Ring launches first smart lock with hand-crank power and five new cameras
Amazon-owned Ring announced its first smart lock, a $249 deadbolt that can be hand-cranked if its battery dies, along with five new security cameras including its first 4K indoor model.
The lock's signature feature is an energy crank built into the thumb-turn dial. Ring says turning it a few times generates enough power to unlock the door and let the user enter and recharge the battery. Engadget reported that three or four turns produce around three volts and enough power to run the lock for about 30 seconds, enough to use the fingerprint reader, keypad, Ring app, or Alexa. Ring founder Jamie Siminoff said the idea came from shopping for a lock for a vacation home. "I struggled because this particular house will get used very little, and I know the freaking battery will die on it," he said, according to TechCrunch. The lock's built-in battery is expected to last about a year, and the Ring app will alert users when it is time to charge.
The Ring Smart Lock offers four ways to unlock: a fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app, and voice commands through Alexa-compatible devices. The app can manage multiple users, schedule access, and create temporary codes that expire after a set time. The lock uses a standard single-cylinder deadbolt, requires no wiring, and runs on Ring's replaceable Quick Release Ultra Battery Pack. Instead of home Wi-Fi, it connects through Amazon's low-power, long-range Sidewalk network. It does not include a camera, so users need to pair it with a smart doorbell or one of the new cameras to see who is at the door.
Alongside the lock, Ring introduced five cameras. The Indoor Cam 4K is Ring's first 4K indoor camera and is available today for $99.99, or £79.99 in the UK. It has a 115-degree field of view, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and a physical privacy shutter that blocks the camera when closed. The Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K is also available today for $69.99, £59.99, or AU$109. It can pan 360 degrees and tilt 175 degrees, uses computer vision-based motion detection to follow subjects such as pets, and includes a privacy shutter that disables the camera and microphone.
The three new outdoor models are the Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, and Floodlight Cam 4K Plus. The Outdoor Cam 4K Plus costs $149.99 or £129.99 and offers multiple power options, including battery, wired, solar, and PoE, depending on configuration. The Spotlight Cam 4K Plus costs $199.99 or £179.99 and includes a 550-lumen spotlight, with battery, plug-in, and solar options. The Floodlight Cam 4K Plus costs $219.99 or £199.99 and provides 24/7 recording with smart subject detection and a floodlight. All three are available for preorder. Availability varies by region; among the new cameras, only the Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K is listed for Australia.
Separately, Android Authority reported that leaked assets from leaker pdfu on X showed LG smart home accessories co-developed with Apple, including a smart deadbolt lock, a smart thermostat, and a standalone temperature sensor. The leak suggests the LG Smart Deadbolt Lock could include a rotating keypad, audio alarms, and auto-unlocking, while the thermostat could have a circular Far Sight Display and room-temperature sensors. The report said the partnership could compete with Google Nest and Amazon by integrating third-party hardware such as locks, cameras, and doorbells into Apple's upcoming smart display ecosystem. Apple's smart display has been rumored to arrive as early as this month, according to the report.