Ring unveils $249 smart lock with emergency hand-crank charging dial

Hand crank mechanism and emergency power

Amazon subsidiary Ring announced its first smart lock on Wednesday, featuring a manual backup mechanism built to eliminate lockouts caused by depleted batteries. The hardware includes a front thumb-turn wheel called the Power Dial that acts as a manual generator. Inside the unit, rotating the dial back and forth spins a small motor that charges an internal supercapacitor to roughly three volts. Sources indicate that between three and eight turns provide 10 to 30 seconds of full operational power, avoiding low-power operating compromises. That temporary charge gives users sufficient time to authenticate and retract the single-cylinder deadbolt without relying on hidden emergency USB ports or external 9-volt battery terminals. The primary power source is Ring's replaceable Quick Release Ultra Battery Pack, which the company rates for approximately one year of regular operation.

Access controls and wireless architecture

The lock supports four standard entry options: an integrated fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring mobile application, and voice commands through Amazon Alexa devices. Property owners can register multiple users, configure scheduled entry windows, and issue temporary access codes that expire automatically after a specified time. The hardware mounts onto standard single-cylinder deadbolts without requiring modifications to the door frame. To manage remote alerts and authorization, the lock connects over the Amazon Sidewalk low-power long-range network rather than direct domestic Wi-Fi. Ring plans to open the system to third-party software developers in the future to assist vacation rental hosts who need to update access credentials between bookings. Founder Jamie Siminoff described consumer anxiety regarding power depletion as a primary obstacle for the product category.

I do think the power thing is a huge limiter of why people are not buying, and why they're not putting them in, and why they're worried about them.

Development history and planned release

Siminoff conceived the mechanism while outfitting an infrequently visited personal property where electrical connections were absent and battery failure risked locking out guests. To verify whether a manual crank could produce adequate energy for electronic authentication, he tested design models using Amazon Q, the internal artificial intelligence assistant. The Ring Smart Lock will launch in the United States in the first quarter of 2027 at a retail price of $249, pending approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Siminoff stated that the team aims to begin shipments closer to January than March. Ring will sell the lock in black, silver, and brass finishes without requiring additional electrical wiring during installation.

For us, it's really around like making your home more secure... more manageable, and more peace of mind.

Expanded security camera portfolio

Alongside the deadbolt, Ring introduced five security cameras supporting its Retinal Vision 4K standard, with preorders and sales opening on Wednesday. The lineup includes the $99.99 Indoor Cam 4K with a 115-degree field of view and a physical privacy shutter, plus a $69.99 Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K featuring 360-degree motorized panning. For outdoor monitoring, Ring listed the $149.99 Outdoor Cam 4K Plus across battery, wired, solar, and Power-over-Ethernet configurations with a 140-degree field of view. The catalog also adds the $199.99 Spotlight Cam 4K Plus with an integrated 550-lumen deterrent light and the $219.99 Floodlight Cam 4K Plus with continuous recording.