Can smart rings reshape wearable tech? Here’s what we think

What are smart rings?

Tiny yet mighty, smart rings pack impressive technology into a small ring-sized device. They can monitor health stats, control other devices, and much more, much like their bulkier smartwatch counterparts. Equipped with advanced sensors, smart rings track metrics including heart rate, blood oxygen levels, sleep quality, steps, and even stress levels. The data is then viewable on a connected smartphone app, allowing users to analyse trends and progress towards health goals.

Beyond wellness tracking, some smart rings add convenience through features like gesture controls and haptic feedback for notifications. For example, a simple flick of the finger lets you do things like dim smart lights or cue up a playlist. When a call or message comes in, a subtle buzz on the finger lets you know without having to grab your phone.

Notice how the sensors are only visible from the inner side on the Oura Ring. (Image: Oura)

And the coolest part? Smart rings are virtually indistinguishable from their less functional, ornamental counterparts – at least when you’ve got them on. While their ‘underbelly’ may be packed with sensors, the outside is typically smooth, uninterrupted metal.

What can smart rings do?

The biggest perk offered by smart rings is their constant health monitoring, which is designed such that it requires barely any user intervention, unlike smartwatches and fitness trackers. The Oura Ring is perhaps the most popular example that lets you keep tabs on your health and wellness. There’s also the Happy Ring, which goes a step further by offering personalised breathing exercises and guided meditations to help users improve their mood.

The companion app for the Oura Ring displaying important health metrics. (Image: Oura)

But health tracking is only one of the many functions. Another convenient feature is contactless payment. Rings like the McLear RingPay let you link your bank account or card to the ring. Then, when you’re shopping at a store with a compatible point-of-sale system, you can simply hover your hand over the terminal to complete a payment. Some rings also allow you to make payments by tapping your phone against the ring, providing more flexibility.

Smart home control is another popular use case. Smart rings typically include gesture recognition, so you can perform gestures like twisting or tapping the ring to do things like turn off lights, adjust your thermostat, unlock doors, and more. Some companies are even exploring using rings to start your car.

For security, smart rings can also function as access badges, letting you unlock doors and gates with a simple touch of your finger.

What are the downsides to a smart ring?

For one, their tiny form factor means there’s no display at all. Interactions are therefore limited, with smart rings best used as a complementary device to your smartphone rather than a standalone gadget. Getting the right fit can also prove challenging when ordering online, as rings need to match your exact finger size. Companies try to alleviate this issue by providing sizing kits prior to purchase, but it adds time and hassle to the buying process, with no guarantee of a perfect fit.

Sizing kit for the Ultrahuman ring. (Image: Ultrahuman)

How are smart rings different from fitness trackers?

While fitness trackers offer a much wider range of health tracking capabilities and metrics, smart rings provide some key advantages that could allow them to collect more comprehensive and accurate data over an extended period of time. Because of their tiny, miniaturised form factor, smart rings are designed to be worn comfortably 24 hours a day, even while sleeping, without getting in the way or causing discomfort. This continuous wearing means that smart rings are more likely to remain on the user’s finger at all times, collecting health data day and night.

So even though smart rings may track fewer health metrics at the moment, their prolonged and uninterrupted contact with the user’s body provides the potential for superior long-term health data collection and pattern analysis, allowing them to keep users better informed about irregularities in their health.

What’s Samsung cooking with its Galaxy Ring?

The Samsung Galaxy Ring from its teaser. (Image: Samsung)

Samsung’s Galaxy Ring is set to launch later this year. No smart ring has really hit the mainstream yet, but if Samsung can pack comprehensive tracking and seamless connectivity into a competitively priced design, it could be the gadget that finally makes smart rings take off. Once that happens, we may see smart rings explode in popularity, with cheap Chinese offerings perhaps eventually driving mainstream adoption – just like affordable fitness trackers did.

The real game-changer will come when blood pressure and glucose monitoring tech matures enough to be included safely. Companies like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei are all working on it. Once ready, expect to see these lifesaving features in rings too. For diabetics, that would be huge – no more finger pricking to check blood sugar, since rings stay on 24/7. By enabling constant real-time monitoring of blood pressure and glucose levels, smart rings could become indispensable wearables for millions who depend on keeping close tabs on these vital health metrics.

The Luna smart ring can deliver up to 7 days of battery life. (Image: Noise)

In the meantime, a couple of Indian brands have actually beaten more mainstream brands at their game. Models like the boAt Smart Ring or Noise’s Luna Ring boast a boatload of functions, although they do cost significantly more than fitness trackers offering similar functionality.