Today, we’ll compare the specs and features of the Amazfit Helio Ring and the Oura Ring Gen 3 and discuss what each ring is best used for.

Amazfit Helio Ring vs. Oura Ring Quick Comparison

Before diving deeper, here’s a quick comparison of the two wearable devices:

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS YOU CAN GET

Amazfit Helio Ring vs. Oura Ring: First Impressions

It’s worth noting that while the Helio Ring is Amazfit’s first foray into smart rings, the company has been producing other smart devices in the health industry for years. The brand has more than a dozen smartwatches, indicating that it knows health tracking very well. That said, the Helio Ring obviously appears to be the product of Amazfit’s years of experience in the athletic health tracking field.

The Helio Ring’s exterior is made of a high-end and durable hypoallergenic titanium alloy, while the interior is made of transparent material to showcase its slew of sensors. The device measures 2.6mm thin and weighs less than 4 grams. The external design looks like the ring has perforations, and the matte gold color looks subdued enough to be worn with anything—whether you’re working out, at work, or just strolling in town.

The Helio Ring is water resistant up to 100 meters, allowing users to take it to the swimming pool. Currently, the Helio Ring is only available in sizes 10 through 12, and Amazfit hasn’t mentioned making the device available in smaller and larger sizes. Hopefully, the company will make them so that more consumers can use them.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR WOMEN

Oura, on the other hand, has been making smart rings for over a decade now. The current model, the third-generation Oura Ring, is a product of many years of R&D, and its design and performance show that it is very good—to the point that most consumers consider it the best in its class.

The Oura Ring has two variations: the classic Heritage version and the slimmer Horizon version. Both rings offer the same features. The main difference between them is their look and price tags—the cheaper Heritage version uses a plateau design, while the more pricey Horizon has a sleek, uninterrupted look.

The Oura Ring’s exterior uses non-allergenic biocompatible titanium, while the interior is made of non-allergenic, non-metallic molding that’s transparent enough to show the device’s sensors. It measures 7.9mm wide, 2.55mm thick, and weighs 4-6 grams. It’s also waterproof, up to 100 meters, so users can wear it while swimming or snorkeling.

ALSO READ: BEST FITNESS TRACKER RINGS

Features

Both the Amazfit Helio Ring and Oura Ring feature the latest technologies, ensuring users get the best health tracking benefits. Here’s a quick look at what these smart rings have in store.

Amazfit Helio Ring

Amazfit hasn’t completely unveiled what kind of sensors and other tech is inside the Helio Ring, but based on the images and what the smart ring is supposed to do, it would have the following sensors at least:

• A photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor
• Red LED sensor
• Green LED sensor
• Accelerometer
• An electrodermal activity sensor

These sensors allow the Helio Ring to be used for the following:

Fitness Tracking

Amazfit designed the Helio Ring as a fitness tracker worn on the fingers. The device measures VO2 Max, the maximum amount of oxygen consumption a person makes during exercise. This metric helps users determine their overall fitness, as do other biometrics the Helio Ring measures.

Performance Predictions

The Helio Ring can predict how users will perform in various running events. After running for 3km, the device will be able to obtain performance prediction data, which can then be used to estimate how the user will perform across different kinds of races: 3km race, two-mile run, three-mile run, 10km run, half marathons and full marathons. This will help users prepare for such events.

ALSO READ: BEST SLEEP TRACKER RINGS

Recovery Recommendations

Aside from tracking and predicting user performance, the Helio Ring is also designed to help active users recover properly so they stay in tip-top shape. Users who subscribe to the Zepp Aura AI rest and wellness service will receive detailed weekly and monthly sleep reports with health assessments and insights, customized sleep sounds to help users get better rest, and more.

Stress Monitoring

The Helio Ring uses its electrodermal activity sensor to measure skin and sweat responses. This information can then be used to determine the user’s current level of mental stress. The device then helps users respond properly so they can improve their mental health faster.

Health and Sleep Tracking

Aside from the above-specialized uses, the Helio Ring can also be used to keep track of basic vitals for overall health monitoring. These include the user’s heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), resting heart rate (RHR), blood oxygen, and respiration rate, among others. These will provide users with a better overall picture of their health.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR PAYMENT

Oura Ring

The Oura Ring, on the other hand, features the following sensors:

• Infrared PPG sensors
• Green LED sensor
• Red LED sensor
• Skin temperature sensors
• Photodiodes
• 3D Accelerometer

These sensors, along with the years of refining and improvement that Oura made to the Oura Ring, allow the smart health tracking wearable to be used for the following purposes:

Reliable Sleep Tracking

The Oura Ring is known for its accuracy in tracking its user’s sleep, as well as its ability to provide a detailed and actionable analysis. It will monitor specific information such as actual sleep duration, depth of sleep, restfulness levels, the length of time before the user actually falls asleep, and whether the user’s sleep is in sync with their circadian rhythm. The device will also keep track of the user’s respiration rate and blood oxygen during sleep and combine this information with the above to come up with the user’s Sleep Score.

Assessing Readiness

The Oura Ring tracks the user’s HRV, RHR, and body temperature and then combines these with the user’s Sleep Score to arrive at their Readiness Score. This will help users determine whether they have received enough rest and are ready to take on the day’s challenges.

Activity Monitoring

The Oura Ring is a reliable tool for monitoring movements and vitals, whether the user is exercising or not. The device keeps track of the user’s steps taken along with other biometrics such as respiration and SpO2 and combines all of this data to arrive at the user’s Activity Score. This score helps users determine if they are achieving a healthy balance of activity and rest on a daily basis. Oura will also help users know the amount of calories they burn per day.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS WITH ECG

Accurate Biometrics Monitoring

The Oura Ring has been tested and proven to monitor its users’ vitals accurately, the same accuracy as that of leading health trackers such as the Apple Watch. For example, the Oura Ring’s PPG sensor measures heart rate at 50 cycles per second to arrive at the most accurate readings. The device’s accelerometer is also able to detect even the faintest of movements. This makes it a reliable health tracker, especially for those who need very precise data.

Stress Management

Aside from tracking basic vitals such as heart rate, the Oura Ring will also learn its user’s biorhythms so that it can recognize and predict stress. The device will combine all of the data it measures, such as HRV and respiration rate, to provide users with insight into the factors that contribute to their stress. The Oura Ring will also help users develop stress resilience so they can prevent stress buildup and minimize its effects if ever it happens.

Menstrual Tracking

Aside from the above features, the Oura Ring can also help female users keep track of their monthly menstrual cycles. The device monitors its user’s body temperature to provide insight into how this influences monthly hormonal changes and helps women predict periodic cycles. This is particularly helpful for women who want to stay on top of their overall health condition.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING ALTERNATIVES

Amazfit Helio Ring vs. Oura Ring: Pros and Cons

Both the Amazfit Helio Ring and Oura Ring have their advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered before choosing what to buy. Here’s a quick look at each:

Amazfit Helio Ring

Pros

• Measures VO2 Max
• Provides detailed analyses and insights as to overall health and fitness
• Third-party integration
• Standalone, but more features accessible if used with Amazfit smartwatches

Cons

• First-gen bugs might happen
• Has few sizes
• Just one color at the moment
• High-end features are hidden behind a subscription

Oura Ring

Pros

• Tested and proven to be accurate and reliable
• Comes in many different colors and prices
• Third-party integration
• Comes in many sizes

Cons

• High-end features are hidden behind a subscription

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING DUPES

The Verdict: Which Is Better—Amazfit Helio Ring or Oura Ring?

