Brief

Ring launches first smart lock with hand‑crank backup for dead batteries

The Amazon‑owned brand adds a power dial and integrates with Alexa, promising a solution to the common dead‑battery issue.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 15:57:31 GMT

Ring, the Amazon‑owned video doorbell maker, announced its first smart lock on 7 October 2026, saying the device can be hand‑cranked to power the lock when the battery runs out.

What happened

The Ring Smart Lock will be released in the first quarter of 2027. It features a thumb‑turn power dial that generates enough energy for a few moments to unlock the door if the internal rechargeable battery is depleted. The lock supports fingerprint, touchscreen keypad, and remote operation via the Ring app, and it integrates with Amazon Echo and existing Ring doorbells and cameras. It will be offered in three finishes – black, silver and brass.

What the reports add

9to5Mac noted that the hand‑crank mechanism is intended to prevent users from being locked out when the battery dies, and that Ring is also unveiling new low‑light security cameras alongside the lock. TechCrunch added that the idea originated from Ring founder Jamie Siminoff’s experience buying a lock for a rarely used vacation home, and that the lock’s power dial can be turned a few times to supply temporary power before the rechargeable battery pack is swapped out for charging.

What was said

Jamie Siminoff told TechCrunch, “I struggled because this particular house will get used very little, and I know the freaking battery will die on it… I’m like, well, why don’t we just fix this.”

How it came about

Ring’s move follows a wave of new smart‑lock offerings, such as ULTRALOQ’s UWB‑enabled Bolt Mission announced on 25 September 2026 (Felo coverage). The addition of a hand‑crank backup addresses a long‑standing consumer concern about battery reliability, a problem highlighted in recent market analyses of smart‑home adoption.

Key facts

Ring announced its first smart lock on 7 Oct 2026. (9to5mac.com)
The lock can be hand‑cranked to generate power when the battery is dead. (techcrunch.com)
Availability is slated for Q1 2027. (9to5mac.com)
Founder Jamie Siminoff said the idea came from his experience with a vacation‑home lock. (techcrunch.com)
The device integrates with Amazon Echo and Ring’s app, and comes in black, silver and brass finishes. (9to5mac.com)