Keyless and fingerprint door locks are growing rapidly and they are able to keep homes and businesses safer. It’s easy to pick a lock or gain entry to a locked door, but with a biometric smart lock, it’s almost impossible to break through the lock’s security.
Easy to install and practical, these locks add high-end security to your space, minus the high costs.
Security is a big concern in today’s world. It’s no longer safe to leave your doors unlocked or your windows open when leaving the house. It’s always best to lock the door behind you because an intruder may be waiting for you to leave to enter the space.
Biometric locks often come with automatic locking options that will lock the door the moment it closes behind you.
There’s never a need to worry about forgetting to lock your door or even locking yourself out of a space. If you have the code or have your fingerprint stored in the unit, you can quickly open the door when needed.
Biometric locks also lower the risk of your home being burglarized.
Homes without security systems have a 300% higher chance of being robbed. If a thief comes to your door and sees a biometric lock is installed, there’s a good chance that they’ll scurry off.
If you don’t know what to look for in a biometric lock or even where to start in terms of features and functions, don’t worry – most people have never installed one of these locks before.
Biometric Lock Buying Guide
Technology prices have dropped and made these locks a viable option for small business and consumers that were once unable to afford them. If you’re in the market for a biometric lock, I recommend that you consider the following features:
- Door requirements. The thickness of the door and the actual door hole will be a major consideration. You need to make sure that the lock’s door width requirements are met, or you’ll have to make heavy modifications to make the door lock work properly.
- Fingerprints. If you’ve chosen a model that does accept fingerprints, you’ll want to choose a multiple fingerprint storage option. Most models will allow you to store multiple fingerprints so that you can allow access to multiple people.
- Pins. A lot of units have multiple access options, and one of the most common access options are pins. The pins work great, but one issue is that the fingerprint pattern can wear into the lock. Over time, it may be easy to see that the user presses 1234 and none of the other buttons. Many units have protection against wear, using unique technology to overcome these limitations.
- Built-in Alarm. If someone tampers with your home’s door, you’ll have no clue unless they broke the door or lock. Biometric locks and pin locks have built-in alarm systems that store all of this data for you. You’ll be able to know if someone tampered with the door, and some even allow you to keep a log of who entered and exited a door. There are also alarms that will make sounds when tampered with or when the door is open. Oftentimes, the simple chirp of an alarm is enough to make a person run off.
- Mechanical Options. You may want to have a regular key to use when your battery dies – it’s a smart option. A lot of units have a key option, but the key option also allows for another potential point of entry and breaking into the space.
- False Rejection Rate. Keyless locks are prone to technological errors. You want a lock with a low false rejection rate that allows you to enter the space with the greatest ease possible.
- Live Finger Detection. A lot of very high-end locks will have a live finger detection mechanism. The live finger detection is often used in highly secured areas to ensure that the finger is actually on a live person, and has not been cut off and is being used.
- RFID. Businesses will often want an RFID reader, which is a card reader that allows you to quickly enter a space with a card. The RFID is a great option for businesses.
- Power Source. The power source is going to be a concern. You need to be proactive and change batteries if you choose a unit that operates on batteries. Other units will use power banks or a home’s power to operate. Choose a power option that you’re most comfortable with using. If you have frequent power outages, you may be locked out of your home with no viable option to enter the space.
Keyless and fingerprint door locks are a practical home security solution. You can confidently install these locks on most of your home’s doors or office doors, and they’ll add an extra layer of security that is too difficult for most burglars to override.
You will have to install these locks yourself, so it can be a little tricky if you’ve never removed and installed a door lock before.
A handyman can help with the install, but most consumers prefer to do it themselves. Choose a lock that is able to work on your door’s thickness. You’ll find that you have a much easier time installing the lock than users that had to customize or change doors completely to get the lock installed.
What is the Best Smart Lock?
If you want a biometric door lock that will keep your home or office safe, there are a lot to choose from. Lockly is a leading company offering high-end smart locks, but you’ll also find options from Schlage and Samsung that offer some of the best smart lock features on the market.
We’ve found the best biometric door locks and reviewed each one for you.
