Lumia 2: the connected earring raising nearly $1 million on Kickstarter

A smart, stylish and understated connected earring offering the same core features as connected watches and rings is currently taking off on Kickstarter. Nearly $1 million has already been pledged, with the campaign still having 29 days to run.

Smartwatches and wristbands such as the Apple Watch-along with Android-based options-are not the only way to monitor health and wellbeing to help you stay in shape. Connected rings have also become a popular alternative. But if even that format still feels too visible, there is another accessory that remains relatively under the radar: connected earrings. And they may well be the next big thing.

The Lumia 2 connected earring has only just launched, yet it is already approaching $1 million in funding on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter-even though its creators initially set a very modest target of just $10,000. With 29 days still left, momentum is clearly on its side.

Lumia 2: a discreet connected earring with extensive customisation

One of the Lumia 2’s main strengths is how easy it is to overlook: it looks like a conventional earring, and it comes with a wide range of customisation options. Despite being a tiny device weighing under 1 gram, it does not sacrifice functionality.

Health tracking and sensors built into a 1-gram accessory

Using its onboard sensors, the Lumia 2 monitors circulation, sleep, physical activity and the menstrual cycle. It also includes a SpO2 sensor to track blood oxygen levels, and it can provide an estimate each morning of your readiness to take on the day.

Always-on wear, with a swappable battery instead of charging

Another benefit is that the earring is designed to be worn continuously. At work, on a night out or even at the gym, the format fits in naturally. And unlike many other wearable accessories, the Lumia 2 does not need to be recharged.

Its creators have designed a detachable battery system, meaning you can simply swap out a depleted battery for a fully charged one, rather than removing the earring to plug it in.

Lumia 2 developed by experts

Beyond convenience and aesthetics, the Lumia 2 could also be promising from a health perspective. According to Lumia Health, because the earring sits closer to the brain and the heart, it can pick up signals that would be impossible to measure from the wrist or finger.

Before the Lumia 2, the company had already released an earlier version that was less focused on the general public, aimed instead at people living with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and long COVID. The company also says the product was developed with support from prestigious US institutions: Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Duke and Mass General Brigham.

During the Kickstarter campaign, the base price is $279, although the total cost varies depending on the accessories and options selected. There is also a subscription priced at $20 per month, which unlocks all features in Lumia Health’s mobile app.

Our view

The Lumia 2’s Kickstarter performance is reminiscent of the early days of Pebble, a pioneer of smartwatches. Back in 2012, Pebble launched a Kickstarter campaign that exceeded its $100,000 target on the very first day and went on to raise several million dollars.

As a reminder, Pebble later merged with Fitbit, which was then acquired by Google. Today, however, Pebble is back: its creator has regained the rights to the brand and has been able to use the operating system code after it became open source.

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