Ring Smart Lock Uses a Hand Crank to Solve Dead Battery Lockouts

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Ring Smart Lock Uses a Hand Crank to Solve Dead Battery Lockouts

Ring is entering the smart lock market with a new $249.99 model that includes an unusual backup feature: a mechanical power dial that can generate enough electricity to unlock the door when the internal battery is completely dead.

The Ring Smart Lock places the dial below its exterior keypad. If the battery runs out while you are away from home, turning the dial several times temporarily powers the lock so you can enter your PIN and get inside.

The system is designed to remove one of the main concerns surrounding electronic locks. Many existing models require a physical backup key or an external battery if their internal power source fails.

Ring's approach means you do not need to carry either.

Hand Crank Provides Emergency Power

The mechanical dial is the most distinctive part of the lock.

Rather than acting as an alternative physical locking mechanism, it generates enough temporary electricity to wake the electronics and let the keypad operate.

That keeps the lock focused on digital access while providing a way around a completely discharged battery.

Ring Smart Lock detailInformation
Emergency accessMechanical power dial
Backup physical key requiredNo
Main access methodKeypad and PIN
Remote controlMobile app
Remote connectivityAmazon Sidewalk
WiFi required for remote managementNo
InstallationReplaces standard single cylinder deadbolt
Wiring requiredNo
FinishesBlack, Silver, Brass
Price$249.99
AvailabilityEarly 2027

Ring says the idea is to reduce the anxiety that can come with depending entirely on a battery powered lock.

A dead battery should therefore become an inconvenience rather than a situation that leaves you unable to enter your own home.

Remote Management Works Through Amazon Sidewalk

Outside the emergency power system, the product works much like other modern smart locks.

You can use the Ring mobile app to check whether the door is locked, control the lock remotely and manage who is allowed to enter.

Temporary access can also be configured for specific people and times.

For example, you could give a pet sitter access during a scheduled visit without providing a permanent PIN or physical key.

Several remote functions operate through Amazon Sidewalk rather than your home's WiFi network.

These include syncing PIN codes, checking the lock's status and receiving warnings when the battery is running low.

Unlocking commands themselves are processed locally by the deadbolt.

That separation allows important management features to remain available even when the home's regular WiFi connection is unavailable.

Ring Is Tying the Lock Into Its Wider Smart Home Platform

The new lock is also designed to fit within Amazon's broader connected home ecosystem.

Ring already offers security cameras, video doorbells and related home monitoring products, while Amazon has a large collection of Alexa compatible devices.

Adding a lock gives customers another part of the home's physical security system that can be managed through the same ecosystem.

The product is designed to replace a standard single cylinder deadbolt and does not require additional electrical wiring.

That should make installation more practical for homes that already use conventional mechanical deadbolts.

Three Finishes Will Be Available

Ring plans to sell the Smart Lock in Black, Silver and Brass finishes.

The product is expected to arrive in early 2027 with a suggested retail price of $249.99.

The mechanical power dial is likely to be its main selling point because it addresses a common weakness of smart locks without requiring a separate emergency device.

Most of the remaining features are familiar, including app based management, temporary access controls and battery notifications.

If the dial works reliably in everyday use, Ring may have found a practical way to make fully digital locks easier to trust. The lock still depends on electronics for normal operation, but a completely dead battery no longer automatically means you need a backup key, an external power source or a locksmith.

Tighten repeated points and phrasingClarify Amazon Sidewalk limitations

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