Ring’s first smart lock has an unusual backup for a dead battery: a power dial you turn by hand. Amazon says a few turns are enough to bring the lock back to life so you can get inside without carrying a key or external battery.
The important detail is how it works. Hands-on reporting from CNET says the dial feeds a supercapacitor, which can absorb and release energy much faster than a conventional battery. Roughly four or five spins produced about 20 seconds of operation in Ring’s demonstration—even with the main battery removed. That makes the dial an emergency power source, not a way to fully recharge the lock’s main battery.
Ring’s own announcement confirms the built-in power dial, fingerprint reader, touchscreen keypad, Ring app and Alexa access. It also says the lock will use Amazon Sidewalk for remote connectivity and is planned for the U.S. in early 2027. Amazon notes that the device is not yet FCC-authorized.
The design lands as the smart-home lock market gets more competitive. BitcoinVersus.Tech has recently covered LG helping Apple challenge Ring and Nest, Apple’s broader smart-home push, and Amazon’s latest Alexa hardware expansion.
Editor’s Note: Ring calls the dial a first-of-its-kind feature. The supercapacitor timing above comes from a pre-release demonstration, so final production behavior may differ.
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