Xiaomi Smart Door Lock 5 Max lets you into your home with a palm scan. But it can do much more

Xiaomi is gradually taking over one room of the household after another, and now things are getting serious right at the front door. The new flagship model is designed to ensure that you no longer have to fumble for keys or your phone at the entrance – your palm, face, or simply walking up to the door will let you in.

Unlocking with palm or face scan

The manufacturer promises no less than twelve ways to get inside with the new device. The most interesting is palm unlocking: the lock scans the veins in your palm from a distance of about ten to twenty centimeters, so you don’t have to touch anything. According to Xiaomi, children from 1.1 meters tall or older people who have trouble with fingerprint readers can also use this method.

The second option is 3D face recognition, which, according to the brand, works for people between 1.2 and 2 meters tall and unlocks the door in about a second. The security of face scanning is reportedly confirmed by certifications from Chinese testing laboratories for financial technologies and payment cards – however, these are data that we cannot independently verify ourselves. Moreover, the new product is the very first of its kind to offer “touchless” unlocking via UWB: you just need to approach the door with your phone in your pocket, and it will open automatically.

Xiaomi is thus raising the bar higher than its cheaper series. The Smart Door Lock 5C model, which we wrote about at the end of August, focused mainly on a low price and fingerprint recognition, while the 5 Max targets those who want the maximum from a lock.

Xiaomi Smart Door Lock 5 Max lets you into your home with a palm scan. But it can do much more Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

What can the camera and large display do?

Eyes have been added both inside and out. On the exterior side sits a 192-degree fisheye lens with 2K resolution and night vision, so according to Xiaomi, it can recognize visitors even in complete darkness. Towards the apartment, a second, 152-degree wide-angle camera monitors who leaves and arrives and when. An overview of what’s happening behind the door is then provided by a five-inch display built into the interior side.

A complete novelty is artificial intelligence: according to the brand, the 5 Max is the first Xiaomi lock with a large language model. This model is supposed to recognize whether someone is actually standing at the door or just passing by, can notice a package left behind and count it, or warn about a partially open door or an attempted forced entry. How well all of this works in practice will only be shown by regular operation – for now, these are the manufacturer’s promises.

Power is provided by two 8000 mAh batteries. Xiaomi promises up to eleven months of endurance in normal operation; with all functions running at full capacity, expect closer to eight months. Once the capacity drops below ten percent, the lock enters power-saving mode and maintains basic unlocking for another approximately 2.5 months. And if you are caught off guard by a dead lock, emergency charging via USB-C is at hand.

Price and availability

Officially, the Xiaomi Smart Door Lock 5 Max costs 3,699 yuan, which is approximately 11,600 CZK when converted. It is available slightly cheaper in pre-sale on the Chinese e-shop JD for 3,529 yuan, and with state subsidies, the price in some Chinese regions drops to 3,000 yuan (about 9,400 CZK when converted). Aesthetically, the lock features a bridge structure, a matte-finished panel, a glass handle, and a ring of light around the body.

However, there is no official path to the Czech Republic yet. Previous Xiaomi smart locks, including models 5C and G500, were not officially sold here, so the 5 Max will most likely be an import curiosity at best. Therefore, you cannot expect a specific Czech price or delivery date yet.

Would you let yourself into your home with a palm scan, or do you still trust keys more?

Sources: IThome, MyDrivers, Gizmochina