Wearable fitness technology has become a dominant category in recent years, and smart rings are leading the charge. Maisie Bovingdon has tested the best smart rings, from Oura to Samsung, to find which ones combine style with wellness tracking.
Smart ring popularity surges
Oura pioneered the smart ring when it launched the device in the US around 2015, inspiring other tech brands to follow. A decade later, there are many more options for tracking health metrics with a ring. Google searches for the best smart rings have skyrocketed by 550 per cent worldwide over the last five years, reflecting the broad range of metrics these small wearables can track from the finger.
Most smart rings track steps, activity levels, calories burnt, and sleep cycles. Others can analyse stress levels, body temperature, monitor menstrual cycles, suggest an optimum fertility window, detect sleep apnoea or snoring, and even take photos. The top picks include Oura Ring 5, Samsung Galaxy Ring, RingConn, and Gabit.
What is a smart ring?
Personal trainer and founder of East of Eden, Abby McLachlan, explains: “A smart ring is a screen-free wearable that tracks health and activity data from your finger. Depending on the model, a smart ring can monitor sleep, resting heart rate, heart-rate variability (HRV), temperature trends, blood oxygen, steps, activity, recovery/readiness and menstrual cycle insights.”
Dr. Nikki Ramskill, founder of The Female Health Doctor, calls smart rings an “exciting development in women's health” but stresses they should not replace medical professionals for those with serious conditions. She adds: “Smart rings don't diagnose medical conditions or measure hormone levels directly, but they do provide meaningful insights into how our bodies respond to hormonal changes, help women feel more connected to their bodies, and better equipped to have informed conversations with their healthcare professional.”
How the rings were tested
Each smart ring was tested for several weeks to determine baseline metrics such as sleep cycle, resting heart rate, body temperature, and menstrual cycle. Biometric tracking was compared against other devices for accuracy, while battery life and charging ease were assessed. Set-up, app connectivity, and iPhone and Android compatibility were also considered. As a jewellery enthusiast, the tester focused on style, finish, and comfort, ensuring each ring complemented her ring stack. Rings were worn during weighted workouts, showers, and in the sea on holiday to test durability, tarnish resistance, and water resistance. Price and subscription requirements were also evaluated.
Oura Ring 5
Best for: Overall smart ring
More lightweight, compact, and slimline than any other smart ring, the Oura Ring 5 is easy to forget you're wearing. Made from high-performing titanium, it has a softer gold finish that complements ring stacks. It's waterproof up to 100 metres and safe in extreme temperatures (-10 to 52°C), surviving a holiday to Milos without tarnishing. The tracking system measures over 50 biometrics, including activity, stress, resilience, readiness, and body temperature, offering in-depth sleep data by analysing circadian rhythm. It measures cardio capacity and cardiovascular age, which resonated with the tester due to a family history of heart conditions.
Existing Oura owners won't lose data when upgrading thanks to the user-friendly app. Metrics are easy to digest, especially with the subscription that reveals greater analytics and wellness practices. The price is around £400, and a free subscription or complimentary charging case would be a welcome addition.
Size: 6 to 13
Finish: Six – Silver, black, stealth, brushed silver, gold, and rose gold
App compatible: Android and iOS
Tracking metrics: 50+ including readiness, women's health, heart health, sleep, activity, and more
Battery life: 6 to 9 days
Subscription: £5.99 per month or £69.99 annually
Price: £399, Oura.com
Gabit Smart Ring
Best for: Budget-friendly smart ring
The Gabit Smart Ring is lightweight (3.1g), water-resistant, durable, and the most affordable option. The tester wore it for several weeks without a scratch, despite warnings about the black colourway tarnishing. However, the thick, chunky band with interior grooves created a large, uncomfortable gap between fingers. The inner shell is coated in non-allergic resin, but the flashing sensors can be distracting.
Sensors monitor usual health metrics like body temperature, activity, and heart rate. Several details, such as health symptoms and workouts, had to be manually input, which was time-consuming. A standout feature is the AI-powered coach (PEP), which can determine bio-age and create a bespoke health plan. Battery life and charging speed are impressive – it can run for over a week and recharge within an hour.
Size: 7 sizes – 6 to 13
Finish: Four – Matte silver, graphite black, matte black, and gold
App compatible: Android and iOS
Tracking metrics: Fitness, stress, sleep, bio age, heart rate, body temperature, steps, nutrition, VO2 Max, menstrual cycle, and calories
Battery life: 7 to 10 days
Subscription: No
Price: £225, Amazon.co.uk
Oura Ring 4
Best for: Smart ring for colour variety
The Oura Ring 4 has been worn fairly religiously for over a year, testament to its comfort. It's lightweight, water-resistant up to 100m, and non-allergenic. Oura offers six colours and finishes, but the titanium isn't as durable as hoped: the gold finish scratched after a weight session. After a year of use, battery life can't compete with competitors.
The tracking data is impressive. Built-in Smart Sensing technology tracks over 30 biometrics, while the “Readiness” score helped determine what the body needed to tackle fatigue. The ring served better with the £5.99 monthly subscription, the only brand tested that required a paid subscription for full benefits. The Oura Ring 4 charges on a dock, with the charging case sold separately for £99.
Size: 4 to 15
Finish: Six – Silver, black, brushed silver, stealth, gold, and rose gold
App compatible: Android and iOS
Tracking metrics: 30 biometrics – sleep, activity, readiness, and more
Battery life: 5 to 8 days
Subscription: £5.99 per month or £69.99 annually
Price: £244, Healf.com
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Best for: Multi-functional smart ring
The Samsung Galaxy Ring features a unique concave shape with no gap on either side, preventing rotation. After several weeks of wear, the gold finish on this water-resistant titanium design looked as good as new. Battery lasted five days (brand promises seven), but it recharged quickly in the wireless USB-C case. The ring is only compatible with Android devices, and set-up and the app are extremely user-friendly.
