Kickstarter announces immediate suspension of Ringo smart ring campaign

It is unclear precisely what has led to the suspension of the Ringo smart ring Kickstarter campaign. In its recent email, the crowdfunding platform said it had found "strong evidence" that the company behind RINGO was "misrepresenting themselves or otherwise violating the letter or spirit of Kickstarter's rules". The company went on to suggest that there may be an intellectual property dispute. The RINGO team responded, saying they were "shocked and surprised" at Kickstarter's action and hoped to resolve the situation.

The Ringo and Ringo Pro smart rings were advertised as being able to track various biometrics such as heart rate, HRV, blood oxygen level, and body temperature. The Pro model was also said to offer an insight into your hydration level and ECG functionality. Pledges for the wearable started at $179, with customers initially told that the rings would begin shipping in June 2024. Whether or not Ringo will successfully challenge the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign suspension remains to be seen. In the meantime, backers could consider an alternative model like the Oura Horizon smart ring.