That said, it’s currently hard to determine which is better. This is because Amazfit hasn’t released the Helio Ring to the public yet.

For consumers who have tried Amazfit’s health trackers before and can attest to their performance, it’s worth waiting for the Helio Ring to be released to the market. It just might become the best health wearable for active users, but it’s still too early to say anything.

For those who want a tried-and-tested health tracker, the Oura Ring would be the better option. This device is proven accurate and can be relied on for precise health monitoring.

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

The post Amazfit Helio Ring vs. Oura Ring: Which Is Better for Health Tracking? first appeared on Smart Ring News.

In this Evie Ring vs. Oura Ring review, we’ll examine the two smart rings, how they perform, and which is the better choice for women.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR WOMEN

Evie Ring vs. Oura Ring Quick Comparison

Before diving deeper, here’s a quick comparison of the two devices:

Evie Ring vs. Oura Ring: First Impressions

The Evie Ring is the first smart ring designed exclusively for women’s tastes and needs (although the Femometer Ring was the first to be released). It has a unique open design that allows for comfort regardless of whether the user’s fingers are bloated with hormonal changes or not.

It also comes in three shiny finishes—gold, rose gold, and silver. It won 11 “Best of CES” awards when it was unveiled in 2023 and is a medical-grade health tracker that can be counted on to provide women with the information they need to care for their health.

The Evie Ring is made using a proprietary material called “LiquidMetal.” This is a zirconium-based alloy coated with titanium PVD coating for a shiny finish.

The smart ring measures 8mm wide and 3mm thick and weighs 3.2 to 3.7 grams, depending on the size. It’s available in sizes from 5 through 12 and is water resistant to a depth of 1 meter, meaning it is limited to light water exposure only.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS YOU CAN GET

Oura, on the other hand, has been in the smart ring industry for years. This device is the result of 10 years of research and development and has improved features compared to older iterations. There are two Oura Ring versions: the classic Heritage and the sleek Horizon.

The Oura Ring features research-grade sensors that are capable of making accurate measurements day in and day out. Its exterior is made using durable biocompatible titanium with PVD coating, and its interior is made using non-allergenic, non-metallic seamless molding.

The Oura Ring has six finishes: silver, black, stealth gray, brushed titanium, gold, and rose gold. It measures 7.9mm wide, 2.55mm thick, and weighs 4-6 grams depending on the size. It’s available in sizes from 6 through 13. The ring is water resistant up to 100 meters, and you can use it when swimming, snorkeling, and even recreational diving (with caution).

ALSO READ: BEST FITNESS TRACKER RINGS

Evie Ring vs. Oura Ring: Features and Functionalities

Both the Evie Ring and Oura Ring feature the latest technologies in personal health tracking. Here’s a quick look:

Evie Ring Features

Evie Ring has several sensors that are used to monitor vitals. These include:

• Optical heart rate sensors (red and green LED)
• Infrared heart rate sensors
• Skin temperature sensor
• Photodiodes
• An accelerometer

These sensors allow the Evie Ring to be used for the following purposes:

Personalized Health Monitoring

The Evie Ring considers differences between men’s and women’s vitals and does its best to accurately measure RHR, HRV, and blood oxygen saturation (Sp02) to provide helpful insights. Healthy women have slightly higher RHR compared to men (at 78-82 vs. 70-72 BPM). By getting the right measurements, Evie will be able to provide a more accurate picture of its user’s overall health condition.

The Evie Ring measures vitals in three different ways: passively measuring vitals every five minutes during daytime and nighttime, on-demand real-time measurements for a period of 40 seconds, and also monitoring of vitals while the user is working out.

ALSO READ: BEST SLEEP TRACKER RINGS

Workout and Fitness Tracking

Evie can also be used to track heart rate and HRV while the user exercises. These biometrics give users insights into whether they can keep exercising or if they need to rest and prioritize recovery.

The device can also tell if the user is experiencing stress. However, the device won’t track workouts automatically. Users will need to log their exercises if and when applicable.

Aside from monitoring vitals during exercise periods, Evie will also monitor the number of steps users take each day. Combined with the user’s heart rate, this will help users know how many calories they have burned and provide them with detailed insights about their overall fitness.

Sleep Tracking

The Evie Ring is a good choice for a smart ring that can help users improve their sleep. In addition to tracking biometrics, the device will also monitor sleep patterns, sleeping respiration rate, and the duration of every sleep stage. These help Evie determine how the user’s sleep affects overall health. The Evie app will then provide recommendations on how users can improve their sleep.

What’s best about this is that the user’s finger remains comfortable even if it bloats, thanks to the unique gap created by the Evie Ring’s design.

Menstrual Period Logging

Hormonal changes that occur during a woman’s monthly period can affect sleep quality and overall health. Users can use Evie to keep track of their menstrual cycle and PMS symptoms to get recommendations on how to cope and improve their overall well-being.

The longer Evie is used, the more it can identify patterns and predict certain conditions. It can also provide better insight by using the first date of its wearer’s last period.

Mood and Energy Monitoring

Users can log their mood and energy levels to Evie daily as if they were keeping a journal. Evie will use the information over time to help users identify patterns in mood changes and provide users with insights to help them understand how their vitals affect their mood and energy levels daily. These insights can then be used to help manage issues related to mood changes and energy levels.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR PAYMENT

Oura Ring

The Oura Ring uses research-grade sensors to monitor vitals. These include the following:

• Infrared PPG sensors
• Green LED sensor
• Red LED sensor
• Skin temperature sensors (negative temperature coefficient sensors)
• Photodiodes
• 3D Accelerometer

Oura has spent years improving these sensors and the technology behind them. With these, the Oura Ring can be used for:

Sleep Tracking

The Oura Ring is known for reliable and accurate monitoring of vitals during sleep. It will monitor specific information such as actual sleep duration, how deep the user’s sleep is, restfulness, how quickly the user falls asleep, and whether the user’s sleep is in sync with their circadian rhythm.  

The smart ring will also monitor breathing rate and Sp02 and combine this to give you your Sleep Score, which is a detailed and actionable analysis meant to help users improve their sleep.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING ALTERNATIVES

Readiness Scoring

The Oura Ring will then use the sleep score, along with the user’s HRV, body temperature, and RHR, to determine their Readiness Score. This score helps users determine whether they have had enough rest and are in optimum health to take on the day’s activities.

Activity Monitoring

The Oura Ring also monitors users’ movements, such as the steps they take during the day. It will combine activity data with users’ vitals to provide them with their Activity Scores.

This score helps users determine whether they are getting enough rest in proportion to the activities they engage in each day or if they are not getting enough exercise and should do more to stay fit and healthy. The device will also indicate the amount of calories burned.

Accurate Vitals Monitoring

The Oura Ring boasts of having the same accuracy, or even better, than that of the leading health trackers and smartwatches in the market today. Using its technologies, the device will accurately monitor vitals to provide users with reliable insights to help them stay on top of their health condition daily.

Stress Management

The Oura Ring can help users manage their stress levels. With prolonged use, it can learn the user’s biorhythms and eventually recognize stress and predict when it occurs. The device will provide users with information about the factors that cause their stress and give insights on how to build stress resilience to combat it.

