Ring Has Developed a Keyless Smart Lock That Continues to Open Even When the Battery Is Dead.
Last summer, I replaced the regular lock on my front door with a smart one, and it’s easily the best home upgrade I’ve ever made. I still love the convenience of being able to leave the house without worrying about where my keys are or whether my absent children have taken them . The only thing I have to worry about is a dead battery, because that means the lock itself will die too, so I still have to make copies of the manual key and figure out where to hide it in case I get locked out. But what if there was a smart lock that could be opened without a key, even if the batteries are completely dead?
It turns out Ring has developed such a lock, and its concept is simple yet ingenious. In the first quarter of 2027, the Amazon-owned company, whose name has become synonymous with video doorbells, will release its first-ever smart lock , which will include a truly innovative feature: a built-in “Power Dial,” which allows you to manually generate enough power to quickly open the door, even if the battery is completely dead—without the need for a manual key. I got to see the mechanism at a meeting with Ring founder Jamie Siminoff, and I regretted not waiting to buy one.
Why Ring’s Power Dial Will Stand Out Among Smart Locks
According to Siminoff, Ring had long resisted entering the smart lock market because he saw no real benefit in releasing another virtually identical product in a crowded market. But then, while trying to choose a smart lock for his remote guesthouse, he couldn’t find a suitable device: one that would work reliably every time, even when no one was home to change the batteries, and one that wouldn’t require hiding a spare key in some fake rock. So he designed such a device. Inspired by battery-free flashlights that charge via friction when turning a crank, Siminoff sketched out plans for a rotating dial built directly into the lock’s keypad that would generate enough power to open the lock with just a few seconds of rotation. Once charged, the lock would open using all the usual smart lock methods: a digital code, a fingerprint, the Ring app, or a request to Alexa.
“The Power Dial smart lock eliminates the need for a spare key without the hassle,” Siminoff said, noting that given the pace of technological advancements (he can start his Tesla with his phone), “it’s crazy that we still use keys [to enter our homes]”—cylinder locks have remained virtually unchanged since they were invented nearly 200 years ago. The lack of a keyhole to pick makes the smart lock even more secure.
Despite this innovation, when the Ring smart lock hits the market early next year (after receiving FCC approval), it will be priced roughly in line with its competitors, around $250, in one of three finishes (brass, stainless steel, or black). An exact release date is still unknown.
Ring is also releasing a new line of security cameras.
In addition to the new lock, Ring also announced an expansion of its smart security camera lineup . The company is releasing four new 4K cameras for indoor and outdoor use, featuring improved viewing angles, higher-quality low-light recording, and features such as 360-degree pan and 175-degree tilt. These devices are now available for purchase or pre-order, priced between $70 and $220.