Fitness tracker ring (smart rings): Benefits, disadvantages, ...

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Imagine a device so small and discreet yet powerful enough to monitor your heart rate, track your sleep, and even measure your daily activity, all from your finger.

Fitness tracker rings, or smart rings, have revolutionized how we approach personal health and wellness, marrying convenience with functionality. 

With an increasing focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle for longevity, these wearable innovations offer a unique solution. 

This guide will explore the benefits, disadvantages, uses, and brands of fitness tracker rings to help you make an informed decision. 

Understanding its potential can transform your approach to health monitoring and goal setting as you consider adding a smart ring to your wellness arsenal.

What is a fitness tracker ring?

Fitness tracker rings, often called smart rings, are at the forefront of wearable technology. They combine style with the power to seamlessly monitor your health and wellness. 

These compact devices, designed to be worn on a finger, offer a discreet yet effective way to monitor physical activity and vital health metrics throughout the day.

At their core, smart rings utilize advanced sensors and technology to gather data on your body’s performance and well-being. 

Unlike traditional fitness trackers on your wrist, these rings ensure comfort and convenience without sacrificing functionality. 

They’re engineered to be an unobtrusive part of your daily wear, making them an ideal choice for those who prioritize aesthetics and health monitoring.

The capabilities of these rings are impressive. Here’s what they typically feature [1]:

• Heart rate monitoring – Smart rings measure your pulse to give you real-time feedback on your heart rate, an essential metric for assessing your overall fitness level and heart health.
• Sleep tracking – By analyzing your movement and heart rate overnight, these rings provide insights into your sleep patterns, helping you understand your sleep quality and duration.
• Steps count – Keeping track of your daily steps has never been easier. These rings accurately count your steps, encouraging you to meet your daily movement goals.

These features represent just the tip of the iceberg. Fitness tracker rings empower you with knowledge about your health, enabling you to make informed decisions about your lifestyle and fitness goals. 

They stand as a testament to how far wearable technology has come, offering a blend of convenience, style, and depth of data that was unimaginable a few years ago. 

As you consider integrating a smart ring into your health regimen, remember that these devices are not just about tracking; they’re about enhancing your journey toward a healthier life.

What are the benefits of fitness tracker rings?

The introduction of fitness tracker rings has been a game-changer in wearable technology, effortlessly integrating into your daily life while providing extensive health monitoring advantages. 

These innovative devices stand out for their unique features and benefits, positioning them as an attractive option for anyone focused on maintaining or improving their health.

Portability and convenience

One of the most striking benefits of fitness tracker rings is their compact size. Unlike bulkier wrist-worn devices, these rings offer unparalleled convenience, allowing you to monitor your health metrics without carrying additional weight or bulk [2]. 

Their ease of use is unmatched; once placed on your finger, they work tirelessly in the background, gathering data without interrupting your daily activities.

Aesthetic and comfort

Beyond their functional appeal, smart rings are designed with aesthetics in mind. They come in various styles to suit personal preferences, ensuring that health tracking doesn’t come at the expense of fashion. 

Moreover, their comfort for continuous wear is unparalleled. Crafted from hypoallergenic materials and designed to fit snugly around your finger, these rings can be worn 24/7, including during sleep, without causing discomfort or irritation.

Accuracy and efficiency

Regarding monitoring health metrics, fitness tracker rings are remarkably accurate [3]. 

Utilizing advanced sensors, they provide precise readings on heart rate, steps, and sleep patterns, among other metrics. 

This efficiency in data collection empowers you with accurate insights into your health, enabling you to make informed decisions about your fitness and wellness journey.

Extended battery life

One of the most practical benefits of smart rings is their extended battery life. Compared to other wearable technologies, these rings boast significantly longer battery durations, reducing the need for frequent charging [4]. 

This extended battery life ensures that your health tracking remains uninterrupted, providing a hassle-free experience.

Is a fitness tracker ring right for you? 

