Quick answer: the sharpest line between these two locks is which standard they bet on. The Schlage Encode Plus has native Apple HomeKit and Home Key tap-to-unlock working today; the Kwikset Halo Select skips that in favor of Matter over Thread, a broader long-term bet that pays off only if your home already has a Thread border router.
Bottom Line
Ecosystem & Security Grade
Built-in WiFi, native Apple HomeKit, Apple Home Key tap-to-unlock, and an ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 (AAA) rating. If anyone in the house carries an iPhone or Apple Watch, this is the lock that actually uses it, starting the day it's installed.
See Schlage Encode Plus →Standards & Battery Life
Built-in WiFi with a Matter over Thread radio, BHMA Grade AAA certification, and roughly double the battery life once it's running over Matter instead of WiFi. The payoff depends on already owning a Thread border router.
See Kwikset Halo Select →Both locks replace your existing deadbolt, both connect straight to WiFi with no separate hub required for basic operation, and both are self-install jobs with a screwdriver. The split starts the moment you ask which ecosystem is supposed to open the door.
Spec-by-Spec Comparison
The headline gap is which standard each lock bets on, but a few other differences matter just as much once you're living with the lock day to day.
| Feature | Kwikset Halo Select | Schlage Encode Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price tier | $$$ | $$$ |
| Connectivity | Built-in WiFi + Matter over Thread | Built-in WiFi only |
| Hub required | No | No |
| Matter | Yes, built in | No |
| Apple HomeKit | Via Matter, needs a Thread border router | Yes, native, no bridge needed |
| Apple Home Key | No | Yes, tap to unlock |
| Alexa / Google Assistant | Yes, via Kwikset app | Yes, native |
| Security certification | BHMA Grade AAA | ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 (AAA) |
| Battery life | ~6 months on WiFi, 12+ months on Matter | 6 to 12 months (4x AA) |
| Backup entry | SmartKey re-keyable cylinder, keypad code | Physical key backup, keypad code |
| Self-installation | Yes, screwdriver only | Yes, screwdriver only |
Price tiers are approximate. $ = under $50, $$ = $50 to 150, $$$ = $150 to 300, $$$$ = over $300. Tap any link for the current Amazon price.
Rekeying is the other spot the Halo Select pulls ahead on hardware: Kwikset's SmartKey system lets you reprogram the physical cylinder yourself in seconds with the original key, no locksmith needed, something the Encode Plus's standard key cylinder doesn't match. Everything tied to "does this work with my iPhone right now" goes to the Encode Plus instead.
Matter Over Thread vs Native HomeKit: The Real Tradeoff
This is the section that should decide the purchase for most buyers, because the two locks are solving the same problem with opposite bets.
The Schlage Encode Plus was one of the first residential locks to ship with Apple Home Key, letting an iPhone or Apple Watch unlock the door with a tap near the reader, similar to a hotel key card but without pulling out your phone or opening an app. It also shows up natively in the Apple Home app alongside your other HomeKit accessories, plus Alexa and Google Assistant, all built by Schlage directly. Nothing extra to buy, nothing extra to configure beyond the lock itself.
The Kwikset Halo Select instead ships with a Matter over Thread radio built into the lock body. Matter is the cross-brand standard meant to let one device work natively across Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings without separate integrations for each. That's the long-term upside. The catch: getting real value out of it means your home already has a Thread border router, a always-on Matter-compatible hub like a HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, or recent Echo or Google Nest Hub. Without one, the Halo Select falls back to plain WiFi and Alexa/Google support through the Kwikset app, which functions fine but skips the Matter upside entirely. It has no Apple Home Key at all, on Matter or off.
If you're deciding based on what works the day the lock goes on the door, Schlage wins outright for an Apple household. If you're deciding based on which standard the rest of the smart lock industry is likely to converge on, and you already own the border-router hardware to use it, the Halo Select is the forward-looking pick. Our HomeKit smart lock roundup covers more locks with native Apple support if that's the deciding factor for you.
Security Grade and Battery Life
Buyers often assume one of these locks must be "more secure" than the other. In practice, they're rated at the same tier.
The Kwikset Halo Select is BHMA Grade AAA certified, and the Schlage Encode Plus carries an ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 (AAA) rating, the highest residential grade under the same testing standard covering forced entry, cycle durability, and impact resistance. Neither lock has a meaningful edge here. If a listing or a reseller ever implies otherwise, treat that as marketing rather than spec.
Battery life is where the Halo Select has a genuine, testable advantage. Kwikset states roughly 6 months of battery life when the lock stays connected over WiFi, and 12 months or longer when it runs over its lower-power Matter/Thread radio instead, since Thread is designed around mesh networking that sips far less power than a WiFi radio holding a constant connection. The Schlage Encode Plus runs on four AA batteries rated for 6 to 12 months regardless of connection type, since it has no low-power radio option to fall back on. For a front door that gets opened dozens of times a day, that gap adds up to real battery swaps saved per year. Our smart locks for rental properties guide covers backup-entry and battery tradeoffs in more depth if you're managing a lock you don't check on daily.
How Owners Rate the Two in Practice
Spec sheets say both locks are well-built. Owner feedback fills in where that holds up and where it doesn't.
Schlage Encode Plus: 4.1-star average from verified buyers
Owners consistently praise how solid the keypad feels under daily use and how reliably Apple Home Key pairs once initial setup is done. The recurring complaint centers on that first Home Key pairing step feeling fiddly, with several buyers recommending you finish the whole setup before you actually need to use the lock rather than the day guests arrive.
Kwikset Halo Select
The Halo Select is recent enough to market that verified-buyer feedback is still limited, so this listing does not yet carry a star average we're confident citing. Early adopter feedback centers on the same two themes as the rest of the Halo line: setup and remote locking working as expected once WiFi pairing is complete, and a touchscreen that occasionally needs a couple of taps to wake from sleep. Treat the battery-life claims above as manufacturer-stated until more verified owners have weighed in on daily use.
Jacob’s read on this category
Don't buy the Halo Select expecting HomeKit to work like it does on the Schlage. Matter's promise is real, but it depends on hardware you may not have yet, while Home Key on the Encode Plus works the moment you finish setup. If you don't already own a Thread border router, price that into the decision the same way you'd price in a bridge or hub for any other "requires additional hardware" smart home purchase.
Which Lock Should You Buy?
Skip trying to declare an overall winner. Match the lock to the hardware already running in your house.
Frequently Asked Questions
Behind This Comparison
Kwikset Halo Select and Schlage Encode Plus get cross-shopped because they sit at similar price points while betting on opposite smart home standards. We checked each lock's current listing for ecosystem support, security certification, and battery specifications, cross-referenced manufacturer spec pages for the Matter, HomeKit, and Home Key claims, and pulled the verified-buyer star rating that was live on the Schlage listing as of September 17, 2026. The Halo Select's verified-buyer feedback was too limited to responsibly cite a star average at the time of writing.
We do not take payment from Kwikset, Schlage, or any brand mentioned here. If you spot an error, please let us know.