Palm or Face Recognition

Locks that recognise a face or a palm and open without contact. The important distinction is how the sensing is done: 3D structured light or infrared depth sensing is materially harder to defeat than 2D camera matching. Both are sold as face recognition, and they are not equivalent.

2D and 3D compared

Attribute	2D camera matching	3D depth sensing
How it works	Compares a flat image against a stored template	Projects and reads a depth map of the face
Spoof resistance	Can be defeated by a photograph on some implementations	A flat image has no depth, so it is rejected
Low light	Depends on fill lighting	Infrared sensing works in darkness
Speed	Fast	Fast, typically under a second
Cost	Lower	Higher

Check which one you are buying. Product listings often say only face recognition. Ask specifically whether it uses 3D structured light or infrared depth sensing, and whether liveness detection is present. 2D versus 3D in Chapter 06.

Palm recognition

Palm vein and palm print readers scan the hand rather than the face. They avoid the privacy sensitivities of facial imagery, work well with gloves off in industrial settings, and are unaffected by facial hair, glasses or makeup. Enrolment and read distance requirements differ from face systems, so check the working range.

Privacy and data

Biometric data is sensitive information under the Australian Privacy Act, which matters for commercial and multi-tenant installations.
Most locks hold the template on the device rather than in the cloud. Confirm this for the specific model.
Enrolment consent should be recorded where the lock is used by staff, tenants or clients.
Always retain a non-biometric fallback so nobody is compelled to enrol to gain access.

Chapter 06 covers the Privacy Act position in detail.

Related categories

Fingerprint Smart Locks · PIN Code Smart Locks · App Enabled · By Access Method

Common questions

Can a photograph fool a face recognition lock?
It can on some 2D implementations. A 3D depth-sensing system reads the geometry of the face, so a flat image is rejected. This is the main reason to confirm the sensing type before buying.

Does it work at night?
Infrared and structured light systems work in complete darkness. Purely camera-based 2D systems need ambient or fill light, and reliability drops sharply without it.

What about glasses, hats or beards?
Most systems handle glasses and moderate facial hair changes. Sunglasses, low-brimmed hats and face coverings will typically fail a read. Enrol with and without glasses if both are worn regularly.

Where is my face data stored?
On most locks, as a template on the device itself rather than an image in the cloud. Verify this per model, particularly for commercial installations where privacy obligations apply.

Guides and reference

Ch 06 - Facial recognition smart locks · Ch 03 - Facial recognition · Face recognition models compared