What You Need to Know About Biometric Locks in 2023
Dubbed the year of biometric access, 2023 will continue to see rapid growth in the precision and prevalence of biometric technology. As such, biometric locks and biometric-powered security checks, from smartphones to front doors, will stay on the rise, and for good reason.
Biometric security personalizes the access experience for each user, allowing access to devices or properties based on unique physical traits rather than old-fashioned methods of entry or identification. Even unlocking your iPhone with your fingerprint or facial recognition is a form of biometric security. The same convenient, cutting-edge tech lends itself to a home security system.
Below, we break down how biometric locks are evolving this year and how they can keep you and your family safer in 2023 and beyond.
What Is a Fingerprint Door Lock System?
Let’s define the big words right off the bat. Merriam-Webster defines “biometric” as measuring or analyzing our unique physical characteristics (such as fingerprints or voice patterns), especially as means of verifying personal identity. And that’s exactly what a fingerprint door lock system, the most common type of biometric lock, does.
Biometric locks are some of the most valuable features to include in a robust security system. While old-school mechanical locks are unlocked by the physical movement and force of another object (in this case, a metal key), biometric locks like those provided by Lockly can recognize your fingerprint in 0.3 seconds.
A single fingerprint lock system can grant access to a variety of different people with its ability to scan, recognize and “memorize” a variety of different prints. Today’s biometric locks data is encrypted to protect prints. As such, a hacker would need to create an exact match of a complex biological design in order to gain entry.
Of course, fingerprint lock systems aren’t alone. Other types of biometric locks and security devices used on everything from entryways to phones to cars include:
- Iris or retina recognition, which reads the unique colors and patterns of eye features to grant access
- Facial recognition, which is trained to recognize specific faces based on photo and video capture
- Voice recognition, which assesses modulation, frequency, tone, accent and more to identify users’ unique voices and grant access
- Heartbeat sensors, which grant access via recognizing the signature cadence of an individual’s heartbeat (a characteristic that remains constant throughout a person’s life)
Benefits of Biometric Door Locks
Fingerprint door lock systems and biometric locks aren’t just a gimmick in 2023 — they’re the wave of the future. From pro locksmiths to families to landlords and small businesses, a huge spectrum of users relies on biometric locks for an equally wide spectrum of reasons:
Increased Security
Biometric locks are simply more secure. While a mechanical lock can be jimmied or brute-forced and a key can easily be replicated at your local hardware store, unique physical features like fingerprints are extremely difficult to fake or replicate.
No More Physical Keys
Say goodbye to physical keys in 2023. Keyless entry is life-changing in terms of convenience (no more futzing around with keychains and keyrings) and safety, as you’ll never be locked out of your home after forgetting your keys again.
User Friendly
Likewise, fingerprint door lock systems are easy and intuitive to use (much more so than clumsy keys), making them far more accessible to people of all different types and abilities.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Modern biometric locks are low-profile, unobtrusive, sleek and inviting — so much so that they can even increase a home’s aftermarket or rental value. Lockly’s Flex Touch smart lock, for instance, offers a sleek minimalist design that seamlessly attaches to your original deadbolt and cohesively integrates with any aesthetic.
Mobile Integration
One of the top evolutions for biometric smart locks in 2023 is the app and smartphone integration, both of which further enhance the usability of biometric locks, opening the door to features like limited-time access passes and much more.
Long-term Investment
Biometric features like fingerprints remain consistent throughout a person’s life. They act as long-term markers of identity, which means biometric locks are long-term investments.
Affordability
Fingerprint door lock systems are more affordable than you might think. At Lockly, our 2023 prices start at just $169.99 for a Model 7S 3D fingerprint Smart Deadbolt and $179.99 for an Access Touch 3D Fingerprint Retrofit Smart Lock which is compatible with the most common single cylinder deadbolts.
The Future of Security Is The Fingerprint Door Lock System
Fingerprint door lock systems are called systems for a reason: the lock is just one part of a versatile security package. Enter the smart lock, which combines biometric locks with smart wireless features, such as the Lockly App. Smartphone integration of course allows you to lock and unlock your Lockly-equipped doors using your mobile device, but its utility goes way beyond that, too.
How Smartphone Integration Makes Your Life Easier
The Lockly app ensures you can control exactly who has access to your smart-locked entryway, including family, friends, employees, renters and delivery people. This can even include time-limited passes for temporary access or set up automated locking times for peace of mind.
If you have a Wi-Fi or network-connected Lockly smart lock, you can even monitor when your door is locked or unlocked from the app with real-time alerts from anywhere, or integrate with Google Assistant or Alexa to control your lock with voice commands.
Still using your vintage peephole? On some devices, the Lockly App allows for two-way audio communication with those in your entryway, a much safer, more convenient and more elegant solution to cracking the door and taking a peek. Likewise, biometric locks like the Lockly Vision Elite add full HD, night vision-capable video to the experience, enabling you to keep an eye on your home from just about anywhere on the planet.
Locky Does More to Protect You
While biometric locks are generally a flat-out upgrade to mechanical locks, not all fingerprint door lock systems are created equally. We take biometric security to a new level by offering 3D fingerprint scanning, which enhances security by reading full finger geometry, such as the length, width and unique shape of each person’s finger, in addition to the print.
And while Lockly's biometric 3D fingerprint scanning pad responds to your touch instantly, behind the scenes a powerful computer scrambles the code associated with your print each and every time you enter the door. This feature helps ensure that would-be wrongdoers can’t figure out the code by making note of fingerprint smudges. That’s a whole new level of smart.
A Lock As Unique As You
Just as biometric characteristics are unique to each and every individual, a smart biometric lock system caters to the unique needs of each family, homeowner or small businessperson. That’s why we’re starting 2023 by offering nearly a dozen different types of diverse fingerprint door lock systems and smart locks. Visit our online shop to find out which biometric locks suit your safety style.
Dan is a Dallas-based freelance and small business writer with more than a decade of experience. In the tech and business worlds, he’s been fortunate enough to collaborate with Samsung, Verizon, Motley Fool, USA Today, Linksys, Vizio and many more.
Sources
Merriam-Webster - Biometrics
Bayometric - What Are Fingerprint Door Locks? How Do They Work?
Biometric Institute - Types of Biometrics
Speed Locksmith Security - Why Biometric and Fingerprint Locks Are the Best Choice for Business?