Surprise! Facial recognition smart locks are actually good
News Source
β’2026-07-18T10:00:00-04:00
π° What Happened
The Verge tested four different facial recognition smart door locks and found that they actually work well. The locks use a camera to recognize your face and unlock the door automatically. This feels like science fiction, letting you walk up to your door and have it open without touching anything.
The reviewer said hands-free unlocking using UWB technology is still better overall. But for people who want the cool future experience, facial recognition locks are worth considering. The locks worked reliably in different lighting conditions and could recognize faces even with sunglasses or hats.
π The Backstory
Smart locks have been around for years but mostly relied on keypads, fingerprints, or phone apps. Facial recognition technology was mostly found in high-end security systems and phones. Bringing it to home door locks is a newer idea that many people were skeptical about.
Privacy concerns have been a big topic around facial recognition. Critics worry about companies storing face data and how it might be used. The locks tested store the data locally on the device, which addresses some of those concerns. As the technology gets cheaper, more homes may start using face-scanning locks.
π― Why It Matters
Facial recognition door locks could change how we enter our homes every day. No more keys, no more codes β just walk up and the door opens. But privacy questions still need answers.
The Verge tested four different facial recognition smart door locks and found that they actually work well. The locks use a camera to recognize your face and unlock the door automatically. This feels like science fiction, letting you walk up to your door and have it open without touching anything.
The reviewer said hands-free unlocking using UWB technology is still better overall. But for people who want the cool future experience, facial recognition locks are worth considering. The locks worked reliably in different lighting conditions and could recognize faces even with sunglasses or hats.
Smart locks have been around for years but mostly relied on keypads, fingerprints, or phone apps. Facial recognition technology was mostly found in high-end security systems and phones. Bringing it to home door locks is a newer idea that many people were skeptical about.
Privacy concerns have been a big topic around facial recognition. Critics worry about companies storing face data and how it might be used. The locks tested store the data locally on the device, which addresses some of those concerns. As the technology gets cheaper, more homes may start using face-scanning locks.
Facial recognition door locks could change how we enter our homes every day. No more keys, no more codes β just walk up and the door opens. But privacy questions still need answers.