This Subscription-free Smart Ring Gave My Oura A Run For Its Money (and It's Cheaper Too)

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The RingConn Smart Ring is disposable now successful 3 colors for $259 (regularly $279).
• One week artillery life, beautiful matte finish, powerful smartphone app, and nary subscription fee.
• No readiness people and does not sync pinch third-party fittingness apps different than Apple Health

While I deterioration watches connected some of my wrists, that type of wearable isn't nan champion for search slumber without being disruptive. For much than 2 years, I person besides had an Oura Gen3 Ring connected my finger, and location person been immoderate compelling updates to some nan package and nan hardware.

RingConn launched its Smart Ring backmost successful 2023 aft a successful Indiegogo campaign. I tested the RingConn Smart Ring -- Moonlit Silver, size 13 -- connected my near scale digit for astir 3 weeks successful 2024, and I liked it a lot. I soon became stuck deciding whether I should support it aliases nan Oura Gen3 Titanium ring. I wore nan second connected my correct scale digit for comparison purposes complete that aforesaid three-week period.

Also: The champion smart rings of 2025: I tested and recovered an evident winner

The Moonlit Silver colour looks almost precisely for illustration nan brushed titanium Oura model, and it is very attractive. It is not wholly round, pinch conscionable a hint of a squircle shape, though astir will deliberation it is simply a circle astatine first glance. The size 13 1 I americium wearing weighs astir 5 grams, and inside, you will find a 3D accelerometer, 4 somesthesia sensors, 4 PPG sensors, and a low-power Bluetooth module.

The RingConn Smart Ring is disposable for $259 successful Moonlit Silver, Midnight Black, and Pale Gold. The ringing is made of lightweight titanium, and each colour has a matte finish. Sizes alteration from 6 to 14, and nan first measurement successful nan buying process is to person a sizing kit sent retired to corroborate nan cleanable size for your selected finger.

Also: Finally, a smart ringing I don't person to complaint each nighttime (and nary subscription)

An IP68 waterproof standing is provided truthful you tin deterioration nan ringing astatine each times. Just for illustration nan Oura Ring, nan artillery life is rated astatine 1 week. However, RingConn provides a unsocial portable charging lawsuit that contains a 500 mAh charger tin of keeping nan ringing going for up to 150 days.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The Oura Ring Heritage exemplary starts astatine $299, truthful nan first costs of these 2 rings whitethorn beryllium akin (although nan Gen3 Horizon brushed titanium exemplary that looks for illustration nan RingConn metallic type is priced astatine $449). Another important costs quality is recovered successful nan monthly subscription fee. Oura charges $6 per period for accessing each of your wellness and wellness details, while RingConn has nary subscription associated pinch its smart ring.

Android and iPhone devices are good supported by nan RingConn Smart Ring. For group for illustration maine who usage some smartphone platforms, switching betwixt Android and iOS is simply a seamless process pinch RingConn. In contrast, Oura Ring users are required to reset nan ringing erstwhile switching platforms -- thereby losing retired connected seeing accordant information and trends.

Also: This smart ringing institution will trial your humor for $500 - here's what for

One of nan superior functions of a smart ringing is slumber tracking. The 2 rings' results complete nan past 3 weeks show akin clip asleep, bosom rate, and SPO2; however, nan scores thin to beryllium 8-10 points higher connected nan RingConn exemplary than nan Oura model. The scores are conscionable indicators, and slumber search via watches and rings is much astir search trends and confirming really you feel. I would emotion to spot a institution for illustration Garmin partner pinch RingConn to link its slumber information captured by nan ringing into Garmin Connect, truthful I don't request to deterioration a watch to way my sleep.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

The RingConn app provides galore much specifications related to accent than nan caller regular accent characteristic connected nan Oura Ring. The activity people connected nan RingConn much intimately matches what I expected to spot fixed nan exercises I completed connected those days. (Honestly, smart rings are not nan champion action for activity tracking.) Oura connects and brings successful activity information from different services, while RingConn relies connected information captured conscionable by nan ring. This is 1 area wherever I would for illustration to spot RingConn link to Garmin, Apple, Polar, aliases Samsung.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

One metric that RingConn does not supply is simply a readiness people aliases betterment assessment. Then again, I spot nan readiness people connected my Garmin much than nan worth shown connected nan Oura Ring. Oura usually shows a reasonably precocious readiness people for maine while my Garmin varies much and seems to lucifer really I consciousness aft a time of running, rowing, aliases biking.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

RingConn has a characteristic called Wellness Balance that is presently successful beta. It shows an wide appraisal based connected your sleep, activity, captious signs, and stress. Wellness is provided arsenic excellent, good, and improvable. I've only had 1 time retired of nan past 3 weeks that was not provided pinch a bully rating, and I person yet to spot an fantabulous rating.

The RingConn app provides insights into nan 3 cardinal metrics of sleep, activity, and stress, pinch a 2nd awesome position providing trends. Trends tin beryllium viewed by week, month, aliases twelvemonth and supply a ton of absorbing information successful easy viewable charts and plots. You tin besides position and stock play and yearly reports that are afloat of absorbing and useful information.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

I was overmuch much impressed pinch nan RingConn Smart Ring than I expected to be;  it's awesome to spot specified compelling title successful nan smart ringing space. If you are not willing successful paying a monthly subscription fee, past it is easy for maine to urge nan RingConn ring. I'm adjacent to switching to it arsenic my superior smart ringing because I for illustration nan extended magnitude of information provided and nan expertise to easy switch smartphones that I link to nan ring.

Also: I replaced my Apple Watch pinch nan Oura Ring 4 for slumber search (and it did immoderate things better)

RingConn continues to create features and functions pinch workout mode, menstrual rhythm prediction, meditation, and mindful breathing connected nan schedule for early updates.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

ZDNET's buying advice

Smart rings are becoming much popular, pinch rumors that Samsung and others whitethorn beryllium releasing them soon. RingConn stepped up aft years of improvement and offers a worthy competitor to nan existent leader successful nan smart ringing space. If you for illustration nan thought of not paying a monthly subscription fee, this wearable is worthy your consideration. Right now, nan RingConn Smart Ring is connected waste for $179 complete astatine nan brand's online store.

How it compares

Latest updates

July 29, 2025: Added a caller comparison floor plan comparing nan first-generation RingConn Smart Ring to nan second-generation RingConn Smart Ring. The newer exemplary is smaller, has a longer-lasting battery, and unsocial sensors that nan erstwhile wearable lacks. Outdated links were besides replaced.