Bandai Unveils Ring-Style Tamagotchi "Tamagotchi ring" — First Wearable Device for 30th Anniversary, Priced at ¥7,700

Bandai announced the "Tamagotchi ring," a ring-shaped Tamagotchi device, on August 27. It is the first wearable device in the Tamagotchi series, with pre-orders opening at 10:00 a.m. the same day through the company's direct sales site "Premium Bandai." The device is priced at 7,700 yen (including tax, approximately $49) and is scheduled for release in February 2027.

The new product features a compact body measuring approximately 28mm in height and 23mm in width, equipped with the series' smallest 0.56-inch color LCD screen. Compared to the original Tamagotchi released in 1996, which measured approximately 50mm in total length, the new device is roughly 56% of that size. Users can operate the side buttons while wearing the device on their finger, allowing for the same nurturing gameplay as before.

The basic functions follow traditional care operations such as "feeding" and "cleaning up waste." The device also includes mini-games and room renovation features. Depending on how it is raised, the character grows into one of more than 30 different characters, ranging from the original popular characters "Mametchi" and "Kuchipatchi" to characters that appeared in models with communication features introduced in 2004 and color models from 2008 onward.

Miniaturization required approximately two years of development. A new charging structure was adopted to reduce internal space, and the USB connector protection circuit was also shortened. The component count was reduced to a total of 64 parts — 52 electronic components and 12 plastic parts — nearly halved from the 116 parts in the latest model, "Tamagotchi Paradise." The device introduces a series-first charging method where the main unit is placed inside a dedicated case.

Three color variations are available: "Pink & Pearl White" with aurora pearl finishing on the frame, and plated finishes in "Light Blue & Metallic Gold" and "Black & Metallic Silver." The ring supports sizes 10 and 14, with spacers included.

Development story: The three front buttons are "decorative"

The "Tamagotchi ring" was also showcased at "TOKYO Toy Show 2026," held at Tokyo Big Sight from August 27 to 30. Yuri Okamoto of Bandai's Toy Division Planning Team 1, who led the planning, spoke with ITmedia NEWS about the behind-the-scenes development story.

The development originated from the search for a "surprising device" ahead of the 30th anniversary, when the technical team brought forward a discovery: "We have an LCD this small." The installed display is an ultra-compact panel with a 0.56-inch (1.42cm) diagonal and 118×138 pixel resolution.

The design language of the egg shape, LCD screen, and three buttons — carried over from the original — was maintained, but at a total length of 28mm, operating three front buttons proved difficult. As a solution, new operation buttons were added to the left and right sides of the body. Okamoto explained, "The front buttons are decorative."

The charging mechanism also required ingenuity. A small two-point contact system commonly used in wireless earbuds was adopted to reduce internal space, but the positioning proved challenging — "even a 1mm misalignment prevents charging from starting properly," the development team reportedly struggled with this issue. The built-in lithium-ion battery lasts just under two days on a full charge. The included charging case itself is a simple charger without a built-in battery, and the cable connection terminal uses USB Type-A.

The body is too small to assemble with conventional metal screws, so the device uses adhesive-based assembly — nearly a first for the Tamagotchi series — further illustrating the development challenges.

Evolution of a classic toy marking its 30th anniversary

Tamagotchi is a portable nurturing game released by Bandai in November 1996. Its innovative concept of raising a fictional creature on an LCD screen became explosively popular both in Japan and internationally. As of 2026, marking 30 years since its launch, the franchise continues to evolve through smartphone apps and wristwatch-style devices.

The ring form factor, unlike conventional keychain or wristwatch styles, proposes a new experience of playing while wearing the device in everyday life. Overcoming the technical challenges of miniaturization through a proprietary charging structure and reduced component count could influence future developments in the series.

In fact, cumulative global shipments of Tamagotchi exceeded 100 million units as of July 31, 2025. The breakdown is 49% in Japan, 33% in the United States, 16% in Europe, and 2% in Asia outside Japan, with overseas shipments accounting for the majority. This track record, built across generations and borders, underpins the new challenge of the ring form factor.

Comparison with previous devices

Model	Release date	Total length / Display	Component count	Price (incl. tax)
Original Tamagotchi	November 1996	Approx. 50mm / Monochrome LCD	—	1,980 yen
Tamagotchi Paradise	July 2025	— / Color LCD	116 parts	6,380 yen
Tamagotchi ring	February 2027 (planned)	28mm / 0.56-inch color LCD	64 parts	7,700 yen

▲ Component count for the original model is left blank as no published data is available. Prices are the launch retail prices (including tax) for each model.

▲ Years of major feature additions are based on official Bandai announcements.

Market impact and outlook

The toy market has seen growing nostalgia-driven consumption among adults in recent years. Tamagotchi is no exception, with reissued original models and collaboration editions performing well in sales. The ring form factor combines fashion appeal for the generation that grew up playing with Tamagotchi — allowing them to wear it daily — with appeal to younger audiences encountering the franchise for the first time.

The 7,700 yen price point is somewhat higher than previous color LCD models, but this appears to reflect the added value of a wearable device. With approximately five months between pre-order launch and release, Bandai has room to adjust production plans while gauging demand.

In the toy industry, differentiating physical toy devices has become a challenge amid widespread smartphone adoption. The experience of playing while wearing a device on one's finger offers a tactile sensation and sense of ownership that digital devices cannot easily replicate. Sales trends for the Tamagotchi ring are likely to serve as a litmus test for the future direction of portable toys.