FE789WBCEN622LAT Encode Century WiFi Latitude Lever Smart Keyless Entry Touchscreen Door Lock, Matte Black

If you bore easily and don't like details, skip this review - there are plenty of useless one sentence reviews you can read. I read reviews prior to purchasing...and I HATE when people provide inaccurate information. If you aren't sure of something, I don't know why you'd review it. Please take the items I state seriously - I am mechanical and technically oriented and I couldn't stand to read another inaccurate review. I chose this particular Schlage pin-pad lock for a few reasons. The first is it replaced an earlier stand-alone Schlage pin-pad lock that lasted for 10 years. It was still functioning, but the numbers became less responsive and mushy. I could've simply changed the codes, but it was time for a technology upgrade. I like this model because of the non-mechanical touch-sense buttons that this unit offered - no buttons to wear-out. The keypad consists of symbols that electrically sense when they're touched - much more durable since there's nothing mechanical to wear out. Installation was very easy as long as you have a small degree of mechanical aptitude. Knowing how to change out a lock set to me is homeowner 101. It blows my mind that anyone can own a home and not be able to do this, but if you really lack such basic mechanical skills, go ahead and pay a handyman $100 to install it. The physical installation should not take you more than 20 minutes, including removing the old one. But before installing it I suggest unpacking the unit, putting the included Duracell batteries in it, then temporarily connecting the indoor and outdoor assemblies with the wire harness. Next, download the Schlage Home App, register your account and follow the prompts to gain connectivity to the unit. It walks you through step by step. I would then configure your door settings based on preference (name the door, auto lock time, keypad beeps, notifications, etc.). Lastly, enter your codes and save them to the lock. At this point, you can begin physically installing the lock set. No sense in doing so until you know you have connectivity. Note...You do not NEED to administer this via the App and Wi-Fi, but it makes it so much easier. Now to clarify what was conflicting among various reviews: (1) The backup key will absolutely unlock and re-lock the door if the batteries were to completely die. IGNORE reviews that state otherwise. The key does not actually operate the latch bolt...it simply turns the mechanism that controls whether the outside lever retracts the latch bolt or not. I tested the above with the batteries removed and was able to unlock the door and then put it back into locked position using only the key. I think some people are confused because turning the key doesn't retract the latch - it just allows the lever to retract the latch. You can most definitely lock and unlock the door with the key if the unit is completely dead. (2) If WiFi drops, the lock will still operate (assuming it was previously configured). WiFi provides connectivity for remote access, administering codes & notifications. If WiFi drops, the lock will still operate using codes that were previously sent to the lock. If WiFi is down, you cannot remotely change codes, view events or alter settings - but the lock will still work with the codes you previously saved to it. REPEAT...If WiFi is down the lock will still work! (3) The fit & finish is fine. For the review that stated there's is "jiggly", they installed it wrong - period (this goes back to me not understanding how someone doesn't even have the most basic skills). (4) The lock does not need to be "woken up". You can walk right up to it after hours of inactivity, enter your code and it unlocks. (5) When installing it, you do not need to have someone hold it from the outside while you're working on the inside. It comes with a clip that holds the outside handle in-place as you're installing the inside handle. This literally took me minutes to install by myself. Even if it didn't hold itself in-place, I'd never need a second person - but we all have different abilities I suppose. (6) The keypad is not a pressure membrane that you may be familiar with - they are touch-sense. You do not "press" the keys - you simply touch them. A nice feature is the unit will send you low battery messages when the batteries are low. The App also displays the current battery percentage. Because this unit is Wi-Fi connected, the estimated battery life is 6 months...but having the status displayed and being warned of a low battery helps assure when they actually need to be changed. My batteries get to 20% at around 6 months of at least 6 time per day use, weekends more. The App also allows you to customize codes and receive notifications for when the code is used. This is helpful for knowing when kids come home. You can set notifications based on user, so I don't get notified when I or my wife uses it, assuming everyone has their own code. Codes can be from 4 to 8 digits in length. The App keeps an event history even if you choose not to be notified at the time a code is used. I am very happy with the build quality and functionality of the unit. Schlage is known to produce very good quality residential door locks and components. This was a great improvement over the previous model. NOTE: I purchased this item on Amazon for full price and have no affiliation to the seller. I try to write helpful, unbiased and insightful reviews because I also read reviews prior to making my own buying decisions. I notice many reviews lack helpful information, are not well written or give poor reviews based on not following directions, failing to read the product details prior to purchasing or lack of skill. Writing useful reviews helps pay it forward.

