By Sarah Mitchell
The Appleton Times
LAS VEGAS — Chamberlain, a leading manufacturer of garage door openers and smart home security devices, unveiled a groundbreaking new product at CES 2026 that promises to enhance home security through advanced facial recognition technology. The myQ Secure View 3-in-1 Smart Lock, priced at $279.99, functions not only as a traditional door lock but also as a 2K HDR video doorbell and integrates seamlessly with Chamberlain's existing garage systems. Announced on the show floor here in Las Vegas, the device uses face detection to automatically lock or unlock doors and even close garage doors when it spots unfamiliar faces approaching the home.
According to Chamberlain representatives, the lock requires users and family members to scan their faces via the myQ app to enable the recognition feature. "The lock will then ‘recognize’ your faces, allowing it to automatically unlock when you reach your doorstep," the company stated in a press release. Conversely, if the camera detects someone it doesn't recognize, it will promptly lock the door and shut the garage, providing an added layer of automated protection against potential intruders.
This innovation builds on Chamberlain's myQ ecosystem, which has been expanding its lineup of connected home devices. The new lock pairs directly with Chamberlain’s garage door openers and compatible accessories, such as the myQ Chime, myQ Smart Garage Video Keypad, and outdoor cameras. However, the company emphasized that full functionality, including the face detection and video storage, relies on a subscription service costing $7.99 per month.
Without the subscription, users can still receive basic notifications for lock access or motion detection, but these alerts won't specify what triggered them—whether a person, animal, vehicle, or package. Premium features unlocked by the subscription include saving and replaying videos for up to 30 days, preview notifications, adjustable motion sensitivity, and detailed alert descriptions. Chamberlain officials noted that these enhancements aim to give homeowners greater control and peace of mind in monitoring their property.
The myQ Secure View 3-in-1 Smart Lock offers multiple unlocking methods beyond facial recognition. Users can access it via fingerprint scan, a personalized PIN, the myQ mobile app, or a traditional physical key. Connecting over Wi-Fi, the device boasts a quick two-second unlock time and a battery life of up to six months, making it practical for everyday use.
One notable limitation, as reported by tech analysts covering the CES event, is the lock's lack of integration with major smart home platforms. Unlike many competitors, it does not work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home. Instead, Chamberlain has focused on compatibility within its own closed ecosystem and partnerships with subscription-based security providers like Vivint, Ring, and Alarm.com.
This closed approach has drawn mixed reactions from industry observers. Some praise the tight integration for reliability, while others argue it limits user flexibility in a market dominated by interconnected devices. "Like the other products in the myQ ecosystem, you can’t use the lock with some of the most popular smart home platforms," noted a review from The Verge, highlighting the potential drawbacks for consumers invested in broader smart home setups.
Chamberlain's move comes amid a surge in demand for smart security solutions, particularly those incorporating AI-driven features like facial recognition. The global smart lock market has grown rapidly over the past decade, with sales projected to reach $2.5 billion by 2025, according to market research firm Statista. Events like CES, held annually in Las Vegas, serve as a key platform for companies to showcase such advancements to a worldwide audience of tech enthusiasts, retailers, and investors.
The myQ Secure View is already available for existing myQ users, with a full launch scheduled for all customers on January 13th. Chamberlain has not yet disclosed sales figures or initial user feedback, but early demonstrations at CES drew crowds interested in the device's dual role as both a lock and a surveillance tool. Privacy advocates, however, have raised concerns about the implications of widespread facial recognition in residential settings, though Chamberlain maintains that all data processing occurs locally on the device to minimize risks.
In the broader context of Chamberlain's history, the company has been a staple in the garage door industry since 1922, evolving from mechanical openers to smart, app-controlled systems. The myQ platform launched in 2011 and has since amassed millions of users, focusing on seamless integration for garage and entryway security. This new lock represents a natural extension, combining door access with video monitoring in a single unit.
Experts in home automation suggest that while the subscription model is common in the industry—similar to services from Ring or Nest—it could deter budget-conscious buyers. "This feature is only available with a $7.99 per month myQ subscription, as is the case with several other ‘premium’ functionalities," Chamberlain explained, underscoring the tiered access to features. Competitors like August or Yale offer locks with more open integrations, often at comparable prices but without the garage-specific automations.
At CES 2026, which runs through January 9th in Las Vegas, Chamberlain's booth featured live demos of the lock in action, showing how it could differentiate between authorized family members and strangers in real time. Attendees, including homeowners and security professionals, tested the facial scan setup, which takes just a few minutes in the app. The event itself, drawing over 100,000 visitors annually, underscores the tech industry's push toward AI-enhanced security amid rising concerns over home break-ins, which the FBI reported numbered over 1.1 million in the U.S. in 2022.
Looking ahead, Chamberlain plans to expand the myQ ecosystem further, potentially adding more AI capabilities like voice commands within its own app. For now, the Secure View lock positions the company as a niche player in smart security, appealing to those prioritizing garage-door synergy over universal compatibility. As smart homes become more prevalent—with an estimated 500 million connected households worldwide by 2025—this device could carve out a significant market share for Chamberlain.
Consumers interested in the myQ Secure View 3-in-1 Smart Lock can pre-order through Chamberlain's website or authorized retailers starting today. With its launch just weeks away, early adopters may soon experience the convenience of a door that knows its owners—and bars the rest. As the lines between physical security and digital intelligence blur, products like this one highlight the evolving landscape of home protection.
The Appleton Times will continue to monitor developments in smart home technology and provide updates as more details emerge from CES 2026.