I hate watches. I’ll wear a bangle, maybe a bracelet, but never a watch. I don’t understand where this dislike stems from. Even when the Galaxy Watch 7 series launched, it didn’t take me much to decide that I wouldn’t get one (asides brokeness), in spite of the fancy promises of health monitoring metrics.
Then came smart rings, which I thought were ingenious. They cut out the bulk part of having to wear a smartwatch, while still offering the tracking functionality. They are just the right combination of healthy, yet fashionably discreet. If you’re like me and would prefer something smaller for your fitness goals, these are the top rings on the market right now.
Overview of the best smart rings
- Best smart ring overall: Oura Ring 4.
- Best smart ring for Galaxy ecosystem: Samsung Galaxy Ring.
- Best ring for Sleep Recovery: Amazfit Helio Ring.
- Best for workout tracking: Ultrahuman Ring Air.
- Best comfort ring: Circular Ring Slim.
- Best budget smart ring: RingConn Smart Ring.
Oura Ring 4
Pros
- Accurate & vast health tracking.
- Comfortable & non-allergenic design.
- Long battery life.
- User-friendly app.
Cons
- Requires monthly subscription.
- Expensive.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Width: 7.90mm, Thickness: 2.88mm |
| Weight | 3.3 to 5.2 grams (depending on ring size) |
| Sensors | – Red and infrared LEDs for blood oxygen level during sleep. – Green and infrared LEDs for heart rate, heart rate variability & respiration rate. – Digital sensor for temperature variations. – Accelerometer for 24/7 movement & activity tracking. |
| Battery | Up to 8 days of battery life. Typically charges in 20-80 minutes. |
| Color options | Silver, Black, Brushed Silver, Stealth, Gold, Rose Gold. |
| Price | Ranging from $349 to $499 (depending on the finish you choose). |
Oura’s rings have outperformed most brands, thanks to their advanced health monitoring, including exceptional sleep tracking, readiness scores based on 20+ metrics, and detailed women’s health insights. Interestingly, Samsung anticipated the competition, filing a preemptive patent lawsuit against Oura over health-tracking technologies. Given Oura’s history of aggressively protecting their designs, it’s no surprise Samsung struck first.
The Ring 4 is crafted from non-allergenic titanium and won’t cause irritation, which should bring comfort to anyone with sensitive skin. It tracks blood oxygen levels while you sleep using red and infrared LEDs. Green and infrared LEDs take turns measuring your heart and breathing rate while you sleep. There’s even a digital sensor tracking changes in your body temperature, and an accelerometer checking movements or activity during the day.
The Oura Ring 4 also uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and automatically receives firmware updates through the Oura App. It is designed to be EMF-safe, so it reduces exposure to electromagnetic fields that pose health risks. You’ll also find the airplane mode useful for when you want to disable wireless communication.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Pros
- Lightweight & elegant design.
- Accurate health tracking.
- Long battery life.
- Seamless integration with Samsung ecosystem.
Cons
- Black finish wears off after a few days.
- Limited automatic tracking for workouts.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Width: 7.0mm, Thickness: 2.6mm |
| Weight | 2.3g (US 5) – 3.2g (US 13) |
| Sensors | – Accelerometer – Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor – Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) sensor for skin temperature. |
| Battery | Up to 7 days of battery life. Full charge in 80 min. |
| Color options | Titanium in Gold, Silver & Black. |
| Price | $399.99 |
If you’re a Samsung Galaxy user, the brand’s first smart ring fits perfectly in the ecosystem. It syncs effortlessly with your Galaxy phone and gives you access to all your health stats in the familiar Samsung Health app. The ring has a titanium construction, which is more durable material than most metals and adds to the device’s premium look. It comes in nine different sizes, and its weight varies from the smallest size to the largest.
The battery life is decent, and offers a battery capacity range of 18 mAh to 23.5 mAh. The charging case holds a 361 mAh battery, and you can expect up to seven days of usage from a full charge with their combination. The Galaxy Ring also tracks your movement and activity levels, along other metrics, and with 512KB of RAM and 64KB of additional RAM, plus 8MB of internal memory for storing data. Connectivity works through Bluetooth 5.4, and its IP68 rating means it can handle submersion and dust.
Ultrahuman Ring Air
Pros
- No subscription required
- Over 20 workout tracking modes.
- Comfortable design.
- Accurate heart rate data.
Cons
- Low battery life compared to Oura & Samsung products.
