There are many things to consider when purchasing a smart ring, so use these tips to help you narrow down your choice and get the most out of it.
Size:Some smart rings come in standard sizes, but there are some variations, and half sizes are uncommon. Most manufacturers will send you a free sizing kit, allowing you to wear a test ring for 24 hours to make sure it fits properly. (You may have to buy the ring directly from the manufacturer to get this free kit.) You should do this without hesitation. Keep in mind that your fingers swell and shrink throughout the day. Your smart ring should fit snugly to allow the sensors to measure accurately, and will work best on your index finger (although your middle or ring finger may work).
Finish:All of the smart rings we tested combine sturdy titanium with a set of sensors inside, but coatings and colors vary. If you’re hard on rings, you’re probably better off with a silver or gold finish, as there’s less risk of damage. My Oura and Ultrahuman rings with black finishes have visible scratches and chips after a few months. The Oura and Amazfit rings have small dimples to help you align the sensors. While I prefer the Ultrahuman’s smooth finish, I suspect that proper placement helps accuracy tremendously.
Careful:If you want to avoid damage, you should take your ring off when working with tools, lifting weights, washing pots and pans, or even cleaning the sink. If your ring is likely to rub against any surfaces, take it off. I found this to be more of a problem when wearing a ring on my index finger than on my middle or ring finger. I scratched both the Oura and Ultrahuman rings when gardening, moving boxes, and using a dumbbell. Titanium is also tough enough to damage surfaces around your home. I scratched the porcelain on my sink and scored the inside of a mug with the angled Ringconn. All of the smart rings we tested are water-resistant, so you can swim or shower without taking them off.
Charging:Smart rings come with a charger and cable, but you’ll usually need to bring your own wall adapter. Once discharged, they take between an hour and a half and three hours to fully charge, but you should avoid letting the battery run completely flat or you risk losing data. We tested the smart rings above with all features turned on, so our battery life estimates are lower than manufacturers claim.
Characteristics:Most smart rings track your sleep, heart rate, and temperature. If you want to monitor your sleep and health discreetly and conveniently, smart rings are ideal. Fitness tracking varies: most smart rings offer basic step and movement counts, some offer manual workout tracking, and only the Oura and Galaxy Ring offer automatic workout recognition. But you can expect more depth and accuracy from a traditional fitness tracker or smartwatch. Pairing a smart ring with an Apple Watch or Fitbit offers a seamless experience, allowing you to take off the watch and leave it charging overnight without interruptions in tracking.
