Schlage · Reviewed by Eric Welander · Published 2026-07-16
Based on a review by Eric Welander (accessed 2026-07-16).
Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about beautiful, compact metal construction — just accept no physical keyhole.
Despite significant initial setup issues and needing to exchange a faulty unit, the reviewer ultimately "really love[s]" the Schlage Sense Pro. They find its performance, especially the ultra-wideband unlocking, to be very solid after troubleshooting and suggest it's worth considering for a front door, particularly if aesthetics and a smaller size are priorities.
This review provides an in-depth look at the Schlage Sense Pro ultra-wideband smart lock, covering its features, installation, and performance. The reviewer details initial setup difficulties and a product exchange, contrasting the lock's functionality and design with the Aqara U100.
The Schlage Sense Pro is a premium smart lock that, despite significant initial setup frustrations, ultimately delivers a highly convenient hands-free unlocking experience for Apple Home users. Its beautiful metal construction and compact design are notable positives, yet the reviewer encountered multiple pairing failures and a faulty keypad on the first unit, necessitating an exchange. After overcoming these hurdles, the ultra-wideband unlocking improved over time, becoming reliable enough for seamless entry. If you prioritize cutting-edge hands-free unlocking with Apple Home and are willing to troubleshoot initial setup, this lock is worth considering. However, if you require a physical key backup or a simpler installation process, alternative smart locks might be more suitable.
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The reviewer states the lock is "very well-built" with "beautiful metal construction." They also note it's "not nearly as big as competing ultra-wideband locks like the Aqara U100" and "much smaller in size."
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The reviewer highlights that the Schlage Sense Pro "doesn't have any physical key hole," distinguishing it from locks like the Aqara U100.
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The lock supports PIN codes via a light-up pad, ultra-wideband (UWB) HomeKey, and HomeKey NFC for unlocking.
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Schlage does not offer any NFC key fobs for use with this lock, preventing their use as an alternative unlocking method.
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The lock is powered by four double-A batteries, which are included, and does not use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
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The lock connects to a smart home system via Matter over Thread and also includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios for local and remote control through the Schlage app.
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The reviewer notes that the light-up keypad provides a helpful beep with each successful digit press, indicating good user feedback.
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The UWB feature uses precise positioning from an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock the door hands-free as the user approaches, enabled by Express Mode in Apple device settings.
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If UWB fails, users can still unlock the door using old-style HomeKey NFC by tapping their Apple Watch or iPhone to the lock.
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A future firmware update will bring tap-to-unlock and ultra-wideband functionality via the Aliro standard, allowing similar features for non-Apple smart home systems like Samsung SmartThings.
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The reviewer notes that the installation is generally easy and praises Schlage for allowing the entire job to be done with just one large screwdriver, a detail not common in other smart locks.
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After the physical installation, the reviewer experienced "a bunch of issues adding this to my smart home" and had to reset the lock multiple times. Attempts to add it to the Schlage app first then Apple Home "failed consistently."
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The reviewer called Schlage support, finding the service accessible but ultimately still unable to resolve the issues, as HomeKey functionality (tap-to-unlock or UWB) remained non-functional.
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The first unit frequently failed to light up its keypad (one out of three times) and HomeKey wouldn't work, making the door unlockable. Concluding it was a "bad unit," the reviewer exchanged it for a new one.
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Initially, the UWB didn't unlock reliably from close range, unlike the Aqara U100. It required approaching from further away. However, over time, the UWB performance "seemed to get better and better" and was "unlocking more reliably," suggesting an improvement with continued use.
The Schlage Sense Pro can be unlocked using a light-up PIN pad, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology with Apple's HomeKey and Express Mode for hands-free access, or by tapping an iPhone or Apple Watch to the lock using NFC HomeKey if UWB fails.
The reviewer, experienced with smart lock installations, found the physical installation process to be easy. A notable positive aspect is that the entire job can be completed using just one large screwdriver, which is more convenient than many other smart locks.
Initially, the UWB unlocking was unreliable, particularly when approaching the door from close distances, which contrasted with the reviewer's experience with another UWB lock. However, the reviewer observed that the UWB performance "seemed to get better and better" with continued use, becoming more reliable over time. Patience is recommended for the feature to optimize.
The Schlage Sense Pro explicitly lacks a physical keyhole. This means there is no traditional key backup for unlocking the door, which is a departure from some other smart locks.
Compared to the Aqara U100, the Schlage Sense Pro is considered more premium in appearance and significantly smaller. However, the Schlage is also more expensive (around $100-130 more) and omits features like a physical keyhole and fingerprint reader that the Aqara U100 offers.
The Schlage Sense Pro is powered by four standard double-A batteries. The lock comes with Duracell double-A batteries included in the packaging, and it does not utilize a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
The reviewer faced significant challenges with the initial electronic setup, experiencing consistent failures when trying to add the lock to their smart home system and having to reset it multiple times. They even had to exchange their first unit due to malfunctions and still encountered some setup hurdles with the replacement. It's recommended to add the lock directly to Apple Home or your smart home platform first.
100/100 source quality
The Schlage Sense Pro smart lock promises advanced ultra-wideband (UWB) HomeKey functionality for Apple Home. The reviewer details an initial struggle with setup and a faulty unit, requiring a replacement and multiple resets. While setup proved challenging, the lock's performance, including UWB unlocking, improved over time, becoming reliable. The review also compares its premium design and smaller size to the Aqara U100, noting the absence of a physical keyhole and fingerprint reader.
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This page converts Eric Welander's review of the Schlage Schlage Sense Pro into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.
Brand relationship disclosed as: affiliate