I tried the best smart rings of 2025 — which to shop during Black Friday
The evolution of fitness tracking has taken a fascinating turn with the introduction of smart rings, a sleek and discreet alternative to traditional wearables like smartwatches and fitness bands. Unlike clip-on pedometers of the past, these innovative rings pack advanced technology into a simple piece of jewelry, allowing users to monitor their health metrics continuously. Smart rings, such as the popular Oura Ring, not only track basic data like step count and calories burned but also provide deeper insights into vital health indicators, including sleep quality, stress levels, and heart rate variability. This makes them an appealing option for health-conscious individuals looking to enhance their wellness journey without the bulkiness of a smartwatch.
However, potential buyers should be aware that smart rings come with a hefty price tag, often starting around $200, which means they are an investment in personal health. As the market for smart rings grows, with new contenders like Samsung entering the field, the Oura Ring remains a standout choice. After extensive testing, it has been recognized for its comprehensive biometric tracking capabilities and its holistic approach to health management. Despite its strengths, the Oura Ring does have drawbacks, including a monthly subscription fee for accessing all features, prompting some users to explore alternative options. With Black Friday approaching, savvy shoppers are on the lookout for deals on these high-tech devices, hoping to snag the latest Oura Ring 4, which has recently launched in new ceramic designs and offers enhanced features like multi-device pairing.
The landscape of smart rings is not without its drama. Recent controversies surrounding data privacy have surfaced, particularly concerning Oura’s partnership with the U.S. military and the use of Palantir software. While Oura has reassured users that their data remains secure, the incident has sparked discussions about privacy in the tech space. Additionally, the competitive environment has intensified, with Oura recently winning a patent dispute that restricts competitors like Ultrahuman from selling their devices in the U.S. market, although they can still be found through third-party retailers. Meanwhile, Samsung has faced its own challenges, with reports of battery swelling in its Galaxy Ring leading to alarming incidents, including a hospitalization. As the smart ring market continues to evolve, these developments highlight the balance between innovation, user experience, and safety in the world of wearable technology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9AFfQnV88w
Gone are the days of clip-on pedometers. Now, it’s all about tech wearables that maximize your physical potential with round-the-clock vitals monitoring — but I’m not talking about an
Apple Watch
or
Fitbit
. The next evolution of
fitness trackers
is here, and it’s the smart ring.
Smart rings monitor your health in a tiny, inconspicuous package. At first glance, they look like any other piece of jewelry, a simple gold or silver ring. But with tiny sensors, these rings track biometrics through your finger. Yes, they’ll track your step count and calories burned, but more advanced technology allows them to
track sleep
and stress levels, all detected through heart rate and variability.
If you’re looking to gain deeper insights into your health, a smart ring will help you do that, and, we’ve vetted the most popular models on the market through weeks of testing to find the best smart ring.
But be warned, the biggest downside to a smart ring is the price tag. Even the cheapest smart ring starts around $200, so getting one is going to be an investment. But that also means you may want to find one on sale. With
Black Friday
on the horizon, we’ll be hunting all best deals on these devices, and crossing our fingers to see a sale on the Oura Ring 4.
What’s the best smart ring?
The smart ring market is ever-growing, with new models debuting each year. Samsung just launched a smart ring in 2024, and while Apple doesn’t have a smart ring on the market yet, we’re sure it will be here in a matter of time. But smart rings are synonymous with the
Oura Ring,
a leader in the field, and for good reason. After spending weeks with the device, testing its hype, and comparing it to other devices, we can confidently say Oura makes the best smart ring in 2025.
Oura offers the most expansive biometric tracking, monitoring your health around the clock. It focuses on daily and long-term health goals more holistically than other rings.
However, the Oura Ring has downsides, like a monthly subscription fee. If you’re not down for a monthly fee, we tested some popular alternatives to Oura rings.
Why should you buy a smart ring?
So you think you want a smart ring? Here’s what you need to know about the latest tech wearable.
Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
Smart rings are not just another fitness tracker. Yes, they do track your activity, steps, and calories burned. However, they’re really meant to offer a more holistic view of your health so you can gain deeper insights into your sleep habits, cardiovascular health, and more.
You’re a good candidate for a smart ring if you hate the look of a smartwatch or fitness tracker with LED screens, which are categorically not cool. Smart rings are posed as a discreet option, looking like a regular piece of jewelry. However, to be frank, they don’t blend in
that
well. In my weeks of testing, while wearing the rings during hangouts, someone would inevitably ask me, “What’s that?”
Since a smart ring doesn’t have a screen, you have to pull out your phone and open an app whenever you want to track activity. That’s certainly not the end of the world, but if you convert from a smartwatch, you’ll miss the convenience of tapping your wrist. That being said, I actually find a smart ring most useful when paired with a smartwatch. I ran all my testing while simultaneously wearing an
Apple Watch
, and I appreciated the smart rings that were compatible with my watch so I could receive push notifications.
The latest smart ring news
If I were to assign the superlative of ‘Most Dramatic’ to any tech product, it would be to smart rings. In between new product and feature launches, the smart ring beat is abuzz with brand conflicts, privacy concerns, and swelling batteries.
Oura ring: New ceramic rings, blood tests, and Palantir
In early September, the internet was swirling with concerns around data privacy with Oura. After an announcement of Oura’s continued partnership with the
United States Military
as well as the use of Palantir software being used in this venture, users were concerned about their data. Oura has clarified that Palantir has no access to user data.
Things have since settled down since Oura clarified its partnership. The brand recently launched the
Oura Ring 4 in ceramic
, which comes in four new colors. Plus, the brand launched multi-device pairing as well as health panels, which analyze users blood work through a Quest Diagnostics partnership.
Ultrahuman: Are they still available in the United States?
Earlier this year, Oura won a
patent dispute
against Ultrahuman and Ringcon, claiming its competitors purchased Oura rings to reverse engineer the curved battery. The International Trade Commission ruled in Oura’s favor, resulting in Ultrahuman and Ringcon no longer being able to import to the US as of October 21, 2025. But does that mean the devices are going away? Not really.
In an email with Ultrahuman representation, they clarified that the brand can no longer import to the U.S. or sell the ring via Ultrahuman’s website after October 21. However, other retailers such as Amazon or Best Buy can still sell the product past that date and as of Nov. 2025, you can still find the
Ring Air
available to buy. This ruling only applies to the Ultrahuman Ring Air, and the brand has implied that a new device may be on the way.
Samsung: Reports of battery swelling on the rise
The Samsung Galaxy Ring, which we recommend to those already in the Samsung ecosystem, has also been in the news lately. A YouTuber named Daniel, who runs the channel
ZONEofTECH
, alleged that his
Samsung Galaxy Ring
began swelling as he was boarding a plane. Daniel reportedly had to go to the hospital to get the ring removed. The swelling appears to come from the Samsung ring’s battery, which tends to swell inward, preventing users from being able to remove it. This is not the first report of a Samsung ring’s battery swelling, but it is the first where a user had to go to the hospital.