The app tracks a plethora of health metrics, offering detailed analytics across sleep health and activity. Sleep coaching analysed sleep stages, consistency, and temperature, helping plan a better sleep routine (it even detects snorers). Activity metrics track pace, cadence, heart rate duration, and heart zones, offering personalised tips and setting goals. Unlike other smart rings, the Samsung Galaxy Ring can take photos by tapping index finger and thumb together.
Size: 5 to 13
Finish: Three – Black, silver, and gold
App compatible: Android only
Tracking metrics: Sleep health, stress, heart health, menstrual cycle, activity, body temperature, and more
Battery life: Up to 7 days
Subscription: No
Price: £399, Currys.co.uk
RingConn Gen 2 Bluetooth Smart Ring
Best for: Smart ring for women's health tracking
The RingConn rivals the Oura Ring 5 for slimness, with a squoval shape. Though comfortable with no irritation or tarnishing, the inside sensors jut out, causing occasional rotation. After one week of consistent wear, six days of power remained. The ring comes with a compact charging case.
Tracking is where this ring shines. It analyses common health metrics – sleep, exercise, heart rate, and temperature – but also monitors sleep apnoea, hydration levels, sun exposure, and provides alerts when a headache is approaching. Menstrual tracking is far more detailed than other wearables, partly due to the personal details required to monitor the cycle. While some may find these questions intense, the tester welcomed them for encouraging thorough body observation.
Size: Nine sizes – 6 to 14
Finish: Four – Black, silver, gold, and rose gold
App compatible: Android and iOS
Tracking metrics: Exercise, sleep, stress, heart rate, HRV, menstrual cycle, sleep apnoea, and more
Battery life: Up to 12 days
Subscription: No
Price: £179, Amazon.co.uk
Luna 2.0 Smart Ring
Best for: Smart ring for long-lasting battery
Three weeks into testing, the Luna Smart Ring hasn't needed a charge once. The unique twist detail is appreciated, but the bulky band created an uncomfortable gap between fingers. The gold finish scratches easily, and multi-coloured sensors were distracting at night. Lightweight and water-resistant, the titanium ring features sensors to track sleep health, heart health, and movement. It also tracks sunlight exposure and coffee window.
At £270, the tester was disappointed it didn't auto-detect any data. Manual logging is easy with the voice command function, Luna Voice, but it's not recommended for those wanting a ring that does all the work. The AI-powered health coach, LifeOS, was relied on more than other devices, regularly suggesting healthy meal plans, quick workouts, and energy improvement tips. The low energy was attributed to a “dysregulated stress and sleep cycle”, rather than high caffeine intake.
Size: Nine – 6 to 14
Finish: Two – Silver and gold
App compatible: Android and iOS
Tracking metrics: Over 10 – Sleep health, heart health, circadian rhythm insights, activity, stress, fertility, and cycle tracking
Battery life: 21 days
Subscription: No
Price: £269, Amazon.co.uk
Amazfit Helio Ring
Best for: Smart ring for emotional tracking
With its printed finish, the Amazfit Helio Ring looks strikingly different. It only comes in a metallic matte finish and is available in three sizes. Sensors are protected by transparent resin, making the ring feel slightly tight and charging fiddly – it must correspond with grooves on the charger – but it powers up within an hour and lasts almost a week.
Data tracking is impressive, monitoring sleep cycle, heart rate, readiness, and activity, while offering training support for marathon or Hyrox training. The device monitors emotional state using electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor and HRV: any time heart rate or mood dipped, the Zepp app encouraged assessing feelings and logging them, prompting changes in thinking, movement, or calling mum to snap out of a stressful cycle.
Size: Three sizes – 8, 10, 12
Finish: Titanium alloy matte metallic finish
App compatible: Android and iOS
Tracking metrics: Sleep health, heart rate, stress, readiness, HRV tracking, sports coach, and more
Battery life: Up to four days
Subscription: Free
Price: £109, Amazfit.com
What is the best smart ring?
All smart rings track similar biometrics, but some stand out with unique features and detailed analytics. The Galaxy Smart Ring is comfortable, presents in-depth analytics, and has intuitive gesture prompts, but it's only compatible with Android. RingConn impressed with its unique shape and detailed women's health questionnaire, but it didn't fit as snugly as Oura's designs.
The Oura Ring 5 gets the top spot because it analyses a plethora of health biometrics, provides accurate data in a digestible way, has a substantially long battery life, requires minimal input, and is the most comfortable design for long periods of wear.
Key features to look for
When shopping for a smart ring, it's important to look for a device that is comfortable, water-resistant, offers long battery life, and tracks data you will “actually use”, says McLachlan. She recommends a device that tracks “sleep stages and sleep regularity, resting heart rate, HRV, temperature trends, activity/step tracking, and cycle tracking.” McLachlan also recommends a smart ring with an easy-to-use app that provides accurate insights, supportive health advice, and is compatible with your handset. The cost of the wearable, subscription, charging case, or other attachments is another crucial factor.
Who can benefit from a smart ring?
Smart rings are often assumed to be designed solely for women, but that isn't necessarily the case. McLachlan insists that “smart rings are suitable for everyone.” She believes “the best smart ring is the one that fits securely and comfortably; choice should be based on fit, app compatibility and health goals rather than gender.”
Ramskill believes smart rings “can help women better understand their menstrual cycle, fertility, sleep and overall health and wellbeing”, and also help wearers understand the impact their lifestyle has on sleep and overall health. She adds: “Sleep is one of the foundations of good physical and mental wellbeing, yet it's often disrupted by stress, busy lifestyles, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause.”
