The best smart rings of 2024

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This could be the year the smart ring makes major waves in the wearables market. With new smart rings announced at CES that promise to provide detailed workout recovery data, offer up accurate sleep insights, and track your menstrual cycle, there's a lot to get excited about within the smart ring realm.

If smartwatches aren't your speed, but you still want to keep track of your workouts, your heart rate, and more, a smart ring is a lighter alternative that provides by-the-minute insights on your health. And, because they're wrapped around your finger near larger blood vessels instead of your wrist, some smart ring monitors provide a more accurate picture of your health data than smartwatches do.

The best smart rings, like smartwatches, house a comprehensive suite of health and sleep-tracking features. They also take a more discreet, less hindering approach. Some options even include non-health-related NFC features like contactless payment and virtual business card functionality.

Also: The best fitness rings

ZDNET staffers went hands-on with several of the top smart rings. Our tested pick for the best smart ring overall is the Oura Ring 3 , thanks to its lightweight fit, quick charges, and impressive health suite. Read on to learn more about the perks of the Oura and which other top smart rings are worth considering.

Oura Ring Gen3 tech specs: Material: Lightweight titanium with non-allergenic, non-metallic inner molding | Battery life: 4-7 days | Charging: Full charge in 20 to 80 minutes | Compatibility: iOS and Android | Durability: Water-resistant up to 328 feet | Sizing: Free sizing kit with purchase on their site

ZDNET contributor Sherin Shibu purchased a Heritage Oura Ring and tested it with weekly activities like strength training, cycling, yoga, and more. She reported that not only was it a capable and accurate tracker, but it didn't overwhelm her with data. Instead, the Oura Ring prioritized actionable insights and solutions. For example, the over 50 guided meditation options have helped Shibu to alleviate stress and sleep more soundly, she wrote in her review.

Additionally, the simplified overall score appears with a detailed chart monitoring heart rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels through the night. The ring also automatically senses when you're stressed and adjusts your activity goals accordingly.

This comprehensive but simple approach is evident in the ring's form factor and integrations -- Shibu said she was amazed at how such a sleek device could hold a catalog of information. The ring syncs with Apple Health, Google Fit, and iOS and Android apps, allowing you to see your daily and even monthly metrics from your mobile device.

The downside is that there's a $6 per month membership cost to unlock personal insights, like in-depth morning sleep analysis and temperature trend monitoring (which can even predict early stages of illness). Non-paying members, however, only have access to sleep, readiness, and activity insights.

Also: The Oura smart ring's brilliant new features outshine even its titanium finish

The Evie Ring offers up plenty of "firsts" within the smart ring market. If it earns FDA clearance for its pulse oximeter, it could be the first wearable to be medically approved. It's also the first smart ring that specifically caters to women's health needs. When we saw the ring at CES 2024, we were impressed by all of its innovative features and the research behind them.

Every new feature the ring offers -- including a mood-predicting feature -- is backed by data (and a few features are even backed by AI), the company says. Along with monitoring your vitals, the ring tracks sleep, activity, steps, mood and symptoms, and calories to provide a holistic view of health and use some of that information for menstrual cycle tracking.

You can also log your moods, and, through continual documentation, understand how your mood fluctuates with your menstrual cycle, activity, sleep, and more. Evie seems to offer a well-rounded view of health that relies on not only data but also works with you to understand the "why" behind your data.

The only downside of the Evie Ring is the fact that it's for women only, and the Evie app is only available through the iOS store, so Android users can't get it right now. We'll update this review once we've gotten one to test ourselves.

The Go2sleep ring is dedicated to one function: Tracking your sleep based on heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and heart rate variability. If you or anyone in your family lives with a sleep condition, this ring could be a useful tool. I've started using it to track my hours and quality of sleep, and the app offers all the data that I need to understand my slumber. I've found it quite insightful, and I enjoy using the ring for solely sleep tracking. I can also add notes to each night of sleep to document my activity during that day and factors that could impact my sleep.

Also: The best sleep trackers

You can share data with family members on the app to learn more about their sleep habits, and even download your sleep reports as Excel files to show your medical provider.

The advanced technology can wake you up during your lightest sleep phase in the morning with gentle vibrations, to help you wake up at the most optimal time and avoid feeling disoriented. The Go2sleep ring can also sync with the Health app on iOS devices, and it features a ring-finding function so you can locate the device if it's misplaced.

