Okay, so I finally bit the bullet and upgraded my smart lock situation. Been eyeing the Schlage Encode Plus for ages, especially with that Apple Home Key feature. But the regular Encode was also tempting ’cause, you know, saving some cash is always a good thing. So, I figured I’d document my whole experience comparing the two. Maybe it’ll help someone else out there!
First off, the unboxing. Both locks came in pretty standard packaging. Nothing too fancy. The Encode Plus definitely felt a bit heavier, though. Like, premium heavy. Made me feel slightly better about spending the extra dough.
Installation was surprisingly straightforward. I’m not exactly Mr. Handyman, but I managed to get both installed without needing to call in reinforcements (aka my dad). The instructions were clear enough, and there are a million YouTube videos if you get stuck. Seriously, YouTube is your friend here. Took maybe 30-45 minutes per lock, including wrestling with the old deadbolt.
The big difference, obviously, is the Apple Home Key on the Encode Plus. Setting that up was super smooth. Just followed the instructions in the Home app, tapped my phone against the lock, and boom – done. Now I can unlock my door with my iPhone or Apple Watch. It’s kinda futuristic and I love it. The regular Encode, obviously, doesn’t have this. You’re stuck with the Schlage app, which is…fine. It gets the job done, but it’s not as seamless as the Apple Home integration.
So, performance-wise, both locks are solid. They both connect to my Wi-Fi without any major hiccups. I can lock and unlock them remotely, check the activity log, and all that jazz. The motors are pretty quiet, too. My old deadbolt sounded like a dying robot, so this is a major upgrade.
One thing I noticed is that the Encode Plus seems to have slightly better battery life, or at least, it’s reporting battery life more accurately. I’ve had the regular Encode installed for a few months longer, and the battery percentage seems to fluctuate wildly. The Encode Plus has been rock solid so far. Might just be a fluke, but worth noting.
Here’s a breakdown of what I did and some points I thought about:
- Considered Price: Looked at prices on Amazon, Home Depot, and Lowe’s. Prices can vary a lot, so shop around!
- Read Reviews: Spent way too much time reading reviews on Reddit and other forums. People have strong opinions about smart locks!
- Compared Features: Made a list of all the features I cared about (remote access, auto-lock, activity log, etc.) and compared them between the two locks.
- Installed Both: Literally installed both locks on different doors to get a feel for them. Yes, I bought both. Don’t judge me.
- Tested Apple Home Key: Played around with the Apple Home Key on the Encode Plus to see how well it worked. Spoiler alert: it’s awesome.
- Monitored Battery Life: Kept an eye on the battery life of both locks to see how they compare over time.
In the end, is the Encode Plus worth the extra money? It really depends on how much you value the Apple Home Key integration. If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, it’s a game-changer. Being able to unlock my door with my watch is just so convenient. But if you’re not an Apple user, or you don’t really care about that feature, the regular Encode is still a great lock. It’s reliable, easy to use, and offers all the basic smart lock features you need. Plus, you save some cash, which is always a win.
Personally, I’m happy with my decision to get the Encode Plus for my main entrance. The convenience of the Apple Home Key is worth it to me. But the regular Encode is perfectly fine for my side door. No regrets either way!