While fitness tracker rings offer a unique and innovative way to monitor health and wellness, like any technology, they come with challenges. Understanding these disadvantages is crucial for deciding whether a smart ring is right for you.

Limited features

Compared to their wrist-worn counterparts, smart rings often have fewer features. While they excel at providing essential health metrics such as heart rate, steps, and sleep tracking, they might need more functionality in smartwatches, such as detailed app notifications or built-in GPS. 

This limitation is primarily due to their compact size, which, while beneficial for convenience and comfort, restricts the amount of technology that can be incorporated.

Investment

High-quality smart rings can be a significant investment. The cost reflects the advanced technology and design effort required to pack numerous features into such a small device. 

If you’re looking for a wearable with a wide range of functionalities, smart rings come with a higher price tag than some fitness bands offering similar health-tracking capabilities.

Maintenance

Smart rings require care to ensure their longevity. Because they’re worn on the finger, they’re exposed to water, sweat, and dust, affecting their durability. 

Regular cleaning and careful handling are necessary to maintain their condition and functionality.

Compatibility challenges

Not all smart rings work seamlessly with every smartphone or operating system. Before purchasing, check if the ring is compatible with your current devices to fully utilize its features.  

This limitation can be a deciding factor for users deeply integrated into a particular tech ecosystem.

Concerns over data accuracy

Although smart rings are designed to be accurate, the unique positioning on the finger may sometimes result in less reliable data than devices worn on the wrist. 

Factors like the ring’s fit and the specific activities you engage in can influence the accuracy of the health metrics tracked.

When considering a fitness tracker ring, weighing these disadvantages against the benefits is essential. 

Each person’s needs and preferences are different, and what might be a deal-breaker for one individual could be inconsequential to another. 

Your decision should align with your lifestyle, budget, and how you plan to use the device in your daily health and fitness routine.

What are fitness tracker rings used for?

Fitness tracker rings offer a range of functionalities that cater to various aspects of daily life and personal wellness. Here are some of them:

Daily activity monitoring

The cornerstone of any fitness tracker is its ability to monitor daily activities. These smart rings excel at recording steps taken, calories burned, and distance traveled throughout the day. 

This continuous monitoring is essential for those looking to maintain an active lifestyle or achieve weight loss goals, as it provides tangible data to measure progress.

Health tracking

Beyond mere activity tracking, these rings offer in-depth health monitoring features. They measure heart rate, track sleep patterns, and monitor oxygen levels, providing a comprehensive overview of your health. 

This data is invaluable for identifying trends and helping you make informed decisions about your physical well-being.

Fitness goals

Smart rings simplify fitness tracking. They help set and monitor goals, boost daily steps, improve sleep quality, and enhance cardiovascular health. They keep you motivated and on track.

Wellness insights

Modern life’s stresses can take a toll on your mental well-being. Fitness tracker rings offer features to monitor stress levels and the effectiveness of meditation practices. 

By providing insights into your stress and relaxation patterns, these rings help you manage your mental health, encouraging practices that enhance overall well-being.

Smartphone integration

In our connected world, staying updated without being tethered to your phone is a luxury. Smart rings act as notification hubs for your smartphone, alerting you to incoming calls, texts, emails, and other alerts with discreet vibrations. 

This feature ensures you stay connected without constantly checking your phone, promoting a balanced digital lifestyle.

Near-Field Communication (NFC) capabilities

• Digital wallets – Imagine making payments with a simple hand gesture. Smart rings with NFC technology allow you to carry your credit card information, enabling easy contactless payments.
• Digital key functionalities – These devices can also serve as digital keys for doors, cars, and secure areas, streamlining access and enhancing security.
• Digital IDs – The potential to carry digital IDs or driver’s licenses within your ring is on the horizon, promising a future where your essentials are always at your fingertips [5].

Gesture-based controls

Interacting with connected devices has never been more intuitive. With gesture-based controls, performing actions through simple hand motions, smart rings offer a new level of convenience and accessibility in controlling smart home devices, music playback, and more.

