It’s getting increasingly difficult to say smart rings are just a niche inside the broader world of wearable technology. The raft of celebrities who are seen wearing them, the NBA’s use of Oura rings as an early warning system against COVID-19 and, last year, Samsung’s entry into the market has made them far more prominent in the minds of mainstream consumers. We’ve tested plenty of smart rings, and are likely to test plenty more as the years roll on. To help you better understand the category, we’ve built this guide that explains what they do, what they’re for and which ones are worth your time and money right now.Quick OverviewBest smart rings for 2025Daniel Cooper for Engadget89100Expert Scoreli]:list-decimal [&_ol]:space-y-6 [&_ul>li]:list-disc [&_ul]:space-y-6″ readability=”54.781504986401″>Read our full Oura Ring 4 reviewOura has arguably done more than anyone else to push the category forward and its rings are category-leading. The Ring 4 is one of the strongest on the market and the company makes a big deal about how much of its work is scientifically validated. What Oura does better than a lot of its competitors is making a ring and app ecosystem that is accessible to everyone. It turns all of the metrics it generates into a series of easy-to-understand scores that will tell you instantly where you need to improve. The company’s Symptom Radar, too, has the potential to act as an early warning system for some illnesses. Since it can keep an eye on your temperature and heart rate, it can catch when things start changing long before you start feeling it. The downsides are, really, that the company charges a monthly subscription ($6 monthly or $70 annually for US users), with some features paywalled behind it. And that while the ring is comfortable to wear, the dimple which marks which way the ring should be worn (with the mark pointing toward your palm) still annoys.Pros
- More comfortable
- Better data collection
- Gorgeous, clean app
Cons
- Requires paid subscription to use basic hardware features
- Unclear why the paint jobs cost extra
$349 at OuraDaniel Cooper for Engadgetli]:list-decimal [&_ol]:space-y-6 [&_ul>li]:list-disc [&_ul]:space-y-6″ readability=”67″>Ultrahuman’s Ring Air is stylish, elegant and sits comfortably on your finger to blend seamlessly in with your style. What sets the Ultrahuman Ring Air apart from its competitors is the sheer volume of data it will throw at you. You can set the ring to bombard you with statistics about every fact of your body from your sleep, recovery, stress, movement through to your caffeine window. Wear it to bed and, midmorning the next day, you’ll get a recap of your night, including being told off when you opted to reach for the snacks too close to bedtime.If you’re a weekend warrior, or part of the #MarginalGains crowd, then you’ll likely love the sheer volume of extra stuff the Ring Air can do. As well as the regular suite of features, you’ll be able to access “Power Plugs” which unlock additional stat-specific insights. That includes a score on how much Vitamin D you’ve been exposed to, or examining your cardiovascular fitness. Bear in mind that while some of these are free, the ones that charge aren’t just looking for a token fee. To add cycle and ovulation tracking to your ring will cost $40 per year, while AFib analysis will set you back $24.The company has also broadened its ecosystem to work with continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). These arm-worn sensors, which are primarily worn by people with diabetes but have become popular with the fitness crowd, offers real-time glucose monitoring. Similar to the Power Plugs, however, you’ll be forking out a chunk of change — $299 a month — for the privilege. The company has also built Ultrahuman Home, a sensor styled like an old Mac Mini that can monitor your air quality, light exposure, temperature, noise and humidity. It will set you back $549, although it’s worth adding all of its products are HSA/FSA eligible.Pros
- Stylish design
- Tracks an impressive amount of data
- Works in tandem with other health devices like glucose monitors
Cons
- Some trackable data comes at an extra cost
$299 at UltrahumanSam Rutherford for Engadget80100Expert Scoreli]:list-decimal [&_ol]:space-y-6 [&_ul>li]:list-disc [&_ul]:space-y-6″ readability=”65.993381136238″>Read our full Samsung Galaxy Ring reviewSamsung has beaten the likes of Google, Fitbit, Garmin and even Apple to the category. Its debut offering has been surprisingly capable. While it doesn’t track as many things as some of its rivals, the Galaxy Ring feeds into Samsung’s Health App. If you’re already in Samsung’s ecosystem and own one of its phones, integrating the Galaxy Ring would be fairly seamless.Managing editor Cherlynn Low found it was responsive and accurate at monitoring sleep and walks. It has a sensor to keep tabs on your body temperature overnight and tracks your heart rate, blood oxygen and sleep stages. It also lasts about a week on a