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There are a lot of tools out there to help you keep track of your
health and fitness goals, ranging from sleep apps to popular fitness trackers like the Apple Watch or FitBit. Though smart rings are a relatively new gadget to the market, this connected piece of jewelry has gained popularity in recent years for its compact, minimalist design and ability to track health data. If you’re someone that doesn’t like wearing a smartwatch to bed but could benefit from knowing about important metrics like heart rate, sleep, steps and more, a smart ring could be the solution.
The experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been hands-on testing fitness products and tech gadgets for decades, from health apps to top-performing smartwatches. We’ve tested more than 50 of the best fitness trackers since they burst onto the scene over 10 years ago. To determine the best smart rings for tracking your health, our tech pros and wellness experts evaluated everything from a smart ring’s ease of use to its design, app intuitiveness and performance. Below are our top picks for the best smart rings in 2022, based on testing conducted in the Media & Tech Lab and an extensive review of top sellers.
Our top picks:
1
2
3
4
Best Smart Ring for Sleep Tracking
Sleepon Go2sleep Tracker
Read more
5
Best Smart Ring for Health Tracking
BodiMetrics Prevention circul+ Wellness Ring
Read more
Read on after our top picks to find out how we selected our top picks and whether a smart ring is right for you.
Pros
- Comfortable and easy to use
- Intuitive app
- Includes free sizing kit
- Features period prediction
Cons
- Workouts must be logged manually
Our Media & Tech pros love the Oura Ring and were impressed by how effectively it tracked sleep and other key stats like heart rate and body temperature. Testers found the app extremely intuitive and easy to use, noting that they liked how various metrics are broken down into overall scores, including readiness (a holistic picture of your health), sleep and activity. We also appreciate the long battery life, which lasted up to seven days in our tests.
"Of the rings I've tested, the Oura Ring had a super thorough process for sizing, so it ultimately fit the best and was comfortable," says Rachel Rothman, Director of Engineering at the Good Housekeeping Institute. We also like that it comes in five colors and features a sleek design that should blend in with existing jewelry. We only wish you didn't have to log workouts manually, but we do love that you can take your ring with you into the shower or swimming thanks to its water-resistant design.
Material | Titanium |
---|---|
Battery Life | Up to 7 days |
Weight | 4-6 grams |
Water Resistance | Up to 100m |
Pros
- Can control music
- Ships with five different sized outer rings
- Water-resistant
Cons
- Doesn't track metrics
This no-frills smart ring, available in orange, black and blue, is great for fitness enthusiasts that already use separate activity trackers. It's made to serve as a "remote control" for your music while you bike or run so you don't have to look down at your phone to change the song or turn up the volume. Though we haven't tested this model yet in the Lab, our pros like that it comes in various sizes so you're ensured a proper fit and that you can wear the ring with or without gloves. Each set also includes a mount for your handlebar or watch strap as well as a carrying case.
Material | Not listed |
---|---|
Battery life | Up to five days |
Weight | Not listed |
Water resistance | IP66 |
Pros
- Sleek design
- Features alarm clock and physical button for extra features
- Changeable outer shell
Cons
- Must remove when showering or washing hands
- Sizing kit not included
Track your heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, blood oxygenation and other health metrics with this feature-rich smart ring that keeps tabs on your activity 24/7. You can analyze your performance and access recommendations for improvement through the app, where you'll find other data like energy scores, wellness graphs and sleep cycles. Though our pros haven't been able to test this model yet as it's expected delivery date is set for May 2023, we can't wait to try out the silent vibration feature that is intended to wake you up gently during your lightest sleep stage. We wish the ring were fully waterproof, but we like that its outer shell is changeable so you can easily swap the finish to match your jewelry that day.
Material | Stainless steel and carbon fiber |
---|---|
Battery life | Up to four days |
Weight | 5 grams |
Water resistance | Light exposure (rain) |
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4
Best Smart Ring for Sleep Tracking
Sleepon Go2sleep Tracker
4
Best Smart Ring for Sleep Tracking
Sleepon Go2sleep Tracker
Now 31% Off
Pros
- Comprehensive sleep reports and data
- Affordable price
Cons
- Bulky design
Good sleep is critical to your health, so it's important to understand whether you're getting enough quality rest every night. For sleep tracking, our pros recommend this smart ring from Sleepon designed specifically to give you an in-depth understanding of your sleep trends and patterns. We like that this ring generates detailed sleep reports and shares useful metrics like heart rate, HRV (heart rate variability), blood oxygen, sleep stages and more. But the design is a bit bulky and the battery life could be improved — it's not meant to be worn 24/7 (just while you sleep). Our pros look forward to testing it in the Lab in the near future.
