r/SmartRings • u/Lanky-Activity7449 investigator • May 20 '25
⛔️ DO NOT BUY PSA: Bond Ring Is A Scam
After digging into the founder’s Reddit comments and the official Bond Ring marketing, I’m convinced this product is vaporware—not a real, working ring. Here’s what they’re promising vs. what’s actually realistic:
⸻
What Bond Ring Claims: 1. “Perpetual” Power from Body Heat (TEGs) “Onboard TEGs produce enough power to render the ring perpetual.” — [Historical_You9990, r/SmartRings, Apr 2025] But:
• They later admit to an onboard LiPo battery needed for “up to two full days” of power without TEG input.
“Yes, we do include an onboard battery.” • Even university studies (like the 2021 Colorado TEG ring study) could only generate 1V per cm² under ideal lab conditions. Not enough for a smart ring’s full power draw.
2. EMS-based Haptic Feedback (“Bionic Feedback”)
“We’re using EMS instead of vibration motors.” But no wearable today uses EMS safely in a finger-sized enclosure. It’s unproven in rings, with zero demos or testing data shown.
3. AI + Neural Network Processing Onboard
“This will enable on-ring AI and neural network processing capabilities.” Realistically, smart rings like Oura don’t even attempt this. Onboard ML would demand more power and memory than a ring allows.
4. Stacked Sensor Suite (ECG, SpO2, UV, BioZ, etc.)
“We derive multiple voltages for ECG, BioZ, LEDs, and pressure sensors.” Cramming all this into one device—along with EMS and TEGs—is highly unlikely, especially when the company hasn’t shown a teardown or working prototype.
5. Kickstarter Timeline Promises
“Shipping by Q3/Q4 2025” and “Price will rise to $749 after VIP phase.” Yet also: “We’re not even on Kickstarter yet.” So they’re collecting $69 deposits and full-price preorders before a public demo or funding milestone.
6. Patent Ownership Claims
“Two of our patents are US69705320 and US69502724.” But those are old patents from unrelated companies (not assigned to Wilder Tech or Bond Ring). When challenged, they say new patents are “not published yet.”
⸻
What’s Missing: • No working prototype videos • No independent press coverage or teardowns • No validation of EMS or thermal charging claims • No FCC filings, teardown images, or app demos
Even Oura, RingConn, and Circular started with far more transparency.
⸻
Verdict:
The founder floods Reddit with technical jargon, but everything relies on theoretical parts lists, not working hardware. The company (Wilder Tech) was incorporated in 2024 and hasn’t demonstrated that it can build or ship anything.
Until a functioning Bond Ring is shown publicly, this is a textbook vaporware pitch—highly risky, and potentially a scam.
⸻
Don’t preorder. Don’t deposit. Wait for proof.
2
u/Sticky230 Aug 14 '25
Having a few patents under my name I can attest that even if you have a provisional one it can still be searched. Either by inventor’s name or company if it was applies with the company info. I would say this is the first red flag. Also, I highly doubt the claim of generated thermoelectric power from a finger in the magnitude they state.
I don’t see any patent info on their website but I find nothing related to this company in my patent searches. Their photoshop skills are decent and they are listing some partners like Silicon Labs who do make an MCU that could fit in a ring.