The Competitors: Fresh Smart Rings on the Market
A few new smart rings debuted at IFA 2026, ready to challenge the likes of Oura and Samsung. The Ringconn Gen 3 seems promising, but it’s the Circular Ring 3 that has captured my attention.
Features that Deliver
While Circular’s previous smart rings haven’t been game-changers, the newest model importantly features two capabilities that are often absent in competitors – particularly among the industry leaders.
NFC and Vibration Features
The Circular Ring 3 incorporates NFC for seamless payments and a vibration motor for notifications and alarms. Smart rings have excelled at tracking your activities and health metrics for ages, but these added functionalities enhance daily usability and may provide the incentive needed to part ways with your smartwatch.
Circular
Vibration and NFC: A Powerful Combination
Circular claims that the vibration capability can be employed for “silent wake-up alarms, medication notifications, crucial health alerts, guided breathing sessions, and more.” However, let’s be honest, the NFC chip is the standout feature, particularly since the Oura Ring 5 lacks this technology.
The Drawbacks
The downside is that you’ll need a Mastercard or Visa for functionality. The company asserts that the contactless payments are ‘secure’ but hasn’t clarified how, noting that the same operation on a smartphone or smartwatch necessitates PIN or biometric authentication.
Model Choices and Specifications
It’s worth mentioning that these details apply to the Circular Ring 3 Slim model, while the Ring 3 Pro also adds blood pressure monitoring with an impressive 12-day battery duration. The Pro model is larger than the Slim at 6.8mm wide versus 5.9mm. Both are crafted from titanium with a 50m water resistance rating and are available in gold, rose gold, silver, and black in US sizes 6-14.
Circular
CEO’s Perspective
“Numerous individuals simply desire a beautifully crafted, stylish smart ring that provides essential wellness insights and effortless contactless payments. That’s why we developed the Circular Ring 3 Slim—a lighter, more refined experience that preserves the convenience of secure NFC payments while delivering the fundamental health tracking capabilities that many users seek in an incredibly compact form,” stated Circular CEO Amaury Kosman.
The Anticipation
Circular is undeniably striving to carve out a unique space in a saturated market, but there are critical details still to be disclosed for the Ring 3 series, such as pricing and launch timeline. They are anticipated to debut in early 2027, coinciding with the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Ring 2.
In the meantime, you can check out our Circular Ring 2 review.
Conclusion
Ring Around the Techie: A Geordie’s Perspective – The Circular Ring 3 boasts some fantastic features that could encourage you to discard your smartwatch. While the NFC and vibration components introduce a novel aspect, there are still some unresolved issues, like the substantial security concerns and the specific costs involved. Stay tuned, everyone!
