CES 2026: The Ultraloq Bolt Sense Smart Lock Uses Palm Vein and Facial Recognition to Unlock Your Door - MacRumors
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CES 2026: The Ultraloq Bolt Sense Smart Lock Uses Palm Vein and Facial Recognition to Unlock Your Door

The Xthings Ultraloq Bolt Sense is a smart lock that incorporates biometric authentication and Matter support. The Bolt Sense is able to identify a person through 3D facial recognition and palm vein authentication.

bolt sense lock
Xthings says the dual biometric approach is meant to be more secure than traditional biometric unlocking methods, but it may also exist because few companies have managed to master facial recognition as accurate as Face ID. The extra palm scan, which identifies an individual's sub-surface vein pattern, ensures that facial recognition won't fail. With biometric unlocking, users can open the door hands-free, and the palm scan works even when the hands are wet.

The Bolt Sense combines biometric unlocking with active approach sensing, advanced infrared, and adaptive low-light performance, so it works in the daytime and at night.

Xthings isn't launching the Ultraloq Bolt Sense until the second quarter of 2026, but the Ultraloq Bolt Mission, a Matter-enabled smart lock with Ultra Wideband, is available for purchase as of today. The $300 Bolt Mission uses UWB for automatic hands-free unlocking as the homeowner approaches.

It also supports unlocking via the Apple Home app, NFC, the Ultraloq app, a PIN, a physical key, or the Apple Watch. It does not support Apple Home Key, and the UWB only works with the Ultraloq app. The Bolt Mission uses 8 AA batteries that need to be replaced every six months, or users can purchase a rechargeable lithium battery pack that lasts for up to 1.5 years before it needs to be charged.

Along with the two Bolt locks, Xthings also debuted the Latch 7 Pro, a latch-style smart lock that will support Matter over Thread and Aliro, a universal smart lock standard that Apple is involved in. It's set to launch later this year.

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Top Rated Comments

johntherazz Avatar
10 months ago
Am I being overly cautious if I feel reluctant to let a random company that I know nothing about make a 3D scan of my face, when that’s exactly the same data which unlocks most of my devices now, and in turn gives access to all my passwords, bank accounts, etc etc?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
d-klumpp Avatar
10 months ago
Hard to imagine how a palm scan can be "hands free."
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac Fly (film) Avatar
10 months ago
I installed this mechanical key code maybe 14 years ago. No issues. These can be bought online for as little as $29 on a sale. No battery. No wireless. No bs. Just buttons and open.



This style mechanical push button door opener has been on the market since 1970. What I see with many of the more advanced door openers is increased complexity, cost and potentials for failure and invasion of privacy. Oftentimes simplicity is the best approach. At least in my life that’s been the case.

Attachment Image
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
10 months ago
This is doa in cold weather places.
I live in cold ass Montreal in the winter why the heck would I take my gloves off for this.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mac Fly (film) Avatar
10 months ago

People are already losing the ability to maintain enough concentration to read several paragraphs of text. Many youth are learning to read at all at a much delayed rate. Perhaps companies are perceiving the effort needed to punch mechanical buttons with your fingers is next to go. Would not surprise me. Automate everything is the MO these days.
There’s lots of money in selling perceived convenience and in this case that’s what it is. They are selling a perception of convenience for money and people aren’t stopping themselves to ask if they need it. A basic mechanical code or key lock gets the job done perfectly fine and is reliable and cheap. People should save their money and use it on items of value and real purpose.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
10 months ago

I installed this mechanical key code maybe 14 years ago. No issues. These can be bought online for as little as $29 on a sale. No battery. No wireless. No bs. Just buttons and open.



This style mechanical push button door opener has been on the market since 1970. What I see with many of the more advanced door openers is increased complexity, cost and potentials for failure and invasion of privacy. Oftentimes simplicity is the best approach. At least in my life that’s been the case.
People are already losing the ability to maintain enough concentration to read several paragraphs of text. Many youth are learning to read at all at a much delayed rate. Perhaps companies are perceiving the effort needed to punch mechanical buttons with your fingers is next to go. Would not surprise me. Automate everything is the MO these days.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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