Amazon-owned Ring is entering the smart lock market with a clever solution to one of the biggest concerns about keyless entry: what happens when the battery dies and you cannot get inside your home? Its first-ever Ring Smart Lock features a built-in manual power dial that generates enough electricity to bring the lock back to life, giving homeowners a way to unlock their doors without carrying a physical backup key.

Announced on October 7, 2026, the new smart lock combines a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, app-based controls, and Alexa voice commands. Ring plans to launch it in the US in early 2027, with a starting price of $249 and three finishes: black, silver, and brass. The product is still awaiting authorization from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), so its availability is not yet final.

A manual dial tackles the dead-battery problem

The standout feature is the Power Dial, a physical dial integrated into the front of the lock. If the rechargeable battery runs out, homeowners can turn the dial by hand to generate enough power to operate the lock and get inside.

Unlike smart locks that rely on an emergency key, an external battery connection, or exposed charging contacts, Ring’s approach builds its backup mechanism directly into the device. That could make it particularly useful for people who occasionally forget to charge their smart lock or return to a property that has been sitting unused for a while.

There is an important distinction, though: the Power Dial does not recharge the lock’s main battery pack. Instead, turning it generates enough energy to temporarily power the electronics, giving the user a short window to unlock the door. According to reporting from TechRadar, approximately five to eight turns can provide around 10 to 30 seconds of power, depending on how quickly the dial is operated.

Once inside, users can remove the rechargeable battery pack and charge it normally. Ring says the main battery should last about a year under typical use, although actual battery life will depend on usage and operating conditions.

The idea addresses a genuine weakness in keyless entry systems. A smart lock can offer convenient access codes, fingerprints, and remote controls, but a dead battery can undermine all those features at once. Ring’s solution does not eliminate battery maintenance, but it gives homeowners another way to regain access when maintenance comes too late.

Four ways to unlock the Ring Smart Lock

The Power Dial is the headline feature, but Ring is also offering several ways to unlock and manage the door.

The lock supports four access methods:

• Fingerprint reader: Unlock the door using a registered fingerprint.
• Touchscreen keypad: Enter an access code on the backlit keypad.
• Ring app: Lock or unlock the door and check its status remotely.
• Alexa: Use compatible Alexa-enabled devices for voice control.

The keypad also supports managing access for different people. Homeowners will be able to assign access codes and schedule when they work, including temporary access for visitors or service providers. That means someone who needs to enter the house only during a particular time window can receive access without being given unrestricted entry.

The lock is designed to integrate with Ring doorbells, cameras, and alarm systems, with activity appearing in the Ring app. It fits a standard single-cylinder deadbolt and does not require additional wiring, making installation more straightforward than a wired access-control system.

Amazon Sidewalk keeps it connected without home Wi-Fi

One less obvious design decision is the Ring Smart Lock’s reliance on Amazon Sidewalk rather than a direct home Wi-Fi connection.

Sidewalk is a shared, low-bandwidth wireless network that uses compatible nearby Amazon devices to help connected products communicate. Ring says the lock will use it for functions such as remote locking, status updates, and PIN synchronization. This means those features do not depend directly on the home’s Wi-Fi connection, although they still rely on Sidewalk coverage and network availability.

That distinction matters for a door lock because connectivity is not just about convenience. Homeowners may want to check whether the door is locked while away or grant access to a visitor without returning home. A network designed for connected smart-home devices can help make those functions more reliable in suitable coverage areas.

However, Amazon’s announcement does not establish that the lock will work with every third-party smart-home platform. Buyers who want to integrate it into a broader setup should check the final compatibility details before purchasing rather than assume that support for Alexa and Ring automatically means support for every smart-home ecosystem.

Ring has announced US availability in early 2027, but it has not confirmed a specific release day. The company also has not announced international availability in the supplied launch information. Its FCC disclosure explicitly states that the product cannot be offered for sale until the required authorization is obtained.

At $249, the Ring Smart Lock is entering a competitive market where buyers can already find smart locks with keypads, fingerprint readers, and app controls. Its manual backup power system is the feature that distinguishes it from a more conventional keyless lock. Whether that convenience justifies the price will depend on how well the mechanism works in everyday use and how much buyers value avoiding a battery-related lockout.

For Ring households, the integration with existing cameras, doorbells, alarms, and Alexa devices could make the lock a more appealing addition. For everyone else, the most important question is whether the Power Dial delivers a dependable emergency solution without adding unnecessary complexity.

Ring’s first smart lock takes a practical approach to a familiar problem. Rather than trying to eliminate batteries or promising that they will never run out, it gives homeowners a mechanical fallback when they do. That is a small but meaningful idea in a product category where reliability matters just as much as convenience.