As wearable technology continues to evolve, fitness tracker rings stand out for their blend of functionality, convenience, and style. 

Whether you’re focused on health monitoring, seeking to integrate technology more seamlessly into your life, or simply looking for the convenience of smartphone notifications and NFC capabilities, these smart rings offer a compelling array of uses to enhance your daily routine and personal wellness journey.

What are popular fitness tracker ring brands?

Let’s explore some popular brands currently leading the market, helping you find the one that aligns best with your needs and preferences.

Established leaders

Oura Ring

A pioneer in the sleep tracking space, the Oura Ring is renowned for its comprehensive sleep analysis and personalized health insights. It also tracks heart rate variability (HRV) and basic activity metrics. 

While it lacks a built-in display and offers limited workout tracking, it excels in comfort and boasts a long battery life.

RingConn

This ring focuses on affordability and core health-tracking functionalities. It monitors sleep, heart rate, activity levels, and blood oxygen, providing valuable data at a competitive price point. RingConn does not require a monthly subscription fee, unlike some other brands.

Innovation and performance

Ultrahuman Ring Air

This option caters to fitness enthusiasts seeking advanced data and insights. It boasts continuous HRV monitoring, skin temperature tracking, and recovery recommendations. 

The Ultrahuman app offers personalized coaching and guidance to optimize training and well-being. Be mindful that the ring requires a monthly subscription fee.

Circular

This ring focuses on comprehensive health monitoring, sleep analysis, activity tracking, heart rate monitoring, and blood oxygen levels. 

It also boasts unique features like stress tracking and hand gesture recognition for contactless payments. 

While information about battery life and subscription fees is limited, Circular offers health-conscious individuals a compelling combination of features.

Movano Evie Ring

Designed specifically for women, the Evie Ring focuses on menstrual health tracking and stress management. 

It tracks sleep, heart rate variability, skin temperature, and activity levels, offering insights into your menstrual cycle and stress patterns. 

The Evie Ring also provides personalized recommendations to support your well-being throughout your cycle.

Emerging players

Samsung Galaxy Ring

While not yet available, the buzz surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Ring is significant. Samsung’s entry into the market signifies growing competition and potentially innovative features. 

The Galaxy Ring is expected to seamlessly integrate with the Galaxy ecosystem, offering:

• Fitness tracking – Monitor your activity levels and progress.
• Contactless payments – Pay for purchases conveniently with your ring [6].
• Potential smart home functionalities – Control smart home devices with the ring (rumored feature) [7].

Keep an eye out for further details and its eventual launch.

Amazfit Helio Ring

Another upcoming contender, the Amazfit Helio Ring is tailored for elite athletes. This ring optimizes recovery through in-depth sleep analysis, stress monitoring, and personalized guidance. 

It boasts features like:

• Advanced sleep tracking with personalized insights and even sleep sounds that adjust based on your body’s response.
• Mental well-being support with guided meditations and access to an AI wellness coach.
• Detailed workout tracking for various activities, training load analysis, and performance data.
• Water resistance up to 10 ATM for worry-free wear during exercise and recovery.

How do you choose the right fitness tracker ring?

When choosing the right fitness tracker ring, several critical factors come into play to ensure that the device meets your expectations and enhances your daily life and health journey. 

Navigating the options requires a thoughtful approach to compatibility, features, cost, and design preferences, ensuring the chosen ring aligns with your needs and goals.

Compatibility

Your smart ring should seamlessly integrate with your existing devices. Whether you’re an Android enthusiast or an Apple devotee, ensuring that the ring pairs effortlessly with your smartphone is crucial. 

This compatibility extends to health apps you may already use, allowing for a synchronized health-tracking ecosystem.

Features

What do you need your smart ring to do? Is your focus primarily on health metrics like heart rate and sleep tracking, or are you looking for more advanced features like NFC payments and smartphone notifications? 

