Smart locks that open without keys: palm or phone
Oct 23, 2026 · 4 sourcesThe point of a smart lock is not having to dig for keys, or even your phone, when your hands are full. Two very different locks now do that: one reads your palm, the other senses your iPhone as you walk up. Here's how each works, what happens when the battery dies, and which smart home apps they work with.
Eufy S3 Max: hold up your palm
Eufy's S3 Max unlocks when you hold your palm over its sensor; it stores up to 50 palms and doubles as a video doorbell.
EFTM's reviewer found it touchy at first: hold your hand still for a few seconds, and re-enrolling your palm helped.
Sources: [1] EFTM
Apple's LG lock: just walk up
The LG Smart Deadbolt in Apple's Home Collection uses Ultra Wideband to unlock as you approach with Home Key on your iPhone or Apple Watch. It costs $349.95 and goes on sale in December 2026 in the US and Canada, so nobody has reviewed it yet.
Sources: [2] Techlicious
If the battery dies
Neither leaves you stuck outside. The S3 Max runs up to five months on its main batteries, has four AAA batteries as backup power, and also opens with a code or a key. LG's lock comes with a keypad and a backup key.
Sources: [3] Eufy, [1] EFTM, [2] Techlicious
Working with your other smart home gear
Both support Matter, the shared smart home standard, so they aren't tied to one app. According to Techlicious, the LG lock keeps working locally without internet.
There's a catch with the Eufy: its camera stream isn't available over Matter, so for video you still need the Eufy app.
Sources: [3] Eufy, [4] BGR, [2] Techlicious
Keep going
- Can a smart lock open without a key or phone in hand?
- Can you still get in if a smart lock's battery dies?
- Can a smart lock work with any smart home app?
Status pages: Eufy S3 Max Video Smart Lock · LG Smart Deadbolt Lock (Apple Home Collection)
How we know (4 sources)
Hands-on review of the Eufy S3 Max Video Smart Lock, which unlocks by reading the veins in your palm (up to 50 users), plus code or key, and doubles as a 2K video doorbell. The palm reader was touchy at first: you hover your hand for a few seconds, re-enrolling helped, and older users may struggle with holding a hand in mid-air.
Read the sourceApple Home Collection, built by LG and Schneider Electric, goes on sale from December 2026, some items in early 2027. LG Smart Deadbolt ($349.95) unlocks via Ultra Wideband as you walk up with Home Key on iPhone or Apple Watch, has a keypad and backup key, works with Matter and locally without internet. Cameras $199.95-$399.95 (Video Doorbell Wired $249.95) recognize people, familiar faces, pets, vehicles and packages; recordings need iCloud+ ($0.99 for one camera, $2.99 for five, $9.99 unlimited), live view works without, and a HomePod, Apple TV or HomeView is required as hub.
Read the sourceUS product page for the FamiLock S3 Max, read Oct 22, 2026: $399.99; palm vein unlocking with the data stored on the lock; built-in 2K video doorbell; two batteries for up to 5 months of use plus 4 AAA backup batteries for power outages. Works with Matter, though camera streams aren't available over Matter.
Read the sourceExplains that HomeView supports both Matter and Thread, so Matter accessories from other brands work with it alongside Apple HomeKit accessories. Buyers still need to check that a device is Matter-enabled.
Read the source