\n<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a bit of a moment for the humble door lock. Schlage, one of the oldest lock makers in the US, just launched its first-ever smart door lock without a keyway. But that\u2019s not the most exciting part: the Schlage Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt is the company\u2019s first lock to support the new smart home standard Matter<\/a> and one of the first ever to use ultra wideband technology (UWB)<\/a> for hands-free unlocking.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Along with the Sense Pro, Schlage also announced a new entry-level smart lock. The $199 Schlage Arrive Smart WiFi Deadbolt\u00a0does have a keyway, along with a push button keypad for the touchscreen-adverse. The new locks join the company\u2019s existing Encode smart lock line.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While it\u2019s nice to see a more affordable smart lock option from Schlage (its Encode deadbolts\u00a0start at $274), the Sense Pro is the headliner. A radical redesign for the company, the new touchscreen lock has a completely smooth face and no keyway. While there are plenty of smart locks without keyways, this is a first for the 100-year-old Schlage. There\u2019s also no fingerprint reader \u2014 a technology Schlage seems to have skipped over entirely. \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Instead, it appears to be betting on UWB as the best option for seamlessly unlocking your door. Along with a numeric code and NFC-powered tap-to-unlock (similar to Apple\u2019s Home Key), the Sense Pro can open automatically as you approach your door. Here\u2019s how Schlage says it works: <\/p>\n<\/div>\n This feature uses Ultra Wideband and the user\u2019s paired and authorized personal device to intelligently calculate speed, trajectory and motion, ensuring seamless, intuitive entry that understands intent to enter and unlocks precisely as the user reaches their door.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Your phone or smartwatch will need to have UWB technology to support the hands-free unlocking, and Schlage said details on which specific models will be compatible with Schlage\u2019s implementation will be announced closer\u00a0to its retail launch.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While, initially, the lock will work over Schlage\u2019s new Schlage Converge technology, Schlage has said that the Sense Pro will support Aliro<\/a>. The open standard, which is due to be released this year, will add support for NFC and UWB unlocking across ecosystems and hardware. Theoretically, any Aliro lock will work with any Aliro-enabled smartphone \u2014 Apple, Samsung<\/a>, and Google are all involved in developing Aliro.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Speaking of ecosystem support, the Sense Pro is Schlage\u2019s first lock to work with Matter<\/a>, which means it\u2019s compatible with any Matter ecosystem, including Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Home Assistant. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Matter support is over Thread<\/a>, a low-powered, low-latency smart home protocol designed for battery-operated devices like locks. It should ensure the Sense Pro gets decent battery life, although the company hasn\u2019t released details yet. Thread is used in the Schlage Encode Plus<\/a>, but that model doesn\u2019t support Matter. As with the Encode Plus, the Sense Pro will also work with built-in Wi-Fi to connect to the Schlage Home app.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Schlage says the Sense Pro will launch this year but hasn\u2019t provided a date or price. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n The entry-level Arrive doesn’t have any of the bells and whistles of the Sense Pro, but it is Schlage\u2019s first push-button keypad deadbolt equipped with built-in Wi-Fi. You can program up to 250 codes in the newly updated Schlage app or unlock it with a physical key. It also works with Amazon Alexa or Google Home \u2014 but there\u2019s no support for Matter. Schlage says it will be available in late spring 2025. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n