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Kwikset SmartCode 270 Keyless Entry Deadbolt
A well-reviewed electronic touchscreen deadbolt from an established lock brand, with auto-lock and no app or WiFi to manage.
Check Price →In Plain English
The SmartCode 270 is a deadbolt with a number pad on the front. You type a code, the bolt slides back, and after a short delay it locks itself again (auto-lock). It works a bit like the keypad on a garage door opener: simple, local and not connected to the internet at all.
That missing connection is the whole point. There is no app, no WiFi and nothing to update, so every setting is done at the lock itself. It also means you cannot check or open the door from your phone, and Kwikset sells no add-on to change that. If you think you will want phone control within a year or two, buy a connected lock now. If not, look at the ANSI grade (a standard strength and durability rating for the bolt, Grade 2 on this lock) and keep the backup key somewhere safe.
SmartCode 270 Full Specifications
| Entry method | Electronic touchscreen keypad, SmartKey backup key |
| Auto-lock | Yes |
| Connectivity | None (no app, WiFi or Bluetooth) |
| User codes | 50 |
| Batteries | 4 AA |
| ANSI grade | Grade 2 |
| Door thickness | 1-3/8" to 1-3/4" |
Rating and Summary
The Kwikset SmartCode 270 holds a solid rating across a deep base of verified owner ratings. It's an electronic touchscreen deadbolt with auto-lock from an established lock manufacturer, deliberately built without app or WiFi connectivity. The rest of this review covers design, connectivity, installation, battery life, security and the app-upgrade path, grounded in what verified owners actually report.
Design and Touchpad
The SmartCode 270 uses a straightforward exterior touchscreen keypad over a standard deadbolt body, with no fingerprint sensor to add bulk or extra points of failure. It's built for a residential front or back door on a house or apartment, matching typical US door prep. Owner photos describe a finish that holds up well over time, consistent with Kwikset's broader reputation for durable residential hardware. The interior assembly is compact, since there's no WiFi radio or extra electronics to house beyond the touchpad logic and battery compartment. Kwikset describes the keypad as a touchscreen, and its quick-start guide notes that pressing the lock button lights up the keypad for entering a code at night.
Connectivity
The SmartCode 270 has no built-in WiFi, Bluetooth or app connectivity. It's a pure touchpad deadbolt by design, not a stripped-down smart lock. Kwikset's specifications list no connectivity option or add-on module for it, so buyers who later want remote access would replace it with one of Kwikset's connected smart locks. That lack of connectivity is deliberate, not a missing feature — it's the whole premise behind this model's lower price.
Installation
Like the vast majority of smart locks on this hub, the SmartCode 270 is designed as a direct retrofit for a standard US deadbolt hole. Most owners report installing it in under an hour with a Phillips screwdriver and no locksmith needed. Measure your door's backset and thickness against the listed compatibility range before ordering. See our full smart lock installation walkthrough for the general retrofit process this lock follows, including checking the strike plate alignment before you commit to the final position.
SmartCode 270 Batteries and Battery Life
With no WiFi radio to maintain a constant connection, the SmartCode 270's battery drain is lower than a fully connected smart lock's. It runs on four AA batteries; Kwikset doesn't publish a battery-life figure on its spec sheet. The keypad gives a low-battery warning well ahead of a full drain, and a physical key backup means a dead battery is never a genuine lockout. Owner reviews consistently rank battery life as one of this lock's strongest points relative to WiFi-connected rivals.
Security and ANSI Grade
The deadbolt mechanism itself is the more meaningful security measure here, not any electronics layer. Kwikset lists the 270 as ANSI Grade 2 — the middle of BHMA's three numbered grades, where Grade 1 is highest. Kwikset brings one of the longest manufacturing track records specifically in residential deadbolt hardware, which shows up in owner reviews as confidence in the underlying mechanism rather than confidence in an app or a rating alone. With no WiFi radio broadcasting from the lock, there's also one less potential attack surface to think about compared with a fully connected alternative.