The RingConn Smart Ring is a great option for people looking for two things: 1) A ring that includes many of the great features of the Oura or Evie Ring like heart rate, SPO2, and sleep tracking, but is available for men, women, and nonbinary folks, and 2) a ring that does not require an additional monthly subscription fee. All you have to pay for with the RingConn Smart Ring is the up front $279 cost of the ring, and then nothing else. (Again, the Oura Ring requires a $6 a month membership fee on top of the cost of the ring itself.)

"I was much more impressed with the RingConn Smart Ring than I expected to be," ZDNET contributor Matthew Miller writes in his review of the ring. "I'm close to switching to it as my primary smart ring [from the Oura Ring] because I like the extensive amount of data provided and the ability to easily swap smartphones that I connect to the ring."

Alongside the long, seven-day battery life of the ring, the charging case also offers up a 500 mAh battery that can power your ring for up to 150 days.

McLear RingPay tech specs: Material: Hypoallergenic ceramic | Compatibility: iOS and Android | Charging: No charging required | Durability: Waterproof | Sizing: Sizes 4.5-16 available; ring sizer available at checkout; free size exchanges

The minimalistic, polished RingPay integrates the ever-helpful contactless payment technology. The ring is faster than contactless alternatives, like unlocking your phone wallet or using a credit card. Since it's meant to be used for contactless payments instead of health tracking, it's also significantly less expensive than the others on this list, starting at £90 (about $114).

The RingPay comes from McLear, the company that built the first NFC (near-field communication or wireless data transfer) ring to unlock doors digitally. Similarly, McLear promises that the ring can unlock your NFC-enabled Android phones and tablets with just a touch from ring to device. You can store and securely share information, including Wi-Fi details, website links, and contact information to your friends' devices. Additionally, setting your name and business credentials as the digital message can serve as a hands-free networking device when held to someone else's device.

This ring does not yet have a release date. McClear's website says the ring is set to release in the UK first but will quickly launch in other areas, offering an option to join the waitlist.

The Hecere NFC ring is the best smart ring for tech-savvy people who may want to use their ring to open their phone or even as a networking tool. It's delivered blank with a built-in rewritable chip. You can download an NFC app for free and program the ring to function however you want, whether you want the ring to turn on Wi-Fi, make a call, or share a contact.

The sensing technology in this ring is more advanced than that in comparable products. It's also inexpensive, at about $30 at the time of this writing. If you want a fun, customizable project, this could be the ring for you.

Also: Why this $23 remote control ring is a must-have

ZDNET contributor Sherin Shibu contributed to this story.

I recommend the Oura Ring 3 as the best smart ring based on its extensive capabilities. However, there are other great choices out there, too. This table compares the best smart rings based on price, battery life, and materials.

*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

It depends on your needs and your budget. For example, if you want a smart ring that primarily tracks your sleeping habits, then the Go2sleep ring is a wise choice. Or if you want the most durable option, the titanium body of the Oura Ring 3 will hold up for your wildest adventures. Below, our table helps you determine the right ring for you based on specific uses:

ZDNET staff did hands-on testing of several rings on this list. I analyzed the overall quality and functionality of smart rings on the market right now. I took into account factors such as pricing, specific purposes, durability, and device compatibility.

Other ZDNET experts also assessed the Oura Ring 3 as the best overall smart ring in the fitness wearable market, especially if your goal is to specifically track exercise and workout recovery.

Yes, by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), the Oura Ring 3 has also proven to show early signs of sickness. Wake Forest University's Dr. Jason Fanning, for example, saw that his "heart rate variability went through the floor" thanks to his Oura Ring data, days before he tested positive for COVID-19.

Smart rings can provide more accurate readings than smartwatches because they are worn close to large blood vessels located in the fingers. In contrast, smartwatch sensors utilize small capillaries for readings.

Smart rings can be useful for a variety of functions. A ring like the McLear RingPay is ideal if contactless payments are your top priority. If you want 24/7 monitoring of your blood oxygen and heart rate, go with the Circular Ring. Smart rings can go as far as you need, and you can even program your own with the Hecere NFC Ring.

Smart rings also tend to have long battery lives, while some don't require charging at all.

The Evie Ring is now available to order, and it ships in January 2024.

150 Mm Ceramic Ring There are various smart rings on the market that didn't make the cut for my top five. However, I've included a few other smart rings that receive honorable mentions:

The best smart rings of 2024 | ZDNET