--- title: "Upgrade to a Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock with Century Trim" canonical: "https://pcsaas.com/smart-wifi-deadbolt-lock-with-century-trim/" author: "Ratan Karmakar" published: "2026-09-22T06:57:57+00:00" modified: "2026-09-22T06:57:57+00:00" language: "en-US" site: "PCSaaS" description: "The Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock with Century Trim is the model that kept surfacing while we mapped keyless entry options for rental hosts and busy…" categories: "Utilities" attribution: "PCSaaS (https://pcsaas.com/)" --- # Upgrade to a Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock with Century Trim The **Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock with Century Trim** is the model that kept surfacing while we mapped keyless entry options for rental hosts and busy households. Every spec sheet promised app control, and every buyer thread asked the same question: does a lock that talks straight to your router actually hold up? So we dug into the Schlage Encode's documentation, its ANSI certification, and hundreds of verified buyer reports to find out. Short version: worth it if you want keyless entry without buying a hub and you're fine running a 2.4 GHz network. Skip it if you need Apple HomeKit, or if you rent and can't swap the deadbolt. Here's how the data shakes out. [![Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61QW3pknhSL._AC_SX569_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXFKMYR?tag=ratankarmakar-20)Editor’s Verdict[Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXFKMYR?tag=ratankarmakar-20)★★★★☆4.6/5$239.56(as of September 22, 2026)A hub-free WiFi deadbolt with Grade 1 hardware and the smoothest app onboarding in its class.[Check on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXFKMYR?tag=ratankarmakar-20)Quick Verdict4.6/5Buy it for hub-free remote access, Grade 1 hardware, and a keypad that survives winter. Skip it if you need HomeKit or Matter out of the box.✓ Buy it if - You host short-term rentals and need to issue or revoke codes remotely - You want remote locking without adding a bridge or hub to your setup - You live somewhere with real winters and need hardware rated for it ✗ Skip it if - You run an Apple HomeKit household, since this model skips it - Your router broadcasts only on 5 GHz - You rent and can’t replace the existing deadbolt Editor’s Choice ## [1. Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXFKMYR?tag=ratankarmakar-20) We built this breakdown from [Schlage's](https://www.schlage.com) own spec sheets, the ANSI/BHMA certification data, and verified buyer feedback across hundreds of reviews. No borrowed opinions, just the details that change how the lock behaves once it's on your door. [![Smart WiFi Deadbolt Lock](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61QW3pknhSL._AC_SX569_.jpg)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXFKMYR?tag=ratankarmakar-20)[🛒 Check on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXFKMYR?tag=ratankarmakar-20) ## What it is A smart WiFi deadbolt is a motorized lock that connects directly to your router, so you can control it from a phone without a hub. That's the whole pitch here, and it's the reason this category exists. The Schlage Encode sits near the top of it. Unlike Z-Wave and Zigbee locks that lean on [a central controller](https://pcsaas.com/smart-home-hub-with-advanced-automation/) to get online, this one is its own endpoint. Competitors like the August WiFi Smart Lock and the Kwikset Halo Touch chase the same buyer, but August pushes retrofit installation while Kwikset leans harder on its own app ecosystem. ## Setup & first impressions Schlage ships the Encode with everything you need for a standard replacement: exterior keypad, interior assembly, deadbolt, strike plate, mounting screws, four AA batteries, and a physical backup key. Verified buyers consistently describe the satin nickel finish as heavier and better finished than the price tier suggests, with the Century trim's squared plate reading as clean rather than flashy. Installation feedback clusters around 20 to 30 minutes for anyone swapping out an existing deadbolt with a standard 2-3/8-inch or 2-3/4-inch backset. You need a Phillips screwdriver and some patience with the interior cable, which several reviewers call fiddly to tuck behind the mounting plate. The part buyers praise most is onboarding. The Schlage Home app walks you through joining a 2.4 GHz network, then naming your codes, and multiple reviewers report finishing app setup in under 10 minutes. The catch shows up fast: if your router pushes a combined 2.4 and 5 GHz band, you may need to split them before the lock will connect. Key specifications | Lock type | Motorized deadbolt, keyless entry | | --- | --- | | Connectivity | Built-in WiFi, 2.4 GHz only, no hub needed | | Voice and app partners | Alexa, Google Assistant, Ring, Schlage Home app | | Security certification | ANSI/BHMA A156.36 Grade 1 | | Access codes | Up to 100 user codes with scheduling | | Encryption | 128-bit AES between lock and app | | Power | 4 AA alkaline batteries (included) | | Battery rating | Up to 6 months typical use per manufacturer | | Door fit | 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inch thickness, 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inch backset | | Warranty | Limited lifetime mechanical and finish, 3 years electronics | ## Daily-use experience Daily life with this lock comes down to four things: how fast the bolt moves, how the keypad feels, how long the batteries last, and whether the hardware survives outside. ### Performance Buyer reports put motorized lock and unlock at roughly 2 to 4 seconds from the moment a code lands, which tracks with what we'd expect from a WiFi-native motor. The bolt throws with a distinct mechanical whirr that most reviewers call noticeable but not obnoxious, and a handful flag it as a mild annoyance in quiet hallways at night. The touchscreen is the standout. It wakes on contact, glows a soft blue, and buyer feedback says code entry registers correctly even with cold or gloved fingers. One-touch locking lets you press the Schlage logo to lock without typing anything, and reviewers say they use it far more than expected. Where it slips is WiFi range. Since the Encode lives on 2.4 GHz, a weak signal at the door causes delays or failed remote commands. If your router sits at the back of the house, [boosting a weak signal](https://pcsaas.com/wifi-extender/) is worth sorting before install day. ### Comfort and ergonomics The exterior assembly runs about 5 inches tall by 3 inches wide, so it covers a standard bore hole without leaving paint scars behind. The Century trim is a squared rectangular plate, and the satin nickel finish hides fingerprints far better than polished brass or chrome. Inside, the thumbturn is what you actually touch every day. Buyer feedback describes it as firm with a positive stop, and it doubles as a real manual override if the motor or batteries quit. That matters, because the lock still works as a plain deadbolt when the electronics don't. The main ergonomic gripe is the touchscreen waking when someone brushes past it in a narrow hallway. It won't unlock, but the glow and beep get noticed. ### Battery and connectivity Four AA alkaline cells run the Encode, and Schlage rates typical life at up to six months. Buyer reports spread wider, clustering between three and six months. Heavy remote access and a marginal WiFi signal are the two factors reviewers blame most for shorter runs. Low-battery alerts arrive through the app at 25 percent and again when the level turns critical, which gives you time to swap cells before anyone gets stuck outside. The key and the thumbturn are your fallbacks either way. Connectivity is where the hub-free design pays off and where it charges you for it. There's no bridge to buy, but there's also no mesh network to lean on, so your router's 2.4 GHz band carries the whole load. ### Build quality Schlage certifies the Encode to ANSI/BHMA A156.36 Grade 1. That standard, maintained by the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA), governs deadbolt cycle testing, impact resistance, and finish durability, and Grade 1 is the top residential rating. Verified buyers in northern states report the keypad staying responsive through freezing winters, with a few noting that deep cold shortens battery life. Coastal owners say the satin nickel finish holds up without pitting through the first couple of years. The weak point is the interior housing. Reviewers describe it as lighter and more plasticky than the metal exterior assembly, and a small number report cracking when mounting screws get over-tightened. ### ✓ Pros - ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certification, the top residential deadbolt rating, so the bolt and strike absorb real abuse - Built-in 2.4 GHz WiFi means no hub, bridge, or dongle to buy and troubleshoot - Up to 100 scheduled user codes, which is what makes rental turnover manageable - Fingerprint-resistant satin nickel touchscreen that buyers say stays legible in cold weather - 128-bit AES encryption plus low-battery alerts at 25 percent ### ✗ Cons - 2.4 GHz only, so a 5 GHz-only network or a weak signal at the door breaks remote features - No Apple HomeKit or Matter support on this model, which rules out iPhone-first households - The six-month battery rating is optimistic, buyer reports often land closer to three - Plastic interior housing feels cheaper than the metal exterior assembly