Ring announces first smart lock with a hand crank for dead batteries
In short
Amazon-owned Ring announced its first smart lock, which uses a hand-cranked dial to generate enough power to open the door when its rechargeable battery is dead. The company said the lock will cost $249, come in black, silver and brass, and go on sale in the US in early 2027, pending FCC approval. Documents differ on how long the crank can power the lock: Engadget reported about 30 seconds, CNET roughly 20 seconds.
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Amazon-owned Ring announced its first smart lock, the Ring Smart Lock, on 7 October. The company said the lock will sell for $249 in black, silver and brass finishes and is expected to be available in the US in early 2027, pending FCC approval. Instead of a physical backup key, the lock uses a crank built into its thumb-turn dial: turning it by hand generates enough power to unlock the door. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The lock contains a small motor and a supercapacitor. CNET, which saw a private demonstration by Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, reported that a few spins give roughly 20 seconds of operation. Engadget reported the crank generates about three volts, enough to run the lock fully for about 30 seconds. The Verge said Amazon does not specify how many turns are needed but claims “a few times” will generate enough power to unlock the door. CNET reported Siminoff saying the crank works even with the battery completely removed. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Siminoff described the reasoning behind the design. TechCrunch quoted him saying the idea came while he was looking for a lock for a vacation home: “I struggled because this particular house will get used very little, and I know the freaking battery will die on it.” He also said he worried that visiting family or friends could be stuck outside at a door without a power source. CNET reported he called keys a “medieval” backup tool. [ 2 , 4 ]
Ring said the rechargeable battery should last about a year and that the Ring app will alert users when it is time to charge. The lock offers four ways in: a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app and Alexa voice control. The app allows users to configure access for people needing periodic entry, such as dog walkers or cleaners, with temporary codes that expire after a set time; TechCrunch reported the company eventually wants third-party app makers to build specialized software for the lock. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Installation requires no wiring, The Verge reported, because the lock uses Ring's replaceable Quick Release Ultra Battery Pack, and it connects to other devices over Amazon's low-power Sidewalk network rather than Wi-Fi. The lock does not include a camera. Engadget reported Ring is not committed to a launch date beyond the first few months of 2027, though Siminoff hopes to release it closer to January than March, and that customers can register interest now. [ 1 , 3 ]
The outlets framed the crank as a response to a known weakness of the category. CNET said smart locks are rarely hardwired and rely on replaceable or rechargeable batteries, making lockouts the biggest pain point, and that existing answers include keys and experiments with solar panels. The Verge said other smart locks use hidden USB ports or metal contacts for a 9-volt battery. [ 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The launch moves Ring, known for video doorbells and cameras, into the smart lock market and targets the dead-battery lockout that the outlets describe as a main reason buyers avoid smart locks. Availability is limited to the US for now and requires FCC approval, so the effect outside that market is likely to be indirect.
Key facts
- Ring, which is owned by Amazon, announced its first smart lock, called the Ring Smart Lock. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- A crank built into the thumb-turn dial can be turned by hand to generate enough power to unlock the door when the battery is dead. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The lock will cost $249 and come in black, silver and brass finishes. [ 1 , 3 ]
- It is expected to be available in the US in early 2027, pending FCC approval. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Entry options are a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app and Alexa voice control. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ring said the built-in rechargeable battery should last about a year and will alert users through the Ring app when it needs charging. [ 1 , 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Amazon-owned Ring announced its first smart lock. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The lock has a hand-cranked dial that generates enough power to unlock the door, so no physical backup key is needed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The lock can be opened with a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app or Alexa. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Ring said the battery lasts about a year and warns users through the app when it needs charging. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The lock is priced at $249 and offered in black, silver and brass. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ring expects to release the lock in the US in early 2027, pending FCC approval. [ 1 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How long the crank-powered charge lasts. Engadget reported the lock runs for 30 seconds on a cranked charge, while CNET said roughly 20 seconds; The Verge said Amazon does not specify.
- How many turns of the dial are needed. Engadget reported three or four turns generate power, CNET said roughly four or five spins, and The Verge said Amazon claims only “a few times.”
- The exact release date within early 2027. Ring has not set a date beyond the first few months of 2027, and The Verge said the launch is pending FCC approval.