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Ring has announced a smart lock with a built-in hand crank that can generate enough electricity to operate the lock briefly if its battery runs out. The company says the planned $249 lock is expected in the first few months of 2027, but has not set a precise release date.
Ring has announced a smart lock that uses a built-in hand crank to generate emergency power if its battery runs out, offering another way for people to regain access without a spare battery or external power source. The company plans to sell the lock for $249, with availability expected in the first few months of 2027; it has not confirmed an exact launch date.
The small wheel is built into the front of the lock. According to the report by The Ambient, Ring says turning it back and forth three or four times generates enough electricity to run the lock for about 30 seconds. That brief window is intended to let a user unlock the door using the fingerprint reader, keypad, Ring app or Alexa.
The mechanism uses a small motor and a supercapacitor. The report says a few firm turns generate around three volts, allowing the lock to operate normally for that short period rather than switching to a restricted low-power mode. Ring says the lock’s built-in battery should last up to a year on a single charge, so the crank is an emergency backup rather than the expected everyday power source.
The planned model uses a single-cylinder deadbolt and does not require additional wiring. Ring plans to offer it in Black, Silver and Brass. The report says customers can register interest, but does not provide a confirmed shipping date beyond the early-2027 window.
A Backup Beyond Batteries
The crank addresses a practical concern with connected locks: if the battery is depleted, a person may worry about being unable to unlock the door. A backup that generates its own electricity could reduce reliance on a charged phone, a replacement battery, a USB cable or another external power source. That could matter most when the lock has been left unused for an extended period or its battery is not replaced in time.
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff told The Ambient that concern about losing access when a smart lock runs out of power can deter people from buying one. The crank is meant to answer that objection, though its usefulness will depend on how reliably it works in real-world conditions and how the lock behaves after its brief emergency power window ends. Ring’s claims describe a way to operate the lock temporarily, not a source of ongoing power.
Siminoff also pointed to remote cabins as a possible use case, according to the report. A lock at a property visited infrequently may be harder to monitor or maintain than one used every day. The crank could provide an additional option in that situation, although the announcement does not establish how the lock will perform after long periods without use.
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Ring’s Planned Lock Launch
The hand-crank lock was among several products Ring announced, according to The Ambient. The company is also preparing four 4K cameras: the Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, Floodlight Cam 4K Plus and Indoor Cam 4K. Those camera announcements add to the product news, but the lock’s emergency power feature is the distinct development covered here.
Ring’s stated launch window is the first few months of 2027. Siminoff reportedly hopes to release it closer to January than March, but that is an aim rather than a confirmed date. The reported $249 price is the planned price; the source material does not give details about taxes, regional pricing or whether the price could change before launch.
“Concerns about losing access when a smart lock runs out of power can put people off buying one.”
— Jamie Siminoff, Ring founder, as quoted in The Ambient
Release Details Still Pending
Ring has not confirmed a precise launch date, and the source report gives no final shipping schedule. It is also not clear whether the planned $249 price will apply in every market or remain unchanged through release. The announcement does not provide independent testing of the crank, its durability, or how well it performs after repeated use.
The reported 30-second operating period is brief. Details about what happens if a user cannot unlock the door within that window, whether another crank cycle can immediately provide more power, and how the lock signals a depleted battery were not included in the source material. Those questions remain unanswered ahead of launch.
Details to Watch Before Launch
Ring’s next major milestone is to confirm the lock’s release date and availability within its planned early-2027 window. Prospective buyers can register interest, according to The Ambient, but the report does not describe a preorder date or a full set of technical specifications.
Further product information would clarify how the emergency mechanism works in practice, including the lock’s battery warnings, the time available to unlock after cranking, and whether the feature has been tested across repeated cycles. Until Ring provides those details, the announced performance and battery-life figures should be treated as the company’s claims about a product that has not yet launched.
Key Questions
How does Ring’s hand-crank smart lock generate power?
The report says a small motor and supercapacitor convert turns of a wheel on the lock’s front into electricity. Ring says three or four turns provide enough power for a brief operating period.
How long can the lock operate after cranking?
Ring’s reported estimate is around 30 seconds of operation. The source does not explain whether users can crank it again if they need more time.
What will the Ring Smart Lock cost?
The planned price is $249, according to The Ambient. Ring has not confirmed whether that price will vary by market or change before release.
When is the lock expected to be available?
The current reported window is the first few months of 2027. Ring has not announced a precise launch date.
How long is the lock’s battery expected to last?
Ring says its built-in battery should last up to a year on a single charge. That is a company estimate; the source does not provide independent battery testing.
Source: rss
