For the past few years, Oura Ring has been the most famous smart ring on the market. After what I saw on the CES show floor, the real competition is about to begin.
Smart rings are a promising form factor, but they’re difficult to get right. Track your sleep more discreetly and comfortably than a smartwatch. The backs of your fingers are a better place to measure heart rate and blood oxygen levels than your wrists. The downside is that it’s difficult to create stylish devices, given how small and flexible the components need to be. Additionally, they tend to have fewer features and are more expensive than smartwatches.
There are many reasons why I was surprised to see some working prototypes and products at CES. I really can’t remember the last time it happened.
The closest thing to a release is Movano’s Evie Ring. This was first shown off at his 2022 CES, and since then I’ve seen it evolve from a concept to a real product launching later this month. Priced at $269, it was designed as a wearable for women. (However, the company has told me multiple times that anyone can wear one if they want.) This includes contextualizing the data while tracking health metrics such as blood oxygen, heart rate, activity, and menstrual cycles. It will be equipped with a simplified app that will simplify the process. The goal is to eventually incorporate AI-powered insights. It looks great and the ring is designed to bend when your finger becomes swollen.
It’s very similar to what the Oura Ring does. Additionally, Movano is taking additional steps to obtain FDA clearance for the device. Not because the features included require it, but because we want to show the customer how much care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the sensor.
Evilling isn’t alone.I also saw a prototype of Amazfit Helio Ring. This smart ring is for athletes looking for deeper insight into their recovery. Again, the familiar premise of Oura Ring is; Also recovery tracker. This includes a daily readiness score and the ability to use it in conjunction with other Amazfit smartwatches. This means the ring does the sleep tracking for you, so you can wear your smartwatch during the day and safely take it off when it’s time for bed. Additionally, it also features his EDA sensor that tracks stress and has access to an AI chatbot.
Another thing about Amazfit is that they can make impressively affordable wearables. I’ve tested several of the company’s devices over the years and have been amazed at how much you get for the price. Case in point, the $200 Amazfit GTR 4 is our current pick for an all-around fitness tracker. The Helio Ring doesn’t have a price yet, but judging from his other Amazfit products, it will likely be competitively priced when it launches this spring.
These are the two that I find most appealing. I looked at a number of other sites, some of which were more niche or made questionable claims of tracking health conditions. Another thing that stood out was Zikr ring — Smart rings for Muslims. This ring provides 5 daily reminders for prayer time and features a digital alarm. Tasubi counter.There was also ring con, another smart ring with similar features to the Oura Ring but at a slightly more affordable price. (Although from a company with a poor track record.) There were others, but at some point the rest started to coalesce.
Admittedly, smart rings aren’t completely gone.of motif ring It may have crashed and burned, but small businesses ultra human and Round I’ve been tinkering with it for a while.Samsung is also rumored Galaxy Ring under development. Seeing so many smart rings in one place is a testament to the momentum this space is gaining. It’s only a matter of time before smart rings meaningfully challenge Oura’s dominance. And you know what? It’s not even about beating Oura Ring. In fact, it’s not just that this space has been too quiet for too long, it may be that a little competition is what’s needed to move this space forward.