Face Recognition vs Fingerprint Door Lock: Which Should You Choose?
Most smart door locks in India now offer a fingerprint reader, and a growing number add face recognition. Both get rid of keys. They feel very different in daily use, though, and the right choice depends on who lives in your home and how they come and go.
Photo: Unsplash
How each one works
Fingerprint: you touch a small sensor and the lock compares your print with the ones it has stored. It takes a second or so. Our locks store up to 100 fingerprints, enough for a large family and regular staff.
Face recognition: a camera on the lock recognises your face as you approach. You do not need to touch anything, which helps when your hands are full of shopping or a child. Our face-recognition locks store up to 20 faces.
Side by side
| Fingerprint | Face recognition | |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-free | No | Yes |
| Users stored (OTODOR locks) | Up to 100 | Up to 20 |
| Works with worn or wet fingers | Can struggle | Yes |
| Price range (OTODOR) | From ₹6,599 | From ₹16,899 |
| Usually comes with | RFID card, key | Fingerprint, card, key, video doorbell |
Who should choose fingerprint
- Apartments where the budget matters and the door is used by a few people.
- Homes with a lot of regular visitors, such as domestic staff and drivers, since you can store many more fingerprints.
- Internal doors: a study, a store room or a home office.
OHM: fingerprint and card, from ₹6,599.
Who should choose face recognition
- Families with elderly parents, whose fingerprints can be faint and hard for any sensor to read.
- Busy main doors, where people often arrive with their hands full.
- Homes that also want a video doorbell. Our face-recognition locks have one built in, with a 4.5-inch screen inside.
The camera on SENTRY handles face recognition and the video doorbell.
The practical answer: get both
You do not have to pick one. ONYX, NEXUS and SENTRY open by face, fingerprint, RFID card or key. Family members use their face, staff use a fingerprint or card, and the key stays in a drawer for emergencies.
Frequently asked questions
Does face recognition work at night?
Like any camera, face recognition works best with some light on your face, so a porch light helps. Fingerprint and card always work as well, day or night.
Can children use a fingerprint lock?
Yes, though young children's prints change as they grow and may need to be enrolled again. Face recognition or a card is often easier for them.
Which is more secure?
Both are far harder to defeat than a key that can be copied. The bigger security factors are the strength of the bolts and how well the lock is fitted.
Still deciding? See all smart door locks or tell us who lives at home on WhatsApp at +91 72068 95607 and we will suggest one.
