The End of the Keypad? Hands-Free Security at CES 2026

Identity is the New Key

If Day 1 of CES was about massive TVs, Day 2 has been about the "Invisible Entry." We’ve seen a wave of new locks—most notably from Aqara and Ultraloq—that finally ditch the physical keypad in favor of advanced biometrics.

The standout for us "Scouts" is the Aqara Smart Lock U400. Building on the success of the U200 we scouted recently, the U400 adds Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. This allows for "True Hands-Free" entry. If you have your iPhone or Apple Watch on you, the door unlocks as you step onto the porch—no "tapping" required.

1. Palm Veins and Face ID for Your Front Door

One of the wildest reveals today was the Ultraloq Bolt Sense. It doesn't use fingerprints (which can fail if your hands are wet or dirty). Instead, it uses Palm Vein Recognition. By holding your hand up to the lock, it reads the unique map of veins under your skin.

Why does this matter for the Scout? Because it works in total darkness and is virtually impossible to "spoof" with a photo or a silicone mold. It’s high-level banking security for your front door.

2. Matter 1.5: The "Camera" Breakthrough

For the first time, we are seeing Matter-certified cameras on the show floor. Aqara’s new Camera Hub G350 is the pioneer here.

In 2026, the "Logic Board" of your home is finally unified. Because the G350 follows the new Matter 1.5 specs, you can stream its 4K feed natively to an Amazon Echo Show, a Google Nest Hub, or an Apple TV without needing three different bridge apps. It even acts as a Matter Controller itself, meaning your camera can now "talk" directly to your locks and lights without a middleman.

3. Privacy at the Edge

The "Scout" value for 2026 is On-Device AI. Brands like Lockin showed off locks today that recognize your "Behavioral Patterns." If you usually come home at 6 PM but the door is accessed at 3 AM by someone with your code, the lock can flag "Unusual Activity" to your phone immediately. The best part? This analysis happens locally on the lock's chip—nothing is sent to the cloud.

Scout’s Watchlist: The "Buy Now" vs. "Wait"

• Buy Now: If you need a lock today, the Aqara U200 is still the king of reliability.
• Wait: If you want the "hands-free" UWB experience, hold off for the U400 launch this summer.
• Keep an Eye on: Matter 1.5 Doorbell Cameras. We expect the first wave of these to hit Amazon by March.