Movano Evie ring set for 1H-2023 launch, with or without FDA approval

Movano will demo its smart ring at CES 2023. The device is expected to be a more affortdable alternative to Oura ring, while monitoring much the same metrics. The company hopes to set the new standard for health tracking smart jewellery.

There’s little competition in the smart ring space at the moment. But this is slowly beginning to change.

A number of companies are working on their own solutions. And it’s not just unknown names. Apple is a company that has figured in this conversation for years now, but with little to show. Other brands have started to register smart ring patents, too.

Essential reading: Best fitness trackers and health gadgets

One of these is Fitbit. With Google’s money behind it, perhaps we might finally see a smart ring from the San Francisco wearables pioneer. Another is Oppo. The company has registered a smart ring patent with the Chinese authorities last year. Samsung is amongst these, as well.

We are not sure when/if we will see smart rings from these companies. Just because they have filed patents does not mean they will produce working devices. If nothing else, it does show is that they are thinking of exploring the smart ring space.

Movano’s smart ring will be called Evie

The Movano ring, on the other hand, is something that is definitely under development. In fact, the device was originally demoed at CES 2022 in Las Vegas. This will be the first such product from health tech company Movano.

We now know the ring will be called Evie. As its name implies, this is a device designed primarily for women.

Evie is actually a play on the word “evidence”. Meaning, the ring will deliver trusted evidence. To this end the company is in the process of gaining approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The goal is to ultimately for Evie ring to have Class II designation as a medical device.

As far as what type of evidence, Evie will be able to monitor a slew of health metrics. This includes activity, sleep, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), sleep, restoration, temperature, blood oxygen, steps, calories, menstrual cycle, ovulation and mood. That’s a very similar list that the $300 Oura Ring currently monitors.

The accompanying smartphone app will spit out easy to understand actionable insights on the data the ring collects. The idea is to link the cause and effect of individual metrics. For example, you’ll be able to know how your exercise habits impact your sleep patterns, HRV and more. That way you’ll be able to take “a more proactive approach to mitigating the risks of chronic disease.”

The ring itself is circular, but it is not a solid circle. There’s a small gap. This appears to be more a design characteristic that allows the ring to expand a little bit over the knuckle. It should also help if your finger swells. As far as build, Evie is made of metal with a resin inner section.

Users will be able to choose between silver, gold and rose gold finishes. All of these will come in sizes between 5 and 11.

However, the company’s ambitions do not end there. In an interview earlier this year, it was revealed that the ring might eventually be able to monitor glucose non-invasively and provide cuff-less blood pressure information. The proprietary radio frequency technology that is used to obtain this type of data is currently undergoing clinical trials. If this is proven successful, it will be a game-changer.

Movano Evie Ring: Price and release date

Now we get to the cost. The good news is that there is no subscription. Evie’s main competitor Oura Ring will set you back around $300. But on top of this you need to fork out for a $6 monthly subscription (after the initial six months). There will just be the upfront cost of Evie which will be below $300. The plan is for this to be one of the “most affordable health devices”.

No specific timeframe as to the actual launch of Evie. All that is known at this stage is that Movano is hoping to release it in the first half of 2023 in the US, with Europe and Australia to follow. The hope is that the FDA approval will come before the launch. But if it doesn’t, Evie will be released as a wellness device rather than a medical device.

So a few things to look forward to here. A smart ring without a subscription, something with FDA approval, and women specific features. Only time will tell if Movano’s product proves to be a success.

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