Oura Ring 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring – the ultimate guide to discreet health-tracking tech
The world of wearable tech is seriously fast-moving, and the latest smart rings are no exception, fitting seamlessly into your life to deliver clinical-grade biometric tracking. Designed to be worn discreetly day and night – without the screen distraction of a smartwatch – they provide real-time information about your sleep, activity, stress and hormones to empower your general wellbeing.
What does a smart ring do?
A more compact, screen-free version of a smartwatch, a smart ring is a powerful health-tracker worn on one of your fingers to continuously deliver data to an app. Available in different sizes to fit comfortably on your finger, the ring houses tiny sensors to measure biometrics – capturing everything from sleep patterns to heart health – and, because pulse signals are 100 times stronger than in the wrist, the data received is more accurate. In addition to this key benefit, the lightweight feel and lack of screen means smart rings also don’t disturb your sleep. Better still, they tend to have a longer battery life than a smartwatch.
Oura Ring 5 Health & Fitness Tracker Smart Ring
The latest evolution from the pioneering brand, Oura, Ring 5 is the sleekest smart ring yet; it’s 40 per cent smaller and thinner than the previous generation (the Oura Ring 4, which was loved when reviewed by our team), but it has even greater sensing power. The discreet Oura Ring 5 looks and feels like a regular ring while effortlessly delivering over 50 health metrics – including sleep, heart health and stress – with research-grade accuracy. It also boasts up to nine days of battery life, and its seamless integration with Apple Health makes it perfect for iPhone users. The all-titanium design is available in six colours; Black, Silver, Brushed Silver, Gold, Stealth and Deep Rose.
Samsung Galaxy Ring Health & Fitness Tracker Smart Ring with Galaxy AI
Ultra-light, Samsung’s Galaxy Ring gives you an AI-powered Energy Score that tells you the optimum times to put your feet up or hit the gym, while tailored wellness messages feel like having your own personal health advisor. The unique concave centre monitors everything from sleep to heart rate and hormones, and women benefit from the skin-temperature analysis to help predict menstrual cycles and fertility windows. The titanium ring is available with a black, silver or gold finish, boasts up to seven days of battery life and is water-resistant. There’s no ongoing subscription fee, however this piece of tech is only compatible with Android (sorry, iPhone fans).
Smart-ring sizing
It’s important to find out what size smart ring you need before buying one, as they don’t map onto standard UK ring sizes and can’t be adjusted later. Buy the Oura Ring 5 sizing kit or Samsung Galaxy ring sizing kit first; you’ll then receive £10 off when you buy a smart ring from that brand. Alternatively, you can get fitted at your local John Lewis store.
Smart ring FAQs
Which finger is it best to wear a smart ring on?
The index finger is recommended as it has the largest blood vessels and stable surface area for sensors to be able to give the most accurate readings.. However, many users prefer the middle finger, which still provides accurate readings and can feel more natural.
Can I wear a smart ring at the gym or while lifting weights?
You can wear it for any gym activity, however it may be more comfortable to temporarily remove a ring while lifting weights. Pulling exercises (such as deadlifts or pull-ups) can cause pressure where your ring sits, or it may interfere with your barbell or dumbbell grip.
Do I need to leave my phone connected to the ring via Bluetooth all day?
No, your ring has built-in memory to store your biometric data if Bluetooth or your phone is off. It can store several days’ worth of data and will automatically sync the information to your app whenever your phone reconnects.
Ways to pay
From 0% Klarna and Clearpay to our own John Lewis payment plans, checkout in a way that suits you. Plus, you can add an extra two years’ accidental damage cover with ProtectPlus.
