eufy FamiLock E34 Review: A Camera-Free Palm-Vein Deadbolt With Great Wi-Fi but a Slow Scanner
The simpler, cheaper FamiLock with palm-vein and keypad entry, stable Wi-Fi and easy setup, but the palm reader is slow and inconsistent and the body is plastic.
The eufy FamiLock E34 is the camera-free, more affordable FamiLock: a Wi-Fi keypad deadbolt with palm-vein recognition, a physical key, auto-lock, BHMA Grade 1 and IP65 weatherproofing. Its strongest points are connectivity and ease of use, owners specifically praise how it stays connected to Wi-Fi where their August and Yale locks constantly dropped, and setup, the app and auto-lock all get positive marks, along with a USB-C rechargeable battery that keeps a backup topped up. When the palm reader works, families love the hands-free entry. The recurring frustration, and the reason for its mixed rating, is that palm-vein recognition is slow and inconsistent: it scans slower than advertised (and slower than some cheaper palm locks), your hand must be positioned just right, it struggles for some family members and in cold weather, and a subset of owners hit calibration failures at setup. The body is also plastic and light, which worries some on security, the keyhole/USB cover tends to pop open, and it lacks an open-door sensor so it may try to lock while the door is open. Customer support is frequently praised for stepping in and replacing units. For an affordable palm-and-keypad lock with rock-solid Wi-Fi, it can be great, if you can live with a slow scanner and are comfortable relying on the keypad as backup.
- Affordable palm-and-keypad entry
- Reliable Wi-Fi where other locks dropped
- eufy ecosystem owners
- Keyless entry without a camera
Pros
- Stable Wi-Fi where August/Yale locks kept dropping
- Easy install and setup, with a well-made app and auto-lock
- Hands-free palm entry (when it reads reliably)
- USB-C rechargeable battery with an internal backup
- BHMA Grade 1 and IP65 weatherproofing, at a fair price
- Customer support that resolves issues and replaces units
Cons
- Palm-vein scanner is slow and inconsistent, worse in cold weather
- Calibration failures at setup for a subset of owners
- Plastic, lightweight body raises durability concerns
- Keyhole/USB cover doesn't stay seated; no open-door sensor
- No camera or doorbell (that's the FamiLock S3)
Who is the FamiLock E34 for?
This is the entry-level, camera-free FamiLock. It unlocks via palm-vein recognition, a keypad code, the app remotely, and a physical key, with Wi-Fi, auto-lock, ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 and IP65 weatherproofing, and no monthly fee. It works with Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, SmartThings and Matter, and runs on a rechargeable built-in battery (rated around 8 months) with a 750mAh internal backup. It best suits people who want affordable palm-and-keypad entry, buyers who need reliable Wi-Fi after other locks kept dropping, existing eufy owners, and anyone who wants keyless entry without a doorbell camera. If you want fast, dead-reliable palm scanning, a metal body, or an open-door sensor, read the caveats first, and note the S3 adds a camera and doorbell.
What buyers love
Wi-Fi reliability is a standout: multiple owners moved from August or Yale locks that constantly disconnected even on a mesh network, and found the eufy stays connected. Setup and installation are quick, the app is generally well made, and auto-lock and the overall operation earn praise. When palm entry works, families love the hands-free convenience, one owner enjoys walking up repeatedly just to watch it recognize their palm every time. The lock is very quiet and modern-looking, comes in finishes that match door hardware, and the USB-C rechargeable battery (which keeps an internal backup charged) is well liked. It carries a strong BHMA Grade 1 rating and IP65 weatherproofing, offers good value for the price, and fits neatly into the eufy ecosystem. Notably, customer support is repeatedly praised, several owners who left one-star reviews updated to five stars after support reached out, resolved calibration or hardware issues, or replaced the unit (in one case with a newer camera model).
What to know before you buy
The main weakness is the palm-vein scanner: owners consistently find it slow (slower than advertised and than some cheaper palm locks) and inconsistent, requiring your hand to be positioned just right, and it fails for some family members and in cold or winter conditions, some end up relying on the keypad passcode instead. A subset also hit calibration failures right after installation, which owners note is a fairly common eufy issue and can render the lock unusable until support helps (or a return). The body is plastic and noticeably lighter than a Kwikset or Schlage, which makes some owners question its durability and security. The front cover over the keyhole and USB port tends not to stay seated and needs pushing back into place, the app's UX draws criticism from some, and the E34 lacks an open-door sensor, so it can try to auto-lock while the door is still open. Getting past eufy's digital assistant to reach a human can be frustrating, though the outcome is usually positive. It also has no camera or doorbell, that is the FamiLock S3, and Wi-Fi setup uses a 2.4GHz network.
Is the FamiLock E34 worth it?
For an affordable, camera-free palm-and-keypad deadbolt, the eufy FamiLock E34 has real strengths: notably stable Wi-Fi, easy setup, a good app, auto-lock, a rechargeable battery with backup, and strong BHMA Grade 1 and IP65 ratings, all at a fair price. The catch is that its headline feature, palm-vein recognition, is slow and inconsistent for many owners, some face calibration issues, the plastic body feels less substantial than premium locks, and there is no open-door sensor. Support is a genuine plus when things go wrong. Buy it if you want reliable Wi-Fi and keyless entry and are happy to lean on the keypad while the palm reader is hit or miss; if you want fast, dependable biometrics, a metal build, or a built-in camera, weigh a different lock or the FamiLock S3.
Frequently asked questions
How well does the palm recognition work?
It is the weakest part. Owners find it slow (slower than advertised) and inconsistent, needing your hand positioned just right, and it can fail for some family members and in cold weather. Many end up relying on the keypad passcode. Enrolling carefully helps, but if fast, reliable biometrics are essential, this is worth weighing.
Does it have a camera or doorbell?
No. The E34 is the camera-free FamiLock, offering palm-vein and keypad entry only. If you want a built-in 2K video doorbell camera with local storage, that is the FamiLock S3 (or the S3 Max, which adds an interior video screen).
Is the Wi-Fi reliable?
Yes, this is a real strength. Multiple owners switched from August or Yale locks that constantly dropped their Wi-Fi connection even on mesh systems, and found the eufy stays reliably connected. Setup uses a 2.4GHz network.
Is the build sturdy?
It is BHMA Grade 1 rated and IP65 weatherproof, but the body is plastic and noticeably lighter than a Kwikset or Schlage, which leads some owners to question its physical durability. It looks sleek and modern, but if a heavy metal build is a priority, keep that in mind.
What if I have setup or hardware problems?
Some owners hit calibration failures at first setup (a fairly common eufy issue) or a loose keyhole/USB cover. The good news is that customer support is frequently praised, several one-star reviewers updated to five stars after support resolved the problem or sent a replacement, so buy from a seller with easy returns and reach out if you have trouble.
