Has anybody installed/used one of the new Schlage Sense Pro™ Smart Deadbolt locks in Hubitat? I have toyed with the idea of getting one to replace an aging smart lock. It looks like it's not directly compatible with Hubitat but I didn't know if anybody was looking at a custom interface or HomeKit interface. They are pretty expensive and before I dove in I wanted to get some feedback....
I am sure someone will correct me on some of this, but here is my take on why this might turn into an expensive paperweight on Hubitat:
That lock is a Matter over Thread device. ("Sense Pro™ offers seamless smart home interoperability as a Matter over Thread smart lock, making it easy to pair your devices and integrate with your smart home ecosystem.") Unless your hub happens to have a secret internal Thread radio tucked away in its circuitry (spoiler: it doesn't), trying to pair this thing directly to Hubitat is a fast track to shouting at a blinking LED.
You could theoretically play ecosystem ping-pong by pairing it to a proper Matter-over-Thread controller first (like Apple Home or Google Home) and then trying to bridge it over. And yes, before someone jumps in, Hubitat does have a built-in HomeKit Integration app—though I believe that's a one-way street meant to push Hubitat devices out to Apple, not drag Apple accessories inward, as I understood it but then again I don't use it.
If you're on a C-8 Pro running platform 2.4.2 or later, you do have access to the HomeKit Controller integration, which can pull native HomeKit gear directly into the hub. But before you swipe that credit card for a $400+ lock, keep in mind that smart locks are the ultimate gatekeepers. Ecosystems love to lock down security credentials, meaning if you try to route a Thread-based luxury lock through multi-admin or bridging workarounds, you'll likely lose some of the good stuff—like granular user codes, maybe logs, and local-only security states or you may not...
If you want a smart lock that plays nice with Hubitat without needing a degree in network gymnastics, save yourself the headache and stick to a native Zigbee or Z-Wave option. Just my humble suggestion. Again I sure someone will will correct me on some of this.
I will say many of us look to the day when Hubitat gets native Thread... but until then, a man can dream.
Thanks for the feedback... I already have 4 Schlage BE469's that, once they were configured properly in ZWave, they work well. I do already have the HomeKit integration and had thought about that method. I really like the features of this new lock and I guess I hoped that it would play well. I haven't tackled ANY matter devices (on Hubitat or Apple) so I'm nervous about that. I don't typically like a lot of moving parts, especially on locks. I say that but... I have 6 Hubitat Hubs integrated with Amazon, Ecobee, Apple Home/Hoobs, Lutron Caseta, Phillips Hue, Ecowitt weather stations, Unifi Superlink, Send2IR and a good many weird things that I am sure that I forgot. Somehow it all plays together pretty solid. You are correct on the locks however, I am kind of picky about those. Its sad that the newer technology features are passing us by....
I like schlage in general, and I haven't had any hardware problems with my 3 smart locks.
However they don't do firmware updates, even when there are known bugs. They don't support their devices after the sale. I would be hesitant to buy another one of their locks, especially with a newer technology like Matter or Thread.
For the money, go with the Aqara U400. I have mine paired to HomeKit and Hubitat. Works without any issues.
Isn't it Matter over Thread also?
Yes. Why is that an issue? Pair it with HomeKit (or something similar) and then pair it with Hubitat.
That is a pretty good looking lock, I like the rechargeable batteries aspect of it.
I wonder how it will last, is quality OK?
Edit: I wish it supported something other than Apple for auto-unlock. Why not NFC, or Google, or whatever else?
The other thing that I wanted to look at on the Aqara 400 is the security of the actual lock. Some smart locks look great but the locking mechanisms are pretty weak. Schlage has always excelled in that area and I dont want to overlook that aspect of the lock.
I agree.
For my needs quality is just fine. I don't anticipate having any long term issues and the lock is working beautifully within HomeKit/Apple Home and Hubitat.
I replaced a perfectly good/working Schlage Zigbee lock that I had in place for years with the Aqara. Zero regrets.
I would not spend the extra money on the Schlage.
The Aqara U400 lock is BHMA Grade 3 certified.
It supports NFC. You can use certain NFC cards and fobs. It also has fingerprint capability which works very well.
It will support Android. I just don't know if/when the Android support is available.
Other Unlocking Options
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| NFC Tap-to-Unlock | Unlock by tapping your smartphone on the lock. |
| Fingerprint Reader | Built-in reader that can store up to 50 fingerprints for quick access. |
| Touch Keypad | Enter a code on the keypad to unlock. |
| Physical Key | Traditional key option for manual unlocking. |
| Smartphone Apps | Control the lock through dedicated mobile applications. |
| Digital Assistants | Compatible with Amazon Alexa for voice-activated unlocking. Apple Siri (via Apple Home / HomeKit integration) Google Assistant (via Google Home) |
Thanks, I missed some of those. I just kept seeing Apple, Apple, Apple...
It is a much more full featured lock compared to the Schlage.
You know that Grade 3 is the lowest grade, right?
Not an issue for me. And the Schlage is not much better at Grade 2. Plus, I have other deterrents.
I bought Sense Pro first day they were released.
It replaced Encode Plus on my entrance door.
It is Matter over Thread. (BTW I switched Encode to Thread and increased battery life at least 5x), but the biggest advantage of Sense Pro is UWB (like in U400). Schlage states that it will support Aliro, but for now only Apple Phone and Apple Watch getting the full benefit. The lock unlocks the moment my hand reaches the handle - not 1 second earlier, not 1 second late. So far it didn't skip a bit. The build quality is at par with Encode Plus (that is only grade 1 smart lock). Mind you that Sense Pro does not have a key cylinder - that might be the reason it is not BHMA certified (certification requires picking tests) many consider it as a flaw - I see it as an added security.
My opinion - it is a dream lock for Apple ecosystem.
For Android users it has all the functionality of U400 minus physical key, plus much better build quality at double the price 
Have you integrated this into Hubitat?
This does integrate into Hubitat as long as you use a TBR, correct?
Correct.