Smart rings have been slowly booming in popularity, and what used to be a niche device has become fully featured enough to be a solid alternative to other wearables.
Comparing smart rings vs smartwatches, there’s a lot of similarities in what they do, but there are definite reasons to pick one over the other.
Oura is the most established smart ring brand, but big brands like Samsung are also pushing into the space. Beyond these two, challenger brands like Ultrahuman, RingConn, and Renpho are carving out footholds in the market too.
What you gain by ditching the screen
So many platforms and devices demand our attention these days, and for many people a smartwatch can feel like one screen too many.
Smart rings let you track sleep, steps, and heart rate without the buzzing screen on your wrist nagging you all day.
A ring is more comfortable to wear overnight than a watch or fitness band, so you’re more likely to continue using sleep tracking.
What smart rings can’t do
Rings aren’t as sophisticated for workout tracking as they lack advanced sensors that are easier to fit on the larger chassis of a smartwatch.
If your main focus is exercise and fitness tracking, a watch or dedicated band is the better option.
Ring sizing is tricky to work out, and you’ll need to use a sizing kit before ordering online, making them a little harder to shop for or buy as a gift.
Many rings lock features behind an ongoing subscription, so it’s worth looking at what you get for free versus what’s behind a paywall.
Medical features available on devices like the Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch such as ECG and hypertension sensing aren’t available on most smart rings.
Smart rings vs smartwatches: are they worth it?
If you’ve grown tired of your smartwatch constantly demanding recharging or nagging you with notifications, a screenless tracker like a smart ring is an appealing alternative.
They let you keep most of the day-to-day tracking you’re used to while allowing you to interact with them on your own terms.
However, if you’re looking for workout tracking and advanced controls, you may find a smart ring fails to tick all the boxes, meaning you’d be better off looking at a fitness strap.
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