Eight years ago I used a palm vein scanner at a Fujitsu demo in Sydney and it blew me away. It was already being used by banks in Brazil but for most of us at the time, it was Sci-Fi technology. You can see part of the demo in the Sky News Australia, Weekend Edition segment above. Fast forward to 2025 and palm vein authentication is now established in consumer door locks, like the eufy S3 Max Video Smart Lock. This model also doubles as a video doorbell with a screen on the inside of the door. It’s one of the best executions of a product I’ve ever seen. A full video review is coming soon.
PALM VEIN SCANNER
Palm vein technology has been around for while but it’s only in recent years that we have seen it used widely in public. China, as you’d expect, is way ahead with the acceptance of this biometric method. Palm scanners are also accurate with a very low false acceptance rate. The S3 Max can handle up to 50 different palm veins with 99.99999% accuracy based on eufy laboratory data following palm vein operation protocols.
“The S3 Max makes hands-free entry easy,” said Joey Yan, Managing Director of ANZ at Anker Innovations. “This palm vein technology is the first of its kind in Australia and will provide users with safety and security while reducing any hassle.”
Each palm can be registered when the user’s hand is waved over the sensor. The vein structure underneath the skin of your palm is what the scanner is looking for and it finds it quickly. The eufy S3 Max achieves recognition in just 0.1 seconds. Near-infrared light is directed at a person’s palm allowing the sensor to resolve the vein pattern inside their hand. This pattern is unique to each individual on Earth and virtually impossible to forge. And by virtually, I mean you can’t. Unlike fingerprints or even iris patterns, palm vein structures are almost never visible to another party. Even identical twins have different patterns.
Data security is excellent on the S3 Max with your palm vein information stored locally on the lock. The other reason palm vein scanners are good for door locks and other public-facing areas, is their touchless interface. Holding your palm above the reader makes it a clean, germ-free process. Greasy and grubby hands won’t hinder the system either.
THE LOCK
Although palm vein recognition is the standout feature of the S3 Max, it’s not the only way to open the lock. You can use the app, voice control, passcode or real key to open the door. Redundancy is everywhere, especially when it comes to the power system. The main power supply is a 15,000mAh rechargeable lithium battery which is supported by 4 AAA batteries.
This allows the user to maintain continuous power and surveillance of their entryway while the primary battery recharges. The intelligent dual power system can sustain full-function operation for up to six months and basic function operation for up to 12 months, which is twice the battery life of typical video smart locks. There’s one more option if you need temporary power via a USB port under the front keypad.
You’ll never have to worry ‘did I close the door properly?’ thanks to a built-in door sensor that consistently checks on whether the lock is fully engaged with the door frame. This feature helps reduce false alarms by 95%. Secure door locking checks can be completed remotely and at any time, providing huge peace of mind.
The FamiLock S3 Max is essentially a commercial product that also work in homes. It’s blitzed rigorous performance and safety testing, including the ability to endure up to 250,000 locking/unlocking cycles and withstand at least 10 direct strikes from a hammer.
The S3 Max is a Wi-Fi 6 compatible device and the industry’s first Matter over Wi-Fi device in the video smart lock product category. In addition to Matter support, the device is also compatible with Apple Home, and the eufy ecosystem.
DOORBELL CAMERA
On top of all those features above, the S3 Max includes a camera, doorbell, and integrated back screen. The 2K resolution camera offers a 150° vertical head-to-toe view and a 180° diagonal view. The camera keeps an eye on package deliveries and monitors the slightest movements at your front door for non-stop front door surveillance. Plus, the AI sensor can also track and identify people loitering near home entryways with accurate sensing up to 6 metres away. The video screen on the inside of the door, displays the camera view of the S3 Max within one second of movement. This screen is just brilliant.
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The S3 Max Video Smart Lock will be available online for A$899.95 on the eufy website and Harvey Norman. At the time publishing I couldn’t find a link to buy. So you might have to keep trying.
As of mid July, the S3 Max Video Smart Lock will also be available in JB Hi-Fi then in The Good Guys soon after.
