Circular has introduced its new Ring 3 series, unveiling two smart ring models—Pro and Slim—that bring contactless payments, vibration alerts, and broader health tracking into its wearable lineup.
Ring 3 Pro vs. Ring 3 Slim: Feature Breakdown
The Ring 3 Pro is the higher-end option, with a sleeker frame than its predecessor. It adds tools like FDA-cleared ECG for detecting atrial fibrillation, long-term blood pressure trend tracking, glucose monitoring, and enhanced sleep analytics along with comprehensive biometric sensors. Battery life reaches up to 12 days—an improvement compared to the older model.
The Slim model takes a different approach. It drops advanced features in favor of a lighter, more compact design while still including core wellness sensors—sleep, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), blood oxygen (SpO₂), skin temperature, and activity tracking. Battery life is claimed to last around 10 days.
New Additions & Design Elements
Both Ring 3 models will support NFC-based contactless payments, letting users pay with their ring. They also include vibration alerts directly on the finger, useful for silent alarms, medication reminders, health alerts, and guided breathing sessions.
On the build side, both rings are crafted from titanium steel and offer waterproofing up to 50 meters. They support wireless charging, and come in ring sizes 6 through 14. Color options include gold, rose gold, silver, and black.
Market Context & Availability
The Ring 3 series enters the market during a period of growing competition in smart rings, with rivals like the Oura Ring 5 and RingConn Gen 3 already making waves. Circular seems to be catering to both ends of the market—with the Pro aimed at full-feature health tracking, and the Slim for users wanting minimalism with essentials plus payments.
No pricing details or preorder dates have been shared yet. Both models are expected to ship in early 2027.
What this reveals is how smart rings are evolving beyond basic sleep and step tracking. By adding NFC payments and on-finger vibration alerts, Circular is aiming to make wearables more practical for everyday use. Keep an eye on how well these features are executed—especially the ECG’s accuracy and the payment system’s reliability—as well as how competitors respond in terms of similar payment integration in small-form wearables.
