I recently had the opportunity to retire my Oura ring and try a more affordable alternative. What I discovered changed my opinion on the whole concept of the fitness and wellness ring.
I used to wear an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and a third generation Oura Ring. I could pretend that I’m superhuman and about to compete in the Paris Olympics and that’s why I was wearing two devices with many similar features… but that’s not true. Instead, I’m a geek who writes about the tech industry and loves trying new things; It’s that simple.
So when I was given the opportunity to try another smart ring, I didn’t turn it down.
A competitor worth discussing
Recently, I got to test out an Oura competitor called the RingConn Smart Ring. I had never heard of RingConn before their PR team reached out to me, and even then, I didn’t know what to expect. I agreed to test the product, but I knew Digital Trends had already done so earlier this year. However, I wasn’t sold, and I was challenged to write this article comparing the Oura to RingConn. The in-depth comparison of these two wearables has already been done. Instead of revisiting that topic, I’m focusing on what it’s like to switch between the two rings.
It’s worth noting that these rings have far more in common than differences. Both rings, for example, are made from lightweight titanium, which allows for a comfortable fit. Oura offers more finishes than RingConn, but both offer a similar feel when worn. Additionally, both rings offer up to seven days of battery life and send alerts to your smartphone when they need to be recharged. Officially, Oura is fully circular, while Ringconn is more like a squircle, although they feel about the same on the finger.
The rings are safe to wear while showering and swimming, but not while scuba diving or submerging for more than 12 hours. Oura can withstand water pressure up to 330 feet, while the RingConn’s maximum is 165 feet.
Again, in terms of features, these products are surprisingly similar. Both are great at tracking sleep and daily activities and tracking heart rate data. Oura offers resting heart rate and heart rate variability tracking, body temperature monitoring, calorie monitoring, blood oxygen level monitoring, and cardiovascular age tracking. It also tracks steps and other activities. On the other hand, RingConn also offers sleep tracking, heart rate and heart rate variability monitoring, calorie tracking, oxygen saturation measurement, and daily activity monitoring.
After wearing these rings together for almost two weeks, I didn’t see any significant difference in results. I’m not surprised by this, but it’s good to know.
What I Learned Using the RingConn Smart Ring
It’s easy to get caught up in the details and overanalyze technology products when it comes to them. In this process, it is possible to lose sight of what matters most to the average person. Before comparing the Oura and RingConn smart rings, I thought smart rings were useful, but not as useful as smart watches. Feature by feature, this could still be correct. And yet, what competent ring developers, in general, bring to the table should not be discounted. As such, I have a new appreciation for what they offer.
Whether you’re talking about Oura or RingConn, both track essential health and wellness data. They give users real-time insight into how their body is working and what improvements are needed, and they do it in a device much smaller than a smartwatch.
These products have a few differences that are worth considering. The Oura app is essential to the Oura Ring experience, providing detailed analytics and insights from ring data. It is often praised for its intuitive design, which simplifies complex data and motivates users to take more interest in their health data.
The RingConn app also plays a crucial role in user interaction with the device, but tends to prioritize real-time feedback more. The app is designed to provide practical advice and lifestyle tips, making it more convenient for users who prefer an active orientation.
So which is better? There’s no denying that Oura offers a more comprehensive experience. However, this complexity often made me avoid checking the Oura app to see where things stood. However, it was when I was able to compare and contrast that I realized what was stopping me from visiting the Oura app more often.
The RingConn app’s more basic layout might not make it one better solution. Still, it might be more appealing to daily users who prefer to take a look at their daily health data rather than in-depth analysis.
Two other points come into play here. Oura costs more and requires a monthly subscription to unlock most of its features, including detailed health information, personalized recommendations, and advanced features. RingConn doesn’t require a subscription to access all of the data it provides.
Move forward
In the coming days, Samsung will finally launch the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The long-talked-about and mocked ring is expected to compete with Oura. Like RingConn, it may not require a subscription. The Galaxy Ring’s release is expected to shake up the market, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in six months, a year, and beyond. Increased competition will undoubtedly lead to great innovation, although not all players will survive this journey.
I haven’t yet decided which smart ring to wear with my Apple Watch. The final decision could be where Oura and RingConn take their products in the coming months. Either way, I have a new appreciation for the emerging smart ring market, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next.