Introduction
Smart locks exemplify how the Internet of Things (IoT) is reshaping home and space security and access. Beyond eliminating the hassle of misplaced keys, they offer features like AI-enabled cameras, remote management, and guest access configurations. Today, users can unlock doors via smartphone commands, custom passcodes, or unique biometric identifiers.
Is the basic hardware different? Can they replace regular door locks? We’ll answer all of those questions and more as we explore each type. In this guide, we’re going to look at just what smart home locks are, how smart locks work, and more. We’ll cover their components, digital protocols, and advanced features that make them more than just fancy home gadgets.
Basic Components of a Smart Lock
Physical Security
The heart of every smart lock is a marriage of digital, electronic, and mechanical components. The core of each lock, no matter how complex or advanced, is a deadbolt just like you’d see anywhere else, attached to a small motor. In some cases, instead of a deadbolt, there may be a door latch assembly.
Standard deadbolts and door latches operate with a cylinder with tumblers, and a key or a thumbturn is the sole method of operating the lock and either granting or denying access. Smart home locks, however, the deadbolt or latch is also driven by a solenoid or small motor. This physical actuator is activated by signals from the lock’s control board.
The Brains
The control board of a smart lock is the brain of the whole assembly. The control board houses the microcontroller, memory, and the firmware that interprets the actual input, whether that input comes from Bluetooth, WiFi，Thread，Matter a keypad entry of your PIN, or a biometric scan.
Along with the control board is the wireless module, which is usually capable of supporting several communication protocols, including Bluetooth, Thread, wifi, Z-Wave, and more. This radio module lets the lock communicate with other digital devices like smartphones, IoT hubs, or cloud services with a wide array of functionality.
Power
Traditional locks didn’t need power, but smart locks require power for their advanced features. Most smart locks are powered by lithium battery, AA or AAA batteries, installed in a compartment on the inside assembly.
Battery management systems track voltage levels, trigger low-power alerts, and strategically power down non-critical features to maintain essential locking functions until batteries are replaced. Most smart locks also incorporate a hidden mechanical key slot beneath a removable cover, providing guaranteed access even if the battery fully depletes—no need to rely on electronic power for entry during emergencies.
User Interfaces
User interface styles and elements can vary significantly across brands and models, but the most common types of user interfaces include a physical keypad or even a small touchscreen panel for PIN entry. On leading biometric models such as the Lockin Veno series, you’ll find specialized sensors, including infrared cameras for palm-vein recognition or semiconductor silicon-based fingerprint sensors. These sensors are coupled with dedicated local encryption algorithm chips.
Sensors
Most smart locks integrate diverse sensors beyond biometrics. For instance, many are equipped with Hall sensors to detect unauthorized tampering or forced entry attempts. These sensors work in tandem with the lock’s security system to trigger alerts or lock-down mechanisms, enhancing overall home protection.
Types of Smart Locks and Their Working Principles
When evaluating the types of smart locks on the market, it’s important to understand that they are typically categorized by how they authenticate the user, and if and how they communicate with other devices. Knowing the difference can make choosing the right type for your needs and lifestyle a lot easier.
1. Keypad Smart Locks: Keypad locks are the oldest type of smart locks, and were the first type to hit the market long before the IoT even developed. This type of smart lock authenticates users via a simple code entered on a numeric keypad or touchscreen. When the correct PIN is input, the control board verifies it against the stored code and tells the actuator to unlock the lock. These locks also usually support multiple user codes, temporary codes, and auto-lock timers. Since they depend on direct user input, keypad locks will continue to function during internet interruptions, but not during extended power outages.
2. Bluetooth-Enabled Smart Locks: Bluetooth smart locks use Bluetooth Low Energy (or BLE) communication to create short-range wireless connections with keyfobs or smartphones. When in range, an authorized device will communicate with the lock’s radio module to verify the encryption keys at both ends to determine if it’s an authorized access. Once paired, the phone can send unlock commands automatically in a proximity lock style or via a manual tap in the companion app on a mobile device. Bluetooth locks conserve battery life by turning on the radio only when needed, but they also require the authorized user’s device to be within range.
3. Wi-Fi Smart Locks: Wi‑Fi locks connect directly to your home network and allow remote access control from anywhere you can get internet. They generally have 2.4GHz radios and TCP/IP stacks to facilitate communication with cloud platforms. When you issue a lock or unlock command from the app, the request must travel through the internet, eventually landing at the lock’s firmware, which allows it to unlock the bolt. Most Wi-Fi models support things like real-time notifications, streaming video, and integration with voice assistants like Google, Alexa, Bixby, and more, without having to use an external hub. The downside is that continuous Wi-Fi connectivity means more power, so Wi-Fi models also usually include aggressive power-saving features and low-battery alerts.
4. Z-Wave and Zigbee Smart Locks: These lesser-known smart lock styles depend on mesh-network protocols that are common in home-automation systems. A Z-Wave or Zigbee lock only communicates with a central hub, instead of with a specific user or smartphone. The system hub issues commands over Wi-Fi or even Ethernet, and coordinates automation routines aligned with lights, thermostats, and other sensors. Mesh networks have drastically increased range over conventional networks, with each individual device acting as a repeater for the network, so locks at the far end of the home can stay in a low-power “listening mode” until needed, and conserve battery power.
