Circular has unveiled its Series 3 smart ring at IFA, adding NFC mobile payments to its health-tracking wearable line-up for the first time. The move means users no longer need to choose between a health-tracking ring and a payment device, positioning Circular against rivals in an increasingly crowded smart ring market ahead of the holiday shopping season, though pricing and availability have not yet been confirmed and are promised "in the coming months."

The range comes in two versions: the Ring 3 Pro (6.8mm wide, 2.78mm thick), which supports Visa and Mastercard payments and reintroduces a vibration motor for silent alarms and reminders, and the lighter Ring 3 Slim (5.9mm wide, 2.35mm thick), which sacrifices the ECG sensor and haptic motor to weigh roughly half as much. Both are made from titanium, water resistant to 50 metres, available in sizes six to 14, and ship with a charging case housing a 700mAh battery, though the larger Pro will yield fewer full charges. Battery life has nearly doubled to 12 days, while familiar Series 2 features carry over, including sleep and activity tracking, blood pressure and glucose trend monitoring, and the Pro's single-line ECG.