TCL D2 Plus Fingerprint Smart Lock review: It’s better than basic

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US$119.99

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TCL entered the smart lock market in late 2024 with several ambitious and expensive locks that failed and may have been rushed to market without sufficient testing. Since then, the manufacturer has taken a step back and is adding more thoughtful additions to its lineup, including the launch of a budget offering, the TCL D2 Plus Fingerprint Smart Lock Plus.

Specifications

TCL D2 Plus is very similar to its older brother. TKL D2 Probut with major changes on the inside: the Pro is a palm vein scan lock, while the Plus uses a simpler fingerprint scanner as the main authentication system. The biggest benefit is that this change helps keep the price down, with a suggested retail price of $110 compared to $170 for the Pro model. That $60 difference makes it a solid value.

TCL now has its own mobile app, TCL Home, and it's a big improvement over the regular Tuya app it used to use.

The exterior of the aluminum lock, which is IP55 weatherproof but not ANSI/BHMA certified, offers only a few surprises, including the aforementioned fingerprint reader, touch-sensitive numeric keypad, and NFC card support (the SKU reviewed here doesn't come with cards, but you can buy lock included with several key fobs on Amazon just a few dollars more). An open keyhole along with two keys provides another method of entry.

The discreet doorbell button is built into the lock keypad. When a visitor presses the button, you will hear a beep and receive a push notification on your smartphone. This product No the video intercom, however, does not have video functions at all; TCL also does not offer an optional bell that can be installed inside the home. The USB-C port at the bottom of the exterior trim can be used for emergency access if the lock's batteries run low while you're away.

Speaking of batteries, you'll need to bring your own: eight AA cells, which TCL says will provide about 6 months of battery life. The lock connects directly to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, eliminating the need for a smart home bridge or hub. Amazon Alexa and Google Home are supported if you want to expand your ecosystem beyond the basic TCL Home app.

Installation and configuration

The installation process for the TCL D2 Plus is the same as for entry-level locks, with two bolts connecting the outer trim to the mounting frame on the inside of the door. The inner trim attaches to this frame with just two extra bolts, and the two components are connected by a single electrical cable, making installation quick compared to the rest of the industry. Putting eight batteries in place seems to be the more cumbersome part of the process.

More good news: TCL has abandoned the terrible Tuya app, which was originally used for TKL D1 series and now has its own TCL Home mobile app. This is a big improvement and setting up a lock using this app was easy. The app automatically detected the lock after powering on, and pressing the button under the battery door completed the connection process. After answering a few simple questions, I locked my Wi-Fi network, and after three (!) firmware updates, it was ready to use.

Using the TCL D2 Plus Smart Lock with Fingerprint

The TCL D2 Plus is largely intuitive and easy to use, although you'll have to spend a little time in the settings menu to fully optimize it. One option I recommend changing immediately is to turn off “Device Security”, which requires you to enter a PIN into the app every time you use it, which quickly becomes very tedious.

Other settings cover the basics: auto-lock can be set for periods ranging from 10 to 120 seconds (though the lock does not have a door sensor and will lock regardless of whether it's open or closed), and incorrect attempt protection allows you to specify 5 to 10 incorrect authorization attempts before the lock is disabled for 2 to 5 minutes. Notifications can be individually configured for unlocking, locking, doorbell pressing, and alarm conditions (such as activating the lock on an incorrect attempt).

Each of these activities is logged in the Events tab on the Home screen and summarized by day and week in the Home Assistant tab. Another feature on this tab is called Return Home Reminder. This is a type of alarm/reminder that sends a notification to the administrator if the configured user has not returned home or answered the door within the time period you specify. It's clearly designed to help parents keep an eye on their kids, and it performed well in my testing.

User management is well thought out, with credentials assigned to each user. Each user can be assigned multiple fingerprints, PINs (4 to 8 digits), and NFC cards. In total, the lock supports up to 100 credentials of each type. Fingerprint and NFC cards always provide 24/7 access; PINs can be permanent or time-limited, but there is no option for recurring passwords that are only valid from, say, 9am to 5pm on weekdays. Duress PINs can be used to send an alert to the administrator if a user opens a door under duress so that the administrator can notify authorities. Finally, one-time passwords for immediate use can be generated upon request within the application; they expire within 10 minutes and only one can be active at a time.

In my several days of testing, I didn't encounter any major issues with the TCL Home app or the lock's input systems. My only real complaint about the use of the lock was in some aspects of the hardware itself. The twist handle requires a lot of pressure to get the bolt to come out all the way, and the motor can't do the job either, even though the bolt did. majority the path to full extension is just a couple of millimeters short.

I was also not impressed with the way the deadbolt shakes when it's pulled out, feeling a little loose and wobbly. Without formal testing, it is difficult to determine how secure a lock is physically; but strangely enough, it just doesn't seem that safe. Please note that the lock is not ANSI/BHMA certified.

Meanwhile, the doorbell on the front of the lock seems like an afterthought. The tiny icon doesn't light up until the keyboard lights up, and I would never expect a visitor to find a button to press. However it is very easy accidentally press it when trying to open the door. My advice: mute it and forget about it.

Is TCL D2 Plus Smart Fingerprint Lock Worth Buying?

I've seen the retail price for the TCL D2 Plus Fingerprint Smart Lock drop to $80, which makes it a very good deal. It's a little less of a deal at $120 MSRP, but it still seems like a reasonable price for what you get.

At the very least, this lock represents a significant upgrade over what is currently available. TKL D1 serieswhich puts TCL in a much better position to be worth considering in the smart lock space.

This review is part of an in-depth TechHive review best smart locks.