Material | Acrylic /PC+ABS plastics |
---|---|
Battery life | Two nights |
Weight | 6 grams |
Water resistance | IPX7 |
5
Best Smart Ring for Health Tracking
BodiMetrics Prevention circul+ Wellness Ring
5
Best Smart Ring for Health Tracking
BodiMetrics Prevention circul+ Wellness Ring
Pros
- Tracks various wellness data
- Doesn't require sizing kit
Cons
- Weak battery life and poor water resistance
Get a holistic view of your sleep, activity and overall wellness with the assistance of this smart ring which features continuous blood oxygenation (SpO2) and heart rate tracking. Our pros like that it tracks temperature, sleep stages, calories burned and more on a daily basis. "It's adjustable and yet still pretty sleek and durable," says Rothman. "Similar to Oura, I found it comfortable enough to use at night for sleep tracking and monitoring vitals unobtrusively."
Though we wish the battery life lasted a few extra days, we like that this smart ring can accurately measure spO2 for all skin pigmentation, according to the brand. Another bonus: you don't need to order a separate sizing kit to find the right fit for your finger — just pick among three adjustable sizes (small, large or XL).
Material | 316L Stainless steel with PVD coating |
---|---|
Battery life | Up to 16 hours |
Weight | 9 grams |
Water resistance | IPX2 |
How we test smart rings
While the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute's Media & Tech Lab haven't had the opportunity to test all smart rings featured, we chose our picks based on our years of experience testing health trackers as well as previous categorical tests in the health and wellness space. We reviewed each ring for key specs like tracking capabilities, and for those rings that we tested in our Lab, we evaluated ease of setup and ease of use, comfort, design, app intuitiveness, performance and more. While this product category remains small and is still in its early stages, our pros are excited to watch the category grow and test new entrants to the field as they become available.
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Why choose a smart ring instead of a fitness tracker?
"Smart rings can help track essential metrics related to health, sleep, wellness, fitness and more," says Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN, NASM-CPT and GH's resident personal trainer. Though smart rings and fitness trackers share a lot in common when it comes to tracking these metrics, you might prefer one over the other. “One of the differences is that a smart ring tends to have no display or a very tiny display, and it needs to be controlled through another device, such as your smartphone,” Sassos says. “Smartwatches tend to have a decent size display and can typically be controlled directly on the device screen.” If you like being able to receive notifications directly on your device, then a smart ring might not be the best choice for you. With a smart ring, you'll typically access any data or information that was collected through your smartphone as opposed to on the device itself.
Another major difference is the design. “Smart rings tend to be more comfortable and inconspicuous than smartwatches, making them a bit more seamless and convenient to wear especially for long periods of time,” Sassos says. “They’re also generally lighter and can be easier to sleep with if you are looking to track sleep data overnight.” If you don't like wearing a watch in general, a smart ring could be a great choice since it still offers many of the perks of a smartwatch or fitness tracker.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski oversees product testing and covers everything from consumer tech to fitness gadgets, health, home appliances and more. She continues to stay on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helps readers make better buying decisions by testing and reviewing the best gadgets to hit the market. She’s excited to get her hands on more smart rings, which she thinks are an easy-to-use and comfortable way to track your health and sleep.
Stefani Sassos has been working in the fitness industry for the past decade, specializing in indoor cycling and strength training. As a NASM-certified personal trainer, she uses her expertise and exercise science knowledge to create informed fitness content for Good Housekeeping. From vigorously testing exercise equipment and workout apps to curating workout plans for GH readers, Stefani is passionate about leading an active lifestyle and inspiring others to do the same. Stefani began actively using fitness trackers after having her first baby to help her stay active and feel her best. She loves that smart rings are a discreet and practical way to track metrics and prioritize holistic health.
Rachel Rothman, chief technologist and head engineer for the Good Housekeeping Institute, has been with the brand for nearly 15 years and has a B.S.E. in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. An avid athlete and gadget enthusiast, she has experience testing a multitude of fitness and tech equipment, from smart fitness mirrors to smartwatches.
Olivia Lipski
Media & Tech Reviews Analyst
Olivia (she/her) is a media and tech product reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, covering tech, home, auto, health and more. She has more than five years of experience writing about tech trends and innovation and, prior to joining GH in 2021, was a writer for Android Central, Lifewire and other media outlets. Olivia is a graduate of George Washington University, with a bachelor's degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.