Ring's first smart lock can be hand-cranked if the battery dies

Ring, the Amazon-owned video doorbell maker, is entering a new market: smart locks.

The company’s first lock isn’t simply a copy of what’s already on the market. It tackles a specific concern that keeps many people from adopting this kind of smart home device: the fear of a dead battery leaving them locked out. To address that, Ring built a power dial into the lock — if the battery runs out, the homeowner can turn the dial a few times to generate enough power to open it.

Ring founder Jamie Siminoff said the idea came to him while shopping 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 said. He also worried that family or friends visiting the house could get stuck outside, since the door has no wired power source and any smart lock on it would depend entirely on the battery. Using AI, he set out to design a lock that could be hand-cranked just enough to power it open; once inside, the user can remove the rechargeable battery pack and recharge it normally.

Siminoff said the lock’s battery will last about a year and will alert users through the Ring app when it’s time to recharge. The app also lets users configure access for people who need it periodically, like dog walkers or house cleaners. Ring eventually wants to let third-party developers build specialized software for the lock — for example, letting Airbnb hosts regularly change access codes.

The lock offers four ways to get in: a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app, or Alexa. Siminoff acknowledged the lock is comparable to others already on the market, but he believes solving the lockout anxiety will be its biggest selling point. Other smart locks that do offer a backup method typically rely on something less secure, like a hidden spare key.

Ring’s smart lock fits a standard single-cylinder deadbolt and will be available to purchase in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2027, pending FCC authorization. It will come in black, silver, or brass finishes. Alongside the lock, Ring also introduced four new 4K cameras: the Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, Floodlight Cam 4K Plus, and a pan-tilt Indoor Cam 4K.

Why it matters

Siminoff says battery anxiety is one of the biggest reasons people avoid smart locks altogether, so solving it could remove a real barrier to adoption — even if, as he admits, Ring’s lock is otherwise comparable to rivals already on the market.