Smart rings are not new. They remain a relatively niche product, though, with only a handful of serious players—the most notable being Oura. In a market this small, it should not be difficult for a newcomer to get noticed. Yet Casio has still found a way to stand out with its own take on the smart ring with the CRW-H001.
That’s right. Casio has a smart ring, and it did not start from a blank slate. It took its ring watch and wove in the electronic wizardry that enabled it to pack the ring watch with health-tracking and smart-ring functions—all while retaining the ability to tell time, which is a unique feature. Though, to be fair, the Rollme R11 Ultra can probably do that with its built-in display, and then some.
The LCD on the CRW-H001 appears to handle the traditional watch functions: time, date, day, dual time, stopwatch, and calendar. Health information—including heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, sleep, training analysis, and reports—is viewed through the AIZO Ring smartphone app. So no, it will not pull a smartwatch on it. While text messages and detailed caller info won’t display on the tiny screen, incoming calls, health alerts, and alarms are signaled through a built-in vibration motor and visual cues on the LCD.
This smart ring watch also provides menstrual-cycle information, along with the usual fitness stuff like steps and calories, and supports exercises, including running, walking, and cycling.
Interestingly, the watch and smart functions have separate power arrangements. The LCD watch portion has an estimated two-year battery life, while the rechargeable smart module runs for around four to six days, or about 25 days on standby.
The ring measures 25.2 × 19.5 × 6 mm (0.99 × 0.77 × 0.24 inches) and weighs 19 g (0.67 oz). Its body combines ceramic and stainless steel with mineral glass and everyday water resistance. About the sizing… here’s the thing: it comes in three fixed sizes, and it does not appear to come with adjustment spacers. So, measuring your finger beforehand would be wise unless you enjoy wearing expensive technology on the wrong digit.
Another interesting thing about this wearable tech is that, for some reason, it has been announced only for the Chinese market, where it is being sold for 1,990 yuan [CH] (about US$278).
Images: Casio [CH].