New smart ring promises health insights even Google and Apple haven’t cracked

In the ever-expanding world of wearables, the Circular Ring 2 is elbowing its way to center stage. Not content to follow the likes of Oura or Samsung's Galaxy Ring, this small but mighty smart ring is promising something that even tech giants haven't dared deliver — blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose trend tracking, right from your finger.

"It's the kind of thing people didn't think was possible without a needle or a cuff," say the early believers. And yet, here comes Circular, raising eyebrows and over $1.5 million on Kickstarter.

How does it work?

The magic — or at least the science — sits at the intersection of familiar sensors and new ambition:

• For blood pressure, the Circular Ring 2 blends an electrocardiogram (ECG) with a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, estimating blood pressure by calculating Pulse Transit Time (PTT) — basically, how fast blood pulses through your arteries. You just sit still for 30 seconds to two minutes, and the ring does the rest.
• As for blood glucose, things get even more ambitious. Circular aims to track glucose trends non-invasively by shining light through your skin and interpreting the feedback using machine learning. The goal isn't to replace a CGM or medical testing but to provide trend data — a sense of whether your glucose tends to spike after pasta or plummet after a bad night's sleep.

Both features will arrive after launch via over-the-air updates — BP by late 2025, glucose by the end of 2026.

Why does it matter?

Because right now, no smartwatch — not Apple, not Samsung, not Pixel — can do this.

If Circular pulls it off, they'll have cracked two of wearable tech's most elusive health metrics without asking users to wear clunky devices or jab their fingers. That's a big deal.

"People want more insight without more hassle," said a spokesperson from Circular. And honestly, who wouldn't want a ring that quietly monitors their body while they sleep, eat, and move through life?

Not to mention: no subscription fees. Buy the ring for $239 and you're in — no hidden costs down the road.

The context

It's worth remembering, though, that the road to wearables glory is littered with broken promises. We've seen grand claims before, only to watch features get delayed, downgraded, or quietly shelved.

Still, momentum matters. Circular's crowdfunding haul — north of a million dollars — shows that there's real hunger for a smarter ring. And even if skepticism is warranted, the mere possibility of accessible, wearable BP and glucose trend tracking has already reshaped expectations in the category.

As with all future-forward tech, it's a bit of a leap of faith. But for those eager to be early, the Circular Ring 2 just might be the ring worth betting on.