Smart locks are everywhere these days, so it takes something pretty weird to stand out. Apparently, SwitchBot decided the answer was giving your front door Face ID.
The company just launched the SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro in North America, and it might be one of the more futuristic smart home products I’ve seen in a while. The lock uses 3D structured-light facial recognition technology, which is the same basic concept used in flagship smartphones.
In other words, your house can now scan your face before letting you inside.
According to SwitchBot, the system projects more than 20,000 infrared points onto a person’s face to build a highly detailed 3D facial map. The company says it can unlock the door in under a second while also resisting spoofing attempts involving photos or videos. That’s reassuring because the thought of somebody unlocking your house with a Facebook picture would be pretty horrifying.
What makes this especially interesting is that SwitchBot claims the lock can still recognize you while wearing glasses, hats, makeup, or even a wig. That could actually make it more practical than fingerprint readers, which always seem to stop working the second your hands are wet or dirty.
The Lock Vision Pro also includes palm vein recognition, which sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Instead of touching the lock, users can unlock the door by scanning the veins in their palm using near-infrared sensing technology. The company says this works even when hands are wet, messy, or otherwise difficult for a fingerprint scanner to read.
Of course, the privacy concerns practically write themselves. A facial recognition deadbolt is going to make some folks uncomfortable no matter what. SwitchBot says all biometric data stays stored locally on the device and uses AES-128 encrypted communication rather than cloud storage. That should help calm some fears, although probably not all of them.
Battery life sounds pretty solid too. SwitchBot says the lock can run for up to 12 months using its built-in 10,000mAh rechargeable battery. There’s also a backup CR123A battery for emergency unlocks, plus a USB-C emergency power option if the main battery dies completely.
The lock also supports Matter-over-WiFi without requiring a separate hub, which is refreshing. Smart home companies have spent years making people buy endless bridges and hubs just to connect basic devices together.
I’m torn on products like this. Part of me thinks facial recognition on a front door feels excessive. The other part of me knows I’d absolutely appreciate not fumbling around for keys while carrying groceries or takeout.
The SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro is available now on Amazon for $229.99, although there is currently a clickable coupon that drops the price to $189.99.
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