My latest review looks at TCL’s D2 palm vein door lock (compensated affiliate link), which came in for review after a number of viewers asked me about this type of technology. These locks work by just lifting your hand a few inches away from the lock’s sensor.
You can see it in action in my latest video review.
Testing this was pretty easy: after assigning my right palm to the lock, raising that hand opens the lock in just a second or two. If I tried with an unregistered hand (or somebody else’s), the lock rejected it.
The D2 Pro is a full deadbolt replacement. That means both the inside and outside hardware of your existing lock need to come off, and you’ll be using new physical keys – yes a pair of physical keys are included. I would have preferred no physical key option since it’s the least secure part of the system!
Alongside palm scanning, there are several other ways to unlock it: a keypad that supports six digit pin codes, a pair of RFID key fobs also included in the box, and the companion smartphone app.
The lock runs on a rechargeable 10,000 mAh battery that charges over USB-C. TCL says it should last about eight months depending on usage, but recharging takes time, which means your door will be offline for a while. In an emergency, you can power the lock temporarily with a USB-C power bank to get inside or of course just yse the physical key. I found installation straightforward, taking under half an hour including removing my old lock, though the build quality didn’t feel as solid as the Schlage I replaced. Once installed, it felt sturdy enough and carries an IP55 weather rating.
The TCL Home app is where you manage everything. It requires Wi-Fi on a 2.4 GHz network and I recommend putting it on a guest network to isolate it from other devices. The companion app works on both iOS and Android and integrates with Google and Amazon ecosystems, but does not currently support Apple HomeKit. Inside the app, you can manage users, register palm veins, assign or revoke codes and RFID cards, and even set temporary or one-time passwords.
TCL says palm data stays on the lock and isn’t uploaded, though there’s no way to verify that independently. You can store up to 50 palms and 50 six digit codes. It also offers features like duress passwords and limited-duration codes that could be useful for rentals or security-conscious households. What you won’t find is scheduling access for specific times of day, something some competing products do offer.
The lock also includes a built-in doorbell. It’s loud enough to hear inside, and you’ll get notifications on your phone, but there’s no video or two-way communication like a dedicated smart doorbell provides. Event logs are available in the app, so you can review entries and exits. My only annoyance with the app was the requirement to type in a PIN code every time I wanted to access the lock settings. Face ID or Touch ID support would have made that process smoother.
In daily use, the palm scanning was reliable. Registered users could approach the lock and gain access quickly. It even handled different angles well, and I haven’t yet had it mistakenly grant access to someone it shouldn’t. Rejections take a bit longer than acceptances, which might be a subtle security feature. It’s worth registering both hands since it only recognizes the ones you set up, and sometimes one hand might be occupied.
As a way to enter the house without pulling out a phone, typing a code, or carrying a key, the palm vein technology worked smoothly. It’s one of the more seamless experiences I’ve had with a smart lock.