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FINAL THOUGHTS AND CONCLUSION
We are just as impressed with the Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt now as we were two months ago at CES 2013. Schlage took a deadbolt design that has been used for decades and reconfigured it to use today’s technology, while developing a partnership with Nexia Home Intelligence. Seamless, hassle-free installation, excellent security features, great aesthetics and solid design – tough to ask for more.
The components added to the Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt is a much needed improvement compared to the traditional deadbolt, as audible alarms, text messaging alerts, and non-fingerprint electronic touchscreens are just some of the security measures more accessible, available, and manageable now to the average user. Harnessing the power of current smart phone technology and teaming up with Nexia Home Intelligence to create an interactive app delivering complete control of security elements is a key feature of the Schlage Deadbolt Touchscreen, and one that certainly adds a lot to its appeal.
That is not to say it is a perfect package. The fact that the deadbolt could not wirelessly connect natively to a router is disappointing. Instead the Nexia Bridge (an additional product) was needed to connect to the home router and then broadcast to the deadbolt or any other Z-Wave Nexia product.
We understand that the Nexia Bridge can act as a control center for a home with up to 232 Nexia products, thereby allowing users to control all products in one application. However, it would be beneficial if users were given the option to use either the Nexia Bridge or the lock itself to broadcast the signal to the user’s application.
Individuals who solely bought the Schlage Deadbolt Touchscreen for their home should not need to spend another $99.00 to get the full functionality of the product. Without the Nexia Bridge, the deadbolt is not much different than current motorized deadbolts on the market today. Not to mention that the Nexia Bridge requires a monthly subscription of $8.99, or $107.88 a year, plus the applicable taxes.
With that said however, we still recommend it wholeheartedly. Complete alarm systems cost much more than what you see here, including installation charges and monthly fees which easily go over the $100+ mark. Spending a one-time payment of $298 on the Deadbolt Touchscreen (or more for multiple doors) including the Nexia Home Intelligence Bridge is much more of a lucrative investment. It would cost the same amount for four packages as it would for home security from a service provider for a span of one year. After that, there would only be a fee of 8.99/month or 107.88/year versus $100+/month and 1200+/year for an alarm service.
The Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt is much more than your typical button keypad deadbolt; the price point for the Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt is more than just, and even when factoring in the cost of the Nexia Bridge, it is still a competitive product in the deadbolt market at $199/$298 (with Nexia Bridge). Furthermore, the stylish accents of the lock and variety of matte finishes allow the lock to cater to almost any user’s appearance needs.
If you are looking for a solid product in securing your home or business, we definitely recommend you consider the Schlage Deadbolt Touchscreen. We finally got a chance to test it, and as the demo we received at Pepcom, the real-deal works as advertised. While there are a few things we did not like about the complete package, the overall value and appeal more than makes up for it. The next-generation deadbolt has now raised the bar in deadbolt security and functionality, a difficult feat for those Schlage competitors in the marketplace. For only $298, the increased home security provided by the Schlage Camelot Touchscreen Deadbolt is second to none.