Tapo has entered the smart lock market with its latest innovation, the PalmKey door lock, which boasts a unique palm-scanning feature, a fingerprint scanner, and an impressive battery life of up to a year. The company's announcement comes amidst a growing trend of biometric-enabled smart locks, with Philips and Eufy already offering similar products.

The PalmKey smart door lock allows users to enter their homes using a PIN, a fingerprint, or a palm scan. The palm scanner, which requires the hand to be between four to 10 inches away from the reader, utilizes AI to assess the vein patterns within the palm, ensuring accurate recognition even when the hand is wet, dirty, or has worn-down fingerprints.

One of the standout features of the PalmKey lock is its removable, rechargeable 10,000mAh battery, which Tapo claims will last a full year on a single charge. This low-maintenance design is supplemented by support for a physical key backup, although the exact location of this feature on the unit remains unclear. Additionally, the lock is compatible with popular smart home systems, including Alexa, SmartThings, and Google Home.

While Tapo's PalmKey lock offers an impressive range of features, it lacks the truly hands-free technology that is expected to emerge in the market this year. Upcoming smart locks will utilize ultra-wideband technology in smartphones to automatically open doors when users approach, eliminating the need to raise a hand or perform any physical action.

The growing trend of biometric-enabled smart locks is driven by the increasing demand for convenient, secure, and innovative home security solutions. With Philips and Eufy already offering palm-scanning models, Tapo's entry into the market is likely to further accelerate the adoption of this technology. However, the lack of pricing and release date information from Tapo may hinder the company's ability to capitalize on this trend.

As the smart lock market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Tapo's PalmKey lock fares against its competitors. With its unique combination of palm scanning, fingerprint recognition, and extended battery life, the PalmKey lock has the potential to become a popular choice among consumers seeking advanced home security solutions.