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Circular seeks redemption with new smart ring that could outshine Oura
French upstart Circular has unveiled a fresh challenge to Oura the current lord of the smart rings.Circular has just released a new smart ring that offers two key advantages over Oura, which currently dominates the global market for the trendy wearables, which monitor your health metrics and display the info on an app.Dubbed the Circular Ring 2, its a quantum leap forward from its predecessor, the Circular Slim, which The Verge described as a product that held a lot of promise but executed on almost none of it.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 rings sensors have been given a complete overhaul, resulting in more accurate readings, the company said.Circular has also scrapped the USB charger for a wireless charging dock. The Ring 2s battery life lasts up to an impressive eight days, one more day than the Oura Ring.The of EU techThe latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!However, the main innovation a first for smart rings is the addition of an FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation (AFib) sensor that reads the electrical activity of your heart, including the rate and rhythm.As a result, Circular goes on to call its new ring a discreet heart health companion. Its a bit cheesy, but the AFib sensor could provide a warning of an incoming stroke or heart attack so the tagline has some substance.Circular has also introduced a potentially game-changing digital sizing process. 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.This isnt just a wearable, said Amaury Kosman, Circulars co-founder and CEO. Its a statement piece that empowers our users to take control of their wellness without compromising on style.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.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. Thats a bit pricier than the Oura Ring 4 ($349). However, unlike Ouras, the Circular ring is available subscription-free.While Circulars 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 wont 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 patent infringement agreement signed last year. Ouch. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
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