Circular’s new smart ring can detect atrial fibrillation (AFib) from your finger

Forget taking an EKG from your wrist; Now you can take one off your finger. The Circular Ring Gen 2, which was announced on January 5 shortly before Consumer Electronics Show 2025is one of the few smart rings that can detect atrial fibrillation. It is a feature that has become popular in Smart watches But they are still relatively rare in smart rings.

The new ring will be available for $380 in February or March following 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 the risk of stroke and other heart-related conditions according to Mayo Clinic. It is estimated to affect 10.5 million adults in the United States, or approximately 5% of the population, according to reports. University of California San Francisco. The circular says that the atrial fibrillation detection algorithm has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Most Apple Watch models have been able to perform an ECG since Apple Watch Series 4 Arriving in 2018, this feature has become more common in wrist wearables in recent years. While popular smart rings like those made by Oura and Samsung can’t detect atrial fibrillation, Circular isn’t the first to put that functionality on your finger. Ultrahuman smart ring Signs of the condition can be measured overnight.

The O-ring 2 will be available in gold, silver, black and rose gold and is made of titanium. It’s supposed to last eight days on a single charge, and Circular says it’s also redesigned the ring’s companion app.

The new Circular ring is another sign that the smart ring market is growing and becoming increasingly competitive with traditional fitness trackers and smartwatches.

Oura, widely considered the leader in the smart ring category, It has released its latest model in October, which includes a new sensor system that will improve accuracy. Samsung, meanwhile, has just launched Her first smart ring In July 2024.

According to International Data CorporationSmart ring shipments are expected to grow by 88.4% in 2024, far outpacing growth in other categories such as watches, earphones and glasses.

Jack Lethem, a research analyst at Canalys, said in a previous interview that smart watches could learn a thing or two from smart rings like those made by Oura.

“They’re actually driving a lot of innovation in the smartwatch areas,” he said. “And sellers need to catch up.”