Wearables
Circular's Ring 3 smart rings gain contactless payments and haptic feedback
The wearable maker is rolling out two new models—a pro version with advanced health sensors and a slimmer alternative—both equipped with NFC payment capabilities.
The Verge
Circular has unveiled its Ring 3 lineup, bringing significant upgrades to its smart ring offerings. The new collection includes a full-featured Pro model and a more compact Slim variant, each designed to appeal to different user priorities while introducing several long-requested features to the platform.
New capabilities across the lineup#
Both Ring 3 versions now support contactless NFC payments, allowing users to tap for transactions without needing their phone or wallet nearby. Additionally, the rings have gained vibrating haptic alerts that notify wearers of alarms, medication reminders, and guided breathing exercise cues—a feature that brings wearable alerts closer to what smartwatches offer in a much smaller form factor.
The Ring 3 Pro: refined performance#
The Pro model represents an incremental evolution of Circular's proven health-tracking foundation. It maintains the company's signature health sensors, including an ECG capability and FDA-cleared atrial fibrillation detection that debuted in the Ring 2. The design has been refined with a slimmer profile and uses titanium for both inner and outer construction, enhancing durability while maintaining style options in gold, rose gold, silver, and black.
Battery performance has improved significantly: the Ring 3 Pro stretches to up to 12 days per charge—a jump from seven days—despite using a smaller battery. The wireless charging case can deliver five to six top-ups before requiring an outlet.
The Ring 3 Slim: a lighter alternative#
For those prioritizing discretion and comfort, the Slim model trims down further. It features an even thinner band and uses a "biocompatible epoxy" interior instead of titanium, resulting in a lighter overall feel. The smaller battery supports roughly 10 days of use.
The Slim foregoes the ECG sensor and AFib detection, but retains the PPG heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring. It still captures skin temperature, activity levels, sleep patterns, and heart rate variability, providing meaningful health insights without the clinical-grade cardiac analysis.
