Ring has built a smart lock that includes a hand crank. The crank lets you generate power for the lock when its batteries are dead. This means the lock can still work even if the power is out.
Smart locks usually depend on batteries or a wired power source to run. When that power runs out, the lock can stop working. That is a real problem for anyone who relies on a smart lock as their main way to open a door.
How the Ring Smart Lock Hand Crank Works
The idea behind the Ring smart lock is simple. If the batteries die, you do not need to call a locksmith or climb through a window. You use the built-in hand crank to generate the power the lock needs.
This is a practical fix for one of the biggest worries people have about smart locks. A lock that stops working during a power cut or after the batteries run down can leave you stuck outside your own home. The hand crank gives users a backup option that does not depend on the power grid or on fresh batteries.
Why This Matters for Smart Lock Users
Most smart locks on the market rely on battery power. When those batteries run low, users often get warnings on their phone. But warnings can be missed. And in a power outage, even a wired smart lock can fail.
Ring's approach puts a manual power source right on the lock itself. That means the lock does not become useless when everything else fails. For a device that controls access to your home, that kind of backup matters.
- The hand crank is built into the lock, so there is nothing extra to carry
- It generates power when the batteries are dead
- It keeps the lock working during a power outage
- It solves the problem of being locked out due to dead batteries
Our Take: A Simple Fix for a Real Smart Lock Problem
In our view, this is the kind of feature smart lock makers should have thought about a long time ago. A lock is not like a smart speaker or a light bulb. If it stops working, you cannot get into your house. That makes backup power a basic need, not a bonus feature.
Ring's hand crank is a low-tech answer to a high-tech problem. It does not need an app, a Wi-Fi connection, or a charged battery. You just crank it and get inside. To put it plainly, that is what a good backup should be — simple and always there when you need it.
For readers who are thinking about buying a smart lock, this is a feature worth paying attention to. Ask yourself one question before you buy any smart lock: what happens when the power runs out? If the answer is "I'm locked out," that lock is not ready for your front door. Ring's hand crank model gives a better answer.
