A smart lock and video doorbell are great tools for beefing up your home’s security system, and Eufy’s FamiLock S3 Max combines the functionality of both into one device. It’s currently $339.99 ($60 off) at Amazon, The Home Depot, and from Eufy, which matches its all-time low price. Verge senior reviewer Jennifer Pattison Tuohy recently tested the FamiLock S3 Max, and found a lot to like. She was especially impressed with its built-in 4-inch video screen, which displays a live video feed of what’s happening at your door so you don’t have to open an app.
The FamiLock S3 Max can be unlocked using a key, touch keypad, app, or by scanning the vascular patterns underneath the skin of your palm. Palm unlocking may take a little while to get used to, but is a helpful feature if you’ve struggled to unlock devices with your fingerprints. The video doorbell can record 2K video with an 180 degree diagonal field of view, and both people and packages were clearly visible in our tests.
The FamiLock S3 Max will send you a notification if it detects motion, and specify if it’s sensed a person. You can immediately pull up a live video feed in Eufy’s app to see what’s happening. If you’re not around, it’ll record video clips, which are stored locally and accessible within Eufy’s app without a subscription. Picking up Eufy’s $150 HomeBase 3 hub and adding it to your security system enables facial recognition, pet alerts, and vehicle alerts. The hub will not enable package detections alerts, which are completely absent here.
Eufy says the FamiLock S3 Max’s rechargeable battery lasts up to five months depending on your settings. We drained over half the battery after only a month of testing with its “peak surveillance” setting enabled. You can pop in four AAA batteries to maintain basic functionality while the main battery charges, or pick up an additional rechargeable battery from Eufy for $37 to immediately swap in a spare. If you’re setting up a smart home security system and want to fuss with as few devices and apps as possible, Eufy’s FamiLock S3 Max is a solid choice on sale.
