While smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra dominate the wearable tech scene, a new contender is steadily gaining traction: the smart ring. These unobtrusive devices offer a compelling alternative for those seeking a more discreet way to track their health and fitness.
Despite not yet matching the full functionality of their wrist-worn counterparts, smart rings boast an impressive array of features, including activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and even heart rate measurement. Their minimalist design and unparalleled comfort make them an appealing option for individuals who find smartwatches bulky or intrusive.
The smart ring market is burgeoning with exciting options. Let's delve into some of the leading choices available today.
Best overall smart ring
Oura Ring Gen 3
- Beautiful design
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Informative and easy to use app
- Accurate sleep tracking
- Wear-and-forget battery life
- Convenient charging
- Subscription required for app access
- No general fitness tracking
- Some people will need a smartwatch too
The Oura Ring Gen 3 is a sophisticated health and wellness tracker disguised as a stylish ring. Worn 24/7, it continuously monitors your body using advanced sensors that captures a wealth of data, including your heart rate, temperature, and movement. This information translates into personalized insights about your sleep, activity levels, and recovery, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health. It can also automatically track over 40 exercises, which is handy when you don't have a screen to manually start an exercise.
While its sleek design and comfortable fit make it ideal for continuous wear, the actual value lies in the Oura app. Here, the data comes to life, providing detailed sleep stage analysis, personalized activity goals, and guidance on optimizing your recovery. Although it lacks some smartwatch features and requires a membership subscription for full functionality, the Oura Ring Gen 3 is a discreet and powerful tool for those seeking a deeper understanding of their well-being.
The biggest negative about the Oura Ring Gen 3? There's the aforementioned subscription fee, which isn't present on some of its competitors. But also, there's an even bigger reason not to buy the Oura Ring Gen 3 right now: The Oura Ring 4 is slowly making its way onto the market, and it's sure to be the one to buy. We'll let you know once we've put it through its paces.
The Oura Ring Gen 3 might not be around for much longer due to its successor being around now, and as such, you're restricted to finding it on third-party stores, rather than from Oura officially. However, it might be worth keeping an eye out for a good discount.
Best subscription-free smart ring
RingConn Gen 2
- Thin, slim, and light
- Sleep apnea monitoring
- At least six days battery life
- Convenient travel charger included
- No subscription
- No automatic activity tracking
- Limited workout tracking
- App lacks informative analytics
The RingConn Gen 2 is a compelling choice for those seeking a discreet and affordable entry into the world of smart rings. This lightweight and stylish ring punches above its weight, offering many features without the burden of a monthly subscription. The lightweight build is one of its strongest features, but don't forget the six-day battery life, and included charging case, which means you're not tethered to a cable when you need to recharge.
Despite its budget-friendly price, the RingConn Gen 2 provides comprehensive health data, tracking your sleep stages, heart rate variability (HRV), stress levels, and even SpO2 (blood oxygen) levels. Its standout feature is the ability to monitor for sleep apnea, a serious condition often undiagnosed, making it a valuable tool for those concerned about their sleep health. And with a battery life that lasts for days on a single charge, you can wear it continuously without interruption.
While it may not offer automatic workout detection or the granular fitness metrics of higher-priced competitors, the RingConn Gen 2 excels in its core functionality, providing valuable insights into your sleep quality and overall health. It's a fantastic option for those seeking a simple, no-frills wearable that prioritizes essential tracking without breaking the bank. With prices starting from $300 and no subscription fee, it's a tempting choice.
Best subscription-free smart ring runner-up
Ultrahuman Ring Air
- No monthly subscription charge
- Comprehensive sensor array
- Four-day battery life
- 22 workout tracking modes
- Unobtrusive and comfortable design
- Confusing app lacks clear motivation
- No way to change your goals
- App is cluttered and lacks focus
The Ultrahuman Ring Air enters the smart ring arena with a compelling proposition: robust health and fitness tracking without recurring subscription costs. This makes it a tempting alternative to established players like the Oura Ring, but does it dethrone the champion?
In short: No. Our experience with the Ring Air has been mixed. The hardware is undeniably impressive. It's incredibly comfortable, lightweight, and packed with sensors to capture a wide range of physiological data. However, the accompanying app leaves something to be desired. The interface feels cluttered and needs more of the motivational elements that make other fitness trackers engaging. Those who love pure data though? Well, they'll have a field day with this app, though even they may need a Google search or two to figure out what some stats mean.
While Ring Air excels at collecting data, it needs to improve at presenting it in a user-friendly manner. The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, and the insights aren’t always readily apparent. While the fitness tracking features are robust, the inability to personalize goals feels like a missed opportunity.
The Ultrahuman Ring Air is undeniably a bold attempt to disrupt the smart ring market. It's a scrappy underdog with a unique approach, but it's not without its shortcomings. Still, it's another solid choice for a ring without a subscription cost.
Best smart ring for Samsung phones
Samsung Galaxy Ring
- Incredibly light and comfortable design
- Great sleep tracking
- 4+ days of battery life
- Excellent charging case
- Doesn't have a subscription
- Wildly inaccurate SpO2 levels
- Poor workout tracking accuracy
- Doesn't work with the iPhone
- Too expensive, tough competition
Samsung has entered the smart ring arena with the Galaxy Ring, a sleek and stylish device boasting impressive battery life and seamless integration with the Samsung ecosystem. While this first-generation product showcases Samsung's potential in this burgeoning wearable category, it's not without its shortcomings.
Crafted from lightweight titanium, the Galaxy Ring offers a comfortable fit and a premium aesthetic. Its four-plus-day battery life surpasses a number of competitors, ensuring uninterrupted tracking. Where the Galaxy Ring truly shines is in its sleep tracking capabilities, providing detailed insights into sleep stages and patterns. This, combined with its seamless integration with Samsung Health, makes it a compelling choice for those already invested in Samsung's ecosystem.
However, the Galaxy Ring stumbles in key areas. Its activity tracking accuracy falls short of expectations, particularly when compared to more established fitness trackers. Furthermore, the $400 price tag feels steep considering these limitations and the competitive landscape.
Despite these drawbacks, the Galaxy Ring represents a significant step for Samsung. It demonstrates the company's commitment to innovation in the wearable space and lays the foundation for future iterations. With improvements to activity tracking accuracy and a more competitive price point, subsequent generations of the Galaxy Ring could truly solidify Samsung's position as a leader in the smart ring market.
Best low-cost smart ring
RingConn Gen 1
- Very comfortable to wear
- No app subscription
- Detailed sleep tracking
- Travel charging case included
- Seven days battery life
- No workout tracking
- App notifications haven't worked
- HRV and blood oxygen accuracy needs improvement
The Oura Ring has long been a leader in the smart ring space, but the premium price and subscription model can be a barrier for some. Enter the RingConn Smart Ring, a first-generation device that aims to deliver similar functionality at a more accessible price point. But can it truly compete with the established giant?
Designed for 24/7 wear, the RingConn prioritizes comfort with its unique "squircle" shape and tapered edges that minimize irritation. An impressive seven-day battery life ensures uninterrupted tracking, further enhancing its wearability. Our in-depth review revealed surprisingly accurate sleep tracking, rivaling the Oura Ring's data in precision. The RingConn app presents this data clearly, offering valuable insights into sleep stages, activity levels, and vital signs without overwhelming users with complex jargon.
However, the RingConn isn't without its limitations. Dedicated workout tracking is absent, which may disappoint fitness enthusiasts. Furthermore, we observed some inconsistencies in heart rate variability and blood-oxygen readings, indicating that the sensor technology may not be as refined as that found in higher-priced competitors.
