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Ring announced its first smart lock, which lets owners generate emergency power by manually cranking the thumbturn if the battery dies. The lock supports fingerprint, keypad, and app-based unlocking, costs $249, and ships in three finishes starting Q1 2027. Ring also revealed new 4K cameras with its Retinal Vision standard for improved low-light footage, plus a $69.99 Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam 2K.
Ring plans to release a new Smart Lock priced at $249, featuring a hand-crank mechanism that generates emergency power via a small motor and supercapacitor. A few turns of the crank produce about three volts, enough to run the lock's fingerprint reader, keypad or app connectivity for roughly 30 seconds. The device otherwise runs on a battery Ring says lasts a year per charge, and will ship in Black, Silver and Brass finishes sometime in early 2027.
Ring, Amazon's video doorbell company, has launched its first smart lock, featuring a manual power dial that lets users crank the device back to life if its battery dies. Founder Jamie Siminoff said he developed the feature after worrying about getting locked out of a rarely used vacation home due to a dead battery. The lock also supports entry via fingerprint reader, touchscreen keypad, the Ring app, or Alexa, and its battery is expected to last about a year.
Ultrahuman has partnered with FibriCheck to launch Heart Scan, letting Ring Air and Ring Pro wearers check their heart rhythm on demand rather than only overnight as the existing Atrial Fibrillation add-on allows. Users sit still for 60 seconds while FibriCheck's smartphone-camera-based algorithm analyzes the reading, producing a shareable PDF report for healthcare providers. The feature rolls into the existing Afib Power Plug at no extra cost, though it's currently limited to select markets in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Amazon introduced the Ring Smart Lock, which lets users generate emergency power by turning its thumb-turn dial if the battery dies, avoiding the need for a backup key. The $249 device offers fingerprint and keypad unlocking, app and Alexa voice control, and connects via Amazon's Sidewalk network rather than Wi-Fi. It's expected to launch in the US in early 2027 pending FCC approval, in black, silver, and brass finishes.
Geothermal energy derives from Earth's internal heat, which increases with depth and can be accessed through cracks and fissures. Regions with high geothermal gradients, such as along the Ring of Fire, are prime locations for energy projects, with surface temperatures reaching thousands of degrees Celsius deep underground. Scientists employ advanced mathematical models to study geothermal processes, which also have applications in fields like neurosurgery and industrial molding.
The Oura Ring 5 and Apple Watch Series 12 both track health metrics like sleep, activity, and heart rate, with the Series 12 offering additional functionalities such as a touchscreen, cellular connectivity, and on-device apps. The Series 12 is compatible only with iPhones running iOS 27 or later, while the Oura supports Android via Health Connect, making it more versatile for different users. The Series 12 also provides more accurate workout tracking and on-device controls, unlike the Oura, which relies on a phone for data access and management.
Jewelry and smart-ring maker Qalo has released the SL-1, a subscription-free, screenless fitness band priced at $199.95 that condenses health metrics into a single score. The device syncs with Qalo's existing smart ring ecosystem, letting wearers switch between ring and band while data feeds into one account, and Qalo says the SL-1 runs on its own software and design rather than white-labeled hardware.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's upcoming smart home camera, internally called J450, won't record video for playback. Instead it reportedly uses a low-frame-rate sensor, facial recognition and infrared sensing to detect activity and trigger automations, rather than streaming or storing footage like HomeKit Secure Video cameras.
Qalo has introduced the SL-1 Smart Band, a screenless fitness tracker positioned as a rival to Whoop that requires no subscription fee. The device can function independently or be paired with Qalo's existing smart ring for expanded tracking capabilities.
CNET tested the Bluvol I11 Apex, a $90 cordless hair straightening comb that offers three heat settings (320, 365 and 410 degrees Fahrenheit), an LCD display showing temperature and battery level, and up to 45 minutes of use per charge. The reviewer, who previously used a Tymo Ring straightening brush, tried the device on curly, thick hair and found it straightened effectively in a single pass thanks to ceramic-glazed plates designed to prevent hair damage.
Smart ring maker Oura has indefinitely delayed its planned initial public offering, which had been set to sell 55 million shares priced between $40 and $44, valuing the company near $15 billion. CEO Tom Hale said the delay reflects broader uncertainty in the IPO market, adding that the company can choose its timing. Oura reported 5.7 million paying members, up from 5 million in June, and expects 90% revenue growth in its 2026 fiscal year after posting $907.9 million in revenue.