Menstrual Tracking

Female users will be able to use the Oura Ring to track their monthly periods. Over time, the device will learn about the user’s specific body temperature trends that change with their hormones from time to time. The Oura Ring will then help users predict their menstrual cycles per month.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING DUPES

Evie Ring vs. Oura Ring: Pros and Cons

Both the Evie Ring and Oura Ring have their own sets of advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before buying. Here’s a quick look at each of them:

Evie Ring’s advantages over Oura Ring

• Cheaper than any Oura Ring model on the market
• All features are unlocked with purchase—no monthly subscription fees
• Charger can be used to charge Evie on the go for up to 10 times
• Charger doubles as a carrying case—no more worries about dropping or misplacing the Evie Ring
• Gap provides maximum comfort when fingers get bloated
• Very friendly user interface, especially for those using a smart ring for the first time
• Accounts for differences between men’s and women’s biometrics for better insights and recommendations

Oura Ring’s advantages over Evie Ring

• Boasts of better features as a result of 10 years of R&D
• Made with more durable materials—doesn’t scratch easily, unlike Evie
• More accurate measurements whether you’re awake or asleep
• Tracks movements better than Evie
• Works with over 40 apps, including Peloton, Strava, Apple Health Kit, Google Health Connect, and more for an integrated and well-rounded user experience
• Fully charged battery lasts for up to 7 days
• Has better water resistance

The Verdict: Which is Better for Women’s Health Monitoring?

Perhaps it’s easier to see that the Oura Ring is better than the Evie Ring in terms of accuracy, overall usefulness, and durability. It’s worth noting, however, that this gap in performance results from Oura’s 10 years in the health tracking industry. The Evie Ring still has some room for improvement, but that’s because it’s still considerably new.

If you’re in the market for a female-focused health tracker and do not mind waiting for updates and fixes to come in the future, then the Evie Ring could be a great choice. It’s cheaper than the Oura Ring at $299 and shows a lot of promise.

That said, it might be better to wait for Movano to iron out issues before spending money on this device. And if you’re already using a smart ring that works, wait for bugs to be solved before making the jump.

If you’re looking for a reliable smart ring and do not mind paying more for accurate measurements, then go ahead and get the Oura Ring. You can get the Heritage version for $299, and the sleeker and more stylish Horizon for $349. With an additional $5.99 per month for membership, you can get access to in-depth sleep analyses, temperature trend monitoring to predict sickness and monthly periods, personalized health insights and recommendations, and live and accurate heart monitoring.

Get the Evie Ring here. Get the Oura Ring here.

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

The post Evie Ring vs. Oura Ring: Which Is Better for Women’s Health Monitoring? first appeared on Smart Ring News.

Oura Ring Summary

Amazon

The Oura Ring has just recently been made available on Amazon globally, a wise move for Oura, making the smart ring accessible to all. It’s available on Amazon US and Amazon UK and ships globally. The ring has the same price as the website, starting at $299 for the Heritage variants and $349 for the Horizon variants. The Oura Ring is available on all colors, including silver, stealth black, gold, rose gold, and black. Brushed titanium in Horizon is also available.

Get Oura Ring on Amazon!

Best Buy

Another online marketplace to pick up the Oura Ring from is Best Buy. Oura’s venture into the mass market was in April 2024 when it partnered with Best Buy. The Oura Ring has since been available in 124 Best Buy stores and Best Buy US and Canada websites. All variants of the smart ring are available, including the brushed titanium model. Price starts at $299.

Get Oura Ring from Best Buy!

Softbank

If you are based in Japan, you can pick up the Oura Ring directly through Softbank stores, its website, and authorized retailers, including Yodobashi and Bic Camera. Softbank is a mobile company that started selling the smart ring in April 2023. Price starts at 48,302 yen or equivalent to about $326 at the time of this writing. All colors and styles are available.

Get Oura Ring from Softbank!

OuraRing.com

You may also get the ring from the Oura Ring’s website. All styles and colors are available, of course. However, it takes a little longer for delivery to commence on the website based on experience, so I don’t recommend buying from there.

Get Oura Ring from OuraRing.com!

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

The post Where to Buy Oura Ring (List of Retailers) first appeared on Smart Ring News.

The first three iterations of the Oura Ring have been heavily focusing on health tracking, helping users keep tabs on their sleep, activities, recovery, period, and heart rate, among many others. The smart ring became a global phenomenon during the pandemic, creating a cult following of Hollywood celebrities, world-class athletes, and thought leaders because of its impressive health-monitoring capabilities. For $299, you get a wearable device that allows you to anticipate whether you have COVID-19 or not through monitoring early signs of the disease.

It was the turning point for Oura that it became a crazy popular globally. Several smart ring makers followed suit, releasing smart rings that allow users to keep track of their overall health and wellness. While a lot failed to achieve Oura’s success, we’ve already seen some smart ring brands making headways and could potentially rival Oura’s prominence.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS

The third-generation Oura Ring is still a robust device, but it needs to be updated soon. The current Oura Ring was released in November 2021—nearly three years ago! From the design to the functionalities, Oura needs to release a smart ring soon in order to maintain its dominance in the market.

We’ve seen many worthy contenders of Oura already, including the Ultrahuman Ring Air and Circular Ring. And very soon, the market will be graced by rings from tech stalwarts Samsung and Amazfit with the Galaxy Ring and Helio Ring, respectively. It also makes sense for Oura to pick up the pace very soon.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR PAYMENT

One of the biggest upgrades Oura can bring for its fourth-generation smart ring is the contactless payment feature or the ability to tap to pay at payment terminals through a smart ring. This feature is not new at all as the UK’s McLear RingPay pioneered it almost a decade ago. However, if Oura decides to integrate contactless payments into the future smart ring, it would be the first time a mainstream device would do so.

This is not the first time we’ve heard about Oura incorporating contactless payments into the smart ring. In May 2023, Oura acquired Proxy, a digital security company that can be used for mobile access in corporate environments as well as contactless payments.

ALSO READ: BEST FITNESS TRACKERS

This is a pivotal decision for the Finnish health tech company as it faces tougher competition with Samsung, Amazfit, and other players. It needs a new major upgrade to give users a reason to use Oura.

If this comes to fruition, Oura would also be the first smart ring for payments to be globally available. At the moment, contactless payment rings are only available in select countries. For instance, McLear RingPay is only available in the UK, Evering in Japan, and K Ring in the EU.

Would you like to see the Oura Ring 4 with contactless payments? Let’s discuss in the comments!

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

The post Is Oura Ring 4 Really Getting Contactless Payments Feature? first appeared on Smart Ring News.

Better known as contactless payment rings or pay rings, these types of smart rings use NFC (near-field communication) technology to connect them to a point of sale (POS)  machine. Much a like a credit or debit card that you just tap close to the terminal to pay, these contactless payment rings work the same. All you need to do is register your debit or credit card through your chosen ring’s app and start tapping to pay. That is how convenient it is to use contactless payment rings, so there’s no surprise why it is the most popular wearable for payments.

Contactless payment rings are still emerging with McLear leading the way. But there are other players sprouting that I think can give McLear users a run for their money. If you are looking for the best contactless payment rings in 2024, Smart Ring News breaks down the 5 Best Smart Rings for Payment:

1. Quontic Pay Ring (U.S.)

The Quontic Pay Ring is the first wearable payment smart ring offered by a bank in the U.S. However, this ring is not commercially available. Instead, Quontic Bank offers the Quontic Pay Ring exclusively to their checking account customers for free. The Quontic Pay Ring is as secure as using your debit card. If you lose it, you have the option to temporarily disable your ring until you find it.