Score breakdownPerformance9/10Build quality8.5/10Setup and app9/10Battery life7/10Value8/10 ## Who should buy it ### Buy it if you… You run a short-term rental and need to hand out and kill codes without driving over. The 100-code limit, app scheduling, and Airbnb-friendly workflow cover the turnover problem better than most locks in this tier. You also want remote lock and unlock, but you've got no interest in building out a whole smart home stack first. The Encode gets online on its own, so it works even if the rest of your house is still dumb. If you're slowly adding connected gear, it plays fine with [other connected gear](https://pcsaas.com/smart-home-devices/) you already own. ### Skip it if you… Your household runs on Apple HomeKit. This model doesn't support it, and no firmware update is coming. You also want to skip it if your router only broadcasts on 5 GHz, since the lock can't see that band at all. Renters should look elsewhere too, because installing this means removing the existing deadbolt and storing the original hardware for move-out day. ### Better alternatives The **Yale Assure Lock 2** is the pick if you want HomeKit and Matter support with a module swap, though it costs you a slightly busier app. The **August WiFi Smart Lock (4th Gen)** wins on retrofit installs, since it fits over your existing deadbolt and leaves the outside key cylinder untouched. If you've standardized on Matter gear like a [Matter-compatible plug](https://pcsaas.com/matter-smart-plug/), you'll notice this Schlage doesn't join that group yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### Does the Schlage Encode need a hub? No. The Encode has a WiFi radio built into the interior assembly, so it connects straight to your router and shows up in the Schlage Home app on its own. That's the main reason people choose it over Z-Wave locks, which need a bridge or hub to reach the internet. The trade-off is that it depends entirely on your WiFi signal at the door, with no mesh network to fall back on. ### Will it work with Apple HomeKit? Not on this model. The Encode supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Ring, but Apple HomeKit support lives on the separate Encode Plus line. If HomeKit is non-negotiable, plan around that now rather than after installation. Many buyers discover this in the reviews, which is why it's worth checking your ecosystem before you order. ### How long do the batteries actually last? Schlage rates up to six months of typical use, but verified buyer reports cluster between three and six months. Two variables drive the difference: how often you use remote access, and how strong the 2.4 GHz signal is at the door. A weak connection forces the radio to work harder, which drains cells faster. ### Can I use it for Airbnb guests? Yes, and this is where the lock earns its keep. You get up to 100 user codes with scheduling, so each guest can get a unique code that expires when they check out. Hosts can lock, unlock, and review access history remotely through the app. Just make sure your listing's WiFi reaches the door before you rely on it. ### What happens if the WiFi goes down? The lock keeps working. Codes stored on the device still unlock the door, the keypad still responds, and the interior thumbturn still moves the bolt by hand. What you lose is remote control and app notifications until the network returns. If you want to go further on securing the accounts behind that app, [protecting your accounts](https://pcsaas.com/malware-protection/) with strong unique logins is the sensible next step, and federal guidance from [CISA](https://www.cisa.gov) on connected devices is a solid starting point. ## Final verdict **4.6 out of 5 stars.** The Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt with Century Trim does the one thing most buyers actually want: it puts reliable keyless entry on your door without asking you to buy a hub, learn a new protocol, or babysit a bridge. Grade 1 hardware, a fingerprint-resistant keypad that works in cold weather, and up to 100 scheduled codes cover the real-world jobs that matter. The trade-offs are honest ones. It's 2.4 GHz only, it skips HomeKit and Matter, and the six-month battery claim is optimistic. None of that breaks the lock for the right buyer, but each one rules it out for someone else. Buy it if you want hub-free remote access on a door that gets heavy traffic. Skip it if your household runs on Apple HomeKit or you need Matter support today. For everyone in between, this is the safest pick in its tier. > **Affiliate disclosure:** This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes my recommendation, I only suggest gear I'd actually buy myself. [🛒 Check on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HXFKMYR?tag=ratankarmakar-20)