If you want better Camera and doorbell performance
Choose eufy Video Smart Lock E330. It scores 4.4 vs 2.3 for Camera and doorbell performance, with a 4.4 overall score.
Lockly Visage Zeno Series Smart Lock Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Lockly Visage if you want fast hands-free facial unlocking, Apple Home Key, and many backup access methods. Skip it if the price, exposed door sensor, app quirks, or battery drain with always-on scanning will bother you.
Best for
Best for smart-home users who want the most frictionless entry possible and will use facial recognition, Apple Home Key, fingerprint access, keypad codes, and app/voice controls. It is especially compelling for Apple Home users who value Home Key and automations.
Not for
Not for shoppers who mainly want a simple low-cost deadbolt, a built-in video doorbell, or a clean hidden door-sensor design. It is also less ideal if you need flawless Wi-Fi remote access or long battery life with always-on face scanning.
Verdict
The Lockly Visage Zeno Series earns strong reviewer praise for turning facial recognition into a practical front-door feature rather than a gimmick. Testers repeatedly found face unlock fast, accurate, and hard to fool, with fingerprint, keypad, Apple Home Key, app, voice, and physical-key access adding useful backups. The tradeoff is that all this tech brings a high price, a visible door sensor, occasional app or Wi-Fi rough edges, and battery-life compromises if always-on face scanning is used. It comes across as a highly capable smart lock whose best feature is also the one most likely to justify its cost.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
31 reviewed features-
Very positive 4.5-5.09 (29%)
-
Positive 3.5-4.416 (52%)
-
Neutral 2.5-3.45 (16%)
-
Negative 1.5-2.41 (3%)
Pros
-
Facial recognition was the clearest consensus win, with reviewers repeatedly describing it as fast, accurate, reliable, and difficult to fool.
-
Overall locking reliability was one of the strongest themes, with reviewers saying the lock worked perfectly, performed well, or kept working every time.
-
Security evidence was strong for anti-spoofing and privacy, with reviewers unable to fool face unlock using photos and one citing encryption as a strength.
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Smart-home integration was broadly praised, especially Apple HomeKit/Home Key and Alexa routines, though one reviewer noted Matter and Thread were absent.
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Lock and unlock speed was a major strength, especially facial recognition, with reviewers repeatedly describing access as nearly instant, quick, or within seconds.
-
Fingerprint performance was mostly strong, but not universal: several reviewers found it fast and accurate, while others disliked placement or had hit-and-miss scans.
Cons
-
Door-sense was the most consistent hardware complaint: it worked accurately for some reviewers, but many disliked the exposed wired sensor or complicated sensor alternatives.
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Camera and doorbell feedback was mostly about absence: reviewers liked the lock but wished the price included video surveillance, package awareness, or doorbell-style features.
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Wi-Fi was a recurring caveat, including failed syncing, 2.4GHz-only support, spotty remote access, and battery-drain tradeoffs.
-
Reviewers split on the design: one called it Lockly's least attractive smart lock, another saw the newer design as more attractive, and a video reviewer still found it not especially attractive.
-
Notifications worked, but reviewers could find them excessive when both lock and smart-home platforms sent alerts.
-
Bluetooth feedback was mixed, with complaints about short setup windows and Bluetooth 4.2 alongside one Apple Home user finding response times surprisingly good.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Smart Locks, this product is above average in Facial recognition, Hub requirement, Touchscreen, near average in Fingerprint, Battery, below average in Camera and doorbell performance, Industrial design, Notifications.
Comparison summary
31 compared features-
Above average 0.4+ pts higher6 (19%)
-
Same as average within 0.3 pts19 (61%)
-
Below average 0.4+ pts lower6 (19%)
Largest category differences
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera and doorbell performance | 2.3 | 4.2 | -2.0 |
| Facial recognition | 5.0 | 3.8 | +1.2 |
| Hub requirement | 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| Touchscreen | 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| Industrial design | 3.0 | 4.1 | -1.1 |
| Smart-home integration (Alexa, Google, Siri, HomeKit, Matter, Thread) | 4.4 | 3.6 | +0.8 |
| Notifications | 3.3 | 4.1 | -0.9 |
| Wi-Fi | 3.0 | 3.8 | -0.8 |
Consider This Instead
If you want better Wi-Fi
Choose eufy Video Smart Lock S330. It scores 5.0 vs 3.0 for Wi-Fi, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better App
Choose SwitchBot Lock Ultra. It scores 4.8 vs 3.6 for App, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Notifications
Choose Yale Approach Smart lock. It scores 4.3 vs 3.3 for Notifications, with a 3.6 overall score.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Aqara U100
- Worse: overall performance ZDNET said the Visage clearly outperformed the Aqara U100.
- Worse: build sturdiness ZDNET found the Visage sturdier than the Aqara U100, despite the Aqara being cheaper.
August Smart Lock Pro
- Worse: feature breadth TechRadar said the cheaper August model lacks headline features such as facial recognition and fingerprint unlocking.
August Wi-Fi Smart Lock
- Better: IFTTT support PCMag noted that August's lock supports IFTTT, which the Visage lacks, while the broader sentence contrasts feature sets.
FAQ
Does the Lockly Visage facial recognition actually work well?
Yes. Reviewers consistently found it fast and accurate, including in bright light, darkness, sunglasses, and anti-photo tests.
Is the Lockly Visage worth the high price?
It can be if facial recognition, Apple Home Key, fingerprint access, keypad entry, app control, and voice control matter to you. Reviewers still called out the price as a major tradeoff.
Does it need a separate hub?
Reviewers liked that it has built-in Wi-Fi and does not require the older separate hub setup. Apple Home users can also rely heavily on HomeKit/Home Key workflows.
What are the biggest complaints?
The most repeated complaints were the exposed door sensor, app rough edges, occasional Wi-Fi issues, high price, and battery drain when face scanning is left always on.
How good is the fingerprint reader?
Most reviewers found it fast and accurate, but a few disliked the placement or said alignment made scans less consistent.
Does it replace a video doorbell?
No. Reviewers noted that the Visage uses face-recognition sensors, but it does not provide a normal video feed, doorbell, or package-viewing experience.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.1
YouTube - Youtube
- Review score
- 4.1
YouTube - Youtube
Article Reviews
slashgear.com
- Review score
- 3.3
zdnet.com
- Review score
- 4.2
tomsguide.com
- Review score
- 3.8
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