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Ring unveils first smart lock, with a dial that recharges a dead battery

Amazon's Ring announced its first smart lock, which can be powered by turning a dial if the battery dies, along with new security cameras. It is due in the US in early 2027 pending FCC approval.

2 outlets · 1L · 1C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: The Verge
Image: TechCrunch

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Amazon-owned Ring announced its first smart lock, entering the smart lock market with a device built around the fear of being locked out when the battery dies. Mixed · 2The lock has a charger built into its thumb-turn dial. Turning it a few times generates enough power to unlock the door, after which the rechargeable battery can be fully recharged; Amazon does not say how many turns are needed. Mixed · 2The Verge says other smart locks rely on hidden USB ports or metal contacts for a 9-volt battery, and TechCrunch notes that backup methods often involve something cumbersome and less secure, such as a hidden physical key.

Centre · 1Ring founder Jamie Siminoff said the idea came while he was shopping for a lock for a little-used vacation home, where he expected the battery to die. He said he used AI to start a project for a lock that could be hand-cranked enough to open. Centre · 1Siminoff said the battery should last about a year, with the Ring app alerting users when to charge it. He conceded the lock may be comparable to others on the market but argued that easing worries about power is its main selling point. Mixed · 2Users can open it with a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app or Alexa. The app can register multiple users, schedule access and set temporary codes that expire. Ring also wants third-party developers to build software for it, for example for Airbnb hosts who change codes often.

Mixed · 2Installation needs no wiring because the lock uses Ring's replaceable Quick Release Ultra Battery Pack. According to The Verge, it connects through Amazon's low-power Sidewalk network instead of home Wi-Fi. TechCrunch says it fits a standard single-cylinder deadbolt. Mixed · 2The lock costs $249 and comes in black, silver and brass. It is expected in the US in early 2027 (TechCrunch says the first quarter), pending FCC authorization. It has no camera, so it needs a Ring doorbell or camera to show who is at the door. Mixed · 2Ring also launched new cameras. The Verge lists five: the $149.99 Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, $199.99 Spotlight Cam 4K Plus and $219.99 Floodlight Cam 4K Plus (preorder), plus the $99.99 Indoor Cam 4K and $69.99 Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K (available now). TechCrunch counts four new 4K cameras.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Product-announcement piece centred on the dial charger as a more convenient alternative to other locks' USB ports or 9-volt contacts.
Emphasis
Specifications, pricing, Sidewalk connectivity and the full camera line-up with prices.
Leaves out or plays down
No comments from Ring's founder; no battery life figure or third-party app plans.
For example
“the new Ring Smart Lock incorporates a more convenient charger right into its thumb-turn dial” — The Verge

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Market-entry story led by Ring's pitch of solving lock-out anxiety, built on Jamie Siminoff's account.
Emphasis
Siminoff's quotes, battery life, third-party app plans and the security drawbacks of hidden keys.
Leaves out or plays down
No price for the lock or cameras; no mention of Sidewalk networking or the lock's lack of a camera.
For example
“it tackles a big issue that often deters people from embracing this kind of smart home equipment: the fear of the battery dying and getting locked out.” — TechCrunch

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.