Circular Ring 2

The Circular Ring 2 arrives with a genuine first: Tech Advisor describes it as the first smart ring to include an ECG sensor, alongside AFib detection. On paper that sets it apart from rivals that stick to optical heart-rate tracking. It also skips the monthly subscription that has become common in this category. Circular does caution that some future features may cost virtual coins or sit behind a paywall.

Buying it is fairly approachable. It comes in US sizes 6 to 14 and four finishes, sizing works through a phone-camera tool, and a portable charging case is included. It works with both iOS (via Apple Health) and Android (via Health Connect).

It best suits early adopters who want ECG in a ring and can tolerate rough edges. Anyone who wants a polished, dependable health tracker today should be more cautious, because the hardware's ambitions run ahead of the software.

Circular has packed a lot of ambition into this ring, but by the accounts we've reviewed, the execution falls short.

Software is the biggest problem. Reviewers consistently report:

• slow or unreliable data syncing
• app crashes
• an interface that feels dense and confusing

For a device whose whole value lies in the data it collects and presents, those are serious flaws.

Accuracy is another concern. PCMag found exercise tracking inaccurate and noted gaps in sleep data, and rated the ring 2.0 out of 5. That reading comes from a single source, but it fits the wider picture of an immature platform.

The hardware has its own issues. Android Central reports that the ring scratches easily and that its sensor protrusions can make it uncomfortable. It also has no vibration motor or button, so there are no silent alerts or on-device controls.

There are real positives:

• ECG and AFib detection: a genuine differentiator in this category.
• No subscription: you don't pay monthly for the core experience.
• Respectable battery life: PCMag measured 5.5 days, between the rated 4-day Performance mode and 8-day Power mode.
• Planned features: blood pressure readings are coming in a future update, and glucose trends are reportedly on the way.

Promised features are not a reason to buy now, though.

Pricing makes the case harder. In the US, black reportedly starts at $349, silver at $449, and pink and gold at $549, though this comes from a single source. That is a lot to pay for a product whose core experience is undermined by its app.

We're giving it a below-average score. The ECG feature and subscription-free model are appealing, but unreliable syncing, shaky accuracy and comfort concerns outweigh them for most buyers. If Circular fixes the software and delivers the promised features, this assessment could improve considerably.