French upstart Circular has unveiled a fresh challenge to Oura \u2014 the current lord of the smart rings.<\/span><\/p>\n Circular has just released a new smart ring that offers two key advantages over Oura, which currently <\/span>dominates<\/span><\/a> the global market for the trendy wearables, which monitor your health metrics and display the info on an app<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dubbed the Circular Ring 2, it\u2019s a quantum leap forward from its predecessor, the Circular Slim, which <\/span>The Verge<\/span><\/i> described<\/span><\/a> as a product that held \u201ca lot of promise\u201d but executed on \u201calmost none of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Firstly, Circular has swapped the plastic shell in the old ring for titanium which is available in four finishes: black, silver, gold, and rose gold. The ring\u2019s sensors have been given a complete overhaul, resulting in more accurate readings, the company said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n How Startup Amsterdam Boosts Innovation and Growth at TNW Conference<\/p>\n Discover how the City of Amsterdam partnered with TNW to amplify its startup ecosystem, attract global talent, and foster innovation that drives economic impact.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Circular has also scrapped the USB charger for a wireless charging dock. The Ring 2\u2019s battery life lasts up to an impressive eight days, one more day than the Oura Ring.<\/span><\/p>\n However, the main innovation \u2014 a first for smart rings \u2014 is the addition of an FDA-cleared <\/span>atrial fibrillation (AFib) <\/span>sensor that reads <\/span>the electrical activity of your heart, including the rate and rhythm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As a result, Circular goes on to call its new ring a \u201c<\/span>discreet heart health companion.\u201d It\u2019s a bit cheesy, but the <\/span>AFib <\/span>sensor<\/span> could provide a warning of an incoming stroke or heart attack \u2014 <\/span>so the tagline has some substance<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Circular has also introduced a<\/span> potentially game<\/a>-changing digital sizing process.<\/span> Instead of having to purchase a physical sizing kit prior to buying a smart ring, Circular allows you to measure your finger directly from your phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t just a wearable,\u201d said Amaury Kosman, Circular\u2019s co-founder and CEO. \u201cIt\u2019s a statement piece that empowers our users to take control of their wellness without compromising on style.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n While the Ring 2 is a complete upgrade, the company has done away with a haptic motor that served as a vibrating alarm clock in the first iteration.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Circular Ring 2 is expected to launch via a crowd-funding campaign in mid-to-late January before shipping in March with a starting price of $380. That\u2019s a bit pricier than the Oura Ring 4 ($349). However, unlike Oura\u2019s, the Circular ring is available subscription-free.<\/span><\/p>\n While Circular\u2019s new smart ring sounds great on paper, it remains to be seen whether it can pull it off and produce reliable devices at scale. If it does prove a success, that won\u2019t necessarily be a bad thing for Oura though. The Finnish company receives a royalty fee for all Circular rings sold in the US, based on a multi-year <\/span>patent infringement agreement<\/span><\/a> signed last year. Ouch. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n
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