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Ring has announced a Smart Lock with a hand crank that can generate enough electricity to operate the lock for about 30 seconds when its battery is depleted. The company plans to price it at $249 and release it in the first months of 2027, but has not set a precise launch date.
Ring has announced a Smart Lock that can generate emergency power with a hand crank, giving users a short window to unlock the door if the built-in battery runs out. The company says turning a small wheel on the lock three or four times supplies about 30 seconds of operation; the planned price is $249, with a launch expected in the first months of 2027.
The crank is built into the front of the lock. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff said the feature responds to a concern that can deter people from buying connected locks: losing access when their power source is depleted. According to the report by The Ambient, turning the wheel back and forth several times generates about three volts to run the lock temporarily.
During that brief window, users should be able to operate the lock using its fingerprint reader or keypad, or through the Ring app or Alexa, the report said. Inside the device, a small motor and a supercapacitor store and deliver the generated electricity. Ring’s approach is intended to let the lock operate normally for a short time rather than fall back to a restricted low-power mode.
The lock is designed as a single-cylinder deadbolt and does not require additional wiring, according to the report. Ring says its built-in battery should last for up to a year on a charge. The planned finishes are Black, Silver and Brass. The company has not announced a firm release day; the current window is the first few months of 2027, with Siminoff reportedly hoping for a date closer to January than March.
A Backup Without a Spare Battery
The hand crank addresses one specific risk of a smart lock: a dead battery can leave a resident unable to use electronic entry methods. A backup that generates its own short-term power could be useful when a replacement battery, charging cable or external power source is not available. It is also a selling point for people hesitant to replace a conventional keyed lock with a connected device.
That backup is not intended to replace routine charging or provide long-term power. Ring’s stated 30-second operating window is for getting the lock working briefly, not for continued use after the battery fails. Siminoff also sees possible value at places such as remote cabins, where owners may not visit often and may have fewer supplies on hand. Whether the crank proves convenient in practice will depend on how easily it can be used and how reliably the brief power supply supports entry.
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Ring’s Battery-Life Assurance
Ring’s announced lock pairs a conventional deadbolt format with connected access features, including fingerprint, keypad, app and Alexa operation. The hand crank is an emergency measure alongside the rechargeable built-in battery, which Ring says can last up to a year per charge. That figure is the company’s stated expectation; the report does not describe independent battery testing or explain how actual life may vary with use.
The lock was announced alongside other upcoming Ring products, including four cameras with 4K video and a Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K. The lock’s manual power generator stands out among those announcements because it targets the practical concern of being locked out when an electronic device loses power. Ring is accepting interest registrations, according to The Ambient, but a specific release date and further purchasing details have not been provided.
“Concerns about losing access when a smart lock runs out of power can put people off buying one.”
— Jamie Siminoff, Ring founder, as reported by The Ambient
Launch Date and Testing Still Pending
Ring has not confirmed a precise launch date, and the planned first-months-of-2027 window could change. The report does not provide independent tests showing how much effort the crank requires, how consistently it generates enough power, or whether every entry method will work throughout the stated 30-second period. Further details, including the lock’s dimensions, installation requirements beyond the absence of additional wiring, and battery replacement or service options, have not been provided in the supplied information.
The up-to-one-year battery estimate is a company claim, not a result documented by the report through testing. It is also unclear whether the emergency generator can be used in all conditions or how the lock signals that its battery is nearing depletion.
Ring’s 2027 Release Window
Ring is expected to provide more information as the planned launch approaches. For now, the company has given a broad release window covering the first months of 2027 and a planned $249 price, without confirming an exact date or whether that price includes installation or other services. Prospective buyers can register interest, according to The Ambient.
Product demonstrations, final specifications and hands-on testing should help clarify how the crank works in everyday use and whether its brief emergency power supply reliably supports entry. Until Ring shares those details, the lock’s stated battery life and hand-crank performance should be treated as company-provided specifications rather than independently verified results.
Key Questions
How does the Ring Smart Lock’s hand crank work?
A small wheel on the front of the lock can be turned back and forth. The Ambient reports that three or four turns generate enough electricity to operate the lock for about 30 seconds.
What can users do during the emergency power window?
The reported access options include the fingerprint reader, keypad, Ring app or Alexa. Ring’s described power window is brief, so the feature is intended to provide a chance to unlock the door rather than sustained operation.
How long should the lock’s battery last?
Ring says the built-in battery should last up to a year on one charge. That is the company’s estimate; the supplied report does not include independent testing or details about how usage affects battery life.
When will the Ring Smart Lock be available, and how much will it cost?
The planned price is $249, with availability expected in the first few months of 2027. Ring has not confirmed a precise launch date.
Does the lock need wiring or a separate power source?
The report describes it as a single-cylinder deadbolt that does not require additional wiring. Its built-in battery is the regular power source, while the hand crank is intended as emergency backup.
Source: rss
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