The dream of owning and caring for virtual pets may not be quite as popular as it was in the late 2000s, but Tamagotchi is still adding to its lineup for those who want a quick hit of nostalgia. Bandai’s latest iteration, revealed at Tokyo Toy Show this week, is a Tamagotchi ring. It’s the smallest virtual pet the company’s ever made, coming in at just about an inch square.
The entire device is about 23mm x 28mm, with tiny, tiny buttons to match its diminutive shell. At just 0.56 inches, the Tamagotchi’s LCD screen isn’t exactly going to be easy to read (especially for the older milennials who grew up with the original Tamagotchis). The Tamagotchi is available in three colors: light blue, gold, pearl white, and black and silver. Bandai says the new Tamagotchi includes 30 characters from across the brand’s 30-year history.
Bandai says it took two years to develop the device and that it ended up cutting its components nearly by half in order to cram everything into its form factor. One cut component could make continued use of the Tamagotchi ring a bit more cumbersome: there’s no USB port for charging. Instead, Bandai created a dedicated charging case that you’ll have to keep track of to top off your virtual pet when its battery runs low.
The Tamagotchi ring’s size definitely means it’s going to be more of an accessory than a toy that’s fun to play with. Wearing it on your finger might make it difficult to forget to feed your pet, but there’s no telling how difficult it will be to actually use those little buttons.
The new Tamagotchi is currently only available for pre-order in Japan for ¥7,700 (about 50 USD). Deliveries should begin arriving in February 2027.