charge. Unfortunately, it doesn’t track workout data beyond walking and running at the moment, so if you’re looking for sophisticated exercise data, look elsewhere.If there’s one caveat, it’s that Samsung’s patchy track record with battery manufacture may be rearing its head once again. Daniel Rotar, a YouTuber who posts under the name ZoneofTech posted an image of his Galaxy Ring that had swelled on his finger. The swelling was caused by the battery pack, which led him to the ER to have the ring safely removed. Cherlynn said she hasn’t experienced this despite recently re-testing the Galaxy Ring for a week, and notes that other reviewers she’s spoken to have also reported no issues with their units.Because of its limited feature set, the Galaxy Ring is a lot lighter and smaller than its competitors. And while it does cost around $100 more than the Oura Ring, Samsung’s wearable doesn’t require an additional subscription to unlock some of its features. At least, for now. With its small size, light weight and accurate sleep tracking, the Galaxy Ring is a better buy for those looking for passive data collection.Pros
- Lightweight
- Comfortable design
- Surprisingly detailed data presentation
- No subscription for longterm use
Cons
- Pricier than the competition
- Some features need a Samsung phone
$399 at SamsungWhat is a smart ring?Smart rings offer an alternative to smartwatches and fitness trackers to keep an eye on your health and daily activity. They can track your movements, heart rate, temperature and monitor how well you’ve been sleeping. Essentially, they take much of the same hardware you’d find in a smartwatch or tracker and shrink it down into a much smaller package. The trade-offs are, as such, obvious: Rings are smaller and can’t track anywhere near as many things as a wrist-worn device can. You’ll also miss out on any of the added features that are found on those bigger pieces of gear, like a screen on which to see your notifications or real-time readings of your steps count. But they may be more accurate for your heart rate and temperature, and are significantly more discreet.AdvertisementAdvertisementThat discretion is important if you want to keep an eye on your health without looking like you care. Sure, they’re still gadgets, so they’re still noticeably bigger than traditional pieces of jewelry — but not by much. Plus, it’s an alternative for people who don’t like watches, with one statistic saying 68 percent of Americans don’t wear them.What can smart rings track?Much like smartwatches and fitness trackers, smart rings are equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes that can track your movement. That lets them interpret how much you’re moving and, based on whether you toss and turn in the night, how well you’re sleeping. Many rings have PPG (photoplethysmography) sensors to monitor your heart rate and blood oxygenation, either continuously or at intervals. Plus, they often come with temperature sensors that can be used to track signs of infection, and the data they gather on body heat can be used to predict the wearer’s menstrual cycle. It’s possible to use this information to draw broader conclusions about how you’re doing more generally. You can get metrics for your stress, resilience and recovery rates, and you’ll even get data on how calm you are during meditation sessions. AdvertisementAdvertisementI’ve personally been able to look back at stressful days and then compare my vital signs to the baseline. This can be useful to monitor how well, or badly, you’re dealing with stress at any given time and chart progress made. But not all smart rings are alike. Circular’s Ring 2 is one of a handful to offer its own one-line ECG (electrocardiogram). This, like many fitness watches that now offer the same, will look at your heart’s electrical activity to look for irregularities, such as atrial fibrillation. Evie, meanwhile, markets itself as a smart ring “designed for women” with a focus on reproductive cycle tracking. Smart rings vs. smartwatchesAt the risk of winning this year’s “Yeah, obviously” award, smart rings are not a replacement for smartwatches. Rings do not have built-in displays or vibration motors, so the only way to interact with them is via their companion apps on your phone. There’s no way for you to get any idea of how you’re doing at any given time unless you’re able to look at your primary device. Even activity alerts — pop-ups telling you to move if you’ve been still for too long — can only be pushed to your phone. AdvertisementAdvertisementYou won’t get any of the added-value stuff you get with most wrist-worn devices either, and not just the ability to tell the time. That means no calls, apps, message responses, GPS, fall detection or mobile payments via NFC. There are a few exceptions: Samsung’s Galaxy Ring can detect pinch gestures to activate the camera trigger or turn off alarms with a compatible phone. It’s probably worth noting that while no consumer wearable will be as