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Ring’s upcoming Smart Lock has a manual crank that generates power when its built-in battery is depleted. The company says three or four back-and-forth turns provide about 30 seconds of full operation, with US release planned for early 2027 at $249. UK pricing and availability have not been announced.
Ring says its upcoming Smart Lock will include a hand crank that can power the lock for about 30 seconds after its internal battery runs flat, giving an owner time to unlock the door. The $249 lock is planned for release in the US in early 2027; Ring has not announced UK pricing or a UK release date.
The crank is built into the front of the lock and also serves as its latch wheel. According to the product details reported by The Ambient, three or four back-and-forth turns drive a small motor, which feeds a supercapacitor. That component builds up around three volts to run the lock for roughly half a minute. Ring says the backup provides full operation during that window, rather than switching the lock into a reduced low-power mode.
During the brief powered period, owners can use the fingerprint reader, keypad, Ring app or Alexa to unlock the door. The hand crank is intended as an emergency backup, not a regular way to power the device. Ring rates the built-in battery at around one year per charge, although actual battery life will depend on use and conditions; the source report does not give additional testing details.
Ring plans to sell the lock for $249 in the US and says it is targeting an early 2027 launch. Founder Jamie Siminoff told Engadget that he hopes the release will be closer to January than March. The lock is described as a single-cylinder deadbolt that requires no additional wiring, and will come in Black, Brass and Silver. A registration page is open for people interested in launch updates, but registration does not establish a confirmed shipping date.
A Manual Backup for Lockouts
A smart lock depends on electronics and stored power, so a depleted battery can create a practical problem at the door, especially if an owner has no other entry method available. Ring’s crank offers a way to generate a short burst of power locally, without relying on an external power supply. The design is aimed at the point when a battery is already dead, rather than only warning owners before it runs out.
The approach may also matter to people who visit a property infrequently. Siminoff told Engadget that he sees the mechanism as useful for places such as remote cabins, where a long gap between visits can make battery status harder to monitor. That is a potential use case described by Ring’s founder, not evidence that the lock has been tested or proven to prevent access problems in every such setting.
The backup’s limits matter: it supplies about 30 seconds of operation, not ongoing power. Owners would still need to act within that period, and the available information does not say whether the crank can be used repeatedly or how the lock behaves if it fails to generate enough charge.
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Ring’s Planned Lock Launch
Ring’s product announcement arrives alongside a refresh of its camera range. The company introduced four Retinal 4K models—the Floodlight Cam 4K Plus, Indoor Cam 4K, Outdoor Cam 4K Plus and Spotlight Cam 4K Plus—and a Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K. According to the supplied report, the cameras are available to pre-order, with prices varying by model and region. Those products are separate from the Smart Lock, which is not expected until the first months of 2027.
The lock’s single-cylinder deadbolt design and lack of additional wiring are part of the stated product details, but they do not by themselves confirm compatibility with every door or installation. Buyers will need product specifications and installation guidance when Ring provides them. The source report gives a US price of $249, with no confirmed UK price or launch timing.
“Siminoff identified concern about a dead battery locking owners out as a main barrier holding smart locks back.”
— Jamie Siminoff, Ring founder, speaking to Engadget
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Details Still Awaiting Confirmation
Ring has not provided a precise release date, and Siminoff’s preference for a January launch does not confirm that schedule. UK pricing and availability also remain unannounced. The source material does not specify whether the lock will be sold in additional markets or when regional details will be published.
Further product information is also pending, including installation requirements for different door types, compatibility details, and how the lock signals that its battery needs charging. The reported one-year battery rating is not accompanied by a test method or usage assumptions. It is also not clear how the crank performs after repeated use, whether a depleted lock can always be powered in three or four turns, or what happens if the owner cannot complete an unlock within the stated 30-second window.
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Ring’s Next Product Updates
Ring’s next milestones are expected to be additional launch information and, closer to release, details on availability and purchase options. The company is targeting an early 2027 US launch; interested buyers can register through Ring’s page for updates. The registration page is not a confirmed preorder or delivery commitment.
Prospective buyers will need to wait for Ring to publish final specifications, installation guidance and any UK plans before deciding whether the lock suits their door and access needs. Until those details are released, the reported crank operation, battery estimate and price should be treated as the announced product information, not results from independent testing.
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Key Questions
How does the Ring Smart Lock crank work?
According to the product details reported by The Ambient, three or four back-and-forth turns drive a small motor that charges a supercapacitor. The stored power runs the lock for about 30 seconds.
Can the lock be opened while its battery is flat?
Ring says the crank provides a short period of full operation, during which owners can unlock the door using the fingerprint reader, keypad, Ring app or Alexa. The company describes this as an emergency backup, not continuous power.
When will Ring’s Smart Lock be released, and how much will it cost?
Ring plans a US release in early 2027 for $249. A precise launch date has not been confirmed; Jamie Siminoff told Engadget he hoped it would be closer to January than March.
Will the lock be available in the UK?
Ring has not confirmed a UK release date or price. The reported $249 price applies to the planned US launch.
Source: rss
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