Review: HexForce G1 Fingerprint Padlock $80

Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3MFBlCh Price as reviewed: $80 Smart Fingerprint Padlock - HEXFORCE G1 Heavy Duty Dual-Ball Locking Padlock, IP67 Weatherproof, Biometric and Bluetooth Control, 9MM Diameter Long Shackle Design for Shed Fence Gate Garden This padlock can be opened by a fingerprint, or via the phone app when you are within bluetooth distance. You CAN use the padlock without ever installing the phone app, as it includes a "USB hardware key", but you have very basic functionality (add a fingerprint, delete all fingerprints and reset the lock) without the app. With the app, you can add different people to the lock, and each person can have 1 or more fingerprints registered. You can delete a specific person without deleting everyone else. The app claims to allow you to program "timed entry" or "limited time" permission for some users, but I could not get this feature to work in my testing. The lock claims to work for up to 18 months (when in power saving mode, and only opening the lock 5 times a day) on the included CR2 battery. [The only advantage of NOT being in power saving mode is that you can unlock the lock with your phone without first touching the fingerprint sensor to wake it up.] Also with the app, you get a log of the dates/times that the lock was opened, and by who. (It also tells you if an unauthorized fingerprint tried to open the lock, and you can also ask for "hard knock" alerts.) The fingerprint sensor worked very well. It takes about 5-8 presses to "register" a fingerprint, but after that it will recognize the fingerprint in any orientation. [In my testing, the only time it didn't recognize my fingerprints was when I had dipped my finger in water. A wet sensor or wet finger does not work, so you'll have to dry off your finger and the lock, or use your phone to unlock it.] Physical security wise, it looks to be as good as a masterlock. Obviously somebody with an angle grinder or large bolt cutters will be able to cut it off. I can't evaluate the cyber security of the app/bluetooth, but expect that somebody cutting the lock off will be a bigger issue. If the battery runs down, you can plug a USB-C powerbank into the lock to power it up and unlock it. If your fingerprint stops working for some reason, you can use the supplied "USB KEY" to unlock the padlock. Somebody could unscrew the battery compartment and take the battery out, which would keep you from unlocking the lock until you got a USB powerbank, but this would not let them open the lock.