- Expensive.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Width: 8.1mm, Thickness: 2.45 – 2.8mm |
| Weight | 2.4 – 3.6g (varies by size) |
| Sensors | – Infrared Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor. – Non-contact medical-grade skin temperature sensor. – 6-axis motion sensors. – Red LEDs (heart rate monitoring & oxygen saturation). – Green LEDs (heart rate monitoring). – Infrared LEDs (heart rate monitoring). |
| Battery | Up to 6 days on a full charge. Full charge in 90 minutes. |
| Color options | Raw Titanium, Aster Black, Matte Grey, Bionic Gold, Space Silver. |
| Price | $349 |
The Ultrahuman Ring Air is no Oura Ring. But it’s among the best for many reasons. It weighs between 2.4 and 3.6 grams, which is extremely light and offers up to six days of battery life. It also offers continuous monitoring of heart rate variability (HRV), sleep stages, skin temperature, and stress levels.
It’s waterproof up to 100 meters and you don’t need to access its data. It doesn’t have GPS, which is a drawback if you want to track your outdoor activities. GPS is supposed to help you see how far you’ve gone and what route you took while exercising. Without it, you’ll need to use your smartphone for tracking, which isn’t as convenient as other rings. On the bright side, it does work well with Google’s Find My Device and provides real-time notifications.
Circular Ring Slim
Pros
- Vibration alarm system.
- No subscription required.
- Comfortable & water resistant design.
- Cheaper than Oura & Samsung rings.
Cons
- Ring scratches easily.
- Poor battery life.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Width: 8.8 mm, Thickness: 2.2 mm |
| Weight | 2 grams (lighter than a standard ring) |
| Sensors | – 1 infrared LED sensor – 1 red LED sensor – 1 green LED sensor – 3-axis accelerometer – 1 surface temperature sensor |
| Battery | Up to 5 days of battery life. Full charge in 45 minutes. |
| Color options | Black, silver |
| Price | From $228 |
Many would argue that the Circular Ring Slim is actually among the worst wearables ever made. But it does have its uses. It lets you customize vibration alerts, so you can decide if you want gentle nudges for waking up during light sleep or reminders to take your meds. Its advanced analytics overlay graphs so that you can see how metrics connect, like heart rate and sleep quality. It’s nice to have a better idea of how your daily habits affect your overall health.
Another unique feature is Coherence Mode, which helps you get into a more balanced, clear-headed state by guiding you through emotional regulation. This feature is particularly useful before big events, like an important meeting or those social gatherings that give you anxiety. Plus, it takes 14 days to really get to know you before offering more accurate health insights based on that longer calibration period.
RingConn Smart Ring
Pros
- Decent battery life.
- Cheaper than previously mentioned rings.
- Water resistant.
- No subscription required.
Cons
- Bright sensor lights cause noticeable night leakage.
- Design scratches show more on black model than silver.
- App is cluttered.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 0.75 x 0.75 x 0.3 inches |
| Weight | – |
| Sensors | – Fitness Tracker – Sleep Monitor – Stress index – Activity Tracker – Heart-rate-monitor |
| Battery | 168 Hours |
| Color options | Midnight Black, Pale Gold, Moonlit Silver |
| Price | $279 |
The RingConn has a mobile app that’s available on both iOS and Android. The app’s interface is straightforward and allows detailed tracking of sleep, activity, and stress levels. RingConn’s emphasis on a no-subscription model is also worth highlighting, as it removes any ongoing costs while providing the same health insights you’d expect from pricier options like the Oura Ring 4.
You’ll get to set personalized health goals, such as sleep hours or daily activity targets to track your health progress. The ring also has good battery life, lasting around five days, and can provide up to 150 days of backup power with the included portable charging case.
Amazfit Helio Ring
Pros
- Great battery life.
- Comfortable design.
- Accurate & helpful sleep data.
- Works well with the brand’s smart watches.
Cons
- Requires subscription for advanced features.
- Only available in one design & three sizes.
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | Width: 8mm Thickness: 2.6mm |
| Weight | Size 8: 3.65g Size 10: 3.75g Size 12: 3.82g |
| Sensors | – Fitness Tracker – Sleep Monitor – Stress index – Activity Tracker – Heart-rate-monitor |
| Battery | Up to 4 days. Full charge takes 1 hour, 40 minutes. |
| Color options | Titanium |
| Price | $209.99 |
Oftentimes, we’re too focused on achieving a great workout. But recovery is just as important. The Amazfit Helio Ring helps you to achieve that with its Comprehensive Recovery Index. This feature digs deep into your body’s readiness to make sure you’re not just pushing through workouts, but actually bouncing back stronger.
It assesses various factors, including your sleep quality, heart rate variability, and even your stress levels. If you hit the gym hard but didn’t get enough sleep afterward, the Helio Ring will flag that and likely give you a lower recovery score. It will also give you suggestions based on your data, usually recommending light yoga or additional sleep to help you recharge.
You still need those dreaded hospital checkups
Smart rings are definitely useful, but you don’t have to rely on them solely for your health metrics. Sometimes, they’re unreliable and give inaccurate readings because of your movement or poor battery life.
So, it’s still important to see a healthcare professional regularly to get accurate assessments and advice. They can help you understand your overall health better and make sure you’re getting the care you need.
