If you're like me, you use a wireless smart lock because you live in an apartment or condo and can’t run wiring to your front door. And you know what a pain battery replacement can be. I’m lucky if I can go a few months before needing to replace the four AA batteries in my aging Eufy C30. So when I got a chance to take a look at the Lockin V7 Max here at CES 2026, a smart lock that works wirelessly yet never needs to be recharged, let's just say I was more than a little intrigued. I got even more interested when I learned it wasn’t relying on solar.
“AuraCharge requires no sunlight, no manual charging, and provides an infinite power supply,” said Bill Chen, CEO of Lockin.
In addition to three means of biometric ID like palm and vein scanning, you can also use a keypad. Ajay Kumar/CNET
Optical wireless charging
The company calls its proprietary technology AuraCharge, or optical wireless charging. The V7 Max charges using a beam of light that powers the smart lock wirelessly from inside the door using a base station that relies on line of sight within a 4-meter range. The base station does need to be plugged in, but it can charge the smart lock almost continuously as long as it’s not moved or blocked.
The base station itself isn't particularly large, about the size of a small speaker, so you can set it on an entry table or mount it. According to Lockin, the optical output is eye-safe and has dual safety certification from TÜV Rheinland and SGS.
Lockin says that the V7 Max is designed to ease battery anxiety because, unlike disposable cells, lithium-ion rechargeable batteries and solar-powered locks, it’s not reliant on replacement or light, or limited by battery endurance.
The V7 Max has a display on both sides to allow for two-way video. Ajay Kumar/CNET
Designed like a thin 15mm mortise smart lock, the V7 Max features all the high-end capabilities of Lockin. It has three types of biometric security, with finger vein, palm vein and 3D facial recognition. You can also use keypad and voice entry. Its Lockin AI allows it to customize its user experience for 10 core scenarios, including preventing theft, detecting and managing deliveries, and indexing video for keyword searches.
It also doubles as a video doorbell, with two HD cameras on both sides with a panoramic view. There are also two 5-inch touchscreens on the inside and outside of the lock, presumably showing you people at the door and letting you interact with delivery people and others. The V7 Max supports Google, Apple, Amazon and Samsung smart home systems as well as the Matter protocol.
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