I recently had the opportunity to take off my Oura ring and try a more affordable alternative. What I discovered changed my mind about the whole concept of the fitness and wellness ring for the better.
I was wearing an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and a third generation Oura Ring. I could pretend I’m superhuman and I’m about to compete in the Paris Olympics and so I’m carrying two devices that offer many of the same features… but that’s not true. Instead, I’m a geek who writes about the tech industry and likes to try new things; it’s so simple.
So when I was given the chance to try out another smart ring, I didn’t turn it down.
A contender worth discussing
I recently got to try out a competitor to Oura called the RingConn Smart Ring. I hadn’t heard of RingConn until its PR team contacted me, and even then I didn’t know what to expect. I agreed to review the product, but I knew that Digital Trends had already done so earlier this year. However, this did not convince me and I was challenged to write this article comparing Oura and RingConn. An in-depth comparison of these two wearables has already been done. Rather than repeating, I concentrate on what it’s like to switch from one ring to another.
It should be noted that these rings have much more in common than differences. Both rings, for example, are made of lightweight titanium, providing a comfortable fit. The Oura offers more coverage than the RingConn, but both feel similar when worn. In addition, both rings offer up to seven days of battery life and send alerts to the smartphone when they need to be recharged. Officially, the Oura is all round, while the Ringconn is more like a squirrel, although they feel about the same on the finger.
The rings are safe to wear while showering and swimming, but not while diving or submerged for more than 12 hours. The Oura can withstand water pressure up to 330 feet, while the RingConn maxes out at 165 feet.
Again, in terms of features, these products are strikingly similar. Both are excellent 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, the 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 nearly two weeks, I didn’t notice any significant differences in results. I’m not surprised by that, 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 tech products when you’re looking at them. In this process, it is possible to lose sight of what is most important to the average person. Before I compared the Oura and RingConn smart rings, I thought smart rings were useful, but not as much as smart watches. Feature by feature, this may still be correct. Still, what competent ring developers generally bring to the table shouldn’t be dismissed. As such, I have a new appreciation for what they provide.
Whether you’re talking about Oura or RingConn, both track basic health and wellness data. They offer users a real-time snapshot of how their body is functioning and where improvements are needed, and they do it in a much smaller device than a smartwatch.
These products offer several differences that are worth considering. The Oura app is essential to the Oura Ring experience, providing detailed analytics and insights from the ring’s data. It is often praised for its intuitive design that simplifies complex data and motivates users to engage more with their health data.
The RingConn app also plays a crucial role in the user’s interaction with the device, but tends to give more priority to real-time feedback. The app is designed to provide useful tips and lifestyle advice, making it more practical for users who prefer active guidance.
So which one is better? There’s no denying that Oura provides a more comprehensive experience. However, this complexity often made me skip checking the Oura app to see where things stood. However, when I was able to compare and contrast, I realized what was holding me back from visiting the Oura app more often.
RingConn’s more basic application presentation may not Better answer. Still, it might be more appealing to casual users who prefer a glance at their daily health data instead of a deep dive.
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 does not require a subscription to access all the data it provides.
I’m moving forward
In the coming days, Samsung will finally launch the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The long rumored and teased ring is expected to compete with Oura. Like RingConn, it may not require a subscription. The launch 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 major innovations, although not every player will survive the race.
I still haven’t decided which smart ring to wear next to my Apple Watch. The final decision may be where Oura and RingConn take their products in the coming months. Regardless, I have a newfound appreciation for the emerging smart ring market and can’t wait to see where it goes next.
