The Schlage Sense Pro Is the Only Smart Lock I've Tested That Nails Hands-Free Entry

7 min readI’ve unlocked smart locks just about every way you can: a keypad, an app, a fingerprint sensor, facial recognition, even palm vein recognition. They all work, but none of them have felt quite as futuristic as the new Schlage Sense Pro. The first time I approached my front door and it automatically unlocked, I felt like my house was waiting for me to arrive.At $399, the Sense Pro is Schlage’s first deadbolt with ultra-wideband (UWB) hands-free unlocking, its first to support Matter over Thread, and its first with no keyhole. Using what Schlage calls Converge technology, it reads your speed and trajectory toward the door and unlocks as you reach it, which is far more advanced than the Schlage Encode, our Best Overall pick. I’ve used geofencing and Bluetooth “auto-unlock” locks such as the Schlage Arrive, but they can be unreliable, so I wanted to see if Schlage’s latest model actually works as promised.ProsUltra-wideband walk-up unlocking is fast and consistentThe all-metal build is premium and one of the smallest, cleanest locks I’ve usedTap-to-unlock, app control, keypad, and one-touch lock are also quickConsThe minimalist design has a learning curveKey SpecsDimensions2.75 x 4 x 0.75 in.ConnectivityThread and WiFi (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth, NFC, UWB; Matter over ThreadBattery4 AA batteries, up to 9 monthsAccess CodesUp to 250Security RatingBHMA Grade 2How I TestedI installed the Sense Pro on my front door and lived with it for a few weeks, running it through every access method it offers: hands-free unlock on approach, tap-to-unlock with my iPhone and Apple Watch, the touchscreen keypad, and app control. I connected it over Thread and paired it to Apple Home so I could use Home Key, then set up codes for family members.I paid attention to whether it unlocked at the right moment, whether it ever opened when I didn’t want it to, how quickly the bolt threw, and how easy it was to share one-time and recurring codes (up to 250) with guests and family members. I ran through all three hands-free modes, used the one-touch locking and auto-lock, and watched how my toddler handled it compared to our Schlage Encode Plus, which has an always-visible keypad.I mostly relied on the Schlage app day to day, and it sends me a notification on my phone whenever the lock is used (both locking and unlocking), so I can see when a family member gets home or when a guest code has been entered. Being able to glance at my phone and know when the door is locked or see that someone just came in allows me to keep tabs on it at all times.Having It Unlock as You Approach Feels FuturisticHands-free unlocking is the whole reason to buy the Sense Pro, and (so far) it’s been reliable. With my phone or watch on me, I simply walk up and it unlocks. I don’t have to dig for my keys, punch a code, or pull out my phone. When my hands are full of groceries or I’m carrying my toddler, that convenience is hard to overstate.The Sense Pro’s UWB tracks distance, speed, and angle of approach, so it can tell the difference between me heading for the door and me wandering around out front. It only unlocks when I actually walk up to go inside, which is the part geofencing locks never got right for me. It also won’t accidentally get tripped up when you walk near your door from the inside, such as when you’re grabbing your shoes from the entryway or checking to see who’s at the door.In my testing, hands-free just worked. I didn’t have to trek down the block and back for it to trigger, and it didn’t leave me waiting at the door. Walking up at a normal pace from a few feet away, the bolt threw before I reached the handle.Even stepping out to grab a package and turning right back works well. On the rare occasion it took a beat, it was only an extra second at most, and never often enough to bother me. I found it especially good at detecting my Apple Watch Series 11, which is great for days when I head out for a walk without my phone.Schlage offers three hands-free modes in the app: Intuitive (unlock as you reach the door), Touch (it follows your approach but waits for you to touch the lock), and Delay (a short pause before unlocking). Touch mode is a reasonable fallback if you’d rather confirm you’re there than have it fire automatically. One requirement to know before you buy is that hands-free works only with an iPhone 11 or later or an Apple Watch Series 6 or later (no SE models), and it relies on an Apple Home hub. Android support is promised later through the cross-platform Aliro standard, but it isn’t here yet.Brandon RussellThe Schlage Sense Pro is sleek, although its minimalist design may be confusing to some.Brandon RussellThe door will automatically unlock upon your arrival.The Clean Design Looks Great but Hides How to Use ItThis is the best-looking lock I’ve put on my door, but the Sense Pro’s minimal design has a few downsides. There’s no keyhole and no visible buttons—just a slim metal exterior and a small Schlage logo. I like that the all-metal build feels solid and sits flush against the door, too. Some smart locks are massive and really stand out, and this one is much more unassuming.The flip side is that the touchscreen keypad stays blank until you tap the lock to wake it. If you already know it’s there, it’s fine. But it isn't obvious that