Ring has announced a new Smart Lock, its first entry into the smart lock category, expanding the company’s home security ecosystem and its line of Alexa devices. The product was unveiled this week, though a full launch date was not given.
The lock’s distinguishing feature is a manual dial that generates electricity when turned by hand. If the lock’s battery dies, a user can crank the dial on the external body until the pad lights up, then enter a PIN or scan a fingerprint to get inside.
That fallback addresses a common smart lock failure: returning home from an extended vacation to find the battery drained. Rather than carrying a physical key for such an emergency, the user powers the lock briefly by hand. The manual dial gives the Ring Smart Lock four ways to operate: a fingerprint reader, the keypad, the Ring app, or Alexa.
Ring says the lock’s Quick Release Ultra battery pack can be popped out once the user is inside and recharged at home, so owners do not have to replace batteries. For unlocking, it supports fingerprint scanning, PIN codes including temporary codes, Alexa commands, and the Ring app.
As a Ring product, the Smart Lock is expected to work within a Ring or Amazon Alexa ecosystem, and multiple compatible devices can be connected and controlled through Alexa or the Ring app. The approach may appeal to households with children or family members who unlock the door daily and would otherwise need to be rescued with a key if the battery failed.
Other locks rely on a 9V battery or a portable battery connected through a USB-C port for backup power, methods that may be unhelpful in an emergency for people who do not carry those items. Ring has not yet disclosed battery life estimates, Matter compatibility, or third-party integrations for the Smart Lock. The number of turns or the amount of cranking needed to generate power is also unknown and is expected to be tested once the lock is available.
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