If there are three smart rings that look, feel, and function the same, it’s the RingConn, Oura Ring, and Ultrahuman Ring Air. Although RingConn and Ultrahuman Ring Air have only been around recently, they will give you a run for your money. If you’re still wondering what’s the difference between the three wearables and which one should you get, find out in this RingConn vs. Oura vs. Ultrahuman review.
RingConn is a Chinese health tech company with headquarters in Delaware, USA. Their crowdfunded smart ring of the same name began on Indiegogo in 2019, but the actual smart ring first came out in January 2023. Although new, RingConn has been in research and development for more than 6 years.
Oura is a Finnish health wearable company based in Oulu, Finland. It is by far the most successful smart ring to ever hit the shelves, gathering a cult following from athletes and Hollywood celebrities. The current generation Oura Ring 3 was released in November 2021, so you can expect the device to need a massive upgrade.
Ultrahuman is an Indian health tech company based in Bangalore, India. Its smart ring first came out on Kickstarter in October 2022 and recently started releasing in September 2023. Ultrahuman Ring Air spent 1.5 years in research and development before it hit the market.
RingConn vs. Oura vs. Ultrahuman Quick Comparison
Before diving into the features and functionalities of the smart rings, here’s a side-by-side comparison:
| RINGCONN | OURA RING 3 | ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 7 days | Up to 6 days |
| Water protection | IP68 (Water-resistant up to 50 meters) | IP68 (Water-resistant up to 100 meters) | IPX8 (Water-resistant up to 100 meters) |
| Monthly membership | n/a | n/a | $5.99/month |
| Price | $279 | $349 | $299 |
| GET IT HERE | GET IT HERE | GET IT HERE |
RingConn vs. Oura vs. Ultrahuman: Features and Functionalities
Sleep Tracking
RingConn, Oura Ring, and Ultrahuman Ring Air all have sleep-tracking capabilities, giving you a preview of your sleep. All smart rings give you a sleep score based on various factors, such as sleep duration, sleep stages (light, REM, and deep sleep), resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate variability (HRV), and body temperature. One wearable that stands out in this category is the Ultrahuman Ring Air, which drills down into the details of your sleep patterns and factors affecting your sleep.
ALSO READ: OURA RING 3 VS. GARMIN FENIX 7 REVIEW: WHICH DEVICE FITS YOU BEST?
Heart Rate Monitoring
All of these smart rings track various heart rate metrics using various sensors like infrared photoplethysmography (PPG) technology at a frequency of 50Hz on top of red and green LEDs. When compared to medical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG), the Oura Ring returns a 99.9% reliability for RHR and 98.4% reliability for HRV. Meanwhile, RingConn and Ultrahuman Ring Air can detect heart rate metrics when compared to my Apple Watch SE 2.
ALSO READ: OURA RING GEN 3 VS. SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH 6: IS OURA BETTER THAN SAMSUNG GALAXY WATCH?
Activity Tracking
In terms of fitness tracking, there’s not much difference between the three as they all can track steps and calculate walking distance equivalence and calorie burn based on the tracked steps. All smart rings can also automatically detect activities from simple running and walking to HIIT and swimming. However, Ultrahuman Ring Air uses a 6-axis accelerometer, helping the ring to track movements better than RingConn’s and Oura Ring’s 3-axis accelerometers.
ALSO READ: FITBIT CHARGE 5 VS. OURA RING 3: WHICH IS MORE ADVANCED HEALTH AND FITNESS TRACKER?
Recovery and Stress Monitoring
RingConn, Oura Ring, and Ultrahuman Ring Air each have a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) sensor they use for detecting body temperature. Body temperature is a major factor for estimating your recovery and stresses alongside HRV, activities, and sleep. It’s also used for period prediction for Oura Ring and RingConn. The Oura Ring catapulted to popularity during the pandemic when several users claimed the ring managed to detect the early signs of COVID-19 symptoms, including body temperature.
