Is 2024 the year that smart rings hit the mainstream?
With Samsung announcing the impending launch of its Galaxy Ring at the CES tech show in January (though we're still light on any real detail), this relatively niche corner of the wearable tech market may finally begin to gather serious momentum.
Smart rings are discreet smart devices you wear on a finger, and most are no bigger than an ordinary (chunky) ring. Some connect to your phone to control music and take calls, whilst others subtly track health and fitness metrics.
They are potentially a less intrusive option for those who don't want wrist-based distraction, but still want to keep tabs on their vitals.
But you might not want to make the jump just yet. We tested a selection of smart rings at our wearables lab and found the offering is fairly limited at the moment. Here, we explain what they can do versus a smartwatch or tracker, and Which? members can read our full reviews to see if they actually track effectively.
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There are only a handful of smart rings available to buy at the moment. Some focus on one core tracking function, while others claim to do as much as a wrist-worn fitness tracker.
With the most advanced rings, you download an app on your smartphone to control the ring and dig into your tracking data. These are the main rings available right now:
The Oura Ring 3 claims to offer similar functionality to a fitness tracker, with stats accessed via a companion app on your smartphone.
There's no GPS, but it has a decent number of tracking features, including pulse oximetry, heart rate monitoring, calories burned and step/ distance tracking.
It also can give menstrual cycle predictions for which it monitors your body temperature (though it charges for certain info, when rival apps offer similar for free).
As there's no screen or buttons on the ring itself, you're reliant on the paired app to control all actions.
Find out if it accurately tracks health and fitness in our full Oura Ring 3 review, or you can head to Oura to buy it.
The ArcX Smart Ring is designed to give you (sort-of) hands-free control over some features on your smartphone or tablet. It doesn't have any health or fitness tracking abilities, and its chunky design may not appeal to all.
Find out what we thought of it in our full ArcX Smart Ring review or head to ArcX to buy it.
This ring is a one-hit-wonder designed to measure your blood oxygen levels, as an alternative to using a fingertip pulse oximeter, which tends to be chunkier.
Get the scoop on how accurate it is in our full ViAtom O2 Ring (PO2) review or head to Viatom or Amazon to buy it.
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The compact nature of smart rings may appeal, but it also limits their capabilities - at the moment at least.
Wrist-worn trackers are much more likely to have built-in GPS, which we find more accurately tracks your pace and distance readings, for example.
Rings rely on other tech to get the best from them too, such as an accompanying app on your phone or tablet. Some charge a subscription fee for the paired app, without which you can't control the ring. With most smartwatch and fitness trackers offering better functionality for free, it's an expense you don't really need.
The lack of screen on-device does give you less control and ability to check stats at a glance, too - though some might prefer more subtle tracking.
Ultimately, we don't think the tech is really there yet to offer a good user experience, especially given the price points. The best cheaper fitness trackers we've tested give you a comprehensive and accurate analysis of your fitness in a sleek and light package, and are likely to be a better bet unless you have very specialist requirements.
See which models we recommend for accuracy and battery life in our guide to the best fitness trackers and best smartwatches
Our independent tests have uncovered plenty of other products that can help you with your health and fitness goals for the year ahead.
Whether you're a keen yogi or not, a yoga mat is handy for any floor-based exercises or stretching. Check out our best yoga mats for grip and comfort. If you want to invest in some more serious kit, check out our guide to setting up a home gym, and our exercise bike reviews.
Like to listen to music when running? Get a highly rated running phone holder that will keep it secure.
If you find that your muscles tend to stiffen up after workouts, you might want to consider one of our top-rated massage guns. And for wider healthy habits advice, see our guide to mindfulness apps compared and tips on how to sleep better and beat insomnia.
We've tested smartwatches and fitness trackers with some incredibly accurate trackers. However, you should only use the results as a guide to getting to know your health better. If you need a medical-grade device, check out our guides to the best pulse oximeters and the best blood pressure monitors.
Want to know more about how to pick the best fitness tracker, and how it can help you? Check out our latest Get Answers podcast
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