Eufy’s FamiLock S3 Max smart video lock unlocks with a wave of your hand

Anker’s smart home arm, Eufy, has announced its first smart lock that uses palm vein recognition to unlock your door. The $399 FamiLock S3 Max is also a video doorbell with a 2K-capable camera and an interior screen that shows a live video feed through the door lock. The S3 works over Wi-Fi 6 and supports Matter for integration with most smart home ecosystems, including Apple Home and Amazon Alexa.

Most people who want a smart lock for their home probably aren’t worried about James Bond-style villains swiping their dead fingers, but there are practical reasons families might find palm unlock a better fit. Some younger kids and those with older hands can find fingerprint readers finicky, and a hand wave requires less precision than hitting a small fingerprint reader. Although it still requires your hand to be free, which the other new unlocking method, UWB-unlocking, doesn’t.

The FamiLock S3 Max supports up to 50 different palm prints — according to Eufy, the prints are stored locally on the device. In addition to waving, you can also use a keycode on the touchscreen keypad, the Eufy app, or a physical key to unlock the door.

The S3 has a 15,000mAh removable rechargeable lithium battery, plus the option of providing extra power with four AAA batteries. Eufy says this keeps the device online while you’re charging the main battery. Eufy promises between six and 12 months of battery life, depending on use. The lock also has the highest ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 certification,

The S3’s 2K camera has a 150-degree vertical and 180-degree diagonal field of view, providing a head-to-toe perspective that should be able to see packages on your porch as well as people. With 8GB of onboard storage, there’s no required subscription for viewing recorded footage.

If you don’t like relying on an app or smart display to see who’s at your door, the S3’s screen shows a live feed on the door lock (there’s also a cheaper version without the screen for $349). Eufy says the screen will turn on within one second of the camera sensing motion, so you can more easily see who is at the door before opening it, which should be quicker than pulling up the Eufy app on your phone. This “digital peephole” could also be useful for family members in the house without access to the app, such as a child or a babysitter.

Lockly announced a similar smart lock with a screen at CES earlier this year. Its Vision Prestige uses facial recognition to unlock but it isn’t launching until Q4 and will cost $499. Eufy’s FamiLock S3 Max launches on March 17 for $399 on Amazon and Eufy’s online store, but existing Eufy customers can pre-order now on eufy.com for a $70 discount.