The range of features varies significantly between models, so it’s key to identify which functionalities align with your lifestyle. Consider what’s non-negotiable and what you could live without.

Cost

Quality comes at a price, but that doesn’t mean breaking the bank. Fitness tracker rings vary in price, often reflecting their feature set and design quality. 

Set a budget that reflects your prioritization of features and overall value. Remember, investing in a device that meets your needs can contribute to a healthier lifestyle, potentially saving costs in other areas of your life.

Design preferences

A smart ring is as much a piece of jewelry as a piece of technology. It’s something you’ll wear every day, so it’s important that you like how it looks on your finger. 

Want more information on smartwatch features and benefits? Feel free to contact us.

A range of styles is available, from sleek and minimalist to more noticeable designs. Consider what matches your aesthetic and feels comfortable for long-term wear.

Feature comparison

Before making your decision, take the time to compare top models. Look at side-by-side comparisons of their features, battery life, and user reviews. 

This research can highlight differences that may not be apparent at first glance, helping you to choose a ring that best fits your needs.

Matching user needs

Ultimately, the best smart ring for you is one that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle and helps you achieve your health and fitness goals. 

Whether you’re a tech-savvy individual looking for the latest innovations or someone seeking a simple solution to track your activity and health, there’s a smart ring out there.

How do you maximize your fitness tracker ring?

With the right approach, your smart ring can become indispensable to your health and wellness routine.

Maintenance tips

Regular maintenance is key to ensuring the longevity of your smart ring. Keep it clean by gently wiping it with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove oils and dirt that can accumulate from daily wear. 

Avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures, which could damage its components. If your ring is water-resistant, ensure you understand the limits of this resistance to prevent accidental damage during activities like swimming or showering.

Battery optimization

One of the benefits of fitness tracker rings is their long battery life, but certain practices can extend it even further. Disable features you don’t use frequently, as they can drain the battery more quickly. 

Also, consider adjusting the brightness of any LED notifications or opting for a more efficient sync schedule with your smartphone. 

Charging your ring before it dies can also help maintain the battery’s health.

Lifestyle integration

Making your smart ring a seamless part of your daily routine maximizes its value. Start by setting realistic health and fitness goals using the data your ring collects. 

Whether increasing your daily step count or improving your sleep quality, use your ring’s tracking capabilities to monitor progress and stay motivated. 

Additionally, use its smart features, like NFC payments or smartphone notifications, for convenience or to stay connected without being glued to your phone.

Finally, wearing your ring consistently is crucial for gathering accurate health data, so choose a design you feel comfortable wearing daily.

Closing thoughts

Fitness tracker rings represent a significant advancement in wearable technology. They offer a discreet yet powerful way to monitor health metrics. 

These devices blend seamlessly into daily life, providing vital health insights while prioritizing convenience and style. 

Choosing the right ring involves evaluating compatibility, features, cost, and design to match personal needs and preferences. 

Proper maintenance, battery optimization, and integrating the ring into daily routines are essential for maximizing its benefits. 

As these smart rings evolve, they promise to become even more integrated into our health and wellness journeys, choosing to adopt one step towards a healthier, more connected lifestyle.

FAQs

Are fitness tracking rings good?

Fitness tracking rings offer a discreet and stylish way to monitor vital health metrics, making them an excellent choice for those prioritizing wellness and convenience. Their innovative design and functionality support a healthier, more informed lifestyle.

Which finger do you wear a fitness ring?

A fitness ring is typically worn on the index finger for optimal sensor accuracy, but it can also be comfortably worn on any finger. This ensures a snug fit and proper contact with the skin to track health metrics accurately.

Can you answer calls on a smart ring?

While most smart rings do not support directly answering calls, they can notify you of incoming calls and allow basic actions like rejecting a call through gesture controls or tapping, requiring a smartphone for the actual conversation.

What problems do smart rings solve?

