Forget taking an electrocardiogram from your wrist; now you can take one from your finger. Circular Ring Gen 2, which was released on January 5 just before CES 2025is one of the few smart rings that can detect atrial fibrillation. It is a feature that has become common in smart watches but it is still relatively rare on smart rings.
The new ring will be available for $380 in February or March after a crowdfunding campaign in January.
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Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which a person experiences an irregular heartbeat. It can increase one's risk of stroke and other heart-related conditions, according to The Mayo Clinic. It is estimated to affect 10.5 million adults in the United States, or nearly 5% of the population. University of California at San Francisco. Circular says its Afib detection algorithm has been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Most Apple Watch models are capable of taking an electrocardiogram since then Apple Watch Series 4 arrived in 2018, and the feature has become more common on handheld devices in recent years. While popular smart rings like those made by Oura and Samsung can't detect Afib, Circular isn't the first to put this functionality on your finger. Ultrahuman Smart Ring can measure signs of the condition overnight.
The Circular Ring 2 will be available in gold, silver, black and rose gold and is made of titanium. It should last eight days on a single charge, and Circular says the ring's accompanying app has also been redesigned.
Circular's new ring is another sign that the smart ring market is growing and becoming increasingly competitive with traditional fitness trackers and smartwatches.
Oura, widely regarded as the leader in the smart ring category, announced its latest model in October, which includes a new sensor system that should improve accuracy. Samsung, meanwhile, had just launched her first smart ring in July 2024.
According to International Data CorporationShipments of smart rings are estimated to grow by 88.4% in 2024, far outstripping growth in other categories such as watches, headphones, and eyewear.
Jack Lithem, a research analyst at Canalys, said in an earlier interview that smartwatches could learn a thing or two from smart rings like those made by Oura.
“They're actually pushing quite a bit of innovation in the smartwatch space,” he said. “Sellers also need to catch up.”