App and Smart-Home Upgrade Path
There's no app tied to the SmartCode 270, since it has no connectivity to control remotely, and Kwikset lists no add-on that changes that. The practical upgrade path is a swap: if you later want app control, a connected Kwikset smart lock fits the same standard door prep, so moving up is a screwdriver job rather than a door modification. You pay for keypad reliability now, and pay for connectivity only if you actually end up wanting it.
Price and Value
The SmartCode 270 is priced well below the fully WiFi-connected options on this hub, including eufy's C220 and Schlage's Encode. That price gap is consistently mentioned by owners as good value for a dependable, no-frills deadbolt. Check the current listing for the current price, since it shifts, but the relative gap against WiFi-connected rivals tends to hold fairly steady across most of the year. If you think you'll want app control within a year or two, weigh that against buying a connected lock now rather than replacing this one later.
What owners praise
Reliable auto-lock behavior and Kwikset's manufacturing reputation are the most consistently cited positives. The price, well below the fully WiFi-connected options on this hub, is also frequently mentioned as good value. Several reviews specifically note the touchpad staying responsive well after years of daily use, and the physical key backup gives added peace of mind that other pure-electronic locks don't always offer.
What owners complain about
No remote access means checking or controlling the lock away from home isn't possible at all with this model. That's a real limitation for buyers who assumed "smart" meant WiFi-connected out of the box. SmartCode 270 programming works differently from an app-based lock: every setting, including user codes and the auto-lock delay, is programmed at the lock itself rather than in an app, which takes a little more patience.
Who It's For
Buyers who want a reliable keypad deadbolt from an established brand, without paying for app connectivity they don't need. It also suits anyone who's decided remote access simply isn't worth the added cost and complexity for a specific door, or who specifically wants to avoid a lock with a WiFi radio broadcasting from their front entry.
Who Should Skip It
If built-in WiFi is required now, see Schlage Encode review instead.
Pros and Cons
Pros: established lock manufacturer, reliable auto-lock, lower price than WiFi-connected options, SmartKey rekeyable backup cylinder, straightforward retrofit installation, longer battery life than a connected rival.
Cons: no remote access, no app or smart-home integration (upgrading means replacing the lock), all settings programmed at the keypad.
Going Deeper: How SmartKey Rekeying Works
The 270’s backup cylinder uses Kwikset’s SmartKey system, which turns rekeying into a homeowner job. Kwikset describes SmartKey Security as a patented rekeying technology that lets you change which key operates the lock yourself, without a locksmith, in a few seconds, using a SmartKey tool included with the product. The catch is that you must have the key that currently works.
Kwikset’s rekeying instructions run as follows. With the lock installed, the door open and the bolt in the locked position, insert the working key and turn it 90 degrees clockwise. Push the SmartKey tool fully and firmly into the SmartKey hole, then remove the tool and the old key. Insert the new key fully, turn it 180 degrees counter-clockwise and 180 degrees clockwise, check that it will not pull out, and turn it 90 degrees back to the starting position. Kwikset also warns to make sure the door cannot close on its own during the process, or that you have another way into the home.
Why this matters on this particular lock: the 270 has no app, so access cannot be revoked remotely. Codes are changed at the keypad, and the SmartKey cylinder handles the other half of the problem, which is lost or unreturned keys. If you move into a home with a 270 already fitted, you can change both the codes and the key on the first day. Kwikset also markets SmartKey locks as pick resistant and bump proof. Those are the manufacturer’s own claims, while the published ANSI Grade 2 rating is the standards-based measure of the bolt itself.
Verdict and Review Base
A reliable, well-reviewed keypad deadbolt, and a reasonable middle ground on price on this hub. It won't suit a buyer who wants remote access from day one, but it's a genuinely solid choice for anyone who doesn't. See best smart deadbolt for how it compares against the field.
Alternatives to Consider
- eufy Smart Lock C220 review
- Schlage Encode review
- Best Smart Lock — the full ranked field
Sources & References
- 270 SmartCode Traditional Electronic Deadbolt specifications — Kwikset
- Product grade levels — Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA)
- eufy Smart Lock C220 — eufy (Anker)
- Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt specifications — Schlage
- SmartKey Security — Kwikset
- How to re-key your SmartKey Security locks — Kwikset