When I first heard about smart rings, I was skeptical to say the least. I mean, I already have a smartwatch and a phone that constantly remind me how many steps I’ve taken and how badly I slept. Do I really need a tiny piece of jewelry doing the same thing?

Turns out, yes, yes, I do. And if you care about your health, sleep, or just like being ahead of the tech curve, you probably do too.

So, What Exactly Is a Smart Ring?

A smart ring is exactly what it sounds like: a ring you wear on your finger that’s packed with sensors to track your health and activity. Think of it as a mini fitness tracker or smartwatch, minus the bulky wrist real estate.

Smart rings can monitor your heart rate, sleep patterns, stress levels, steps, temperature changes, and even blood oxygen saturation. And they do it without buzzing all day with notifications.

Because smart rings are so discreet and comfortable, they’re perfect for 24/7 wear. In fact, that's their biggest advantage — they give you a constant stream of health data without making you feel like you're wearing a gadget at all.

Why You Should Wear a Smart Ring Every Day

1. Better Sleep Tracking: Most smart rings, like the Oura Ring 4 and ULTRAHUMAN Ring AIR, are incredibly good at tracking sleep stages, heart rate variability, and nightly body temperature changes. Way better than any smartwatch I’ve tried.
2. Comfort and Style: Let's face it — not everyone wants to wear a chunky watch to bed or to a black-tie event. Smart rings are sleek, stylish, and can easily pass as regular jewelry.
3. Health Monitoring Without the Noise: Smartwatches constantly buzz, ding, and distract you. Smart rings silently collect your data in the background, letting you stay focused.
4. Fitness Tracking That's Actually Practical: Even though they’re tiny, smart rings are surprisingly accurate when it comes to step counting, calorie burn estimation, and heart rate tracking during workouts.
5. Battery Life That Blows Watches Away: Most smart rings last 4 to 7 days on a single charge. Good luck getting that from your Apple Watch.

Which Smart Ring Should You Buy?

There are a few major players in the smart ring game right now, and after diving deep into the options, here’s what you need to know:

Best Overall: Oura Ring 4 — $349.00 on Amazon

The Oura Ring 4 is arguably the most famous smart ring, and for good reason. It's all about holistic health — not just tracking your steps or calories, but giving you detailed insights into your readiness, sleep, recovery, and stress levels.

Pros:

• Best-in-class sleep tracking.
• Readiness score tells you if you should push yourself or take it easy.
• Super lightweight and comes in multiple finishes.
• 4-7 day battery life.

Cons:

• Requires a $5.99/month membership for full access to insights.

My take: If you want the smartest health ring available and you're okay with a subscription, Oura 4 is a no-brainer.

Best for Samsung Users: Samsung Galaxy Ring — $399.00 on Samsung

Samsung's brand-new Galaxy Ring is a powerhouse, especially if you're already part of the Samsung ecosystem. It pairs beautifully with Galaxy phones and the Galaxy Watch lineup, offering deep integration with Samsung Health.

Pros:

• Tracks sleep, heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin temperature.
• NFC tap-to-pay support.
• Lightweight titanium build.
• Works seamlessly with Galaxy devices.

Cons:

• Pricey.
• Features are best with Samsung phones.

My take: If you're a Samsung user, the Galaxy Ring is like strapping a jet engine to your health tracking. Just be ready to pay for it.

Best Without Subscription: ULTRAHUMAN Ring AIR — $349.00 on Amazon

ULTRAHUMAN Ring AIR is all about optimization. It’s designed for people who are serious about sleep, fitness, and metabolic health. It even offers insights based on your blood glucose (if you pair it with their glucose monitor).

Pros:

• Ultra-light (it's seriously featherweight).
• No subscription fees.
• Deep metabolic health insights.

Cons:

• The app is still evolving and could use more polish.

My take: If you’re a biohacking nerd or just love tracking every aspect of your health without paying extra monthly fees, the ULTRAHUMAN Ring AIR is an excellent pick.

Best Value: RingConn Gen 2 — $299.00 on Amazon

The RingConn Gen 2 might be the best value-for-money smart ring you can buy right now. It covers all the basics — sleep, heart rate, activity — and costs less than its competitors.

Pros:

• No monthly subscription.
• Solid battery life (up to 7 days).
• Affordable compared to others.

Cons:

• Fewer advanced health insights compared to Oura.
• App could use better data visualizations.

My take: If you want a smart ring that nails the basics without costing you extra every month, RingConn Gen 2 is a killer deal.

Best Budget Choice: Amazfit Helio — $199.99 on Amazon

The Amazfit Helio is the most affordable smart ring in this roundup but still offers impressive features. Amazfit has a solid reputation in the fitness tracking world (they make some fantastic smartwatches too).

Pros:

• Tracks heart rate, steps, sleep, and temperature.
• Works with Zepp Health’s ecosystem.
• Very affordable.

Cons:

• Basic compared to premium rings.
• App experience isn't as refined as others.

My take: If you’re curious about smart rings but don’t want to drop $400 right away, the Helio is an awesome entry point.

Should You Buy a Smart Ring?

After wearing one daily, I can say smart rings are the most underrated health tech you can own. They’re unobtrusive, stylish, and genuinely helpful for keeping tabs on your body without the annoying distractions that come with a smartwatch.

If you're serious about your sleep, fitness, and health, a smart ring isn't just a cool gadget — it's a life upgrade.

Personally? I’m sticking with the Oura Ring 4 for now. But depending on your budget and needs, the Samsung Galaxy Ring, ULTRAHUMAN Ring AIR, RingConn Gen 2, or Amazfit Helio could be a perfect fit for you.