Integrated Wi-Fi is the major upgrade in this revamp of Lockly's well-aged Secure Pro lock, making it a winner on all fronts. The Lockly Secure Pro isn't a new lock, but rather an upgrade to an old one: The original Lockly Secure Pro came out way back in 2019, hence this release's full (and rather awkward) name: Lockly Secure Pro 2025 Version. The two locks have roughly the same industrial appearance (though the new lock is reportedly 25 percent smaller), so you'll need to pay close attention when shopping to ensure you're getting the current version. While Lockly's website includes the 2025 indicator in the name, many vendors, including Amazon, do not. Look for Lockly model number PGD728WMBE1 to be sure.

The best smart locks can help anyone who constantly misplaces keys or who frequently wonders whether they locked the front door. I am in the latter camp. After years in apartments, I recently moved to a large enough house that checking whether the door is locked can feel like a chore, especially once I'm all cozy in bed. Installing a smart lock doesn't mean throwing away your house keys--you probably still want to bring them with you. These locks are all about convenience, offering multiple ways to enter, like a passcode via a keypad, fingerprint scanning, or through an app. You can easily share codes with friends and family, so no need to fuss with crappy key copies, and you can usually set them to auto-lock when the door closes.

Getting into your home could get a lot more hands-free shortly. Lockly, a company with a name that gives away its focus on smart locks, unveiled a face recognition lock at CES 2024. The lock, known as Visage, only needs to scan your face in order to unlock the door -- no fingerprint, keys or other devices required. Lockly's Visage works with Wi-Fi and the Matter smart home standard to seamlessly integrate into your existing smart home -- Matter's official certification is still pending. Visage uses a pair of 2MP-resolution infrared sensors to detect your face within a range of 2.6 feet from the device.

Most smart locks come in the form of a deadbolt, though you'll find the latch-and-lever design an occasional option. If, like many homes, you already have both on your door, you're faced with a bit of a dilemma when it comes to upgrading to smart tech. The common solution is to update the deadbolt, then stop using the locking mechanism on the latch altogether. But many people prefer the added security of having two locking mechanisms, so then what: Install two smart locks? Lockly, which last combined a smart lock and a video doorbell into a bizarre but effective product, has come up with a solution of sorts, putting both a latch and a deadbolt in a single, if exceedingly awkward, mechanism.