You can also customize transaction amount limits and control where and how to use it right through Quontic’s app. Like most NFC rings, the Quontic Pay Ring is a passive device, which means you don’t have to charge it to use it. It is always ready anytime you want to use it at terminals.

The Quontic Pay Ring is a rebranded McLear RingPay. If you haven’t heard of McLear already, it is the leading contactless payment ring in the U.K. and Europe right now with similar features as the Quontic Pay Ring. Like the McLear smart ring, the Quontic Pay Ring is made from high-purity zirconia ceramic, making it water-proof, scratch-resistant, and durable enough to be used day in and day out. If you are based in the U.S., simply open a checking account with Quontic Bank to get this ring.

2. McLear RingPay 2 (U.K.)

A pioneer in payment rings, McLear is the most popular and established of all payment rings. McLear RingPay 2 is a passive device, which means it requires no charging at all. You may add and manage up to 4 rings as well if you want to use different rings for different purposes (personal, business, etc.) or for different people (spouse, children, parents, etc.). You are also allowed to transfer funds between these rings.

If you are too afraid of losing your ring, the McLear RingPay app allows you to suspend and unsuspend your ring at any time. If you are concerned about unauthorized transactions, you can set up a PIN for all transactions that go above your contactless limit. Other useful RingPay features include expenditure tracking, automatic top-ups, a cashback rewards program, and donation to your chosen charity.

However, McLear RingPay 2 is only available to select bank customers in the U.K. for now. But you may also use it at payment terminals outside the U.K. as long as they have the contactless payment sign. Another significant downside to consider is that the ring is valid only after 36 months.

The McLear RingPay 2 costs £99.99 for the black and white variants and £119.99 for the silver variant. It is available in sizes from 4.5-16mm. Check out the McClear RingPay 2!

3. Cnick (Europe)

The only contactless payment ring available widely in most European countries, Cnick is the perfect choice if you live within this region, such as the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. Nevertheless, you can still use Cnick outside Europe where Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

Unlike other contactless payment rings that depend on top-ups and wallets, Cnick connects your payment cards so your card will be charged. In terms of security, Cnick uses a token for your payment card in place of your account number or card number. Therefore, you can guarantee that your account numbers will not be used or stolen while you use the ring.

Cnick costs €119 for basic models, while the more sophisticated variants cost €139. You also have the option to customize your ring starting at €135. Check out Cnick!

4. Evering (Japan)

The Evering is the first contactless payment ring in Japan available exclusively to credit card users. Regardless of brand, whether it’s Visa, MasterCard, JBC, Amex, or Diners, as long as your card is issued in Japan, you can connect it to your Evering. However, it does not work with debit and prepaid cards for now. It does work with any payment terminals that have the contactless payment symbol.

Users may use the ring without keying a PIN. In case it gets lost or stolen, users may disable their ring through the Evering app. The monthly floor limit of the Evering is 120,000 yen (~1,000 USD). The lifetime limit of the ring is 1 million yen (~9,100 USD). Once used up within the expiration date, users will receive a new Evering.

Made from zirconia ceramic, the Evering is passive and requires no charging. It is available in black color only with sizes from 4.5 to 12 mm.

Evering costs 19,800 yen for the black and white variants and 21,450 yen for the silver variant, inclusive of tax. Other color variants like orange, pink, and purple are available for monthly plans. Check out the Evering!

5. Oura (Worldwide – Coming Soon!)

Now let’s set the record straight—contactless payment is not yet available with the Oura Ring. But what we’ve heard so far is that the Finnish company will soon be incorporating it into the fourth-generation Oura Ring, which I think is a game-changing move considering its already powerful sleep and recovery tracking capabilities. We have yet to wait for Oura’s official announcement, but for now, I hope contactless payment will see the light of day with Oura 4. Check out the Oura Ring!

Best Contactless Payment Rings

Other smart rings for payments available for purchases include Esos Ring (U.S.), K Ring, and Laks Ring2Pay (India). There are also a couple of soon-to-be-released crowdfunded pay rings such as Tapster and Xenso S-Ring.

Overall, there’s not much competition on the market right now for contactless payment rings. Choosing a pay ring right now mostly depends on whether it is available in your country or not. Many wearable tech brands have expressed interest to foray into the contactless payment space. But we have yet to see them work.

Have you used any of these pay rings? What do you think of them? Let us know in the comments!

The post 5 Best Smart Rings for Payment in 2024 first appeared on Smart Ring News.

About the Oura Ring Test

We tested Oura for 30 days in regular daily and nightly use. The ring was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 in four categories: Purposefulness, User Experience and Design, Functionalities and Tech, and App and Ecosystem.

Purposefulness ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5.0)

We evaluated Oura’s purposefulness — how it helps, if it fulfills a genuine purpose, or if there is a need for the device. Find out!

Readiness

Oura’s ‘Readiness’ score measures how prepared you are to take on tasks for the day. It is based on contributors like RHR, HRV, body temperature, previous night’s sleep, and previous day’s activities, among other things.

My ‘Readiness’ score peaked at 87 for two consecutive days, which is optimal — no complaints at all.

A few days into the ring test, my score tanked to 59 after a rough night. When I say a rough night, I mean I was able to sleep at 2:40 a.m. and woke up after 5.28 hours. This is where Oura warned me to pay attention and gave me great advice on how to take on the day.

Oura suggested taking a power nap in the afternoon or taking a moment to breathe. I did take short breaks and breathing exercises here and there. Oura has several guided and unguided meditation practices to give your body its much-needed help. But if I have to be honest, I did not feel any significant difference from every time I had restless nights. Although I still felt tired, the breathing exercises I took somehow helped me keep my focus throughout the day.

Ultimately, Oura is not some kind of voodoo to help users feel good if they need to. It needs some time to understand how your body operates, and most certainly, your body needs more time to heal if it’s experiencing so much distress.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING ALTERNATIVES

Sleep Tracking

The ‘Sleep’ score evaluates how well you have slept throughout the night. Oura uses factors like total sleep, restfulness, REM sleep, deep sleep, and timing to come up with scores.

As someone with erratic sleeping habits, I figured Oura would give me a clearer picture of this problem. To my surprise, it did not just provide me with sleep data but gave me a blow-by-blow account of my sleeping stages and which sleep contributor I can improve on. Two nights I only had a little more than 5 hours of sleep, and my ‘Sleep’ score dropped below 60 from the usual 70 and above.

Oura suggested getting some fresh air, avoiding a long nap in the afternoon, and getting more sleep at night, which I appreciated given that I sometimes tend to resort to oversleeping in the afternoon, overeating, and overworking myself.

Even more amazing is the detailed sleep stages — what time your REM, light, and deep sleep fall and how long. These also have a huge impact on your readiness. Also, you get a detailed view of your resting heart rate, which can also be useful data for those who are suffering from heart or cardiovascular diseases. Overall, Oura’s sleep tracking is the most useful feature for people with sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and other sleep-related problems.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING DUPES

Activity Tracking

The ‘Activity’ score measures how active you are for the day. It is based on your daily goal progress, total burn, walking equivalency, and steps, among other things.

Oura’s activity-tracking component is something fitness enthusiasts would love. It functions a lot like a smartwatch or any other fitness tracker. The app keeps track of your daily activities, including steps, movement, and inactivity, to calculate your active calorie burn and total burn.

