Smart rings have become an interesting alternative to smartwatches for people who want health and wellness tracking without wearing a screen on their wrist. At IFA 2026, Circular is taking that idea further with two new models: the Circular Ring 3 Pro and Circular Ring 3 Slim. The new rings combine health tracking with NFC contactless payments, letting users track their wellness while leaving their phone and wallet in their pocket. Circular is also bringing back one of its more distinctive features: haptic vibrations that can provide discreet alerts directly from the ring.
Circular Ring 3 Pro: The Feature-Packed Option
The Circular Ring 3 Pro is the flagship model in the new lineup and targets people who want as much functionality as possible from a smart ring.
One of its biggest additions is NFC contactless payment support. The smart ring supports Visa and Mastercard tokenization, allowing users to make supported contactless payments with a tap. That could be particularly appealing for anyone who likes the idea of carrying one less thing when heading out for a walk, grabbing a coffee, or running a quick errand.
Health tracking is where the Ring 3 Pro really sets itself apart, though. It includes a single-lead ECG, with the announcement highlighting FDA-cleared ECG for AFib detection. It also offers blood pressure trend tracking, glucose trend estimates, advanced sleep analysis, and comprehensive biometric monitoring.
The ring also brings back Circular’s haptic vibration technology. Rather than relying on a screen or audible notifications, the Ring 3 Pro can use subtle vibrations for silent wake-up alarms, medication reminders, health alerts, and guided breathing exercises.
For a smart ring, battery life is another important consideration. According to Circular’s comparison sheet, the Ring 3 Pro offers up to 12 days of battery life, depending on usage and size.
The Pro is also surprisingly compact considering its feature set. It measures 6.8mm wide and 2.78mm thick, weighs approximately 3 to 4 grams depending on size, and uses titanium with a PVD coating on the outside.
The Circular Ring 3 Slim Takes a Simpler Approach
Not everyone needs every available health metric, and that is where the Circular Ring 3 Slim comes in.
Circular describes the Slim as an ultra-compact version designed around the features people are most likely to use every day. It combines NFC contactless payments with essential health and wellness tracking, including sleep, heart rate, HRV, SpO2, skin temperature and daily activity.
It is also the lighter of the two new rings. The comparison sheet lists its width at 5.9mm and thickness at 2.35mm, with a weight of approximately 1.9 to 3 grams depending on size. Battery life is rated at up to 10 days.
The two models differ in a few important ways. The Ring 3 Slim does not support ECG or blood pressure tracking, while the Ring 3 Pro includes both. Both new rings support NFC payments, vibration alerts, and glucose trend estimates.
That makes the Slim an interesting choice for someone who wants the convenience of a smart ring without necessarily buying into the most extensive health-tracking feature set.
A Smaller Ring with Some Useful Extras
Both Ring 3 models are made from titanium steel, have 50-meter water resistance, and support wireless charging. They are available in US sizes 6 through 14, and Circular says they are the smallest rings the company has developed.
The rings also work with Circular’s updated Kira app, an AI-powered health companion that brings collected health data together and provides personalized wellness insights and recommendations. Kira helps users understand trends over time and make more informed lifestyle decisions.
One important note is that Circular’s glucose feature provides non-invasive wellness metrics and is not intended to diagnose, monitor, or manage diabetes.
Which Circular Ring 3 Is Right For You?
The choice between the two seems fairly straightforward.
The Circular Ring 3 Pro is the model for someone who wants the most complete package. Its ECG, AFib detection, blood pressure trend tracking, advanced sleep analysis, haptic alerts, and contactless payments make it the more feature-rich option.
The Circular Ring 3 Slim makes more sense for someone who wants something smaller and lighter, along with everyday health tracking and contactless payments. It skips some of the Pro’s advanced health features, but it still covers the basics and offers up to 10 days of battery life.
Both rings will make their official debut at IFA Berlin, where Circular will showcase them at ShowStoppers and at its booth in Hall 25, Booth 189. Circular says it will announce pricing, availability, and pre-order information in the coming months. Visit Circular for more info.