The best smart ring you can buy: Expert tested
Smart rings are the newest and biggest wearable, available from Samsung and Evie to Oura and Ultrahuman. To determine which smart ring was the best, ZDNET evaluated the leading models.
If you’re tired of the bulky design of a smartwatch, a subtle and light smart ring might be more your style. Without a screen, smart rings perform nearly all of the functions of a wristwatch, including activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and wellness tracking, all on your finger. While Oura once dominated the smart ring market, a variety of competitors, including more recent startups and well-established businesses like Samsung, are entering the fray. Our reviews editor recently had the opportunity to test out a live demonstration of the brand-new, not-yet-available Samsung Galaxy Ring. Read this recap to find out his thoughts on the ring. There has never been a more thrilling moment to adorn your finger with one of these cutting-edge, modern rings.
Similar to smartwatches, the finest smart rings provide an extensive feature set for tracking sleep and wellness. They also use a less obtrusive, more covert strategy. Even non-health-related NFC functions like contactless payment and virtual business card capability are included in some options.
Which smart ring is currently the best?
Staff members at ZDNET tested out a number of the best smart rings by donning them for weeks or months to see how well their apps, battery life, and other features worked. The Oura Ring 3 is our tested choice for the greatest smart ring overall because of its remarkable health suite, fast charging capabilities, and lightweight design. Continue reading to find out more about Oura’s benefits and which other best smart rings are deserving of your consideration.
Technical specifications of the third generation Oura Ring: Lightweight titanium with a non-metallic, non-allergic inner molding; battery life of 4–7 days; charging time of 20–80 minutes; compatibility with iOS and Android; durability of up to 328 feet; free sizing kit with online purchase;
Since I’ve had an Oura Ring on my finger for about a week, I’ve used it for almost everything, including stretching on a yoga mat, working at the office, going for runs in the city, and going to bed. Every time I visit the app’s home page, Oura displays my sleep, activity, and recovery data. I’m happy with how this has helped me better understand my health. It even managed to catch my elevated stress levels during a night of tears.
In addition, a comprehensive chart tracking blood oxygen levels, body temperature, and heart rate during the night is displayed alongside the condensed overall score. Additionally, the ring detects stress automatically and modifies your activity goals accordingly. It noticed that I had an extremely high body temperature one night and recommended that I utilize the rest mode, which gives rest and recuperation priority over activities.
Sherin Shibu, a ZDNET writer, tried the Heritage Oura Ring by using it for weekly workouts that included cycling, weight training, yoga, and other exercises. She stated that it was not only a competent and precise tracker, but it also didn’t overburden her with information. Rather, the Oura Ring gave precedence to practical thoughts and solutions. For instance, Shibu noted in her evaluation that the more than 50 guided meditation alternatives had made it easier for her to reduce tension and get a better night’s sleep.
The ring’s form factor and integrations show this thorough but straightforward approach — Shibu expressed her amazement at how a compact device could store so much data. The ring is compatible with iOS and Android apps, Google Fit, Apple Health, and other services, so you can view your daily and even monthly data from your phone.
The drawback is that access to personal insights, such as in-depth morning sleep analysis and temperature trend monitoring (which can even detect early stages of disease), requires paying a $6 monthly membership fee, as Redditors and reviewers frequently point out. However, the only insights available to non-paying members are those related to preparation, activity, and sleep.
