Smart ring technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, and unsurprisingly, it isn’t Samsung or Oura leading the pack. The new Circular Ring 2 has Afib detection abilities with an FDA-approved algorithm to set it on track. As a result, the Circular Ring’s health monitoring is more advanced than other smart rings on the market, setting it closer to the smartwatches we see dominate the fitness tracking wearable category.
This isn’t the first smart ring with ECG features we’ve seen on the market. Bodimetrics’ Circul+ did it before, although the form factor of the device was lacking and the device never truly picked up the kind of mainstream popularity we’ve seen from other smart rings. Linktop also has a Cardio ECG ring available, but it doesn’t enjoy Oura’s popularity either.
The Circular Ring 2’s CES 2025 debut is all kinds of exciting, bringing up new possibilities for the expansion of this category of devices.
Image: Romain Grosjean wearing the original Circular Ring
The Circular Ring 2 has AFib Detection as its Main Selling Point
To look at, the Circular Ring 2 is much like the other popular smart rings currently on the market, with a metallic design and an unobtrusive form that doesn’t scream that it’s a fitness tracker. Crafted from titanium, the ring is available in Gold, Silver, Rose Gold, and Black.
What’s more interesting than the design is the sensor and functionality. The Circular Ring 2’s AFib detection, or Atrial Fibrillation detection, algorithm has been approved by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), making it a useful monitor for its users. While no smart gadget technology guarantees 100% results every time, the smart ring’s ECG features should help detect any signs of arrhythmia, providing real-time insights on heart health for its user.
The Digital Ring Sizing Strategy is Also a Welcome Addition
Apart from the Circular Ring’s health monitoring feature, the company has also introduced its novel approach to determining ring size, by eliminating the need for the plastic sizing kit that most companies turn to.
The company will rely on the app to help you determine the right ring size for yourself, reducing waste generation and any unnecessary back and forth between customer and company. Just how reliable this digital sizing is going to be remains to be seen, but it is a good alternative to the systems currently in place.
The Circular Ring 2’s CES 2025 Debut Has Been a Positive One
Overall, potential customers appear excited to give the Circular Ring 2’s AFib detection and overall health monitoring systems a shot. The eight-day battery life also makes a good case for the smart ring and so does the efficient charging dock.
The app has also received an upgrade, and as with most new products on the market right now, there is mention of AI integration here as well. The ring is expected to launch around February or March 2025, and will likely be priced at $380. The price is not too different from the $399.99 Samsung Galaxy Ring or the $349 Oura Ring 4.
The International Data Corporation estimates that smart ring shipments have grown by 88.4% in 2024, and experts estimate that the popularity of these rings will only grow. Will Circular be able to reassert its presence with its latest gadget? We’ll find out soon enough.