I tested a smart lock with facial recognition, and it spoiled every other one for me

apr / 2025

I’ve always been drawn to Lockly because of its PIN Genie technology — a system that displays a unique rotating keypad layout that changes the number of positions each time you use it. 

This helps prevent intruders from guessing your code by watching your hand movements or the smudge patterns on your lock.

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Lockly has since upgraded its lineup with the Lockly Visage, alongside Zeno Series companions, the Lockly Vision, Lockly Secure Pro Zeno, and Lockly PIN Genie Pro Zeno. All the new Zeno Series locks have unique features: the Visage supports facial biometric ID, the Vision has an integrated 2K resolution video doorbell, the new-generation Secure Pro features a sleeker look, and the PIN Genie is a more affordable alternative with Home Key support. 

As I’ve used the Lockly Visage, my primary focus has been on its standout feature: the ability to unlock via facial recognition. Many of us use facial IDs on our smartphones, tablets, and other devices, so having it on a smart lock sounds like a reasonable next step. That said, I still felt slightly uneasy about my door unlocking just by getting a glimpse of my face.

I wondered how the lock could use my facial biometric data and how easy it would be to unlock my door with a photo, for example. This would be a security nightmare, not only when you consider intruders but also in domestic violence and stalking situations, where the perpetrator would already have access to many photos of a potential victim. 

After installing the Lockly Visage, I dove into setting up and testing the facial recognition feature. Setup was a breeze, as the lock scans your face like an iPhone when you first set up Face ID. Now, each time I approach the lock, it automatically unlocks before I even have time to raise my hand to open it with my Apple Watch.

I tried unlocking the lock with photos, using prints and an iPhone, and had no luck. Lockly says it leverages “binocular facial recognition,” which uses two cameras to scan a person’s face in 3D, making it harder for someone to fool the system with photos or videos. The system also uses radar detection to detect motion when someone approaches the lock, regardless of the visibility. 

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The Lockly Visage is easy to install, though I found it had a lot of thick wiring that didn’t seem to fit anywhere inside the housing. To avoid jamming the wiring, I had to route it around the deadbolt mechanism. Setting up with the Lockly app was very easy, and the app has had several updates since I began using this lock that have made it more user friendly.

You can edit and add different fingerprints, facial biometric data, or key codes for multiple users, which the app didn’t initially allow. This was a bit annoying, as I like to add different codes and fingerprints for my kids and don’t want to create a separate Lockly account for each. As a workaround, I added my older kids as alternative entry methods under my user account.

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Thankfully, Lockly updated the app after my initial review so that I could add different users to my home, including codes and fingerprints for specific users. Adding these codes and fingerprints has made it easier for my guests to come and go as they please, which makes them feel more at home during their time here.

Before the Lockly, I used the Aqara U100 smart lock on my front door for a year. But the Lockly Visage replaced it, and I’m not looking back. Compared to the Aqara U100, which is half the price, the Lockly Visage feels sturdier, with an exterior metal construction compared to the Aqara’s plastic one. However, the Visage’s deadbolt mechanism doesn’t engage and disengage as smoothly as the U100’s and has an external system to detect door closures.

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While the U100 uses an internal gyroscope to detect when a door is closed by its movement, the Lockly Visage uses two sensors that detect a closed door when they’re lined up. One sensor is connected to the lock below it, while the other is installed on the door frame. This isn’t as convenient or visually pleasing as the U100’s lack of external sensors, but it works and is very accurate.

Still, the Lockly Visage blows the Aqara U100 out of the water in performance. It’s incredibly accurate at reading fingerprints, more so than any other fingerprint lock I’ve tested, and its facial recognition is consistently reliable. This smart lock has never given me an issue I’ve had to troubleshoot.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Aside from an initially annoying app experience, the Lockly Visage Zeno Series is a top-performing smart lock that supports multiple unlocking methods, including facial recognition, Apple Home Key, fingerprints, and key codes, remotely through the app and with a physical key.

The lock is expensive at $349, but it likely will be the only smart lock you buy for many years. Unlike most smart locks on the market, it doesn’t use disposable batteries but operates with a removable and rechargeable Lockly battery pack. Each Lockly Visage comes with two rechargeable batteries, so you can keep one fully charged and swap it out when the battery depletes.