Oura Ring uses a Readiness Score to assess your recovery, while Ultrahuman Ring Air uses a Recovery Score. Meanwhile, RingConn does not have a recovery or readiness metric per se but uses a stress score to give you an idea of your stressors. Oura does not have clear indicators as to what these stressors could be unlike Ultrahuman Ring Air, which not only depends on tracked data but also looks into common stressors like caffeine intake, food intake, light exposure, and intensity of workouts.
ALSO READ: RINGCONN VS. ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
The Outliers
One important feature Ultrahuman Ring Air has that Oura does not have is its continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor. For diabetics, this changes the game among all wearable devices, allowing them to constantly keep track of their blood sugar levels.
Meanwhile, Oura Ring and RingConn do have period prediction capabilities, enabling women to predict their menstrual cycles. If you are planning or avoiding pregnancy, this feature comes in handy. TOura Ring is the first wearable to be used for birth control through the Natural Cycles app.
ALSO READ: ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR VS. OURA RING REVIEW: WHICH IS BETTER?
RingConn vs. Oura vs. Ultrahuman: Specs and Design
The outer bodies of RingConn, Oura Ring, and Ultrahuman Ring Air are all made of titanium, which is a pretty durable material. The inner shell is made from epoxy resin, which is often used in jewelry. RingConn and Oura Ring are coated with PVD, while Ultrahuman Ring Air is coated with tungsten carbide. Both are non-allergenic. All three look good in metallic finishes.
RingConn weighs 3-5 grams, Oura Ring weighs 4-6 grams, and Ultrahuman Ring Air weighs 2.4-3.6 grams, depending on the size. Of the three, RingConn and Oura Ring both look bulkier than Ultrahuman Ring Air.
ALSO READ: RINGCONN VS. OURA RING 3 REVIEW: BATTLE OF HEALTH MONITORING SMART RINGS
In terms of battery life, 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. Oura Ring Gen 3 can last up to 7 days, and each full charge takes about 20 to 80 minutes. Meanwhile, Ultrahuman Ring Air can last up to 6 days, and each charge takes about 90 to 120 minutes.
When it comes to water protection, the Oura Ring is IP16-rated, while the Ultrahuman Ring Air is IPX8-rated. Both are water-resistant up to 100 meters. Meanwhile, RingConn has not been certified for ingress protection but the company claims it can withstand water up to 50 meters.
ALSO READ: APPLE WATCH SERIES 9 VS. 8 REVIEW: SHOULD YOU UPGRADE?
RingConn vs. Oura vs. Ultrahuman: Pricing and Availability
RingConn costs $279 and is available in 6-14 mm sizes in colors moonlit black, midnight black, and pale gold.
Ultrahuman Ring Air is available in 6-12 mm sizes in colors aster black, matte black, bionic gold, and space silver. Each ring comes with a charger and cord.
Oura Ring Gen 3 is available in two styles: Heritage (price starts at $299) and Horizon (price starts at $349). Colors available include silver, black, stealth, gold, and rose gold. It comes with a free 1-month premium membership, which costs $6 per month after.
ALSO READ: OURA RING VS. APPLE WATCH SERIES 9: WHICH IS BEST FOR SLEEP TRACKING?
The Verdict: Which Is the Best Smart Ring?
At the end of the day, these smart rings use almost the same set of technologies with a few subtleties in some areas. The big difference lies in the execution. Choosing the best smart ring depends on what you need.
Get the Ultrahuman Ring Air if you can. It’s more expensive but it’s worth buying, especially if you think the CGM sensor is something you can use. The Oura Ring is a pretty stacked health smart ring with all the common health functionalities you need, but it also needs a lot of upgrades in terms of design. By today’s standards, Oura Ring is still bulky. I’m an Oura Ring user, but I would advise against it. To be completely honest, it’s not a good time to buy it now. Wait for the Oura Ring 4, which is expected to come out in 2024 with its revolutionary integration of new features like contactless payment.
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