Do you want it? Can your front door see you coming? I can, as I’m usually holding a toddler (who is usually in a bathing suit these days and dragging around a myriad of towels and floaties) or returning from a quick walk outside where I’d rather not carry keys. I’ve enjoyed the geofencing features that allow my door to unlock when it detects my phone is nearby, or I’ve used the number pad to quickly unlock my door with my fingerprint — anything to avoid having to search for my keys.
Now, I don’t even need my phone or a free hand. The Lockly Visage, announced at CES 2024 as part of Lockly’s new Zeno line, uses infrared sensors to see me coming and recognize my face, so it can open the door when I approach. It also has other common entry options — fingerprint reading, passcodes, and new physical keys — if not everyone in your household wants their face scanned.
This is the first time facial recognition has been added to a smart lock that any homeowner (or daring renter) can buy. Similar features have been available on smart security cameras and video doorbells, but the locks themselves haven’t been able to recognize you — until now. While I found setup a little frustrating (more on that below), I was happy to find that the lock itself worked perfectly, always recognizing me as I approached my home, whether I was wearing sunglasses or in the bright afternoon sunlight.
Ready, set, go
electronic door lock
To properly install the Lockly, you need to be quick once the battery is in. The physical installation isn’t too difficult, it’s just lengthy, requiring both a Phillips and a flat-head screwdriver. It took me about an hour to read the instructions, remove each piece of my current lock, and then install the Lockly Visage. Make sure you charge the battery beforehand, or at least while you’re doing all that physical unpacking and installation. Since you have to completely take the lock apart, I don’t recommend the Lockly for renters unless you trust yourself to put it back together so well that your landlord won’t notice.
Once the physical setup is done, don’t put the battery in right away. This was my mistake. Once the battery is in, the Bluetooth connection opens and only stays active for a few minutes. I had a timeout when trying to set up Visage ID (the name for Visage’s facial recognition), but Lockly says they’ll be releasing an app update soon to fix the short-lived Bluetooth issue. Speaking of the app, there are two: an older Lockly app that works with this lock and previous Lockly devices, and a brand new Lockly Home app (iOS, Android) which currently only works with the new Zeno line. You can choose to use either, but the Lockly Home app is much easier on the eyes. Previous Lockly products will soon be added to that app as well.
Either way, before you put the battery in and start the Bluetooth timer, download the app and look for the activation card inside the box, which should be attached to the inside lid of the box. Don’t lose this card, even after you finish setting up the lock; you’ll need it if you ever reset it. Once you have both of these things ready, Only then Insert the battery and begin the setup process within the app. You’ll follow the steps to create an account, connect to Wi-Fi, and set an unlock code for the door.
