Ring, the Amazon-owned video doorbell maker, is entering a new market: smart locks.
RingâÂÂs new device isnâÂÂt exactly a copy-and-paste of the other locks already on the market, however, as 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.
To address this, RingâÂÂs smart lock has added a power dial. If the battery on the device runs out, the homeowner can just turn the dial a few times to power the lock back up and enter their home.
RingâÂÂs founder Jamie Siminoff said the idea to rethink smart locks came to him when he was looking to buy a lock for a vacation home. âÂÂI struggled because this particular house will get used very little, and I know the freaking battery will die on it,â he said.
He also worried that family or friends visiting the house might get stuck outside, as the door isnâÂÂt connected to a power source, and any smart lock would be dependent on the battery.
âÂÂIâÂÂm like, well, why donâÂÂt we just fix this,â he said. Using AI, he started worked on a project to create a lock you could hand-crank just enough to power the lock to open. Once youâÂÂre in, you could then take out the rechargeable battery pack and charge it as usual.
Siminoff says the battery on RingâÂÂs new lock will last about a year, and will alert users when itâÂÂs time to charge via the Ring app. The app also allows users to configure access for people who may need periodic access, like dog walkers or house cleaners. Eventually, the company wants to allow third-party app makers to design specialized software for the lock so it can be used in other ways â for example, Airbnb owners who may need to regularly change codes.
The Ring lock also offers four different ways to get in, so you wonâÂÂt have to worry about forgetting a code. You can either use the deviceâÂÂs fingerprint reader, a backlit touchscreen keypad, the Ring app, or Alexa.
Siminoff admitted that the lock may be comparable to others on the market, but he thinks the fact that it addresses the anxiety over being locked out will be its biggest selling point.
âÂÂI do think the power thing is a huge limiter of why people are not buying, and why theyâÂÂre not putting them in, and why theyâÂÂre worried about them,â he said.
ItâÂÂs also true that when smart locks do offer some sort of backup method, they usually involve something cumbersome and less secure â like hiding a physical key somewhere on the property.
RingâÂÂs smart lock will fit a standard single-cylinder deadbolt, and will be available to purchase in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2027, after it receives FCC authorization. It will come in three finishes: black, silver, or brass.
Alongside the lock, Ring also introduced four new 4K cameras: the Outdoor Cam 4K Plus, Spotlight Cam 4K Plus, Floodlight Cam 4K Plus, and a pan-tilt Indoor Cam 4K.
Topics
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesnâÂÂt affect our editorial independence.
