Your quick guide to smart rings
Paul Jones
STACK Editor-in-Chief
Smart rings are the latest fitness wearables and are growing in popularity for their stylish, easy-to-wear designs and multiple tracking features. Here’s what you need to know about them.
Does it get more sci-fi than a ring you can buy dinner with? A ring that tracks your heartbeat and monitors your sleep patterns? No, you’re not on board the USS Enterprise, but it certainly feels like the future!
While smartwatches have ruled the wearables landscape for well over a decade, the humble smart ring is growing in popularity. They take up less real estate on the body, have a better battery life, and provide a subtle – and stylish - way to track health and fitness stats.
But where do you start? What can they do? Why should you buy one?
Fear not, potential ring wearers, our short and sweet buying guide will lead you to your one ring to rule them all!
Is there a choice of designs?
Yes, smart rings come in varied designs, materials and, importantly, colours. There’s something for everyone.
How do I know it will fit?
A smart ring requires a tight fit, so most manufacturers will provide a ring sizing kit – sometimes at a low cost - to ensure a snug fit.
Can I swim with one on?
Good question. Make sure you check the IP rating – you’ll need the ring to be rated IP67 and above to keep it safe in the pool.
What do they track?
For health and fitness enthusiasts, stats like heart rate, temperature, SpO2 (blood oxygen) and stress levels can be monitored.
Smart rings can also track steps, calories burned, and menstrual cycles. They also provide a great alternative to bulky smartwatches for monitoring sleep cycles and habits.*
Can you use them to pay for stuff, too?
Yep. If the smart ring has NFC functionality, you can literally pay for your morning coffee with a simple tap of the ring.
So, how do I get all this information if the ring doesn’t have a display?
All the vital information and data collected while wearing the ring can be quickly and easily accessed in a companion app. You can also set up push notifications for specific alerts.
Ensure that the ring you choose is compatible with your smartphone platform and the health and fitness apps you regularly use.
How long does the battery last?
Unlike a smartwatch, generally, you won’t have to charge a smart ring every night, with most holding between three and seven days of charge, depending on the brand.
OK, I’m in! What’s my next step?
Set a budget and determine the required features you need to monitor your daily life. Choose a design, size up, and away you go!
*While health and fitness devices provide accurate readings, they are not intended to replace professional advice from a GP
Smart rings of power
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Providing a holistic approach to health analysis plus personalised insights, the Galaxy Ring is your 24/7 health and wellbeing coach, with seven-day battery life and water resistance up to 100m.
It works with the free Samsung Health app, where you can access all the data logged by the Ring, as well as various workout-tracking options and wellness tips.
Galaxy AI can calculate your physical readiness for the day and assign you an Energy Score, and the Ring can be paired with other compatible Galaxy devices for an even greater user experience.
The Galaxy Ring comes in nine sizes, so it’s important to try before you buy to ensure a correct and comfortable fit. A sizing kit is available at a nominal fee for precise measurement.
Ryze Element Smart Ring
Looking for something different for the fitness enthusiast who already has a smartwatch?
This classy ring has a similar suite of fitness tracking features, albeit in a more discreet design.
The wearer can gain a better insight into their health and wellbeing, as well as controlling things like music playback and eBook page flipping with a simple gesture.
Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring 4 is a sleek, water-resistant titanium smart ring that’s packed with advanced features to track your health.
Providing insights into over 30 biometrics, the ring uses smart sensing technology, adapting to your finger’s unique shape and skin tone to deliver accurate, continuous data, day and night.
The ring tracks sleep, activity, stress, heart health, and women’s health, and with up to 8 days of battery life it provides comprehensive health and fitness insights while optimising energy use.
Compatible with iOS and Android, the Oura Ring 4 can seamlessly integrate with over 40 apps including Apple Health, Google Health Connect, Strava, and more.
Ultrahuman Ring Air
Smart rings are the in thing, and it’s easy to understand why. Simply slip it on your finger, pair it with your smartphone, and keep track of all manner of personal health details.
They’re not all created equal though. The Ultrahuman Ring AIR proudly promises to be the world’s lightest sleep tracking wearable, while still delivering precise performance.
The device’s advanced sensors seamlessly integrate with the Ultrahuman app, allowing you to track sleep, movement, stress, recovery and temperature with precision. You can also gain handy holistic insights to help you bolster your health.
It’s tough, too. Made from space-grade titanium, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is water resistant up to 100 metres, and it can deliver up to six days of battery life.
Available in five fashionable colours (silver, gold, black, grey, and titanium) and six sizes – a handy sizing kit is available for a nominal fee, refundable if you purchase an Ultrahuman Ring AIR – there’s sure to be one that fits your finger – and vibe – perfectly.
^Discounts apply to previous ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. As we negotiate, products will likely have been sold below ticketed/advertised price prior to the discount offer. Prices may differ at airport stores.