Oura also offers a detailed graph of your daily movements — what time you are or are not moving, the walking distance covered, and the intensity of your movements (inactive, low, medium, high). In case you fall below the minimum, Oura gives you alerts. For instance, in the middle photo, I got an alert to move every hour. I was most likely working, sitting on my desk at that time. Overall, it’s a nifty feature to help you get moving when you need to.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS YOU CAN BUY NOW

User Experience and Design ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5.0)

The ring’s overall design is impressive. In fact, if you are into a minimalistic, no-frills design like me, you will fall in love with Oura’s simplicity. The ring is made of titanium alloy, an ultra-strong metal often used for spacecraft parts, and is covered with PVD coating. Rest assured, you will get a durable ring that can withstand even the most extreme conditions. Although made of titanium alloy, Oura is not invincible against scratches, especially if you are lifting weights. If you want to preserve its shiny, speckless exterior, avoid wearing it while weightlifting. This is also Oura’s suggestion.

The ring is not as slender as a regular ring, but it’s fairly lightweight, weighing 4-6 grams, depending on the ring size. In terms of the interior, the inner molding is non-allergenic. As someone with highly sensitive skin, I never felt any itch around my middle finger at all, not even once.

Most importantly, Oura is waterproof. You can submerge it up to 100 meters deep. I love that you can bathe with it, swim with it, dive with it, wash your hands with it, and do pretty much everything involving liquid. The sensors are covered well from water and dust particles, so you don’t have to worry about removing and wearing and then removing the ring.

Meanwhile, I have nothing to complain about Oura’s iOS app. It’s professionally designed to be user-friendly. Overall, it’s clean and very easy to navigate around.

ALSO READ: BEST SLEEP TRACKER RINGS

Functionalities and Tech ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.0)

Oura is just a piece of metal without the technologies behind it. So I set out to know what goes into the ring itself and found out that Oura, despite its tiny body, is carrying three different sensors responsible for tracking different body signals. These are infrared photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors for heart rate and respiration, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor for body temperature, and a 3D accelerometer for movements.

What I like about Oura’s accelerometer is that it can automatically detect activities like strength training and walking. In such a case, it would ask you to add the suggested data, so your activity tracking is more accurate. I did an apples-to-apples comparison between Oura and my smartwatch’s activity data, and the two seem to coincide. Overall, the activity-tracking functionality is reliable enough for anyone to use.

The PPG and NTC sensors are accurate for the most part. Oura for some reason did not track my daytime sleep. It happened a few times, but I was not exactly sure what went wrong until I did a little digging and found out that the ring only tracks one sleep period during each 24-hour segment. Daytime sleep and naps are only counted as restful periods, which are categorized as activities just like walking and strength training. 

Also note that if you sleep in a position that causes your hand to go numb, you might see gaps in your RHR and HRV graphs just like what happened to me a few times. Blood circulation is blocked in this case, and the sensors cannot find your pulse. There are, however, other causes for these gaps, such as the ring being too loose or dirty LED sensors.

In terms of battery life, Oura promises the ring can last for 7 days. And it’s quite accurate. Sleep tracking, however, does not work right if it’s below 20%. One time I slept with the ring’s battery at 17% and woke up at 2%. To my surprise, it did not track anything that night at all. And then I found out later that Oura cannot track and analyze when the ring is below 20%.

In addition, there was one time when Oura failed to connect to my iPhone’s Bluetooth. I’m not sure where the problem occurred, but it took me some time to figure out what happened, after trying a few ways to troubleshoot the problem based on Oura’s recommendations. Despite that, Oura’s Bluetooth connection is reliable in general. The app automatically syncs with the ring, as long as the mobile phone’s Bluetooth is on.

ALSO READ: BEST FITNESS TRACKER RINGS

App and Ecosystem ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5.0)

The smart ring experience won’t be complete without the mobile app, and that’s why a well-designed one is imperative. The good news is that Oura has an impressive app for both Android and iOS devices, wherein the ring’s collected data are presented and analyzed. 

Oura’s data like steps, walking and running distance, and active calorie burn can all be synced with third-party apps. It supports a slew of integrations, including Apple Health for iOS devices, Google Fit for Android devices, and Samsung Health for Samsung devices. If you are using any of these apps as a control center for your health data or other purposes, Oura is a great source of information. Oura also supports dozens of other apps like Natural Cycles, HRV4Training, Wattson Blue, Bioloop Sleep, Heads Up Health, and Health Sync, among others.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR PAYMENT

Oura’s Overall Score ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4.75)

A lot of Oura’s suggestions are really basic if you think about it. However, it pays to have a ring that has concrete data and an app to guide you, because sometimes — admit it or not — we tend to brush off the thought to, say, take a 20-minute power nap after a restless night when we are not told. Although there are a few things about Oura that I would a miss, the ring still did a pretty good job overall.

Do note that the longer you use the ring, the better it understands your body signals. Overall, Oura is a great device for people who have a sleep-related problem, cardiovascular disease, or anyone really who wants to drastically get better at their overall health.

ALSO READ: BEST FITNESS TRACKERS

Compare Oura with Other Devices

Based on my experience with Oura, it is perhaps the best device available for sleep tracking. However, the ring form factor limits its functionalities to pretty much that. If you want to expand from mere sleep tracking to also activity and fitness tracking, smartphone notifications, or GPS, you might want to see how some of the smartwatches compare against Oura. Here are links to some of our most popular blogs:

• Oura vs. Apple Watch
• Oura vs. Fitbit
• Oura vs. Whoop
• Oura vs. Garmin

Oura Ring Alternatives

This test was one more evidence of Oura’s superior capabilities in sleep and activity tracking. However, it is not a wearable that everybody wants to use. Our blog on Oura Ring alternatives introduces seven health monitoring gadgets that can provide you with similar functionalities!

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The post Oura Ring Test: What’s the Verdict After Using it for 30 Days first appeared on Smart Ring News.

Researchers from UC San Francisco used the Oura Ring in an attempt to anticipate COVID-19 in healthcare workers. The NBA and WNBA bought 2,000 Oura Rings for their players. And Nascar gave away Oura Rings for their drivers and staff. A bunch of celebrities have been vocal about how they loved the smart ring, while some have been spotted wearing this tiny device. But what is the hype around it all about? Here’s everything you need to know about the Oura Ring:

What Does Oura Ring Do?

The Oura Ring is a sleep tracker designed to keep tabs on the user’s natural body clock (called the circadian rhythm) and nightly rests. On top of sleep tracking, the ring also has a host of other sensors that measure the user’s daily activities, heart rate zones, and body temperature. Each morning, you get a Sleep Score measuring how good your sleep is and a Readine Score measuring how recovered your body is. You also get an Activity Score gauging how much you’ve been moving throughout the day.

ALSO READ: WHAT EXACTLY DOES THE OURA RING DO?

How Does Oura Ring Work?

The Oura Ring packs several tiny activity and body sensors for different purposes into its 6-gram body. These include infrared photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors for heart rate and respiration, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor for body temperature, and a 3D accelerometer for movements. All these sensors are instrumental for the Oura mobile app to come up with daily insights and recommendations about your sleep, activity, and readiness.

The fact alone that the manufacturer managed to roll three sensors into one infinitesimal wearable is quite impressive. But do they really work as intended? Learn more about the features of the Oura ring in the following sections.

ALSO READ: WHY DO PEOPLE LOVE OURA RING? 5 COMMON REASONS

Oura Ring Features

We’ve talked a little about the Oura Ring sensors. Now let’s shed light on what these sensors do and how you can take advantage of them to improve your daily life.