5. Biometric Smart Locks: Biometric smart locks authenticate users based on unique physiological traits. Common types include fingerprint scanners, facial recognition, and Lockin’s Veno series with palm-vein recognition. When in use, users present their fingerprint or palm vein to the lock’s sensor, which captures a high-resolution scan. Algorithmic processes extract specific distinguishing features—such as vascular patterns—from the scan, encrypt them, and compare them against encrypted templates of registered palm vein information stored in memory. If a match is detected, the lock’s actuator is triggered to unlock. Biometric systems offer rapid, touchless access and eliminate risks of code sharing, relying on sensor precision for secure, efficient operation.
Integration with Smart Home Systems
The biggest advantage to smart home locks, and one of the biggest reasons that they’ve become so incredibly popular recently, is their ability to integrate with smart home systems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Apple Home.
Once you add your Lockin Veno Pro or Veno Plus lock to your smart home system, enable the corresponding skill or accessory in your smart home platform‘s app. The hub will then detect the lock and can send lock or unlock commands*, coordinating with other connected devices. This allows you to create a "goodnight" automation routine. With this routine, all doors lock, smart lights dim and shift to a melatonin-promoting red color, and the thermostat adjusts for the night, ensuring a seamless and convenient end - of - day experience.
*Voice Assistant Restrictions: Remote unlocking via Apple Siri and Google Assistant is disabled due to platform security policies.
Video-enabled smart locks such as Lockin’s Veno series also integrate with local storage solutions directly on the lock. Each unlock event triggers a video clip that is automatically saved to the lock’s internal memory or an attached storage device, providing visual verification of entry events. You can review timestamps, download clips for record-keeping, or share access logs with family members directly from the app—all without relying on cloud services.
It seems like a minor upgrade, but knowing how a smart home lock really works means you can integrate your new Veno into your connected-home infrastructure, turning it into an intelligent node within an automated, responsive environment. You boost convenience, situational awareness, and overall safety, all with a single quick installation.
Security Features and Encryption
Smart locks secure every command and data stream with industry‑standard encryption. Bluetooth communication employs high-strength encryption and pairs devices via a secure key exchange mechanism, ensuring that only your phone and the lock can decipher commands. Models with Wi-Fi capabilities encapsulate all operational instructions within a banking-grade encrypted tunnel—just as secure as online banking transactions—rendering the data unreadable and tamper-proof during transmission.
Biometric templates like your palm‑vein pattern stay locked inside a tamper‑resistant system. The lock’s processor matches scans locally, so no sensitive data ever leaves the device. Built-in accelerometers detect forced entry attempts and can trigger an alert or video recording.
Advantages of Lockin Palm Vein Recognition Video Smart Lock compared to other smart locks
If you’re considering getting a smart lock for your home, you’ll want to choose one based on more than just keyless entry. You’re going to want fast and reliable authentication and comprehensive, unwavering security. Lockin’s Veno Pro and Veno Plus are innovating the smart lock space because they combine palm-vein biometrics with integrated video monitoring in a single smart lock package.
Unmatched Biometric Precision:
Lockin’s palm-vein smart locks lead the market in accuracy. Unlike fingerprint or facial scanners susceptible to disruptions from cuts, dirt, moisture, or appearance changes, palm veins reside beneath the skin and remain stable over time. When your hand hovers over the sensor, near-infrared LEDs illuminate the veins, and an AI-powered processor analyzes your unique vascular pattern in under 0.2 seconds. This method ensures reliable authentication even with wet or dirty hands, eliminating false rejections and spoofing risks associated with surface-level biometrics.
True 180° Coverage with LockinCam™:
Lockin’s integrated LockinCam™ delivers full-body, 180° 2K video during authentication—a critical edge over competitors. While standard 150° cameras miss packages placed within 40 cm of the doorstep, Lockin’s 180° lens (covering both horizontal and vertical axes) detects items as close as 10 cm, minimizing blind spots and safeguarding deliveries. The 2K resolution captures crisp details like facial features or package labels, creating a comprehensive audit trail for every entry attempt.
Power Efficiency & Seamless Integration:
Lockin’s optimized power-management firmware extends battery life by keeping the camera and AI inactive until needed—unlike Wi-Fi locks that drain power continuously. Installation is straightforward: the Veno series fits standard door bore holes and integrates effortlessly with major smart-home platforms.
Together, these features create a security ecosystem that combines military-grade biometric verification, panoramic surveillance, and plug-and-play convenience to protect your home and deliveries with unprecedented reliability.
Conclusion
Smart locks are transforming security with an elegant and supremely convenient blend of mechanical strength and digital intelligence, and the palm-vein door lock options from Lockin are leading the industry. They set the new benchmark in accuracy, auditability, and speed. By having a clear understanding of how smart door locks work, including their components, communication protocols, and encryption capabilities, you’ll be better able to deploy a smart lock solution that fits the needs of your home.
