As mad as it sounds, Casio got to fit a smartwatch into the size of a ring. More recently, Bandai, notably not a watchmaker, has done something similar but with Tamagotchi instead. The result is the simply named Tamagotchi Ring, the new smallest virtual pet toy after the Nano. Yes, despite its size, it is actually fully functional, complete with a colour screen. And there are a total of 30 characters to be raised.
Of course, because of its size, some concessions had to be made. The three buttons you see below the screen – where they traditionally are – are completely decorative. Instead, you get two buttons on either side of the chassis. The left one is to switch to the next menu selection, while the right one is to confirm. Press both buttons to cancel or go back to the previous screen. From the demo video showing the Tamagotchi Ring off, though, it looks like those buttons would still be a slight challenge to press if you have long nails.
That’s just the one that’s obvious, anyway, and it’s unclear what other compromises you’d find with the Tamagotchi Ring, on account of its size. Its battery life is also a bit of an unknown, but it does come with a charging cradle that, as you’d expect, is also egg-shaped.
The toy itself sports three colour combinations, which are pearl white with a pink band, silver with a black band, and gold with a blue band. They cost JPY7,700 (~RM194), and are open for pre-order in Japan until 6 October. Shipping, on the other hand, is noted to only start in April 2027.
On one hand, the Tamagotchi Ring is definitely a cute little thing, and likely looks better on daintier hands. But on the other, judging from the links in both the trailer and demo video, this is a P-Bandai item, so it’s going to be difficult to get, or resellers are going to be asking for a premium if you order via such channels instead.
(Source: Bandai / YouTube [1], [2], P-Bandai)