Smart rings solve the problem of carrying bulky devices by offering a discreet, fashionable way to track health metrics, manage notifications, and even make payments. They enhance convenience and lifestyle integration without compromising on functionality or style.

[1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-tracking-how-wearables-help-monitor-improve-your-exercise-x58nc
[2] https://www.bestbuy.com/discover-learn/why-a-fitness-ring-could-be-right-for-you/pcmcat1687970315414
[3] https://news.cuanschutz.edu/news-stories/how-reliable-is-technology-at-tracking-health-and-fitness
[4] https://www.smartringhub.com/entry/top-3-smart-rings-for-battery-life
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_ring
[6] https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/26/samsung-galaxy-ring-specs-features-release-date.html
[7] https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/samsung-galaxy-rings-ai-smart-home-integrations-tease-at-mwc/

If you wanted to track your workouts and steps in 2013, you probably had a wristband from Fitbit, Jawbone or Nike on your wrist. Now, more than 10 years later, the wearable tech world looks much different.

Gone are the simple, screen-free fitness bands that adorned our wrist long before the Apple Watch arrived. Many early players that dominated the fitness tracking scene have either shifted their focus to smartwatches, been acquired by larger companies making smartwatches or exited the wearables market entirely. The fitness bands that exist today have largely adopted the qualities of smartwatches, offering colorful screens that can show incoming notifications, calls and alerts. 

But what if I said simple fitness trackers are poised for a comeback?

Sleek health-tracking devices without screens are gaining interest in 2024, but in a much different form: smart rings. Samsung made headlines in January and again this week at Mobile World Congress with its Galaxy Ring, a new device for monitoring activity, health and sleep that will be launching later this year. It's yet another sign that there's merit behind the idea of a device that primarily functions as a standalone health tracker, unlike today's smartwatches, which can do everything from track your heart rate to serving as a miniature phone or a digital car key.

Samsung is far from being the first to launch a smart ring; early entrants like Oura paved the way. But with CNBC reporting that Chinese tech maker Honor is also working on a smart ring, and Apple experimenting with the idea of a smart ring, according to Bloomberg, there's more attention than ever on these tiny fitness monitors disguised as jewelry. 

Read more: What to Expect From Smartwatches in 2024

Sarah Tew/CNET

The similarities between smart rings and fitness trackers

On a basic level, fitness bands and smart rings serve the same purpose. Devices like the Oura Ring, Evie Ring and Ultrahuman Ring Air aim to deliver metrics about your activity, sleep and overall well being. 

The Oura Ring, which I've been wearing for the past couple of weeks, provides a Readiness Score that indicates whether you're rested enough for a hard workout or should take it easy. The Evie Ring was created with women's health in mind and can detect sleep, steps, blood oxygen levels and heart rate, in addition to offering period logging. The Ultrahuman Air measures bodily signals and sleep to provide health tips and insights.

Based on what we know about the Galaxy Ring, it sounds like Samsung's approach will follow suit. The ring will support Samsung's new My Vitality Score feature, which like Oura's Readiness Score ties multiple metrics together to provide big-picture takeaways about your current state based on factors like sleep and activity. 

Scott Stein/CNET

So what do these rings have in common with fitness bands? For one, none of them are particularly concerned with "smart" features, like relaying notifications and messages from your phone. Smart rings also blend in more seamlessly with every attire than smartwatches, much like those understated fitness bands from 10 years ago. They may look a little larger or chunkier than your average wedding band, but smart rings generally resemble ordinary pieces of jewelry. 

That sounds a lot like early fitness straps such as the Jawbone Up and Misfit Shine. Like today's smart rings, those fitness bands of yesteryear had a display-free, subtle look and were primarily designed for fitness and sleep tracking. 

"The Up is designed to be worn 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all to paint a detailed picture of your health and prod you to move more," former CNET senior writer Brian Bennett wrote in his 2012 review of the Jawbone Up. That same description could easily apply to the Oura ring.  

