Today we have another smart lock option for you – the Schlage Connect. This smart lock has tons of really cool features that make it a great choice for your smart home. You can install the Schlage Connect yourself with a screwdriver in about an hour.
It is compatible with Amazon Alexa voice-assist, so you can easily integrate it with other Alexa compatible devices, and use your Amazon Echo to give it voice commands. (Side note: be sure your pronunciation is correct! It’s “Shleg,” rhymes with egg!) Alexa can lock the door for you and tell you if the door is locked when you’re in the house.
Another feature of the Schlage Connect we really like is the construction of the touchscreen. Not only does it light up, but it has a special coating on it so you won’t see finger prints. This is great not only to keep it neat and clean, but also for security – you don’t have to worry about other people seeing what buttons have been pushed.
Here are some of the other features that make the Schlage Connect stand out as a smart lock:
- Keyless entry – no worries about carrying your house key when you’re out for a jog, or worries about family members losing their keys. (Note: there is a backup key if the device malfunctions or the batteries die).
- You can assign a different open code of 4-8 digits to each family member if you want.
- It has a built-in alarm for added security.
- You can receive notifications on your smart phone when the door opens and closes.
- It has three different alert modes:
- Activity – beeps when you open and close the door
- Tamper – alerts you when someone tries to mess with or pick the lock
- Force-entry – sounds the alarm if someone tries to force open the door. You can adjust the sensitivity of this if needed.
One thing we didn’t like about the Schlage Connect in comparison to other locks we’ve reviewed like the Kwikset Kevo and August Pro is that it doesn’t have its own native mobile app, so all of the set up and programming is done manually. The exception is if you have a Z-wave hub such as Wink or Smartthings. These hubs will allow you to control the Schlage Connect through their apps. Through Smartthings for example, you can assign codes to unlock the door to different people, and track their comings and goings. This might be useful if you have a dog walker or babysitter and you want to confirm their arrival and departure times.
Note that set up through Smartthings takes a few steps and is not as intuitive as we’ve found other smart locks with native apps to be.
A few other things to note about Schlage Connect. It is operated with 4 AA batteries that come with the lock. The batteries seem to have a long life, so it’s unlikely you would need to worry about them dying out on you in a few months.
There is an auto-lock feature that will lock-up after 30 seconds. Some people find this to be too short – say you go out to get the paper from the end of your driveway and find the door locked behind you. Of course with your digital code it’s easy enough to let yourself back in, and many people like this auto-lock feature for security. You won’t have to worry about whether you remembered to lock the door manually.
Overall, the Schlage Connect has some nice features and would be a good choice for you especially if you are already using Z-wave technology in your home. After reviewing a few smart locks, our number one pick remains the Kwikset Kevo.
Which do you like best? Let us know in the comments – we love hearing from you!
