mark appears when a correct code is entered, and a red X appears when a incorrect code is entered. You can add up to 30 access codes with custom schedules using the keypad, but it's much quicker and easier to use the free Sense iOS app.
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There's nothing fancy about the app, but it's very simple to use, which is the whole idea behind the lock. The main screen displays the name of your home and the names of all installed locks. The status of the lock (locked or unlocked) is also displayed, with a time stamp of the last activity. Tapping the lock icon locks and unlocks the associated door.
Status
Tapping the gear wheel in the lower left corner takes you to the Settings page, where you can enable the 1-Touch Locking and Auto Lock features. Auto Lock can be set to lock the door after 15 or 30 seconds or after one, two, or four minutes. The 1-Touch Locking feature automatically locks the door by touching any key. Here you can also enable the built-in alarm to have it sound when forced entry is detected, or have it beep when the door is opened and closed. Other options include enabling a key press beep, and renaming, deleting, and registering the lock. The Lock Information page displays the model and serial number, firmware version, and the battery level.
Adding users is a breeze. Simply tap the icon in the lower right corner of the main screen and tap the + icon in the upper right corner. The following screen has you enter a name, a 4-8 digit access code, and a schedule for the code. You can opt to give the code all-day access, or grant access for specific days and times. Once a code is created you can send it to the intended user(s) via text or email. You can always go back and edit days, times, and names for each code.
The coolest feature of the Sense is its ability to respond to Siri voice commands via Apple's HomeKit technology. Simply say, "open the front door" (or whatever name you've given the lock) or "unlock the front door" to have Siri unlock it. Likewise, tell Siri to "close the front door" or "lock the front door" to activate the locking mechanism.
The Sense can also interact with other HomeKit-enabled devices such as the Philips Hue Lux lighting system ($143.99 at Amazon) , the Ecobee3 thermostat ($299.90 at Amazon) , the Nest Cam home surveillance camera ($245.98 at Amazon) , and the Canary All-In-One Home Security Device ($169.00 at Amazon) . However, because the lock uses Bluetooth technology, you have to be within range (approximately 40 feet) of it to control it with your iPhone. If you want to control the lock remotely from outside your house, you'll need an Apple TV ($148.38 at Amazon) to bridge the lock to your router.
Installation and Performance
Installing the Sense lock was relatively easy, but if you've never installed a deadbolt lock before the app offers a comprehensive installation video that will have you up and running in no time. The lock comes with Installation and User guides, a bolt, strike and strike reinforcement plates, a support plate, mounting screws, a backup key, and the interior and exterior escutcheons.
Alarm
I installed the Sense in a door with precut holes, starting with the bolt and strike. I attached the exterior escutcheon to the support plate, ran the data cable through the plate and door holes, and attached it to the interior escutcheon. After securing the interior escutcheon to the inside of the door, I installed the battery pack (which comes with four AA batteries), made sure the bolt slid into the strike easily, and was done. The entire process took around 10 minutes.
Next, I downloaded the app, allowed it to access my iPhone's Home data, and hit Add New Lock. I entered a name for my home and hit OK, but received a Cloud Data Sync error. As it turned out, I didn't have my iCloud drive turned on; once I enabled it, the lock showed up on the device list. I selected the lock, waited for the beep, then used my phone to scan the QR setup code on the front of the User guide (it's also on the back of the lock). Within 10 seconds the lock was paired with my iPhone. Next, I entered a Siri nickname and a 4-digit access code. After a 10-minute critical firmware update, the lock rebooted and I was ready to go.
The Sense lock had no trouble reacting to Siri commands, as long as those commands were enunciated clearly. I found that "lock the front door" worked better than "close the front door," because Siri can occasionally confuse the word "close" with "clothes," and respond with a list of clothing stores in my area. When pronounced clearly, the lock never failed to lock or unlock, and responded within five seconds.
The touch-screen touchpad is responsive and well-lit, and the tamper alarm is adequately loud. I found that adjusting the alarm's sensitivity slider to the halfway point between Least Sensitive and Most Sensitive is the best setting to prevent accidental alarm triggers.
Conclusions
If you require a lock that works with Android and iOS devices, consider the August Smart Lock. It doesn't offer voice-activated commands, but it's a breeze to install and uses geofencing technology to lock and unlock your door depending on your location.
With the Schlage Sense you can lock and unlock your door with the tap of an icon, or just ask Siri to do it for you. Its $229 price tag is about $50 more than you'll pay for the same lock without Bluetooth and HomeKit technology, but having the ability to control things from your iPhone and have the lock respond to voice commands makes it worth the premium price, particularly if you've already invested in other HomeKit devices. Granted, you'll need an Apple TV to control the Sense remotely, but that doesn't prevent it from earning our Editors' Choice for connected locks.
The Schlage Sense Bluetooth deadbolt lock lets you use your phone to lock and unlock your doors, program access codes, and set up access schedules.
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