When testing the Misfit Shine back in 2013, CNET's Scott Stein described it as "jewelry that just happens to track your movement." Again, you could use that sentence to describe a smart ring like Oura's, although today's smart rings can track much more than just steps.

Sarah Tew/CNET

While there is notable overlap between the intended audiences for smart rings and fitness bands, there are some important differences between the two. For one, modern smart rings can measure all sorts of metrics that didn't exist on cheaper fitness bands back in the day, such as temperature and blood oxygen. 

And that means there's some discrepancy in their use cases. Both smart rings and fitness bands can measure workouts. But rings tend to skew toward passively monitoring health metrics, while wristbands are more focused on logging exercise, says Thomas Husson, vice president and analyst at market research firm Forrester.

"I see an audience maybe a bit more focused on the digital self, people who care about their heart rate or sleeping patterns, who need to be reassured about it daily," Husson said in reference to smart rings.

Read more: How Fitbit Wants AI to Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals

Unlike the examples above, plenty of fitness bands also have displays, especially recent models. Even the Fitbit Flex had a tiny screen for showing progress toward your goals, although it was a far cry from the bright colorful touchscreen on today's Fitbit Charge 6. Fitness bands are also generally seen as a cheaper alternative to smartwatches, while smart rings are roughly the same price as, and sometimes even more expensive than, certain watches. The Oura ring, for example, starts at $299, while the Evie ring costs $269, compared with the $249 Apple Watch SE. And that's not including the cost of Oura's $6 monthly subscription service, which is required to unlock most of the Oura Ring 3's features.

And while display-free fitness bands are rare, they're not entirely extinct. There's the Whoop fitness coaching band, which specializes in measuring recovery and strain and requires a hefty subscription fee at $399 for 24 months or $239 a year.

But let's not forget that today's smart ring market looks a lot like the fitness band space a decade ago. Aside from Nike, the leaders in the fitness band market largely consisted of smaller niche brands like Jawbone, Misfit and Fitbit in the early 2010s, although big brands like Microsoft and Samsung did eventually launch wristbands of their own.

Today, it's Oura, Movano Health (the company behind the Evie ring), Ultrahuman and Circular that come up most frequently in the smart ring discussion. Now Samsung is the first household name in the consumer electronics industry to officially join the smart ring race. 

Lexy Savvides/CNET

Fitness bands are fading

Fitness bands may have helped jumpstart the wearables craze a decade ago, but they've since been overshadowed by smartwatches. Shipments of basic bands are expected to fall to just 12% by 2027, according to market research firm Canalys, as cheaper watches and smartwatches continue to gain traction. 

Ramon Llamas, research director at the International Data Corporation, also says the company's figures suggest fitness band sales are dwindling. While 14 million fitness band units were estimated to have been shipped in the US in 2015, that number has dropped to around two to 2.5 million, Llamas said. 

There's a simple reason why smartwatches have become our preferred wrist-worn gadget. People simply want more out of their devices. And as technology evolved over the past 10 years, smartwatches have been able to provide exactly that.

"As we've seen with the success of the Apple Watch, a number of [Google] Wear OS watches, and a bunch of others, people want to use this to control their music, get their notifications, access their smart home," Llamas said. "And suddenly, it's not just a smartwatch; it's also almost kind of like a digital assistant."

That begs the question of whether smart rings will stand a chance in a market that's clearly already dominated by smartwatches. Perhaps the increased interest in health and wellness could work in their favor. Back in the early 2010s, the idea of tracking your steps and health metrics was still new and unfamiliar to most. 

But in 2024, shoppers are eager to spend on health-oriented products, with a report from McKinsey & Company estimating the US wellness market to be worth $480 billion and growing by 5% to 10% per year. The report also found fitness, which includes club memberships, classes and wearable devices, to be among the biggest spending categories within the sector. 

But if one thing is certain, it's that smart rings are having a moment. And fitness trackers have certainly left a big hole for them to fill. 

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