Personalized Insights

Rather than overwhelm you with raw data, the Oura app is the partner tool of your ring to interpret collected health data. Through the app, you may see deviations from your own baseline, so Oura will suggest things you can do or change in order to improve your current situation. For instance, some users might find it startling to have a heart rate spike to 150. But that’s quite normal if you are doing strenuous activities like running or cycling. This is where the free mobile app (available for Android and iOS devices) comes in handy. You can check all the data, including sleep stages, steps, heart rate, and body temperature deviation, summarized in three different scores: Readiness, Sleep, and Activity.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS YOU CAN BUY

Readiness Score

The Readiness Score takes into account factors like resting heart rate, heart rate, respiratory rate, activity levels, and sleep to tell you how ready you are to take on your day — physically, mentally, and emotionally. The good thing is the Readiness Score is compared against your own baseline rather than the general population’s.

Sleep Score

The Sleep Score helps you understand the overall quality of your sleep. It’s measured by a combination of deep sleep, REM sleep, light sleep, sleep timing, and heart rate insights. For people suffering from sleep apnea, Oura can be of great help to manage their condition. Since the ring sits comfortably on your finger at night, it’s easier for people with sleep-related disorders to monitor their sleep duration, sleep quality, and how much time is spent in various stages.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING ALTERNATIVES

Activity Score

The Activity Score tells you how to strike a balance between physical activity and recovery. It’s based on inactivity alerts, daily activity goals, and movements.

Oura Ring for Meditation

As someone who practices meditation, Oura’s Moments is something I find fairly useful. Moments helps you get a grip of how effective different mindfulness activities are by comparing your results over time. For instance, Moments can show you which breathing exercise or soundscape helps tone down your resting heart rate. This way, you would know which mindfulness exercises work best for your productivity and recovery.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA RING DUPES

Oura Ring for Birth Control

One of the most recent developments in the smart ring market is the addition of birth control as part of its feature set. The Oura ring has made history as the first wearable technology to have such a powerful functionality that enables women to use their rings to know their fertility or the lack thereof. This functionality works with the Natural Cycles app, which imports and interprets the user’s body temperature data and provides sound conclusions. With Oura, women no longer need to use an oral thermometer for days every month to know if they are fertile or not, which is more convenient and accurate since the ring can be snugly worn 24/7.

Oura Ring for COVID-19 Detection

Back in March 2020, the news broke out that Oura was able to detect early symptoms of Covid-19, resulting in the ring getting too much hype. It’s misleading to say that the ring in itself can detect COVID-19 because it cannot. That’s for sure. However, it’s accurate enough to tell you your body temperature and if your body is ready for the day. The ring can only tell you if your body is okay based on your vital signs and the scores it draws up, but you still need to do due diligence and have yourself properly tested if you want to know if you contracted the virus. So, no — the Oura ring cannot detect COVID-19. But it does help in identifying early symptoms of the disease.

ALSO READ: WHAT ARE SMART RINGS? HOW DO THEY WORK?

Oura Ring Price and Availability

The Oura Ring costs $299 or €246. It is available in two styles–Heritage and Horizon. Heritage is available in silver, black, stealth, and gold colors, while Horizon is available in these colors plus rose gold and brushed titanium. The ring’s inner surface is made of hypoallergenic materials, while the entire body is fully sealed titanium metal, thereby protecting the electronics and sensors inside against dust, scratch, moisture, and liquid. Even if you take Oura for a sweaty run or a swim, no worries as it is waterproof up to 100 meters.

The ring also comes with a charger and a sizing kit. The Oura ring can last for seven days per charge. Before sending you the real deal, Oura will send you a sizing kit with eight sizes from 6 mm to 13 mm and ask you to wear the right ring size on your finger of choice for 24 hours. Do note that our fingers swell when we work out and sleep. Once you have decided, Oura will send you the real thing, but you need to be extra patient as the ring needs enough time to understand how your body works. It usually takes at least 14 days for the ring to get your baseline metrics.

Oura Ring Review: Is Oura Ring Worth It?

The Oura Ring is like no other fitness and sleep tracker wearables devices I have seen. It’s unique in a way that you can’t swipe through your stats like you would on a smartwatch. But I like how unobtrusive it is, that it sometimes feels like you are not wearing anything at all. And what I love most about Oura is its unique algorithm. Most wearables take your metrics and measure your fitness on any given day without taking your history into account. This is where Oura is different; it takes note of your baseline metrics.

Is the Oura ring worth it, though? Generally, yes! Oura is best for people with sleeping problems and people who are trying to do better with their overall health and well-being. Otherwise, Oura might just end up like a fancy wearable that you wear because it’s what’s trendy right now. If you are looking for the smart ring’s actual test, check out our Oura Ring Test!

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The post Oura Ring Review 2024: Is It Worth It? first appeared on Smart Ring News.

Oura has dominated the smart ring market for almost a decade, and rightfully so, given it has been the most reliable and consistent device ever available. Over the past couple of years, despite the challenges in form factor, several brands have already made inroads into the smart ring market, including Ultrahuman and Ringconn. Fast forward to date, we’ve seen more familiar names like Samsung, Movano Health, and Amazfit joining the race.

The smart ring market, however, is not limited to health monitoring. There are smart rings that can be used for other purposes, including contactless payments, remote control, travel passes, and car access. 

Fortunately for you, there are now many impressive smart rings available. From sleep tracking to contactless payment and blood oxygen monitoring, we selected the best smart rings according to their functionalities. But before diving into the list, how do we choose the right smart rings?

Choosing the Best Smart Rings

When we created our list of the best smart rings, we first took into account a couple of things to make sure they serve you the ultimate way possible. Here are some criteria we considered:

Purpose

Smart rings are used for different purposes. Knowing what you want to use the ring for is critical for your decision. Is it for monitoring your health? If you need to be more specific, is it for sleep, blood oxygen, or period prediction? Is it for payment? Is it for your car?

Integrations

What type of third-party support does the smart ring have? In most health rings, third-party apps like Natural Cycles, Google Fit, and MyFitnessPal, among others. If you are looking for a particular app to use, make sure to check with the ring maker whether they support the app you’re looking for.

Budget

Cost is one of the things that set people back from getting a smart ring. Most NFC smart rings cost below $200, but health-tracking rings with more sophisticated sensors cost at least $200. For example, the price of the Oura Ring starts at $299, but there are Oura Ring dupes that you can buy for less than that.

After taking all these factors, here are our top picks for the best smart rings you can buy now:

1. Oura Ring – Best Smart Ring

Leading the smart ring market is Oura, a sleep tracker that gives you a 360-degree view of your nightly rest habits. These include factors like sleep stages (REM, light, and deep sleep), total sleep, restfulness, timing, sleep efficiency, latency, time in bed, and resting heart rate (RHR). You’ll be given a sleep score based on those factors, which you can view right through Oura’s mobile app.

Sleep tracking is only one of Oura’s main functions, though. It also tracks your activities and evaluates your readiness based on certain factors. Overall, Oura is pretty accurate, making it one of the best smart rings out there. I strongly recommend Oura for people with problematic sleeping habits just like me. I did a 30-day-long Oura User Test, so be sure to check how it stacked up as a smart ring.

The new version, Oura 3 was launched in 2021. This product adds several high-end sleep and fitness tracking functionalities, more advanced algorithms, and an updated app and membership subscription. Check our Oura 2 vs. Oura 3 comparison to see what’s new!

Get Oura Ring!

