On the fence about getting the Ultrahuman Ring Air or Apple Watch Series 9? A smart ring versus a smartwatch might be an unlikely comparison, but you have a lot of reasons to consider these devices, most importantly on the health monitoring front. In this Ultrahuman vs. Apple Watch Series 9 review, we break all the differences between these two wearables and which one should you get.
Ultrahuman is an Indian health tech company based in Bangalore. In September 2023, they released the Ultrahuman Ring Air smart ring as an additional device to their range of health wearables. Ultrahuman Ring Air is one of the best smart rings you can get right now.
Apple is a big tech company based in Cupertino. Their current generation Watch Series 9 received a mixed review for having no major upgrades from the Watch Series 8. But it’s still a robust device worth considering.
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Ultrahuman Ring Air vs. Apple Watch Series 9 Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the specs and features of Ultrahuman Ring Air and Apple Watch Series 9 to make it easier for you:
| ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR | 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 100 meters) | IP6X (Water-resistant up to 50 meters) |
| Price | $349 | $399 |
| GET IT HERE | GET IT HERE |
Ultrahuman vs. Apple Watch Series 9 Review: Features and Functionalities
Sleep Monitoring
Ultrahuman Ring Air automatically tracks your sleep as long as you’re wearing it. With the Apple Watch Series 9, you need to enable sleep mode for your watch to start monitoring it. Nevertheless, both devices keep tabs on your sleep stages (light, REM, and deep sleep), how long you slept, your resting heart rate (an indicator of how well-rested you are), and blood oxygen. Ultrahuman Ring Air comes up with a sleep score to let you know how good you’re sleep is and gives you insights and suggestions on what to do if you did not get enough or good sleep. Apple, on the other hand, does not have this kind of mechanism.
ALSO READ: ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR VS. OURA RING REVIEW: WHICH IS BETTER?
Activity Tracking
For tracking activities and workouts, you need a reliable device to keep you up to speed. Both Ultrahuman Ring Air and Apple Watch Series 9 are great fitness trackers, giving you metrics like steps, distance covered, flights taken, and calorie burn. Ultrahuman Ring Air uses a 6-axis accelerometer, which makes it more accurate than most wearables that use a 3-axis accelerometer.
Nevertheless, both devices are impressive when it comes to tracking your activities. Your decision should come down to which form factor fits you best.
ALSO READ: RINGCONN VS. ULTRAHUMAN RING AIR: WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?
Heart Rate Monitoring
When it comes to fitness tracking, one significant feature a wearable has to have is heart rate monitoring. Both Ultrahuman Ring Air and Apple Watch Series 9 use PPG and LED sensors for tracking various heart metrics, but apparently, they differ in where they get their data. Ultrahuman Ring Air uses blood vessels on the fingers, while the Apple Watch Series 9 uses capillaries on the wrist. Heart rate data culled from the fingers are more advantageous compared to the wrist.
ALSO READ: RINGCONN VS. OURA VS. ULTRAHUMAN: WHICH IS THE BEST HEALTH SMART RING?
The Outliers
On top of sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and activity tracking, Ultrahuman Ring Air also keeps tabs on blood oxygen, recovery, and women’s health. The Apple Watch Series 9 has all these. The Apple Watch Series 9’s blood oxygen monitoring and stress management functionalities are possible using watchOS apps. Do note that Ultrahuman Ring Air does not have a dedicated feature for stress management unlike Whoop 4.0.
It’s also important to take note of Ultrahuman Ring Air’s continuous glucose monitoring capability for keeping tabs on your blood sugar. No other wearable on the market has a blood sugar monitoring feature. If you are a diabetic or come from a family of one, this is a nifty functionality.
ALSO READ: OURA RING VS. APPLE WATCH SERIES 9: WHICH IS BEST FOR SLEEP TRACKING?
Ultrahuman vs. Apple Watch Series 9 Review: Specs and Design
Ultrahuman Ring Air is made of titanium coated in tungsten carbide carbon. The inner shell is made of nonallergenic epoxy resin. The ring weighs 2.4-3.6 grams, depending on the ring size. Its battery can last up to 6 days and each full charge can take about 2 hours to complete. It’s certified to IP68 standards and it’s water-resistant up to 100 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: FITBIT CHARGE 5 VS. OURA RING 3: WHICH IS MORE ADVANCED HEALTH AND FITNESS TRACKER?
Ultrahuman vs. Apple Watch Series 9: Pricing and Availability
Ultrahuman Ring Air costs $349. You can choose between aster black, matte black, bionic gold, and space silver finishes.
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!
The Verdict: Which Is the Best Health and Fitness Tracker?
In a perfect world, it’s best to get both Ultrahuman Ring Air and the Apple Watch Series 9. You get the best of both worlds and are able to compare important health data. But if you really have to choose, you need to consider your needs first.
Do you value a more comfortable sleep tracker that has blood sugar monitoring capabilities? Ultrahuman Ring Air is the no-brainer choice. Do you want a versatile fitness tracker that you can use for other purposes as well? By all means, go get the Apple Watch Series 9!
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