Circular Ring 2: Blood pressure and blood sugar analysis cost extra despite promises to do away with subscription fee
Circular Ring 2 was crowdfunded on Kickstarter in the spring, and the first 1,000 units were reportedly shipped to supporters last week. As part of the campaign, the ring cost at least $249, making it significantly cheaper than the Oura Gen 4 ($349 on Amazon).
The primary goal, however, was to outperform competing brands with additional analytics: the ring can not only supposedly carry out electrocardiograms (ECG), but also analyze blood pressure and blood sugar. Blood pressure measurement is carried out via a heart rate sensor and ECG, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch8, and therefore likely requires calibration with a conventional measuring device. Blood sugar is only "estimated", meaning the data collected can only be used as a guideline at best.
After Circular Ring 2 was explicitly advertised as not requiring a subscription during the Kickstarter campaign, the two most unusual features, namely the blood pressure and blood sugar measurement functions, are now locked behind a paywall. To use these features, customers must either make microtransactions or pay with "Circular Coins".
Since these two features will only be available after an update expected to be released at the end of the year, it remains unclear just how expensive these functions will be. After backers of the campaign complained in the Kickstarter comments that Circular Ring 2 now requires some kind of subscription after it was originally marketed with no ongoing costs, Circular stressed in a statement that the 13 "core features" of the ring can be used free of charge, while Circular Coins can also be "earned" by using the ring without having to spend any money.
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