When it comes to wearable technology, smart rings are quickly gaining ground as a discreet yet powerful tool for tracking health, fitness, and even sleep patterns. In a world saturated with smartwatches and fitness bands, smart rings offer a minimalist alternative without sacrificing functionality. 

These small, unassuming devices fit snugly on your finger, blending seamlessly with your daily routine while offering insights into everything from heart rate variability to blood oxygen levels. 

We’ve tested the latest smart rings on the market to see how they stack up in terms of accuracy, comfort, and overall usefulness—so you can decide if a smart ring is the next must-have accessory for your health and wellness journey.

The Vital Health Ring, priced at just $59, stands out as our top pick for anyone looking for a feature-packed smart ring at a fraction of the cost of higher-end models like the $400 Oura Ring. 

Despite its budget-friendly price, the Vital Health Ring delivers a remarkably comprehensive set of health-tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, step counting, and even blood oxygen measurements—all with the same level of accuracy we’ve seen in much more expensive devices.

One of the key reasons the Vital Health Ring takes the top spot is its ease of use. Its companion app has a clean, intuitive interface that makes it easy to navigate between health metrics and set daily goals. 

Syncing with your phone is seamless, and data is presented in a way that’s both detailed and easy to understand, even for someone new to wearable technology. Unlike many budget options, the app doesn’t bombard you with ads or try to upsell premium features, which adds to the overall smooth experience.

Comfort is another major strength of the Vital Health Ring. Its lightweight design feels barely there on your finger, making it suitable for all-day wear—even during sleep. We tested it during a variety of activities, from workouts to typing sessions, and found that it never got in the way or caused irritation. 

In terms of accuracy, it performed admirably, with heart rate and sleep data closely matching more expensive rings, proving that you don’t need to break the bank for top-tier health tracking.

The Oura Ring is known for its precise tracking of health metrics, and if you’re a data enthusiast, it excels in providing detailed insights into your sleep, heart rate, body temperature, and recovery. The ring offers comprehensive sleep tracking, giving you in-depth analysis of your sleep stages, restfulness, and overall quality. It’s also well-regarded for its heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring, which is a key indicator of stress and recovery. Additionally, its Readiness Score blends multiple data points to help you gauge how prepared your body is for the day’s demands.

For those who love tracking every nuance of their health, the Oura Ring offers continuous heart rate monitoring, body temperature readings, and activity tracking that spans beyond basic step counts.

However, while the detailed data is impressive, it comes at a hefty price point. At nearly 8 times the cost of Vital Health Ring, the question becomes: Is all this extra data necessary?

For most people, especially those who want reliable health tracking without diving too deep into the numbers, the Vital Health Ring is a much more practical choice. It covers all the essentials like heart monitoring, sleep tracking, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels, but without the over-complication of too many metrics.

If you're looking for a well-rounded, high-quality health ring that doesn’t break the bank, Vital Health Ring is the clear winner. It offers everything most people need in a sleek, affordable package, making it the smarter buy overall.

The $349 Ultrahuman Ring Air made it onto our top list. It's slim, lightweight, and even drew compliments while I was wearing it. Its battery life, lasting three to four days, isn’t the longest but is fairly standard for the category. Where this ring truly excels is in fitness tracking and training, making it a top pick for athletes.

Unlike the Vital Health Ring, which focuses on overall wellness, the Ultrahuman Ring targets optimization. For example, if you’re trying to improve your sleep habits, the app offers a detailed breakdown of drink choices and caffeine content, advising when to consume each if your goal is to sleep by a certain time. 

Since I’ve been working on waking up earlier for morning runs, the ring displays a "Phase Advance" timer, letting me know the best time to exercise to adjust my Circadian rhythm. There are also "Power Plugs" — customizable widgets that help you focus on specific goals like vitamin D from sun exposure, cycle tracking, and Circadian alignment. While some Power Plugs are free, others, like upcoming AFib detection, will come with a $4.90 monthly fee, which I’m not thrilled about.

The accuracy is mostly on par with my other devices, though some of the data interpretations are questionable. For instance, the ring believes my VO2 Max is 44 ml/kg/min (which is considered superior) and rates my resting heart rate as Elite. Based on my experience with other devices, these metrics feel overly optimistic. While every company uses different algorithms, I usually fall in the slightly above-average range, so this feels a bit inflated.

Overall, I really enjoy the Ultrahuman Ring Air, but that's partly because I'm into training. If you're a general user, some of these features might be overkill.

In the world of smart rings, there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Each of the top contenders brings something unique to the table. The Oura Ring shines for its detailed health insights, perfect for those who love digging into data and optimizing their wellness routines. It’s a fantastic tool for tracking sleep and recovery, but with its high price tag, it might be more than what the average user needs. For data enthusiasts, it’s a solid choice, but if you’re looking for something more balanced, there’s a better option.

That’s where the Vital Health Ring comes in. Offering the perfect blend of essential features like heart rate, sleep, and activity tracking, it’s the best overall smart ring for most users. The added value of full waterproofing and great battery life at a more affordable price point makes it an unbeatable choice. While the Oura and Ultrahuman rings cater to niche groups—whether it’s detailed data lovers or fitness-focused athletes—the Vital Health Ring stands out as the smart ring that covers all the bases without breaking the bank. If you want reliability, performance, and affordability, the Vital Health Ring is the smart pick.