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Two of the biggest names in tech announced their first smart locks within a week of each other in October 2026. Ring’s Smart Lock has a fingerprint reader, a keypad and a hand-turned dial that revives a dead battery. Apple’s Smart Deadbolt, made by LG for the new Apple Home Collection, unlocks as you walk up with your iPhone or Apple Watch. Neither is on sale yet. So should you wait, or buy a proven lock like the Schlage Encode today? Here is how the three compare.
Quick verdict
- Need a lock now: buy the Schlage Encode. It is proven, works with Alexa and Google Home, and has the highest residential security rating from BHMA.
- All-Apple household: wait for the Apple Smart Deadbolt, due from December 2026 or early 2027. Hands-free unlocking with ultra-wideband is genuinely new.
- Ring or Alexa household: wait for the Ring Smart Lock, due in early 2027, if you want fingerprint entry and everything in the Ring app.
- Want fingerprint and Apple Home today: the ULTRALOQ Bolt SE works with Apple Home, Alexa and Google through Matter.
Side by side
| Ring Smart Lock | Apple Smart Deadbolt (LG) | Schlage Encode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Available | US, early 2027 | From December 2026 (US and Canada) | Now |
| Ways in | Fingerprint, keypad, Ring app, Alexa | Auto-unlock as you approach, tap to unlock, PIN pad, backup key | Keypad, app, voice, key |
| Fingerprint | Yes | No (uses your iPhone or Apple Watch) | No |
| Physical key | No; a hand-turned dial recharges a dead battery | Hidden backup key slot | Yes |
| Connection | Amazon Sidewalk | Matter over Thread; works locally | Built-in Wi-Fi |
| Works with | Ring, Alexa | Apple Home; Matter and Aliro support | Alexa, Google Home |
| Best for | Ring camera and doorbell owners | iPhone households | Most homes, today |
Details for the Ring and Apple locks come from the companies’ announcements and can change before release. We will update this page once they ship.
Ring Smart Lock: fingerprint, keypad and a crank
Ring’s first lock replaces a standard single-cylinder deadbolt with no extra wiring. You open it with a fingerprint, the backlit keypad, the Ring app or by asking Alexa. Its most unusual feature is a built-in power dial: if the battery runs flat, turning the dial several times restores enough power to get in, which is why Ring says you do not need a backup key. Remote locking, status and code syncing run over Amazon Sidewalk rather than your home Wi-Fi, so check Sidewalk coverage on your street. Lock activity shows up in the same Ring app feed as your doorbell and cameras.
Worth knowing: Ring says the lock still needs FCC authorization before it can go on sale, and it is planned for early 2027 in black, silver and brass.
Apple Smart Deadbolt: unlocks as you walk up
Apple’s lock is made by LG and uses ultra-wideband, the same precise location tech as AirTag, to unlock when you approach with your iPhone or Apple Watch, so you do not reach for anything. You can also tap to unlock, use the PIN pad, or open a hidden backup key slot. It senses whether the door is open, closed or being tampered with, supports guest access, works locally and is Matter compatible with support for Aliro, the new standard for phone-based digital keys. It is part of the Apple Home Collection, which starts arriving in December, with some accessories in early 2027.
Pair it with Apple’s new HomeView display or a HomePod as the home hub. For the full lineup, read Apple HomeView and Home Collection vs Echo Show and Ring.
Schlage Encode: the safe choice today
The Encode is one of the most popular smart deadbolts on Amazon, with built-in Wi-Fi so there is no hub to buy, up to 100 access codes, a built-in alarm for forced entry and the highest residential security grade from BHMA. It runs on 4 AA batteries for about 6 months and installs with a screwdriver. It has no fingerprint reader and does not work with Apple Home, but it works with Alexa and Google Home and keeps a physical key as a backup.
Check Schlage Encode on Amazon
Other locks you can buy now
- ULTRALOQ Bolt SE: fingerprint, keypad and keys, with Matter over Thread for Apple Home, Alexa and Google, and up to 18 months of battery life.
- eufy Security Smart Lock C220: a fast fingerprint lock with built-in Wi-Fi that works with eufy doorbells.
- Tapo DL110: a budget fingerprint lock with a rechargeable battery that lasts about a year.
Full comparison: 4 best smart locks in 2026.
How to decide
- Pick the ecosystem first. Apple Home, Alexa and Ring, or Google. A lock is easiest when it lives in the same app as your doorbell and cameras.
- Decide how you want to get in. Fingerprint suits kids and guests; hands-free suits people who always carry an iPhone; a keypad suits everyone.
- Check your door for thickness and backset before you buy any lock.
- Do you need it this winter? If yes, buy a proven lock now. If not, wait and read the first reviews of Ring and Apple.
FAQ
When does the Ring Smart Lock come out?
Ring says the Smart Lock will launch in the US in early 2027. It still needs FCC authorization before it can be sold.
Does the Ring Smart Lock have a key?
No. Instead of a backup key, it has a hand-turned power dial that restores power if the battery runs out, plus fingerprint and keypad entry.
When is the Apple smart lock available?
Apple says the Home Collection, which includes the LG-made Smart Deadbolt, starts arriving in December 2026, with some accessories in early 2027, in the US and Canada.
Does the Apple smart lock work with Android?
Hands-free unlocking relies on an iPhone or Apple Watch. The lock is Matter compatible, but its best features are designed for Apple Home.
What is the best smart lock to buy right now?
For most homes, the Schlage Encode. For fingerprint entry and Apple Home support today, the ULTRALOQ Bolt SE.
Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Smart Home Shields earns from qualifying purchases. Ring and Apple lock details come from the companies’ announcements and may change before release.