Ring’s first smart lock can be charged by turning a dial when the battery unexpectedly dies
Amazon has unveiled its first smart lock, featuring an innovative solution to a common smart home problem: what happens when the battery dies whilst you're away from home. Rather than relying on physical backup keys, hidden USB ports, or metal contacts for emergency 9-volt batteries, the Ring Smart Lock incorporates a charging dial that generates enough power to unlock the door with just a few turns, allowing homeowners to regain access and fully recharge the battery.
The Ring Smart Lock will cost $249 and launch in early 2027 (pending FCC approval) in black, silver, and brass finishes. It offers fingerprint recognition and a backlit touchscreen keypad for multiple users with customisable access schedules and temporary codes. The lock connects via Amazon's Sidewalk network rather than Wi-Fi, eliminating concerns about internet outages affecting remote access. Amazon also announced five new security cameras with 4K capabilities: the $99.99 Indoor Cam 4K (available now), plus preorder options for the $149.99 Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, $199.99 Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, and $219.99 Floodlight Cam 4K Plus, alongside an entry-level $69.99 Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K with motion tracking.
- Amazon's smart lock can be charged by turning its dial when battery dies
- Available early 2027 for $249 with fingerprint and keypad unlocking
- Amazon also launched five new Ring security cameras ranging from $69.99 to $219.99
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Smart locks let homeowners open doors using fingerprints, codes, or phone apps rather than traditional keys. However, they rely on batteries, and a common frustration occurs when the battery dies whilst someone is away from home, leaving them locked out with no easy way to regain access.
Ring, the security company owned by Amazon, has introduced a new smart lock designed to solve this problem. The device features a dial that can be turned to generate enough power to unlock the door, allowing someone to regain access even if the battery is completely flat.
This approach addresses a practical challenge that many smart lock users face. Existing solutions typically rely on physical backup keys, hidden USB ports, or external batteries, which are not always convenient or reliable in an emergency.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Ring's design thoughtfully addresses a genuine smart home problem—being locked out when the battery dies unexpectedly—by integrating hand-crank charging directly into the lock. This eliminates the need for users to maintain back-up keys or emergency batteries, which most people forget or misplace. Combining this with Amazon Sidewalk connectivity ensures reliable remote access even during internet outages, representing a genuinely considerate engineering solution.
The case against
Whilst innovative, the hand-crank mechanism introduces significant practical and accessibility problems that simpler alternatives avoid. Requiring manual cranking in an emergency is cumbersome and impossible for elderly or disabled users, and most people will forget this feature exists when panicked. The dependence on Amazon Sidewalk further creates vendor lock-in with opaque privacy implications, whereas traditional back-up keys or standard Wi-Fi connectivity provide simpler, more transparent, and proven solutions.