Ring Unveils Its First Smart Lock With a Hand-Crank Power Feature
Ring is breaking into the smart lock market with a device designed to tackle battery anxiety by letting users manually generate power with a dial.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Entering the Smart Lock Market
Amazon-owned Ring is expanding its smart home portfolio by stepping into the smart lock market with a device designed to address a persistent consumer fear: getting locked out when the battery dies. According to coverage from TechCrunch, the new device takes a different approach than traditional equipment by providing a physical backup solution built directly into its thumb-turn dial.
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff explained that the concept originated when he was looking to secure a vacation home that saw infrequent use, leading to concerns about battery failure. Rather than relying solely on traditional physical keys or hidden backup methods like 9-volt battery terminals, the team engineered a hand-crank mechanism.
How the Hand-Crank Backup Works
If the lock's rechargeable battery runs completely out of power, users can turn the front latch or thumb-turn wheel back and forth three or four times. As detailed by Engadget, this action drives a small internal motor and supercapacitor to generate around three volts of power.
This manual generation supplies the unit with enough electricity to run fully for about 30 seconds rather than operating in a compromised low-power mode. This window allows visitors or homeowners to use the fingerprint reader, touchscreen keypad, Ring mobile app, or Alexa integration to gain entry.
Features, Connectivity, and Pricing
According to The Verge, the new Ring Smart Lock is expected to launch in the United States in early 2027, pending FCC approval, with a retail price of $249. It will be offered in three finishes: black, silver, and brass, and is designed to fit a standard single-cylinder deadbolt without requiring additional wiring.
The lock relies on Amazon's low-power, long-range Sidewalk network to connect wirelessly rather than depending entirely on home Wi-Fi. Under normal conditions, the built-in replaceable battery pack is designed to last for about a year on a single charge, alerting users via the Ring app when it is time to recharge.
Expanded Camera Lineup
Alongside the announcement of its first smart lock, Ring also rolled out a broad hardware update featuring several new security cameras. The hardware expansion includes multiple new Retinal 4K options, such as the Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, and Floodlight Cam 4K Plus.
Additionally, the company introduced indoor camera variations, including a pan-tilt model equipped with motion-tracking capabilities and a physical privacy shutter that can block both the lens and microphone when privacy is required.
Sources
- TechCrunchRing’s first smart lock can be hand-cranked when its battery dies
- The VergeRing’s first smart lock can be charged by turning a dial when the battery unexpectedly dies
- EngadgetRing's smart lock has a hand crank so it works even if the power's out
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