It’s been a slow march to relevancy for the bright ring. For years, the Oura Ring has stood as the go-to bright ring for tech enthusiasts and celebrities wanting to track their sleep and wellness.
The device has adorned the fingers of everyone from Kim Kardashian to Will Smith and Mark Zuckerberg, all of whom swear by the Finnish company’s wearable.
While Oura has seen off competition from rival Motiv (which launched its ring in 2017 and discontinued it three years later), the market is about to get busier in 2024. In January, Samsung announced the launch of a new wearable called the Galaxy Ring, putting Oura on notice.
A week before the announcement, a whole swathe of tech firms, from Amazfit to Movano, unveiled their bright rings at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, in the background, companies such as Ultrahuman and Circular have been developing their intelligent rings, successfully bringing second-generation models to market.
Tech firms are betting on what they believe is the next significant innovation with bright rings – wearable devices that can monitor your health metrics, provide real-time sleep analysis, and introduce a convenient way to make payments, all in a sleek, discreet form factor that fits around your finger. Even Apple is rumored to work on a bright ring that could work with the Apple Vision Pro.
If all of that has piqued your interest, we’ve been testing a range of intelligent rings over the past few months to bring you a list of the best currently available.
How We Tested the Best Smart Rings
Testing bright rings requires meticulous attention to detail and patience, as these devices need weeks of data collection to yield accurate results.
For each intelligent ring on the market, sizing is required with a kit sent out by the brand, ensuring a snug fit against the skin. This was crucial as a proper fit prevents the ring from sliding off and provides accurate data collection.
We wore the rings for months to monitor their performance in various scenarios, including sleep tracking, physical activities like running and gym sessions, and even daily tasks to evaluate features like haptic vibrations and NFC payments. We also closely observed battery life, ease of use, and overall design aesthetics.
The Best Smart Rings of 2024
1. Oura Ring Gen 3
The Oura Ring Gen 3 remains the best bright ring on the market. Its sleek titanium design is not only fashionable but also packed with features.
The ring accurately tracks sleep, activity, heart rate, and other health metrics. It offers detailed sleep analysis, including blood-oxygen levels and heart-rate variability (HRV), surpassing many wrist-based trackers.
The readiness and sleep scores provide actionable insights into your daily and weekly health. Although it requires a subscription for full functionality, the Oura Ring’s comprehensive features and elegant design make it a top choice for health monitoring.
2. Ultrahuman Air Smart Ring
The Ultrahuman Air Smart Ring is an excellent alternative for those who want to avoid subscription fees. It offers robust sleep tracking and health monitoring features in a stylish design.
The ring is made from durable titanium and is available in various finishes. It tracks heart rate, steps, sleep stages, and blood-oxygen levels. Although it lacks automatic workout detection, the manual tracking options are extensive.
The Ultrahuman ring’s readiness and movement scores help users optimise their daily activities. Its charging base is user-friendly, and the battery lasts up to six days.
3. McLear RingPay 2
The McLear RingPay 2 stands out for its seamless NFC payment capabilities. Made from high-purity zirconia ceramic, it’s both stylish and functional. This ring works like a prepaid top-up card, allowing users to make payments with a simple tap.
It doesn’t require charging and has a battery life of up to three years. The RingPay 2 also offers auto-top-up features and cashback rewards at select retailers. While it lacks health tracking, it is a secure and convenient payment solution.
4. Circular Ring Slim
The Circular Ring Slim is perfect for those new to brilliant rings. It’s the thinnest bright ring available and offers essential health-tracking features like sleep monitoring and heart-rate variability.
Its design includes a unique haptic vibration feature for alarms and timers, enhancing its utility. The ring’s app features a virtual assistant that helps manage health data and offers insights.
Despite its limited battery life and lack of activity tracking, the Circular Ring Slim is a solid entry-level option.
5. Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung’s entry into the smart ring market, the Galaxy Ring, was announced at the Galaxy Unpacked event in July 2024. This device promises to be a game-changer for Android users, offering seamless integration with the Samsung ecosystem.
The Galaxy Ring features sleep and activity tracking powered by AI algorithms, providing users with detailed sleep scores and health metrics.
Unique features like the double pinch gesture, which allows users to sleep alarms and take photos with a pinch of their fingers, set it apart from other intelligent rings. While it’s too early to provide a comprehensive review, the Galaxy Ring’s potential to disrupt the market is undeniable.
6. RingConn Smart Ring
The RingConn Smart Ring is a solid alternative to the Oura Ring, offering extensive data tracking without a subscription. It monitors heart rate, SPO2, sleep, and activity metrics, presenting the data in an easy-to-understand format.
The long battery life, coupled with a charging case that extends usage up to 150 days, makes it a reliable choice for continuous health monitoring.
While it lacks some of the polish of the Oura Ring, its affordability and feature set make it a compelling option.
7. Amazfit Helio Ring
The Amazfit Helio Ring is the only bright ring that is fully compatible with smartwatches, allowing users to consolidate their fitness and sleep data in one place. Its impressive sleep tracking capabilities, with detailed metrics like readiness scores, sleep stages, and HRV.
However, some health data, such as resting heart rate and readiness scores, can be inaccurate. The ring’s compatibility with Amazfit smartwatches makes it a unique option for those who already own or plan to purchase an Amazfit smartwatch.
8. Happiness Fit Titanium Health Ring
Enhance your health journey with the Happiness Fit Titanium Smart Health Ring, combining advanced technology with stylish design. This innovative ring monitors your heart rate, sleep, and activity levels, providing a complete view of your health to help you make informed wellness choices.
Crafted from premium titanium, the ring is stylish and resilient, perfect for any occasion. Stay connected with real-time health notifications, and enjoy continuous monitoring with its waterproof design, even during swimming. The extended battery life reduces the need for frequent charging, allowing you to focus on your health without interruption.
Experience the perfect blend of technology and style with the Happiness Fit Titanium Smart Health Ring, a versatile accessory that seamlessly fits into your lifestyle and elevates your wellness journey.
Wrap up
Bright rings are emerging as the next significant innovation in wearable technology, offering a sleek and discreet way to monitor health metrics.
Whether you are looking for comprehensive health tracking, seamless payment options, or an entry-level device, an intelligent ring suits your needs.
The Oura Ring Gen 3 remains the gold standard, but new entrants like the Ultrahuman Air and McLear RingPay 2 are pushing the boundaries of what these devices can do. As the market grows, consumers can expect even more innovative features and designs.
