No more keys and no more cables: The smart lock that recognizes faces and charges from the air

As a technology reporter, I come across quite a few smart locks that promise to make daily life simpler and safer. In some cases it feels like an unnecessary upgrade that adds complexity instead of convenience, and in others – like a product that truly takes us one step further into the future. The Kontrol BIO+ tries to belong to the second category, with an impressive list of features that resemble more science fiction movies than a home lock: Palm and vein recognition, fingerprint, code, proximity card, app, and even a camera. On paper, it’s a technological monster that promises high security and maximum convenience, one that might make you wonder why you still have a metal key hanging on an old keychain. But as always, the question is whether in practice – in daily routine, with the battery that needs charging, the app that requires learning, and the pricing that is not meant for every pocket – this promise really holds true. We checked.

Here there are no "do it yourself" games. The Kontrol BIO+ comes as a full locking package that replaces the existing mechanism, and installation is done by a service technician from the company. On the one hand, it takes away the fun of unboxing and playing with screws, but on the other hand – and this is important – you don’t risk damaging the door. The installation is clean, everything fits exactly where it should, and in the end it looks as if the door was born with this lock. And that’s not obvious: Unlike the Lock 8200 lock I reviewed in the past – the one that left an ugly hole in the door that couldn’t be closed – here everything fits properly, without drama and without damages that would make you regret trying to be clever.

Once the installation is complete, the technician doesn’t just leave you to deal with it alone. You get a short training session that really organizes things: How to set up the first fingerprint, how to activate facial recognition, and even how to add family members or occasional guests. The whole process is very intuitive – a few touches on the screen, some scans, and within minutes the lock already knows you. The feeling is that you don’t need to be a tech enthusiast to manage, and the app itself guides you step by step clearly.

The lock also accompanies you with voice – a pleasant narration announcing whether the door is open or closed, and a reminder if you forgot to lock it. You can also set an automatic lock time so the door locks itself after a certain period. These are small additions that make usage much calmer, especially for those who know the feeling of checking again and again if the house is locked.

Still, there is one disappointing and even somewhat strange detail: The mechanical backup key. It is unusually large, especially long, one that goes through the entire locking mechanism. It’s not something pleasant to carry in your pocket or attach to a keychain. On the other hand, it’s good to know it exists – in an emergency, there is always a way in.

And if all that’s not enough, there’s also a surprising solution for the battery issue – one that sounds almost impossible, but in reality truly works.

This technology not only eliminates the need to drill into walls or run wires, but also makes usage much more convenient. In fact, it provides a hundred times more energy than other wireless charging methods, with an always-on mode ensuring the lock is always ready. It’s one of those things that’s hard to believe exist in reality, but once you get used to it – it’s hard to imagine going back to batteries that run out every few months.

SmartLife is a generic app used by hundreds of manufacturers worldwide and is not tied to one specific brand. It operates as part of the Tuya Smart ecosystem, a giant corporation that provides software, hardware, and cloud infrastructure to smart product manufacturers. This means that a company like Kontrol does not need to develop its own app – it simply uses a known, proven, and stable solution that allows remote control of the product.

In the end, it may feel less "branded" and focused, but practically it works well: You can lock and unlock the door from anywhere, view through the camera, record and take photos, and also manage users and permissions. The interface is familiar to millions of users worldwide, and during use I did not encounter anything unusual or any particular problem.

The Kontrol BIO+ is a high-level smart lock, but one that doesn’t apologize for its price: NIS 2,790, and if you add the air charging solution it’s an additional NIS 790. Altogether it’s not a small investment, but what you get in return is a lock that feels like a true technological leap – with fast facial recognition, efficient fingerprint, palm recognition, guiding narration, and peace of mind that the door is always locked. In practice, it performs better than most smart locks I’ve tested so far, without unnecessary malfunctions and with smooth daily use.

That said, to be fair: Not everyone needs this whole package. Those mainly looking to replace a key with a code or fingerprint will find in the market much simpler and cheaper solutions that provide a basic answer without going too deep into technology. But if you are looking for a truly advanced lock, one that feels like a next-generation product, the Kontrol BIO+ definitely delivers.