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While Oura, Apple, and Samsung battle for the best smart ring accolade, a subscription-free, more affordable alternative, the RingConn Gen 2, threatens to spoil the party.
The RingConn Gen 2 is the first smart ring to integrate sleep apnea monitoring, and early tests reveal 90.7% accuracy. This latest smart ring has an impressive 10-12 day battery. It also includes AI-powered sleep health tracking and heart rate monitoring, HRV (heart rate variability), skin temperature, SpO2 levels, and additional wellness features.
The company set a modest $50,000 goal on Kickstarter and has already raised over $2.2 million with over a month to go. Here is everything we know.
When is the RingConn Gen 2 Coming Out?
Expected Launch: Aug – Sept 2024
The RingConn Gen 2 is now available for pre-order on Kickstarter for $209. Following the crowdfunding campaign, the smart ring will be available through its official website and big-name retailers like Amazon.
RingConn Gen 2 Features
Sleep Apnea Detection, Stress Monitoring, and Blood Oxygen Tracking.
Every tech wearable needs a USP, and the RingConn Gen 2’s claim to fame is being the first smart ring to detect sleep apnea. It also claims artificial intelligence to unlock insights from sleep health factors such as breathing and respiratory variations at night.
Although more than 900 million adults aged 30-69 years are estimated to have mild to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), conventional diagnosis typically involves overnight stays in sleep laboratories, where specialized equipment measures brain waves, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate.
RingConn has collaborated with universities and hospitals on sleep health research and claims to predict 90.7% accuracy in identifying sleep risk events. The team introduced a deep learning model at a leading IEEE conference to address critical challenges in sleep health analysis.
Although its fitness tracking is less comprehensive than many smartwatches, the RingConn 2 does offer general tracking features such as running, walking, and cycling. It can also export your data to Apple Health and Google Health Connect.
The native app also features a stress monitoring system that analyzes data and provides a stress index and ratio.
RingConn Gen 2 Specs and Hardware
Long Battery Life, Thin Design, AI-Powered Sleep Health Tracking
Four photoplethysmography (PPG) optical sensors provide in-depth insights into your heart health by measuring subtle changes in blood flow patterns. The ring allows it to track key metrics like sleep tracking, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and blood oxygen levels.
The smart ring has a minimum thickness of just 2mm and weighs just 2 grams in its smallest size. The RingConn 2 also provides 10-12 days of use on a single charge, but the most impressive is that it can exceed 150 days when paired with the included small charging case.
With an IP68 rating, the RingConn Gen 2 is safe for swimming or showering. It also has a local data backup for continued health monitoring when your smartphone is disconnected. It will hold onto your data and automatically sync it when the connection to your phone is established.
Unlike the Oura smart rings, the RingConn Gen 2 does not require a subscription to access insights from your own personal data. With an affordable entry point, this tech wearable promises comprehensive health and well-being features without breaking the bank.
RingConn Gen 2 Colors
The RingConn Gen 2 is available to pre-order in three colors: future silver, royal gold, and matte black.
RingConn Gen 2 Price
Price: $299
The RingConn Gen 2 smart ring has a price tag of $299. However, backers of the Kickstarter campaign can secure the early bird price of $209.
The campaign finishes on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Future of Smart Ring Technology
In recent years, the Quantified Self-movement has documented how to improve self-knowledge through your health data. Many people routinely track their daily steps, heart rate, hours slept, and even how calories have been consumed and burned. The need to constantly self-monitor has arguably led to the cyberchondria trend. But when used as a guide, tech wearables can be helpful.
The RingConn Gen 2, Oura, and Samsung Galaxy Ring all have unique features and provide a perfect introduction to health and well-being tracking.
But beyond that, one thing is missing that will make me discard my smartwatch: the ability to make payments from a ring.
In its first iteration, Samsung failed to deliver NFT payments from its Galaxy Ring. All eyes will now be on the heavily rumored Apple smart ring to see if it can successfully integrate Apple Pay.
The Bottom Line
The standout feature of the RingConn Gen 2 is its claim of 90.7% accuracy in identifying sleep apnea, but it’s worth noting that it is still awaiting FDA clearance. However, this smart ring’s lightweight design, long battery life, and affordable price point will make it a tempting entry point into discrete tech wearables.
With the holiday season approaching, it’s time to accept that smart rings are about to enter the mainstream, so which one will you be buying?
