Consumers often select products based on their appearance, especially when they are not familiar with the product, and this is a design philosophy many designers follow when creating products.
The JJR factory in China offers a helpful tip for those looking to buy smart locks, fingerprint locks, or 3D facial recognition locks. The first deciding factor is, of course, the fashionable appearance, and only then should the decision be made whether to purchase the product. This design philosophy has been incorporated into the design of smart locks’ appearances.
Therefore, there are various appearances of smart locks on the market, such as slim-waist designs, sports car shapes, and human body-inspired curves. The more fashionable the design of the lock, the more appealing it becomes to consumers.
Here are a few tips for selecting a smart lock. While a stylish appearance does have some importance in terms of aesthetics, the final choice should still prioritize practicality. If practicality is compromised, the other features will lose their significance.
Apart from appearance, here are some crucial factors to consider when purchasing a smart lock:
1. After-sales Service is Crucial
When purchasing a smart lock, it is essential to ensure that after-sales service is available, whether it is free or paid. If the lock breaks, it should be repairable. However, some generic brands (those not specialized in manufacturing smart locks) may lack after-sales support, making it difficult to find repair personnel or manufacturers if a malfunction occurs.
2. Safety Factor
Smart locks are generally purchased by three types of people: One type is frustrated by traditional mechanical locks and wants to switch to a smart lock. Another type is someone who frequently loses their keys and prefers a smart lock. The third type is concerned about security and opts for a smart lock. However, JJR would like to advise that the safety factor of a high-quality mechanical lock is often higher than that of a smart lock, especially with semi-automatic fingerprint locks that lack features like "peephole defense."
3. Fingerprint Sensor Sensitivity
There is a noticeable difference in the sensitivity of fingerprint sensors available on the market. Ordinary brand fingerprint locks might fail to recognize fingerprints that are too strong or too light, so when purchasing a smart lock, it is important to choose one with a more sensitive sensor. To ensure the sensor's sensitivity, you can try the fingerprint of family members on the lock to see if it can be accurately identified.
4. Types of Fingerprint Sensors
There are two main types of fingerprint sensors on the market: Optical fingerprint sensors and semiconductor fingerprint sensors.
When smart locks first appeared, optical sensors were commonly used, especially before 2016. The main advantage of optical sensors is their stability and high recognition rate, but the drawback is a lower security factor, as they are more easily replicated and can be bypassed.
Semiconductor fingerprint sensors began to be widely used after 2016, and nowadays, most smart locks use semiconductor fingerprint sensors. The main advantage of semiconductor sensors is that they are much harder to replicate, and with recent technological improvements, their stability has greatly increased. Currently, most smart locks use semiconductor sensors.
Optical sensors are vulnerable to duplication with silicone molds, while semiconductor sensors are resistant to such attempts.
5. Circuit Board Quality
The quality of the circuit board is crucial in determining a product's overall performance. If a smart lock starts draining power quickly, it is likely due to a faulty circuit board. If you find that a lock consumes four batteries in a few days, this is often a sign of a defective circuit board, which typically cannot be repaired and requires replacement.
A high-quality circuit board has a low probability of power leakage, especially for branded smart locks. However, ordinary consumers are usually unable to assess the quality of a circuit board.
6. Quality of the Lock Body
The materials used for the lock body are typically stainless steel, iron, and semi-steel, with stainless steel being the best, followed by semi-steel, and then iron. However, the thickness of the material is also very important.
Over time, the internal structure and components of a lock body may bend, deform, or wear out, causing the lock to malfunction. Therefore, when choosing a smart lock, make sure it feels heavy in your hand. If it feels too light, it's better to choose another one.
The components that hold the lock cylinder in place must be thick, as the cylinder frequently rotates. Thin components may lead to malfunction, such as the door not closing or opening properly, potentially leaving you unable to open the door.
7. Appearance and Material Craftsmanship
If a smart lock feels light and plastic-like when held in your hand, it is likely to be an engineering lock. These typically cost less than $200, especially if the exterior material is stainless steel, in which case it’s probably a basic smart lock.
Many low-priced smart locks are not electroplated, but instead use spray paint or capacitor treatment. Good surface treatment makes the lock feel solid and well-made when held.
If the appearance material is die-cast aluminum, the lock is unlikely to be cheap. This material’s greatest advantage is its durability and color retention.