After two failed attempts with unknown-brand smart locks, I finally landed on this Schlage model—and it was worth it. Here’s what I’ve learned through trial and error: Noise Level Matters Many deadbolt-style smart locks are loud. Some are so noisy they’ll make your pets look up in alarm. One of the cheaper locks I tried made my daughter-in-law say it sounded like a dentist’s drill. Lesson learned: noise is part of the package with many of these, so choose wisely. This Schlage makes no noise. The noise appears to be associated with the deadbolt locks, rather than the lever locks. This is a lever lock, which is by far my preferred choice. I learned the hard way. Know Your Must-Haves Make sure the lock you buy has the features you want. Don’t settle. I was really hoping for a fingerprint reader, but this particular Schlage model didn’t include it. The version that does? Nearly $600—twice the cost. For me, that was not a dealbreaker. With the two models I tried that had the fingerprint reader, any bit of moisture on my fingers would prevent the reader from working. You've got to do something with your finger; it might as well be to press four numbers gently. Build Quality & Installation Right out of the box, you can tell this is a pro-grade product. It’s heavy, solid, and feels like it will last. Installation wasn’t quite as smooth as I’d hoped, but that had more to do with my door setup than the lock itself. I had to chisel away some molding around a glass window because the lock housing was slightly wider than others I’ve installed. Schlage might consider a slimmer profile for future models. I also ran into some frustration seating the back unit. The internal wire connector kept getting in the way—it would’ve been an easy engineering fix if there were just a small space to accommodate the cable. I did have to lift a little gold bar to loosen the cable to give me a tad more to work with - that helped seat the back to the mount. After a little effort and patience, I got it mounted correctly. Connectivity & Setup Bluetooth pairing with my iPhone worked instantly. Wi-Fi was another story. I use an Eero router, which broadcasts both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz simultaneously. Some devices (like my Leviton switches) automatically pick the right band. This lock didn’t. After some online digging, I learned how to temporarily disable the 5 GHz band via the Eero app. Once I did that, the lock connected immediately. The app itself is excellent—setting access codes through it is a breeze. Compared to the old-school button-pushing rituals of code programming, this is night and day. Final Thoughts Despite a few quirks—most of which could be resolved with better design—I’m still giving this lock five stars. Compared to the flimsy, lightweight alternatives I tried earlier, this one is in a league of its own. It feels premium, performs well, includes the batteries, and doesn’t require a separate hub (as it should be—Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in). Hopefully, Schlage will smooth out the minor issues in a future version. But for now, this is a classy lock from a classy company, and I’m glad I made the switch.

This is the second generation of the Schlage lock I have owned. The first needed a smart hub and had many issues connecting over the years I owned it. These locks connect directly to your WIFI and the app works well and is easy to use. One minor complaint is the keypad is dim and can be hard to see the numbers in a dark area. Obviously not an issue if you unlock from your phone before you get to the door. You can also hit the bottom left of the keypad (home button) and that lights up the keypad so you can see the numbers. There is now another version which can connect to Apple Home if you use Apple devices.

This is a reliable lock. I use it for my Airbnb. I just had to change the battery, it lasted 5 months. I’m pleased with its battery life. I’ll see how well this new set of batteries last. The lock itself is very easy to set up. It’s intuitive and the self-generating code function is especially useful. It’s fully integrated with Airbnb. Changing the battery is also incredibly simple. It works on WiFi seamlessly!!! Very pleased.

I recently purchased the Matte Black Schlage Encode Century smart lock. The installation process was relatively straightforward, and programming it via the Schlage app was simple. However, integrating it with Google Assistant was kind of a pain, as it repeatedly prompted me to install the Google Assistant app instead of connecting directly through the Google Home app by adding it as linked service. I do have several concerns about the build quality and its packaging. For the price, I would have expected the lock to include two keys, as is standard with traditional locks, but it only came with one. While I know that the keypad is the primary feature, an extra key would have been appreciated. Additionally, removing the key from the cylinder for the first time was pretty difficult. The lock was shipped in its original manufacturer's box without additional packaging and wasn't sealed, which left it susceptible to damage during transit. Although all parts were present, the box arrived in poor condition, highlighting some design flaws. The latch release button is made of flimsy aluminum which was bent in transit along with its connecting posts. Since I already had it mostly installed, I decided to repair it rather than returning it. The button is mostly decorative and repairing and reattaching was a little time-consuming, however I managed to get it re-attached. Lastly, the paint on the handles was chipped in several places which raises concerns about the durability of the finish, especially on the outdoor portion with the key cylinder. Since I installed it at the rear of my home, I'm not too concerned about that, but it may be something to think about if you're thinking of if purchasing the matte black version. If the paint continues to chip or fade, I can address it, but it shouldn’t happen so easily on a premium product. Overall, the lock works well so far, but these issues are a little disappointing. If I encounter any other issues in the future, I’ll update this review.