Smart rings

BEST BUDGET PICK

RingConn Gen 2 Air

$198.97

Best for sleep and everyday wellness tracking without paying a recurring subscription.

• Strengths: Affordable, no monthly fee, and long battery life.

• Trade-off: Less detailed activity analysis and a less polished app experience than Oura.

  Source:www.wired.com+1

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BEST FOR SAMSUNG USERS

Samsung Galaxy Ring

$399.99

Best if you already use a Samsung Galaxy phone and Samsung Health.

• Strengths: Convenient ecosystem integration and no subscription for core features.

• Trade-off: Requires Android; it doesn't work with iPhones.

  Source:www.wired.com+1

  View price and availability

Which is best for your needs?

One important caveat: smart rings are strongest at monitoring sleep, resting heart rate, recovery, and general daily movement. They aren't ideal replacements for a dedicated sports watch when you need precise workout heart rate, GPS routes, or detailed training metrics. Sleep-stage estimates also aren't as reliable as a clinical sleep study.www.wired.com+1

My recommendation: I'd choose Oura if you want the best all-around sleep and wellness experience and are comfortable paying the membership. I'd choose RingConn if avoiding monthly fees matters more.

One quick question so I can narrow it down to the best option for you: Which phone do you use, and would you prefer to avoid a monthly subscription? Your answer can make a real difference to which ring is worth buying.

$299.99

The standouts

Oura Ring 4 — strongest for sleep and overall health insights.
Oura remains particularly strong at sleep staging, recovery/readiness analysis, and turning overnight measurements into useful trends. Current comparisons consistently put Oura at or near the top for sleep tracking. The downside is the ongoing subscription for the full experience.www.wareable.com+1

RingConn Gen 2 Air — strongest value.
At about $199 with no subscription, it tracks sleep stages, heart rate, HRV, blood oxygen, temperature and activity, while offering roughly 10 days of battery life. It's a compelling choice if you don't want to keep paying after buying the ring.www.wareable.com+1

Samsung Galaxy Ring — particularly compelling if you use a Samsung phone.
It integrates closely with Samsung Health and tracks sleep, activity, heart rate and other wellness metrics without a subscription. It's currently around $400.www.wareable.com+1

Ultrahuman Ring AIR — good subscription-free alternative.
It's lightweight and particularly focused on sleep, recovery and circadian-rhythm insights. However, availability/support in the U.S. has become an important consideration, so I'd be cautious about buying one here.www.wareable.com

What I'd look at in your situation

If sleep is the main reason you're buying, I'd look first at Oura.

If you want both sleep and daily movement without a monthly fee, I'd look very closely at RingConn Gen 2 Air.

If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Galaxy Ring becomes particularly attractive because of its Samsung Health integration.

One important caveat: smart rings are better thought of as wellness/activity trackers rather than medical-grade sleep diagnostic devices. Their sleep-stage numbers are estimates, so trends over weeks and months are generally more useful than obsessing over a single night's score.

If you tell me (1) iPhone or Android, (2) your budget, and (3) whether you'd accept a monthly subscription, I can narrow these down to the 2–3 most suitable choices and compare their current prices.

Downside: A $5.99 monthly or $69.99 annual membership is needed for most detailed insights.support.ouraring.com

View at Best Buy

(Best value)

2. RingConn Gen 2 Air

$199 list price

Best if you want sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen, and activity tracking without a recurring subscription. It's a compelling lower-cost alternative.www.wired.com+1

Downside: The app and workout tracking are less polished than Oura's.

View at Best Buy

3. Samsung Galaxy Ring

Around $400

Best for Samsung Galaxy phone owners who want a lightweight ring, Samsung Health integration, and no monthly subscription. Battery life is rated for up to seven days, depending on ring size and use.www.wired.com+4

Downside: Android only, and some features work best with Samsung phones.

View at Samsung

4. Ultrahuman Ring AIR

Around $300–$350

A good alternative for people interested in sleep, recovery, movement, and health-related habit insights without a mandatory recurring membership for core features.www.wired.com+2

Downside: Check the current price and the availability of individual paid add-on features before purchasing.

View at Ultrahuman

Quick comparison

These are overall assessments based on published reviews and manufacturer information, not results from a controlled head-to-head test.www.wired.com+2

Which one should you get?

My recommendation is Oura if you want the most comprehensive sleep and recovery experience. Choose RingConn if avoiding subscription fees matters more, or Samsung if you already use a Galaxy phone.

One important caveat: smart rings are generally better at tracking sleep and long-term health trends than measuring exercise intensity in real time.

Let me narrow it down for you

1. Which phone do you use?

iPhone

Samsung Galaxy

Other Android

2. What matters most?

Sleep and recovery

Fitness and activity

Stress and general health

Women's health and cycle tracking

Overall best features

3. What's your budget?

Under $200

$200–$350

$350–$500

Any budget

4. Are you okay with a monthly subscription?

Prefer no subscription

Yes, if the features are worth it

No preference

[Find my best smart ring]