2. Ultrahuman Ring Air – Best Sleep Ring

One of the most advanced wearables on the market, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is one of the best smart rings you can get your hands on. Its continuous nudges to make better lifestyle choices based on your sleep, activities, and recovery trends is something beneficial to meet your fitness goals. It’s light and slim, so you get the optimal comfort you need from a health smart ring, whether you are running or sleeping.

Get Ultrahuman Ring Air!

3. Wellue O2Ring – Best Oxygen Monitor and Pulse Oximeter Ring

There are only a few smart rings that measure blood oxygen levels and heart rate and one that stands out is the Wellue O2Ring. Developed by medical technology maker Wellue, the ring is a medical-grade oxygen monitor that can continuously track your blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and body movements. It’s used by several medical clinics across the U.S. The O2Ring sports an adjustable vibrator that goes off when your blood oxygen level drops below normal or when your heart rate beats in fits and starts. And of course, you can get a detailed health report through its mobile and desktop apps.

Wellue O2Ring Oxygen Monitor with Vibration Reminder...

$179.99

Buy on Amazon

Get Wellue O2Ring!

4. Femometer Ring – Best Smart Ring for Women

The first smart ring for women that was ever released, the Femometer Ring is a phenomenal wearable device that can track menstrual cycles. It’s mainly designed as a tool for planning or avoiding pregnancy, but it’s not just that. The smart ring approaches women’s health monitoring by keeping tabs on the user’s sleep, activities, heart rate zones, body temperature, and even recovery.

Get Femometer Ring!

5. Kimiss Car Key Ring- Best Smart Ring for Tesla

If you’re looking for a smart ring for your Tesla, whether you’re using Model 3, Model S, Model X, or Model Y, the Kimiss Car Key Ring is one of the most reliable rings you can get on the market. This ring made from carbon fiber is stylish and lightweight enough to be comfortably worn on any occasion. It’s also waterproof.

Get Kimiss Car Key Ring!

6. McLear RingPay – Best Contactless Payment Ring

McLear calls RingPay the original contactless payment ring being the first company to offer such functionality at points of sale. While I’m not sure about that, what’s certain is that it’s the most popular contactless payment ring on the market. You can easily connect your credit card or bank account through the RingPay mobile app as well as track your daily expenditure. RingPay can also be used as a travel pass. As a passive device, RingPay doesn’t have a battery, so it works 24/7/365.

The ring can be used at Visa-enabled POS terminals anywhere around the world. The kicker is, only U.K. residents with U.K. banks can use the ring at the moment. In Australia, a McLear-branded payment ring called Bankwest Halo is available for Bankwest depositors. The ring works pretty much the same as RingPay. Be sure to read this McLear RingPay Review to know more about this device. McLear RingPay costs £90.

Get McLear RingPay 2!

7. Token Ring – Best NFC Smart Ring

If you’re looking for a versatile NFC smart ring, Token is your best option on the market. Here’s why: Token is an all-in-one smart ring that can be used as a smart key to your car, office, or home, as a digital wallet, and for passwordless logins to your computer. It uses your fingerprint, so it’s really hard to be stolen or hacked.

The Token smart ring is the ultimate convenience you’re looking for in an access device. It isn’t the first NFC ring to have those functionalities, but it’s impressive knowing that it’s keeping up with the leading NFC-enabled rings, even surpassing some of them. Check out my Token Smart Ring Review to learn more about its performance and capabilities. The Token smart ring is available for $349.

Related: Best NFC Smart Rings

‍8. Nuanic (formerly Moodmetric) – Best Smart Ring for Stress Management

If you’re too caught up with the everyday happenings in your life, Nuanic (formerly Moodmetric) is the ring you need. This stress monitoring and management smart ring is designed to help you get a holistic approach to your stress levels using only the electric conductivity of your skin, otherwise known as electrodermal activity (EDA). With the help of its mobile app, you’ll be able to view the factors that are causing you stress as well as things that relieve it. The app also provides personalized insights and recommendations on how you can recover from stress. Overall, Nuanic is pretty impressive. Read this Moodmetric Review to find out more about the ring’s performance.

Get Nuanic!

9. Circul+

Circul has some good activity-tracking capabilities that health and fitness enthusiasts will enjoy. It can track your total calorie burn, steps, and workouts like walking, running, hiking, and biking. Like the O2Ring, Circul mainly functions as also an oxygen monitor and pulse oximeter. It also has an impressive sleep-tracking functionality that can give Oura users a run for their money. Check out this Oura vs. Circul Review to find out which one is better for you. The biggest downside Circul has is its protection or the lack thereof. It’s not waterproof, so if you want to do water activities, this ring isn’t the right one for you. Circul+ is the latest smart ring version introduced by Bodimetrics in cooperation with Prevention magazine.

BodiMetrics CIRCUL Waterproof Sleep & Fitness Ring

Buy on Amazon

Get Circul!

10. Wave for Work – Best Remote Control Ring

Wave for Work by Genki Instruments is a gesture-initiated smart ring that allows you to control computer applications as fast as 10 meters with just a click of a button. Hosting video calls on Zoom? Mute, unmute, or raise your hand. Presenting a slideshow? Click through your slides. Listening to Spotify? Play, pause, or skip songs. You can also customize shortcuts and tasks according to your most-used programs and actions. Wave for Work works wonders!

Although specifically designed for remote workers, Wave for Work can also be a perfect companion for anyone who wishes to bring their workflow to the tip of their fingers. The Wave for Work smart ring costs $99. The ring is a successor to Genki Instruments’ Wave MIDI controller ring designed for music producers, DJs, musicians, and more. Learn more about it in this Wave by Genki Review.

Get Wave for Work!

Which Is the Best Smart Ring?

To wrap this up, the smart ring market is booming with incredible products for any purpose. We still have a long way to go when it comes to technology. But moving forward, we can expect that more companies will jump on the bandwagon, and more smart rings will see the light of day that will take our breath away.

Remember, some smart rings have multiple functionalities. If you’re sitting on the fence about which one fits you best or which one you need, be sure to check out the Ultimate Smart Ring Buyer’s Guide to help you make an informed decision.

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

The post 10 Best Smart Rings You Can Get in 2024 first appeared on Smart Ring News.

The most anticipated Oura Ring 4 is upon us soon. Though we don’t have solid information as to when it’s going to be released, we sure expect Oura will be releasing its next-generation smart ring at least later this year. If you’re wondering what features and functionalities might be in the pipeline, here’s what I expect from Oura Ring 4 to come out with:

Oura Ring 4 Features and Functionalities

One of the features we’ve all been waiting for is contactless payments. While there are already smart rings for payments like McLear RingPay and Cnick, we have yet to see a health smart ring that can do it all—including contactless payments.

While nothing has been confirmed yet, this particular has already made the rumor mill following Oura’s announcement that it is collaborating with software tech firm Proxy for potential opportunities in areas including payments and access. Proxy’s work also involves security and identity, so there could be something biometric involved in the pipeline.

If you’ve read our Oura review and ring test, you know activity tracking is its weak spot. In the upcoming smart ring, we expect Oura to massively improve this department to compete with smartwatches. This will make the Oura Ring more attractive, especially to fitness circles who are looking for a reliable fitness tracking device./

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR SLEEP TRACKING

Oura’s biggest competitor at the moment is Ultrahuman Ring Air, a slim health-tracking smart ring that has all of Oura’s features and functionalities. But what makes it edge out Oura is its continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) feature which no other wearables have done so far. We don’t expect Oura to replicate this exact feature, but maybe Oura might bring in a host of new features outside the health tracking realm. Haptic alarm, maybe? Or maybe the ability to control your smart home from your finger?

