RingConn and Apple Watch Series 9 may be two very different wearable devices, but they do have several functionalities in common. If you are looking for a health monitoring wearable device, these two are great options. But how do they stack up against each other? In this RingConn vs. Apple Watch Series 9 review, we compare and contrast these two to help you decide.
RingConn is a health smart ring that started as a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo in 2019 and first came out in January 2023. It tracks sleep, activities, heart rates, blood oxygen saturation, and periods.
The Apple Watch Series 9 is the tech giant’s 2023 flagship smartwatch that boasts a slew of health functionalities, including tracking sleep, activities, and heart rates. And with the help of third-party apps, it can also track periods, stress, and blood oxygen saturation.
ALSO READ: RINGCONN VS. OURA VS. ULTRAHUMAN: WHICH IS THE BEST HEALTH SMART RING?
Disclaimer: Smart Ring News is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
RingConn vs. Apple Watch Series 9 Quick Comparison
Before exploring the features and functionalities of the smart rings, here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| RINGCONN | APPLE WATCH SERIES 9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Heart rate monitoring | ✅ | ✅ |
| Activity tracking | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recovery monitoring | ❌ | ❌ |
| Stress management | ✅ | ✅ |
| Blood oxygen monitoring | ✅ | ✅ |
| Period prediction | ✅ | ✅ |
| Blood sugar monitoring | ❌ | ❌ |
| Battery life | Up to 7 days | Up to 36 hours |
| Water protection | IP68 (Water-resistant up to 50 meters) | IP6X (Water-resistant up to 50 meters) |
| Price | $279 | $399 |
| GET IT HERE | GET IT HERE |
RingConn vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Features and Functionalities
Sleep Tracking
First off, sleep tracking is something you would want to have from a wearable device. The good news is that both the Apple Watch Series 9 and RingConn have solid sleep tracking capabilities.
RingConn can automatically track your sleep—from the moment you turn in until you wake up. Sleep metrics RingConn records include sleep duration, sleep stages (light, REM, and deep sleep), resting heart rate, body temperature, and sleep time ratio. At the end of your sleep, you get a sleep score based on how well you slept the night before. Aside from the mentioned sleep metrics, RingConn takes note of your activities the previous day to give you an idea of how your body has recovered.
With the Apple Watch Series 9, it can automatically track your sleep or switch it to sleep focus in order to activate sleep tracking. It does keep tabs on your sleep stages (REM, core, and deep sleep) and breathing rate during sleep. In addition, the smartwatch allows you to create sleep schedules and sleep goals. Do note that the Apple Watch Series 9 only records sleep when it’s at least 4 hours each night.
Nevertheless, both wearables allow you to see your sleep trends.
ALSO READ: ULTRAHUMAN VS. APPLE WATCH SERIES 9 REVIEW: WHICH IS BETTER FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS TRACKING?
Activity Tracking
A robust activity tracking functionality is a must for fitness enthusiasts. Both RingConn and the Apple Watch Series 9 can automatically track your steps, walking distance, and calorie burn.
The Apple Watch Series 9 can also record flights climbed. And it has several activity tracking features you will love. The fitness rings feature is one I adore in particular, giving you a complete picture of how much you move, exercise, and stand. You also get activity trends.
Meanwhile, despite its small form factor, RingConn’s 3-axis accelerometer is accurate enough to automatically detect activities, whether you are cycling, skiing, running, or swimming. It also uses your basal metabolic rate (BMR) or resting metabolism rate (RMR), which is the number of calories you burn as your body does basic activities like lying in bed or driving, on top of your active metabolic rate.
ALSO READ: FITBIT CHARGE 5 VS. OURA RING 3: WHICH IS MORE ADVANCED HEALTH AND FITNESS TRACKER?
Heart Rate Monitoring
Tracking heart rates has a lot of uses for health devices. Heart rates are pivotal for monitoring and managing sleep, activities, recovery, and even stress, and that’s why it has to be done right.
RingConn uses heart rate variability (HRV) for stress management, giving users a clear picture of their day-to-day stressors and physical and mental well-being. It also uses HRV and resting heart rate (RHR) for your sleep, allowing you to see the quality of your nightly rests. It also uses continuous heart rate tracking for your daily activities.
With the Apple Watch Series 9, your heart rate monitoring is made possible with the heart rate app, which gives you metrics like resting, walking, breathing, workout, and recovery heart rates. The thing that edges RingConn out, or any smart ring for that matter, is the ability to notify users when their heart rate drops or goes beyond normal (irregular heart rhythm). For active people or users with heart problems, this is very useful and cannot be underestimated.
ALSO READ: RINGCONN VS. ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The Outliers
There are lovely features we would like to have from wearable devices. One of them is recovery monitoring. Unfortunately, both RingConn and the Apple Watch Series 9 don’t have anything that particularly helps you keep track of your recovery.
Despite having all the necessary sensors and tracking recovery-based metrics like resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and skin/body temperature, these devices lack the recovery management functionality that most smart rings have, including the Ultrahuman Ring Air and Oura Ring.
ALSO READ: ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR VS. OURA RING REVIEW: WHICH IS BETTER?
RingConn vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Specs and Design
RingConn is made of titanium—a material known to be very durable—and coated with PVD. The inner molding is made of epoxy resin, which is non-allergenic. The smart ring weighs 3-5 grams, depending on the size. It looks bigger than regular rings.
RingConn can survive up to 7 days and up to 150 days with the help of the charging case, and each charge takes 2 hours. In terms of protection, RingConn has not been certified for ingress protection but the company claims it can withstand water up to 50 meters.
The Apple Watch Series has a 1.9-inch Retina OLED touchscreen display with 484 x 396 resolution. The screen is brighter up to 2000 nits, perfect for people who are always out in the sun. The battery life can last up to 18 hours with regular use. It’s certified to IP6X standards and can be used up to 50 meters underwater.
ALSO READ: RINGCONN VS. OURA RING 3 REVIEW: BATTLE OF HEALTH MONITORING SMART RINGS
RingConn vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Pricing and Availability
RingConn costs $279 and is available in 6-14 mm sizes in colors moonlit black, midnight black, and pale gold.
The base model of the Apple Watch Series 9 costs $399. It’s available in 41mm and 45mm variants and aluminum and stainless steel casings. The aluminum case is available in starlight, midnight, silver, red, and pink. The stainless steel is available in silver, gold, and graphite.
GET APPLE WATCH SERIES 9 HERE!
ALSO READ: OURA RING VS. APPLE WATCH SERIES 9: WHICH IS BEST FOR SLEEP TRACKING?
The Verdict: Which Is the Best Health Monitoring Wearable?
We’ve reached the end of this RingConn vs. Apple Watch Series 9 review and all I can say is that we have an evenly matched comparison here on the health monitoring front. But which should you choose?
If you can’t get both, here’s how I’m going to look at it. Get RingConn if you want an unobtrusive wearable device that lets you focus on your sleep and workouts. If you want a more versatile wearable that you can also use outside of health tracking, the Apple Watch Series 9 is the no-brainer option.
For the latest wearable tech news and updates, follow Smart Ring News on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
