Kwikset Contemporary SmartCode Deadbolt (910CNT ZW) Review

The Kwikset SmartCode Contemporary Deadbolt (910CNT ZW) ($199) lets home and business owners grant access to as many as 30 users without having to make duplicate keys, thanks to a responsive six-button electronic keypad. This sharp-looking smart lock can be installed in minutes using a screwdriver and an Allen wrench, and it can be controlled remotely, but you'll need a third party Z-Wave system to do so. At $199 it's moderately expensive for a door lock, but you can shave off $100 if you eliminate the Z-Wave module. The lock works like a charm, but programming it is more tedious than it needs to be; the Editors' Choice LockState LS-500I( at Amazon) remains our favorite connected lock.

Design and Installation
The Contemporary Deadbolt($196.10 at Amazon) is aptly named. The outer escutcheon, done up in a Satin Nickel finish, measures 4.0 by 2.7 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and has clean, straight lines with slightly beveled edges. Kwikset also offers this lock in Venetian Bronze, Polished Chrome, and Satin Chrome finishes. The faceplate holds six white rubberized buttons; one is a lock button, and each of the other five sport two numbers (1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-0). You can choose to have the buttons glow red or emit a beep when pressed, but not both at the same time. Either way, they will glow red when an incorrect code is entered or when the four AA batteries need replacing.

Below the keypad is a cylinder with a keyway. As with the Kwikset Kevo($168.52 at Amazon), this lock supports Kwikset's SmartKey technology, which lets you re-key the lock so that it can be opened with different keys. This feature comes in handy if you want to open all of your locks with one key, or if you need to disable and replace missing or stolen keys.

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The interior escutcheon is plastic and is the same color as the exterior, save for a glossy black panel at the top. It measures 6.5 by 3.2 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and has a locking lever that sticks out three-quarters of an inch from the housing. The upper part of the housing slides off to reveal the lock's programming button, two HAN (Home Area Network) activation buttons, and a set of dipswitches, but you have to remove two hex-head nuts before you can remove the cover.

Also under the hood are a battery compartment that holds four AA batteries (not included) and a removable Z-Wave wireless module. You can order the Deadbolt with a ZigBee module if your home automation network uses ZigBee wireless technology.

Just above the locking lever is an LED indicator that lets you know what's going on with the lock; it blinks green when unlocked, amber when locked, and red when the battery is low. The Deadbolt comes with an interior mounting plate, two keys, a bolt mechanism, a strike plate, an Allen wrench (for the abovementioned hex head screws), installation instructions, a SmartKey tool, and assorted mounting screws.

Installing the Deadbolt in a door with precut holes was simple, but if you're working with an uncut door you may want to pick up a door lock boring kit (around $25) from your local hardware store, as this lock does not come with a template. It fits doors that are 1 3/8 to 2 inches in thickness that have a 1-inch cross bore and a 2 3/8- to 2 3/4-inch backset.

Installation took around 10 minutes, and the instructions were very helpful. I started by installing the bolt mechanism, and then attached the cylinder and exterior escutcheon to the interior mounting plate. After feeding the data cable through the hole, I connected it to the interior escutcheon and secured the escutcheon to the mounting plate. After popping in four AA batteries, I was ready to program the lock.

Programming and Performance
As previously mentioned, you have to unscrew two hex head nuts and remove a cover to get to the programming button, which makes programming the lock harder than it needs to be. Moreover, you have to press the button a specific number of times for each user code you're creating. For example, press it once when creating the first user code, twice for the second, and so on. If you're assigning multiple codes, you'll have to keep track of how many you've already created and where in the sequence each code was created. To delete a code, you need to know its sequence number before you can overwrite it with a new code. The entire process is somewhat convoluted and requires keeping a written log if you're assigning multiple codes. Conversely, the LockState LS-500I, Yale Real Living($499.99 at Amazon), and Schlage Century Touchscreen locks all use a master programming code that takes the guesswork out of assigning user codes, and you don't have to unscrew anything, either.

The two HAN programming buttons let you pair the lock with either a Z-Wave or ZigBee network, depending on which module you have, by pressing the HAN button on the left. A light behind the buttons will glow yellow for five seconds to indicate inclusion in the network. To exclude the lock from a network, press the right HAN button and wait for the light to glow red. I had the Z-Wave module up and running in just a few seconds.

Performance-wise, the Deadbolt delivers. Button response was excellent, and the lock never failed to open or close. Unlike the Schlage Century Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock, the Deadbolts's motor is relatively quiet. Additionally, the red backlighting makes the buttons easy to read in the dark. I installed four run-down batteries and the keypad immediately started flashing red, as did the interior LED.

After pressing the HAN button, the Deadbolt was promptly detected by a SmartThings hub, and I was able to lock and unlock it using the SmartThings app on my smartphone. I was also able to see whether the lock was opened or closed. This lock features Kwikset's Home Connect technology, which allows you to control the lock remotely, receive email notifications when the lock has been opened, and have the lock trigger other devices such as lights, thermostats, and a home security system, but you'll need a third-party controller like Connect 4 or HomeSeer to tie it all together.

Conclusion
With the Kwikset SmartCode Contemporary Deadbolt you never have to worry about lost keys again. The six-button backlit keypad lets you create 30 individual user codes, and there's a keyed cylinder for emergency use if you forget to change the batteries, but the programming process is more complex than it should be. Z-Wave technology lets you control the lock remotely with a compatible controller, but Kwikset does not offer a dedicated app that lets you control the lock from your smartphone. You don't get touch-screen technology like you do with the Yale Real Living Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock, nor does it have a tamper alarm like the Schlage Century Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock, but the Contemporary Deadbolt is around $125 less expensive than the Yale lock and much quieter than the Schlage lock. And, it works just as well as both. That said, if you're looking for a standalone smart lock that you can control with your smartphone, the LockState LS-500I will fill the bill, but be prepared to pay a small annual subscription fee.

Kwikset Contemporary SmartCode Deadbolt (910CNT ZW)

3.0

Check Stock

$196.10 at Amazon

MSRP $199.00

Pros

• Easy to install.
• Keyed and keyless entry.
• Relatively quiet.

Cons

• No dedicated app.
• Inconvenient programming procedure.
• Pricey.

The Bottom Line

The Kwikset SmartCode Contemporary Deadbolt is a six-button electronic touchpad lock offering both keyless and keyed entry and Z-Wave wireless capabilities. It installs in minutes and works beautifully, but programming this lock can be daunting.