1. Lockly Secure Pro
Lockly offers affordability and quality, allowing for a truly unique product. The Secure Pro features a dead bolt, but it’s smart and comes with a WiFi hub. The unit has a patented key pad and also a 3D fingerprint scanner.
The unit is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, too.
You can store up to 99 fingerprints, and there is also pin code access if needed. The pin code access uses what is known as PIN Genie technology, which makes it virtually impossible for someone to guess your code.
Numbers and locations of the numbers change with each entry, so there is no risk of wear patterns helping someone guess your access code.
If you use the accompanying app, you can unlock and lock the door at any time. The unit will log all entries and failed entries to determine who entered and exited through the door and when.
Since the unit has its own WiFi hub and uses smart technology, you can use the following smart home systems to operate it:
- Google Assistant
- Alexa
When going to install the lock, it will work on standard doors with the following thickness:
- 1-3/8” – 2”
Lockly offers a truly smart solution to home security.
Pros
- High accuracy with 3D fingerprint
- Access logs for entry and exit
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- Hub needs to be within 30 feet of the door
The only complaint that I have, and it’s a small one, is that the WiFi hub needs to be within 30 feet of the door. If you have your router placed beyond this point, you’re going to need to reconfigure your space to best utilize this unit.
2. Lockly Secure Plus
Lockly’s Secure Plus is very similar to the Pro, but the Plus version can be a deadbolt or latch option. The Plus includes the fingerprint reader and there are three sleek finish options that will fit with any door design.
The unit is priced slightly less than the Pro, so that’s an advantage for anyone that is on a strict budget.
The Plus comes with the PIN genie and allows for multiple code storage. A 3D fingerprint reader is also available, with up to 99 fingerprints able to be stored in the lock for easy, accurate entry.
Simply store all of the fingerprints for the entire office or home, and everyone with access should be able to open the door.
But if you’re hoping for smart home function and WiFi access, you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro.
The Plus eliminates the WiFi access and app functionality that a lot of users want in a smart home.
Pros
- Less expensive than the Pro
- Low error rate
- Dead bolt and latch options
Cons
- Automatic locking function
The unit will automatically lock when the door is closed, and the locking can be an issue in a commercial setting. One user complained that in their auto shop, the door kept locking, which is what the door is designed to do, but it’s unrealistic and unproductive for every mechanic or person to have to unlock the door.
Otherwise, the unit works flawlessly, pairs with the Internet easily and also offers a high-end fingerprint reader.
3. Samsung Biometric Door Lock SHS-P718
The SHS-P718 is a Samsung biometric lock that is engineered by a company with a lot of experience.
Samsung is known for quality and innovation, and the company has products in the electronic and biometric markets.
When you look at the SHS-P718, you’ll instantly notice that it’s a sleek biometric door lock that features:
- Biometric entry
- RFID entry
- Code input
Multiple forms of entry are possible with this lock.
A sleek design with brushed steel is offered to make the lock look elegant and modern.
The lock also features an intrusion alarm, accommodates up to 100 unique fingerprints and can withstand eight uses per day for twelve months on just 8 AA batteries.
False rejection rates are very low, and you cannot use a mechanical key to open this lock by any means.
A lot of users opt for the RFID entry, but it’s completely up to you. There’s also the option of adding up to 31 user codes.
When closed, the door will automatically lock on its own. Mortise is used in the lock’s design to make it safer than a cylindrical deadbolt. The unit has undergone severe testing, including protection against:
- Tampering
- Bump and pick
- Fire
Pros
- Stores 100 fingerprints
- Touchscreen
- Multiple entry options
Cons
- Difficult to install
One user stated that the lock was difficult for a handyman to install. It will take some time to install the lock, but there are plenty of instructions online that can help. Door thickness is stated as being from 40mm to 80mm, so keep this in mind if your door doesn’t have this thickness.
Final Thoughts
A smart door lock offers users the highest level of home or business safety with the recent advancements in keyless deadbolts and smart connectivity. When you use a biometric lock, you’re using a lock that has a very low failure rate and will only be able to be accessed by authorized users.
The locks are tamper-proof, and with models that have access logs, parents and employers can keep a close eye on users that enter and exit the space.