The 5 Best Smart Rings, Tested by Fitness Editors

For those who want insights into sleep, heart rate, and recovery—without dropping $400 or signing up for a monthly membership—the RingConn Gen 2 Air offers great value. RingConn has refined its hardware with this second generation, offering a noticeably lighter and more comfortable fit than the original.

What makes RingConn different is its inclusion of sleep apnea detection, a rare find in this industry, especially without requiring a subscription. However, the Air does not offer this feature that RingConn is known for. The RingConn Gen 2 Air monitors a wide range of sleep metrics, including time spent in each sleep stage, movement during the night, and breathing irregularities. It’s an ideal ring for anyone trying to better understand how their overnight recovery impacts daily energy and long-term health, but it does not monitor sleep apnea like its sister product, the RingConn Gen 2.

I do have some qualms with the workout tracking. While those looking for in-depth fitness tracking are more likely to go with something like a Garmin or Whoop, the RingConn Gen 2 Air is especially basic when it comes to distinguishing different workouts. I wouldn’t really trust it to correctly judge what kind of workout I’m doing, but perhaps running. It can log activity and heart rate zones, but its technology for exercise auto-detection is new this year and not entirely accurate yet.

Still, for users more concerned with sleep and recovery than fitness performance, the Gen 2 Air is more than capable. Just note that sizes run slightly large, so it’s worth using their sizing kit or sizing down if you’re between sizes. The company also released an updated version, the Gen 3 Air, but honestly, it’s more expensive, heavier, and still can’t compete with the Oura Ring. So better to stick with this version in my opinion.

Read More: Best Fitness Trackers

Samsung’s long-awaited Galaxy Ring is a newer addition to the smart ring catalog. Crafted from lightweight titanium and available in three finishes, if you already use a Samsung Galaxy phone or smartwatch the integration takes no effort.

Designed to work seamlessly with Samsung Health, the Galaxy Ring tracks heart rate, activity, and sleep highly accurately. Its biggest selling point may be its emphasis on stress and sleep metrics, which have become central to Samsung’s wellness strategy. Galaxy Ring will even give you a sleep animal that reflects your sleep habits—dog is the golden ticket there. If you get, say, a turtle (you fall asleep slowly and may have some interruptions throughout the night), Galaxy AI will bring you a proposed plan of action to get your sleep back on track, taking sleep tracking to that next level. It also includes skin temperature sensors and supports auto workout detection for some activities, like walking and running.

While it lacks compatibility with iPhones, it does everything Android users need it to. And although Samsung hasn’t introduced a subscription plan yet, there’s speculation that one may arrive in the future to access advanced features. For now, all features are free, making it one of the most robust and cost-effective options for Android users. And if you’re debating between the Oura Ring and the Samsung Galaxy Ring, we have things to say.

Amazfit is known for its budget-friendly fitness tech that often outperforms what you may expect from an Amazon brand product. The new Helio Ring continues that by offering a smart ring that boasts solid metrics, sleek design, and no subscription fee. It’s especially alluring for users already in the Amazfit ecosystem—this ring pairs seamlessly with devices like the T-Rex 3.

The Helio Ring includes the basic smart ring metrics: sleep tracking, readiness scoring, heart rate monitoring, and activity logging. It also offers a few innovative features, like built-in AI coaching, which can help you adjust your sleep habits, activity levels, and even recovery tips based on your daily data. The ring is comfortable and well-made, featuring a durable titanium exterior and a fairly slim profile.

That said, if you’re expecting Oura-level insights, you may find the data a little surface-level. It doesn’t really stack up to its competition when it comes to the app and the data. I would say it’s much more of a smart ring for beginners looking to save a few hundred dollars while getting something that is generally useful and looks good on the finger. To go a little deeper, the app is functional, though not especially polished, and some might miss the granularity offered by more premium competitors. Still, for the price—just under $200—the Helio Ring offers a step into smart rings, especially for anyone prioritizing affordability and comfort.

The first time I put on the Oura Ring 4, I figured that this was as good as it got when it comes to smart rings. Super low profile. Super light. And a charge that lasts for a week. The removal of the nodes in previous generations was the clincher.

The app and software that come with an Oura Ring come with any of the versions. I am impressed by how small and thin the Oura Ring 5 is. They’ve managed to put that impressive tech into a smaller unit, which is even more discreet. But personally, I find the ring too small, to the point that it feels a little strange and less secure on my finger.

Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM, still prefers the slim design of the Oura Ring 5, but if you want to score almost all of the same features in a bigger ring, you might want to opt for the Ring 4. You might even score a serious discount, as their last-gen model goes on sale often.

Read More: Our Hands-On Review of the Oura Ring 4

The Ultrahuman Ring AIR was previously on this list as our Best No-Membership-Needed Smart Ring, but after a legal dispute with another smart ring maker, they could no longer sell that version in the United States.

We are currently testing a review unit of the Ultrahuman Ring Pro, the brand’s latest offering, which is currently available for pre-order, to see if it’s worth adding to this guide. Ultrahuman is promising a longer battery life, advanced insights, and a more streamlined app experience.