Ring Unveils Its First Smart Lock Featuring a Hand-Cranked Battery Backup

Introduction to Ring's First Smart Lock

One of the most frustrating common issues with just about every smart lock on the market is that, eventually, their batteries are going to run out. If you are anything like many forgetful homeowners who put off low battery warnings, you will eventually find yourself locked out of your house. For many, this means scrambling to find a temporary power source or waiting outside.

While a few smart locks featuring solar panels entered the market recently, Ring — the Amazon-owned video doorbell company — believes it has engineered a far more reliable physical solution with the introduction of its very first smart lock.

Never Worry About Dead Batteries Again

The Ring Smart Lock introduces an ingenious mechanical failsafe to address the perennial problem of dead batteries. Positioned right below the keypad is a small, unassuming manual dial. If the lock's internal batteries completely run out of juice, users can simply twist this dial back and forth a few times. This physical motion powers an internal supercapacitor.

This kinetic charging mechanism generates just enough immediate power for the lock to light up, allowing you to punch in your PIN code and regain entry to your home. Hands-on testing with demo units shows that just a few short twists provide enough juice for a 20-to-30-second window, which is more than enough time to unlock the door.

Design, Connectivity, and Features

Beyond its innovative kinetic backup feature, the Ring Smart Lock is built to compete directly with standard smart locks on the market. It includes an integrated fingerprint reader positioned right above the numeric keypad for quick biometric authentication.

When it comes to connectivity, the device relies on Bluetooth during the initial setup phase. However, instead of traditional Wi-Fi, it leverages Amazon Sidewalk to maintain its cloud connection. This setup means you will need an existing Amazon Echo device nearby to act as a bridge. While it lacks modern standards like Matter, NFC, or Aliro, it does boast a robust ANSI Grade 2 certification for high-level residential security.

The Ring Smart Lock is scheduled to hit the market in the first quarter of 2027 with a retail price of $249. It will be offered in three distinct finishes to match various home aesthetics: black, silver, and bronze.

Expanding the Smart Home Lineup: New 4K Cameras and Pan-Tilt Options

Alongside the flagship smart lock announcement, Ring is rolling out an extensive portfolio of high-resolution security cameras. This includes a new lineup of 4K cameras for both indoor and outdoor placement, as well as Ring's very first pan-tilt model.

The newly announced camera lineup includes:

• Outdoor Cam 4K Plus: Priced at $149.99, designed for rugged outdoor perimeter monitoring.
• Spotlight Cam 4K Plus: Priced at $199.99, featuring enhanced lighting and sharp resolution.
• Floodlight Cam 4K Plus: Priced at $219.99, built for heavy-duty yard and driveway surveillance.
• Indoor Cam 4K: Priced at $99.99, offering a 115-degree field of view, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and a physical privacy shutter.
• Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K: Priced at $69.99, featuring a 360-degree rotation and 175-degree tilt to track moving subjects seamlessly across any indoor space.

With these fresh security hardware announcements, Ring continues to cement its dominance in the smart home ecosystem, offering consumers innovative ways to protect their properties without the dread of power failures.