accurate or reliable as a clinical diagnostic tool, the smaller hardware may mean a compromise in accuracy. Rings might also get in the way of certain types of activity, like pull-ups, barbell deadlifts or any other movement that involves gripping onto a handle that might push the accessory into your finger and cause discomfort.Who should use a smart ring?Given the broader features available in even the most basic fitness tracker, it’s hard to say smart rings are a “better” choice. A $300 ring will do a lot less than a $50 tracker, and if you’re led by your wallet, a ring will always work out to be the luxury option. What they offer, however, is a far more elegant aesthetic, especially if you’re not likely to wear a tracker, smartwatch or fitness watch. And that’s before we get to people with skin sensitivities or other reasons for preferring a smaller, more unobtrusive tracker. What to consider before buying a smart ringWhat do you want to get out of it?AdvertisementAdvertisementAre you hoping a smart ring will encourage you to get out and exercise more? Help you keep an eye on your physical health? Manage your mental health? It’s good to go in with a clear picture of what you want because you may find the limited applications frustrating. Will it fit your finger?Most reputable smart rings will, during the ordering process, send you a sizing kit so you can find the most comfortable model. You’re asked to find a size that sits snugly on your index finger ensuring the sensors make good contact with your skin.The companies often suggest you wear this plastic dummy on your hand for a few days before placing your order. After all, our hands can swell and shrink during the day and depending on the ambient temperature. AdvertisementAdvertisementNormal rings can be sized up or down a bit (by a competent jeweler) if your body shape shifts over time. You can’t do that with most smart rings, so if you do change sizes drastically, you’ll have to go through the process from the start and pay full price again.There are exceptions to this: If you pay for a coverage plan with Ultrahuman, for example, you’ll get one free ring replacement if you lose weight. Anecdotally, some makers will offer ad-hoc discounts if you speak to them but that’s obviously at the discretion of the name in question. One thing to bear in mind is wearing your ring while working out, which might be an issue as pointed out earlier. Depending on your activity, you might find a ring uncomfortable compared to a watch. If gripping onto a dumbbell or handlebars is something you do frequently, it might be better to use a smartwatch or wristworn device. But for runners, swimmers or other folks who don’t need to grab onto much while they work out, a ring should be just fine.What’s the battery life like?AdvertisementAdvertisementBigger rings will have bigger batteries, so it’s a lot harder to give a clean figure as to how long each ring will last on a charge. Thankfully most rings sip, rather than slurp, at their batteries and so most of them last at least five days or so on a charge. That’s one big plus over some smartwatches given they often will only last a day or so before needing more power.What can you do if you lose your smart ring?Several companies include Find My Ring features in their apps to identify the last location that your ring was connected to your phone. However, if you’re not a fan of minimalism and your home is full, it might be harder to find them. After all, the rings don’t have vibration motors or speakers to offer an audible chirp as and when you’re looking for them. I once lost an Oura Ring 3 for two days before downloading a third-party app that could locate it within a few feet. Turns out, when I’d made my kids’ bed, the ring had fallen into my daughter’s duvet cover, which I found only once I’d turned the room upside down twice. AdvertisementAdvertisementSamsung, meanwhile, offers location-tracking in its app and can give you a rough idea of your ring’s last location. You can also, if you’re hunting for it in dark environments, set its lights to blink, which is something its rivals do not offer.Are there long-term costs?The nature of the technology world, especially in 2025, is that a lot of hardware companies can’t survive selling users one device every three or four years. So, to supplement that income and to offer users a better value proposition, companies offer additional features at an extra cost. That can come in the form of a premium subscription to unlock additional features and insights about your body. There are also one-off purchases to unlock specific features that you may want to focus on, as well as extended warranties or insurances. I’d wager most people plan on wearing a smart ring for several years before opting to upgrade, and so it’s important to keep an eye on the total cost of ownership. If your budget will only stretch to the initial payment and no further, keep in mind what features you’ll be missing out on.
Source: engadget.com
