I’ll be honest, I used to be an OURA ring person. I loved the data it provided, but I absolutely hated the feeling of paying a monthly fee just to access my own health data by paying for a monthly subscription. One morning, while drinking coffee and looking at my OURA Readiness Score, with the data locked behind a paywall, I decided to make a change.
I picked up the Circular Ring 2 and let me tell you, it was like moving from a restricted feature to a 24/7 all-access pass. In this review, I’m going to share how this titanium band replaced my other wearables and if it is still on my finger after all this time. Spoiler alert…it’s not perfect because no tech is, but for those of us who want medical-grade insights without a bill every month, it’s a game-changer.
What is Circular Ring 2?
When people ask me what the Circular Ring 2 is, I tell them it’s a sleek, titanium wearable designed to track your body’s signals 24/7. While most rings stop at heart rate and steps, this one pushes into medical-grade territory.
It has a high-tech sensor array that tracks your heart rhythm (ECG), sleep, oxygen levels and stress.
What makes it stand out in 2026 is that it’s the first smart ring to bring FDA-cleared Atrial Fibrillation detection. Unlike the bulky watches I used to wear, this 3-gram titanium ring stays on my finger 24/7 without me even noticing it’s there.
Detailed Feature Breakdown
1. The Medical-Grade ECG Sensor
When I first tried the ECG feature, I thought I’d need a PhD to understand the readings, but it was so simple. You just hold the ring for 30-45 seconds and it records your heart’s electrical activity. It’s designed to spot things like AFib or irregular rhythms.
2. 140+ Biometric Signals
The ring tracks everything: Heart Rate, HRV (Heart Rate Variability), SpO2 and skin temperature, resting heart rate, steps, cardio points, energy, breathing rate, Vo2 max, sleep cycle, heart Rhythm, stress, coherence, Sport sessions and women’s health. It even has Vitals Alerts that vibrate your phone if something looks off.
3. Kira AI
Kira is the brain in the app. Instead of just giving me a bunch of charts, it just says, “Hey, your recovery is low today, maybe skip the gym and take a nap”. It feels less like a spreadsheet and more like a digital health coach.
4. Battery That Actually Lasts
I managed to get about 7 to 8 days of battery life. It comes with a portable wireless charging dock that looks like a tiny jewelry box, similar to what Oura has launched recently.
How It Works
Using the ring is simple. The ring samples your data every two minutes, which gets synced to your phone via Bluetooth. In my experience, the Energy and Stress scores were not that accurate to how I actually feel.
However, being honest, the app can be a bit easier to use. Compared to the OURA app, the Circular shows you everything all at once. It takes a week or two to figure out where everything is, but once you do, the depth of the data is unbeatable.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The FDA-approved AFib detection on the finger is truly revolutionary for heart conditions.
- It comes with a subscription-free model.
- It comes with a durable design as the titanium holds up well against keys and gym equipment.
Cons:
- Sometimes the App sync takes two tries.
- The step tracking and active minutes can be widely inconsistent.
- Even with titanium, if you lift heavy weights, it will get scratches.
Circular Ring 2 vs Competitors
| Features | Circular Ring 2 | Oura Ring 4 | Samsung Galaxy Ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECG Sensor | Yes | No | No |
| AFib Detection | Yes (FDA-Cleared) | No | No |
| Subscription | None | $5.99 | None |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 Days | Up to 8 Days | 6–7 Days |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (50m) | 100m (Suitable for diving) | 10ATM (100m) |
| Blood Pressure | Expected via OTA update | No | No |
| Compatibility | iOS & Android | iOS & Android | Android Only |
| Sizing Method | App-based Virtual Sizing | Physical Sizing Kit | Physical Sizing Kit |
| Charging Case | Portable Case included | Static Cradle | Portable Case included |
Who Is This Ring For?
If you are a data nerd like me who wants to see every single heartbeat variation without being charged a monthly fee, the Circular Ring 2 is for you. It’s also perfect if you hate wearing a bulky Apple Watch to bed.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: subscription fees. I chose the Circular Ring 2 because I believe that if I pay $350 for a device, I should own the data it collects. If you are tired of Oura or other brands charging you a monthly fee to see your own sleep data, this ring is your escape hatch. It’s a one-time investment for lifetime insights.
If you have a family history of heart issues or just want that extra peace of mind, the FDA-cleared AFib is a massive selling point. I’ve used it to do spot checks when I’ve had too much caffeine or a stressful day at work.
Being able to take an ECG by just touching my finger is something I used to think only expensive watches could do.
Price and Availability
The Circular Ring 2 is priced at $349.00 USD and is available in 4 color options: Gold, Rose, Silver and Obsidian Black. You can purchase this smart ring from the Circular official website.
Note: Circular also supports HSA and FSA payments, which means you can be able to use pre-tax dollars through your HSA or FSA debit card, which will save around 30%-40% depending on your tax bracket while purchasing the Circular Ring 2.
Wrap Up
Do you know why I prefer the Circular Ring 2? Honestly, it’s because of the peace of mind. I’ll choose this over the others because it doesn’t treat my health data without locking my health insights behind a monthly subscription.
Having an ECG on my finger feels like living in the future and while the app still has some learning to do, the hardware is top-tier. The app interface can feel crowded at times and new users might need a few days to really understand where everything is. Some metrics like step tracking and energy scores don’t always align perfectly with real-world activity and if you lift weights regularly while wearing the Circular Ring 2, the titanium body may get scratched.
If you want a smart ring that actually works for you and not the other way around, the Circular Ring 2 is still one of the most interesting options right now, especially if you value deep insights without an ongoing fee.
