I tested a smart lock with facial recognition and it's spoiled every other security device for me

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

ZDNET's key takeaways

As part of its Zeno Series, Lockly released a new Visage smart lock, available for $349.The Lockly Visage has all the security features you'd expect from a Lockly smart lock and then some. With facial ID support, the door can automatically unlock for you when you approach it. It also supports Apple Home Key and fingerprint unlock.While the Lockly app features many unlocking options, it's not user-friendly, making it hard to access all the settings you may need (thankfully, a new app is in the works). The smart lock is also expensive. 

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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 positions each time you use it. This helps prevent intruders guessing your code from watching your hand movements or the smudge patterns on your lock.

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Lockly launched the Lockly Visage today 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. 

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As I've been testing the Lockly Visage, my main 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 the idea of 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.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

I tried unlocking the lock with photos, using both 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. Setup with the Lockly app was very easy, though I quickly found its user interface quite lacking.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The app doesn't make all your new lock's functionalities clear. Instead of letting you edit and add different fingerprints, facial biometric data, or key codes, you have to add a user who also needs a Lockly account. This is 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 ended up adding my older kids as alternative entry methods under my user account.

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Thankfully, Lockly is launching a new app, which I'll be testing with the Lockly Visage. I'll let you know how it works and if the user experience is better. Once the new app is available, I'll test the facial recognition feature with other adults.

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

I've used the Aqara U100 smart lock on my front door for a year and still love it, but the Lockly Visage is staying put for a while, as I'm enjoying it a lot. 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. The Visage's deadbolt mechanism doesn't engage and disengage as smoothly as the U100's, and it also 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 and installed below it, while the other one is installed on the door frame. This isn't as convenient or as visually pleasing as the U100's lack of external sensors, but it works and is very accurate.

ZDNET's buying advice

Aside from an 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 several years. It doesn't use disposable batteries, like most smart locks on the market, but instead 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.