CES 2025 | Schlage goes all-in on Ultra Wideband with keyless smart lock
Colorado lockmaker Schlage has announced the introduction of two new locks to its award-winning Encode lineup: the entry-level Schlage Arrive WiFi Deadbolt, and the more impressive Sense Pro Smart Deadbolt. While they both have keypads and remote unlocking options, the Sense Pro is the Matter-compatible sibling - a first for Schlage.
With a sleek, smooth rectangular exterior that does away with the traditional keyhole in the same manner as the Yale Assure Lock 2, Schlage's futuristic lock offers a touchscreen keypad for numerical code access, NFC tap-to-unlock, as well as hands-free entry via Ultra Wideband unlocking. UWB is expected to work by pairing a user-authorized phone or smartwatch to the lock which recognizes intent to enter by detecting the user's speed and trajectory.
While Schlage is not the first to implement UWB, the smart lock company is definitely betting big on the technology. To that effect, Schlage has promised to adopt the Aliro spec when it launches later this year.Aliro is the cross-platform lovechild of Apple, Google, and Samsung that works with lockmakers to use your device as a digital key for your door. More open than Apple HomeKey, Aliro is expected to launch with NFC and UWB capabilities enabled. For now, the Sense Pro will be powered by Schlage's proprietary Converge technology.
The Sense Pro also marks Schlage's first foray into the Matter ecosystem, which means it works with all the smart home platforms that are Matter supported - which, in 2025, applies to almost all of them: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and even Home Assistant. Since the deadbolt supports Matter over WiFi as well as Thread, it should be able to function without the burden of a constant Internet connection. This implies more battery gains - and the alkaline on the Schlage Encode Plus Smart Deadbolt has already proven itself to be quite reliable.
In view of the historic firsts of the Sense Pro, Schlage's other smartlock launch may have been swept under the carpet, but it actually offers a ray of hope to smartlock enthusiasts on a budget. At $199, the Schlage Arrive is the entry-level arrival to the Encode lineup, offering easy entry into the smart lock scene. Like the Sense Pro, it also offers numerical keycode access via a push-button keypad, but no NFC option.
The Schlage Arrive comes with WiFi built-in for connecting to Google Home or Amazon Alexa. At this price point, there is no HomeKit or Matter support for the lock. Coming in satin nickel and matte black colours, the new Arrive is not expected till spring of 2025. As for the Sense Pro, the Colorado lockmaker has opted to leave everyone guessing.
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