I ditched my Oura ring for a cheaper smart ring, and I was amazed

I recently had the opportunity to retire my Oura ring and try a more affordable alternative. What I discovered changed my opinion on the concept of the fitness and wellness ring as a whole.

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 offered to try another smart ring, I didn’t refuse.

A competitor worth discussing

Recently, I was able to test an Oura competitor called RingConn Smart Ring. I had never heard of RingConn before its PR team contacted me, and even then I didn’t know what to expect. I agreed to test the product, but I knew that Digital Trends had already done so earlier this year. However, this didn’t convince me, and I was challenged to write this article on a comparison between Oura and RingConn. An in-depth comparison of these two connected objects has already been carried out. Instead of returning to the subject, I focus on what it’s like to go from one ring to another.

It should be noted that these rings have far more in common than differences. Both rings, for example, are made of lightweight titanium, providing a comfortable fit. Oura offers more finishes than RingConn, but both feel similar when worn. Additionally, both rings provide up to seven days of battery life and send alerts to your smartphone when they need to be recharged. Officially, Oura is entirely circular, while Ringconn looks more like a circle, 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 simultaneously for almost two weeks, I didn’t notice any significant difference in results. This doesn’t surprise me, 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 functioning and where improvements are needed, and they do it in a device that’s much smaller than a smartwatch.

These products have a few differences that are worth considering. The Oura app is central to the Oura Ring experience, providing detailed analytics and insights from the ring’s data. It’s often praised for its intuitive design, which simplifies complex data and motivates users to take a deeper dive into their health data.

The RingConn app also plays a crucial role in user interaction with the device, but tends to prioritize more real-time feedback. The app is designed to provide practical advice and lifestyle tips, making it more convenient for users who prefer active support.

So which one 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 checking the Oura app more often.

The RingConn app’s more basic layout might not make it one better solution. However, it might be more appealing to everyday users who prefer an overview of their daily health data rather than in-depth analysis.

There are two other points at 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 teased ring is expected to rival Oura. Similar to RingConn, it does not require a subscription. The release of the Galaxy Ring is expected to disrupt the market, and it will be interesting to see its impact in six months, a year and beyond. Increased competition will undoubtedly lead to great innovations, although not all players will survive.

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.