you can interact with it. I set up a one-time guest code for my neighbor to bring a package inside while I was away, and they had to call me because they weren’t sure what to do.A light bar runs across the top of the keypad, and touching the center locks it when you’re heading out the door. (It took me a few days to figure this out.) So while the exterior looks clean, there’s a bit of a learning curve. On the Encode Plus, which I previously had on my front door, the keypad is always visible and there’s a one-touch lock icon that’s easy to understand.Locking is just as easy as unlocking. When I leave, I touch the center of the light bar and the bolt throws right away. If you’d rather not think about it at all, auto-lock handles it for you.In the Schlage app, you can turn auto-lock on and set how long the lock waits before it secures itself, anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes. I set mine to one minute, which is long enough that I can walk out to the curb, grab the mail, and come back inside without the door locking on me.The larger interior housing holds four AA batteries, and Schlage rates them for about six months on WiFi or nine-plus months on Thread. Because there’s no physical keyway, the obvious worry is what happens when those batteries die. Schlage included a USB-C port on the exterior, so if the lock goes dead, you can power it from a portable battery or charger.There’s also a built-in alarm inside the lock that senses activity at the door, so if someone tries to force or tamper with it, the lock can sound an alert.One last thing worth addressing is what happens if someone gets hold of your phone. Hands-free unlocking relies on Apple Wallet’s Express Mode, which lets the phone open the lock without a Face ID or Touch ID check.That bypass is exactly what makes it so convenient, but it also means that someone with your phone could open your door, much as someone with your physical key could. The saving grace is that Express Mode only works if you’ve unlocked the phone yourself within the past day, so a lost or stolen phone stops working as a key fairly quickly.What Makes It Different, and Why It Needs a HubThe Sense Pro has WiFi built in, so I assumed it was fully self-sufficient. It isn’t. WiFi only handles remote control, such as checking status, sending codes, and locking up from the app while I’m away.The hands-free walk-up unlocking runs on Apple Home Key, and Apple Home Key needs a home hub sitting in the house to work, such as an Apple TV 4K, HomePod (2nd gen), or HomePod mini. Without one, the lock still works by keypad, tap, and app, but the most futuristic feature won’t be available.The reason comes down to how the lock talks to your phone. The Sense Pro is Schlage’s first lock to use Matter over Thread. Matter is the industry standard that lets smart home gear from different brands (Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung) speak the same language, so a single lock can work across ecosystems.Meanwhile, Thread is the low-power wireless network it travels through—think of it like a mesh system where each plugged-in Thread device passes messages along. A Thread network needs a “border router” to connect that mesh system to the rest of your home and the internet, and in an Apple setup, the Apple TV or HomePod is that border router.Practically, that means the overall cost may go up before you can get hands-free to work because of the $399 lock and, if you don’t already own one, an Apple Home hub (and those recently got pricier). If you’re already an Apple smart home household, you almost certainly have the hub and won’t notice.Final ThoughtsThe Sense Pro is the first lock that’s made hands-free unlocking feel natural and trustworthy. It's beautiful, and after a few weeks I still get jazzed by walking up to a door that unlocks itself.It isn’t for everyone since there is no fingerprint reader or physical-key backup, the marquee feature is Apple-only for now, and the hidden touchscreen can throw people off. But if you’re an iPhone household with an Apple hub already in place and the budget for it, the Sense Pro delivers the most futuristic front door I've used.Shop the Schlage Sense ProMore Electronic Deadbolts We RecommendSchlage Encode DeadboltWyze Auto-Lock Bolt v2Yale Assure Lock 2 KeypadNow 35% OffBrandon Russell is a freelance writer covering gear and technology. He started his journey as a news writer at a small newspaper and later began reviewing smartphones, movies, and video games. In his free time, he enjoys the slower, more intentional experience of using a 35mm film camera and making short videos about movies he grew up watching.Tom Price is a reviews editor for Popular Mechanics while also contributing to Runner's World, Best Products, and Bicycling. Here at Popular Mechanics, Tom loves testing out home appliances, smart tech, gear for city life and outdoor adventures, small gadgets like watches and multitools, and anything else you can find piled up at his hoarder's nest of a desk. Prior to working here, Tom attended NYU, graduating with a degree in English and a minor in creative writing. He also wrote for Best Reviews, The Daily Beast, and other publications covering tech, fitness gear, gadgets, and lifestyle products. Furthermore, he covered startup news, pop culture, and even professional wrestling. To follow more of his work, check back here for new stories.