The best wearable tech we've seen at CES

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is in full swing in Las Vegas. Every year, hundreds of tech brands come to Las Vegas to promote or pitch their wild, impractical, or innovative tech products to the media. There’s plenty of intriguing tech, like a spoon that uses electrical currents to make your food saltier or a charger that fully replenishes your phone’s battery in seconds. However, for every 50 gimmicky products revealed at the show, one standout tech could change how we work and live. 

Also: The best tech we’ve seen at CES so far 

From earbuds that help you focus to software that automatically sends your heart health data to a cardiologist, I’m rounding up the most noteworthy wearable tech of CES so far. Keep reading for the full list, and check back for updates as the show continues during the week.

1. Smart ring sizing goes digital 

When you buy a smart ring, a company usually sends you a sizing kit with several ring sizes to try for size matching. Circular is digitizing that process with the digital-sizing tech it unveiled alongside its new smart ring, the Circular Ring 2. 

Also: Circular’s digital sizing may have solved smart rings’ biggest pain point 

Digital sizing uses a smartphone’s camera to determine a user’s ring size, eliminating the extra step of sending a sizing kit by mail. The Circular Ring 2 is expected to be available around February or March of 2025 for $380.

2. A sleep wearable that keeps you focused 

This AI-powered sleep wearable tracks EEG brain signals, eye signals, facial movements, heart rate, and more to help users get the most out of their sleep. The Frenz Brainband uses “real-time brainwave tracking” to support focus, CBT-i therapy, and cognitive function. 

And it’s not smoke and mirrors: the Frenz Brainband has research backing up the product and its claims of accurate sleep tracking. 

Also: This award-winning AI sleep wearable aims to help you focus better. Here’s how

Earable Neuroscience, the brand behind the Frenz Brainband, was awarded a CES Innovation Award for the product. 

3. An 18-karat gold smart ring 

Tech is becoming jewelry — for proof, see the Ultrahuman Ring Rare, which is more expensive and precious-metal-studded than some laptops. The smart ring brand debuted a new line of luxury smart rings with three finishes — Desert Rose, Dune, and Desert Snow — with a starting price of £1,500 or around $1,875. The Desert Rose and Dune smart rings are 18K gold and the Desert Snow is made of PT950 platinum. 

Also: One of my favorite smart rings is getting an 18K gold upgrade

While the exterior of the Rare ring is far more luxe than its existing compatriot, the $350 Ultrahuman Ring Air, the software on the inside stays the same, collecting the same sleep, activity, and recovery data. An 18-karat gold smart ring is more a testament to the beautification of wearable tech than a leap in innovation. To boost the appeal of a smart ring or smartwatch and make the products ubiquitous, brands are making their wearables opulent enough for an audience far beyond your average tech bro.

4. Withings Cardio Check-Up

Wearables collect lots of heart health data, but what good is all that information if your doctor isn’t seeing it? This new feature, available for Withings+ members, changes that situation. Withings just unveiled Cardio Check-Up, which sends the heart data a Withings wearable collects to a board-certified cardiologist for detailed feedback. 

Also: This wearable sends your heart health data to a cardiologist

The best part is the cardiologist will provide this feedback to the user within 24 hours. Cardio Check-Up takes the guesswork out of all the health data your wearable collects to provide medical professional solutions to regular people. The feature is available now for Withings+ members. 

5. Lighter smart glasses 

Most smart glasses require actual lenses to display information. But these Halliday smart glasses use an advanced optical module to project information onto a wearer’s view instead. 

Also: The best robotics and AI tech of CES 

For example, the unit ZDNET’s Sabrina Ortiz demoed had no lenses. When Ortiz compared the Halliday tech to her own Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses, she said the Halliday glasses were “noticeably lighter, more akin to my everyday glasses.” 

6. Affordable OTC continuous glucose monitors 

My prediction? We’re about to see glucose monitors play a major role in wearable health tech. Consider the two new over-the-counter glucose monitors that were launched at CES, available not just for people with diabetes but for anyone interested in keeping an eye on their glucose levels. One is from Abbott and the other is from Dexcom. 

Abbott’s glucose monitor is Lingo, geared towards people without diabetes, while Dexcom’s Stelo is designed for people with prediabetes or people with Type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin. The Stelo Glucose Biosensor is available now for $90 a month or a one-time purchase of $100.

Also: Two OTC continuous glucose monitors won awards at CES – and you can try them now

The Lingo wellness GCM monitor is available for $50 for a two-week plan, $90 for a four-week plan, and $250 for a 12-week subscription. Keep in mind that the monitor’s app is compatible with iOS only. 

7. A smart ring with a 30-day battery life 

Most smart rings I’ve tested have a maximum battery life of seven to eight days. Not this one. The new Luna Ring Gen 2.0 has a 30-day battery life.

The Luna Ring is an AI-powered smart ring that monitors all the usual health data, like sleep, stress, and activity, with a marathon battery (and not much else) that sets it apart from its competitors. 

8. New Garmin smartwatch line 

Garmin makes great smartwatches for runners and cyclists, and this new smartwatch, the Garmin Instinct 3, offers up some rugged upgrades fit for triathloners and marathoners alike. 

Also: Garmin previews a new rugged smartwatch with an AMOLED display — and it’s fairly priced

The watches come with built-in flashlights, scratch-resistant glass, 24 days of battery life, an AMOLED display (on one of two of the watches in the lineup), and all the health-monitoring sensors you’d expect in a wearable like this. The best part is: the watches aren’t too expensive. The Instinct 3 series is available on January 10, starting at $400.