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Surprise! Facial recognition smart locks are actually good
The Verge's smart home reviewer has tested facial recognition smart locks, a technology she previously dismissed as unnecessary, and found a genuine use case for it: unlocking your front door hands-free without needing to carry a phone or wearable. This matters because existing hands-free options, such as geofencing or ultrawideband (UWB) radio, either work unreliably or depend on a device being on your person, whereas facial recognition works even if you have left your phone indoors, such as when working in a garden or garage.
The review covers four commercially available locks: the £300 (roughly, converting from $300) Eufy FamiLock E40, the $350 Lockly Visage Zeno, the $199 Lockin Veno Solar Face, and the $230 Switchbot Lock Vision Pro, with a further model due to launch on Kickstarter next month. These locks use infrared sensors to build a three-dimensional map of the user's face, via methods such as structured light, stereo infrared cameras or time-of-flight sensing, meaning a photograph generally cannot fool them. While the reviewer still considers UWB-based unlocking the superior overall experience, she concludes facial recognition offers a viable, if more sci-fi, alternative for those who do not want their access tied to a specific device.
In short
- Facial recognition smart locks let you in without a phone or key
- Reviewer tested four models priced between $199 and $350
- 3D infrared mapping prevents unlocking via a simple photo
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Facial recognition smart locks solve a genuine problem: providing hands-free access without carrying a device. The infrared technology is sophisticated and resistant to spoofing, making them genuinely secure. For homeowners whose hands are often full or who work in spaces where carrying a phone isn't practical, this represents a clear quality-of-life improvement that existing solutions like geofencing or UWB cannot match.
The case against
Facial recognition technology raises fundamental privacy concerns that may outweigh convenience benefits. Biometric facial data is uniquely sensitive because it cannot be changed if compromised, and devices or manufacturers could later share data with law enforcement or third parties. The normalisation of facial recognition in intimate domestic spaces contributes to a surveillance infrastructure that many believe represents an unacceptable trade-off, regardless of technical anti-spoofing measures.
Explained simply
Facial recognition smart locks are door locks that recognise your face to unlock your home without requiring you to touch them or use your hands. They appeal to people who want hands-free entry, particularly when carrying items or working outdoors with their phone left indoors.
Other hands-free unlocking systems have limitations. Geofencing, which uses your smartphone's location, often fails in real conditions, whilst ultrawideband technology requires a compatible device on you at all times. Facial recognition offers an alternative that works without needing your phone.
These locks use infrared light to create a three-dimensional map of your face, making them difficult to fool with a photograph. Several models are already available for purchase at prices ranging from around £200 to £300, with additional variants in development.