The competition will only become stiffer as the Samsung Galaxy Ring and Amazfit Helio Ring will soon be hitting the shelves. Amazfit is a well-known health tech company, so we might see an industry-leading activity-tracking functionality to arrive with the Helio Ring. As for the Galaxy Ring, what can we expect from a big tech company? Nothing much was revealed by Samsung, but by the looks of the teased videos, the Galaxy Ring is going to be a revolutionary wearable.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS YOU CAN BUY

Oura Ring 4 Trade-offs

If we want more features with Oura Ring 4 soon, we know we cannot have a slimmer smart ring to expect more features, neither the other way around. It’s a trade-off that comes with every smart ring due to limitations in their bodies. Either way, contactless payment is something we really expect from Oura soon as there are no major players in the U.S. as of now that do this.

ALSO READ: BEST OURA ALTERNATIVES

Should You Wait for Oura Ring 4?

If you’re thinking about getting the next-generation Oura Ring, I’d say wait for the Oura Ring 4. The current Oura Ring is still a robust device, but you can buy from several health smart rings that do what it does for cheaper, including Ringconn and Amovan. We don’t have confirmed dates yet as to when Oura plans to release Gen 4, but we hope we will get it later this year.

For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

The post Oura Ring 4 Features and Functionalities to Expect first appeared on Smart Ring News.

Whoop is one of the most widely lauded wearables in health and fitness circles, and rightfully so. Its accuracy and execution of its features make it an impressive device, giving users a comprehensive and reliable picture of their health and fitness. However, Whoop is not for everyone. If you want to consider other health wearables, we rounded up the best Whoop alternatives you may look into.

Whoop 4.0 is a fitness strap designed mainly for tracking activities, sleep, strain, and recovery. It’s safe to say, it’s a practical device for athletes and fitness buffs to help them maximize their daily active performance.

After years of using Whoop, there are a few things that stood out to me that the product is really good at. First of all, the depth of data and insights the fitness tracker gave me are by far some of the most useful. Ultimately, this focus on data helped me make informed decisions when it comes to my training and recovery process.

ALSO READ: WHOOP 4.0 REVIEW: IS IT REALLY THE BEST FITNESS TRACKER?

Second, the actionable insights Whoop gave me were beyond the numbers and graphs on the app. Whether I needed more sleep or ways to recover fast, Whoop gave me all the bits and pieces of information that did me a huge favor. And did I mention Whoop has one of the most supportive communities I’ve been in?

Disadvantages of Whoop

Despite being a robust health and wellness tracker, Whoop does come with a bunch of limitations that many users (including me) found inconvenient.

Battery Life

Whoop’s battery can last you for up to 5 days. Considering it doesn’t have a screen, this might not be the best battery life a fitness strap can give.

No Screen

Depending on how you view screens for fitness tracking, the absence of a screen display may be something you are not into or accustomed to. Some users prefer no screens at all to let them focus on the task at hand, while others are not comfortable not seeing real-time data from their watch faces.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR SLEEP TRACKING

Subscription

Whoop’s subscription-based model is also a deal-break for many where you pay $30 monthly for 1 year, $239 upfront for 1 year, or $399 upfront for 2 years. After that, you need to renew your membership; otherwise, you will lose your data. This does not sit well with a lot of people, and it’s understandable.

No Playlist/Music Support

Whoop has no means to support your favorite playlists, so if you are someone who thrives with music or podcasts in your ear while training, Whoop might not be the one for you.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS FOR PAYMENT

Choosing the Best Whoop Alternatives

Our top recommendations are not random by any means. We looked at the strengths and weaknesses of Whoop and ultimately figured out which wearable on the market can fill for its flaws and top (or at least match) what it currently does. Here are the criteria that we considered upon choosing the best alternatives to Whoop 4.0:

Features and Functionalities

Can it track activities, sleep, strain, and recovery? How good is it when it comes to executing these features and functionalities? We looked into data collection and accuracy when we came up with this list. Do note that form factors can have a difference in the way a device collects data.

ALSO READ: BEST SMART RINGS YOU CAN BUY

Form Factor

Speaking of form factor! Fitness trackers come in many forms—smartwatches, wristbands, and smart rings. The best alternatives to Whoop come in different forms. It’s also important to note that there are not a lot of alternatives that exactly look like Whoop. Therefore, you might need to explore wearable options outside of fitness straps.

Pricing

And of course, we are not wrapping this roundup without pricing considerations. It might not be the most important thing, but it’s also worth noting whether or not the Whoop alternatives are giving you the features you need for their price point.

ALSO READ: FITBIT VERSA 4 REVIEW: IS IT WORTH BUYING?

Whoop Alternatives Quick Summary

Before we dive deeper, here’s a quick summary of the features and functionalities of our top picks for the best Whoop alternatives:

4 Best Alternatives to Whoop

From smart rings to smartwatches to a fitness strap, here are the best Whoop alternatives you may check out for yourself:

1. Fitbit Versa 4

If you’re looking for a brand that lives and breathes health monitoring, look no further than Fitbit. The Fitbit Versa 4 is one of their bestselling smartwatches released in 2023, boasting a sleek design which is worth noting if you are looking for a versatile wearable that you can wear during workouts and everyday use.

For $200, you get a midrange smartwatch that’s centered on activity tracking from a well-known health tech maker.  The Fitbit Versa 4 has over 40 exercise modes which allows you to see your real-time stats as well as real-time pace and distance if you are working out outdoors. Through the Fitbit app, you get a daily readiness score that’s based on your activities and recovery. With a premium membership, you get access to a collection of workout routines.

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2. Ultrahuman Ring Air

One of the best smart rings available, the Ultrahuman Ring Air delivers comprehensive health monitoring functionalities for sleep, activities, stress, recovery, blood oxygen, and even blood sugar. The smart ring provides you with scores for sleep, activities, and recovery, so you get an idea of how good you are doing from the moment you wake up to the moment you work out until you fall asleep.

 If you want an in-depth look into the smart ring, check out our Ultrahuman Ring Air Review! And if you’re wondering which is the better fitness tracking device, check out our Ultrahuman Ring vs. Whoop Review!

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3. Amazfit Helio Ring

The latest addition to the smart ring market courtesy of the global health tech brand, the Amazfit Helio Ring is designed for athletes who want to zero in on their sleep and recovery. Through the Zepp app, you get a recovery score and readiness insights to help you maximize your training performance.

What makes the Helio Ring a standout is its inclusion of important fitness data that you can see from Whoop, such VO2 max, training load, and training effect. While we don’t know yet how good its execution will be, Amazfit’s smart ring is showing to be a promising health wearable device. The Helio Ring is slated for release in March 2024.

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4. Oura Ring

Probably the most popular smart ring on the market,  the Oura Ring is one of the best sleep tracking rings. Don’t be fooled though as the ring has robust technology, giving you accurate data and practical insights into your readiness. From heart rate variability (HRV) to blood oxygen level to sleep to activities, the Oura Ring has everything you need that makes it a worthy alternative to Whoop.

If you want to get to know the device on a deeper level, check out our Oura Ring Review! Or if you’re on the fence between the two, check out our Whoop vs. Oura Ring Review!

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Which Is the Best Whoop Alternative?

Choosing between the best Whoop alternatives depends on your style and budget. Ultimately, it boils down to knowing what you need. Alternatively, you can use both a smart ring and Whoop to help you get a comprehensive look at your fitness data.

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