Surprise! Facial recognition smart locks are actually good
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- Eufy's FamiLock E40 ($300) was the fastest of four facial recognition smart locks tested, unlocking in under one second and the only model that worked consistently with sunglasses, while also functioning as a subscription-free 2K video doorbell with Matter-over-Wi-Fi support.
- Lockly's Visage Zeno ($350) is the only lock in the test supporting both facial recognition and Apple Home Key, but it took about 2 seconds to unlock and uses a PIN Genie keypad the reviewer found frustrating for non-tech-savvy users like her father.
- Lockin's Veno Solar Face ($199) stood out for its built-in solar panel for extended battery life and Matter-over-Thread support, but the reviewer called its dancing animated emoji unlock confirmation "the worst addition I've ever seen on a smart lock."
- SwitchBot's Lock Vision Pro was the worst performer, described as "glacially slow" with face unlock, prone to phantom voice alerts telling her to stand closer when no one was present, and the only lock to feature fingerprint, palm-vein, and facial biometric options.
- All four locks claim to store and process facial biometric data locally rather than in the cloud, addressing one of the main privacy objections to face-based door unlocking.
- UWB unlocking via the Schlage Sense Pro remains the reviewer's preferred hands-free method because the door is already unlocked when she reaches the handle, but high prices and limited availability make facial recognition the more practical option for now until the upcoming Aliro smart lock standard drives broader UWB adoption.
Why it matters: For consumers priced out of the few available UWB smart locks like the Schlage Sense Pro, facial recognition now offers a device-independent hands-free alternative that works even when you leave your phone inside. The Eufy E40's sub-one-second unlock and subscription-free 2K doorbell at $300 make the category genuinely viable, while local biometric processing addresses the core privacy concern — though the reviewer still calls UWB the more magical experience once it becomes cheaper.
