When a celebrity credits their glowing skin to chugging water and getting 8 hours of sleep, it might raise a few eyebrows, but there’s some truth to it. While I have aced the water intake (for now), sleep is where I need a little extra assistance. Lucky for me, we live in the era of the smart ring!
Apart from being an all-rounder (quite literally) in the health and wellness department, smart rings pull a special focus on sleep and recovery. If you, too, are looking to better your sleep schedule and quality, look no further. Being a bit of a gadget geek myself, I have curated a list of the 5 best smart ring sleep trackers in the market to help you make your decision easier.
1. Oura Gen3 Ring
Sleep metrics that Oura tracks:
- Sleep Score
- Total Sleep
- Time in Bed
- Sleep Efficiency
- Restfulness
- Sleep Stages
- Sleep Latency
- Movement During Sleep
- Nap Detection
- Resting Heart Rate
- Heart Rate Variability
- SpO2
- Breathing Regularity
I’ve tried several smart rings over the years, but the one that has stuck with me and helped me ride out the storm is the Oura Ring. This sleek, silver band has single-handedly helped me quit binge-watching Netflix and midnight snacking while being super comfortable to sleep in.
I wake up to an in-depth analysis with sleep stages, time it took for me to fall asleep, efficiency, and much more. Oura introduced sleep tracking in 2013, and its accuracy has been researched extensively, showing a range between 75.5% for light sleep and 90.6% for REM sleep. Oura ring was also deemed highly accurate, detecting sleep correctly 94.4% to 94.5% of the time.
The data seems pretty accurate pertaining to the time I fell asleep and woke up; the stages are something no one can really judge the accuracy of. Overall, I got the hang of how much total sleep results in the most productive day for me personally. Pretty much the best sleep-tracking device I have tried so far.
Compatibility: iOS 15 and higher, Android 9.0 and higher
Battery life: Up to 7 Days
Price: Starts at $299
Subscription: Optional, $5.99/Month
Comfort: 8.5/10
My Sleep Tracking Rating: 9/10
2. Ultrahuman Ring AIR
Sleep metrics that Ultrahuman AIR tracks:
- Sleep Index
- Timing
- Sleep Stages
- Sleep Efficiency
- Time in Bed
- Total Sleep
- Temperature
- Restfulness
- Consistency
- HR Drop
- Restoration Time
- Movement During Sleep
- Resting Heart Rate
- Sleep Debt
- Morning Alertness
- Tossing and Turning
Now, this almost feels like a dupe for Oura, but it isn’t necessarily cheaper, product-wise. The good part about the Ultrahuman is the ‘no subscription’ model. However, the recent additions of ‘PowerPlugs’ have a few features that are paid, such as AFib detection and Cardio Adaptability.
Coming to the sleep-tracking ability of the Ultrahuman AIR, I like how each element in the app is accompanied by a clear explanation, with advice ranging from simple to genuinely helpful. It showcases sleep stages, skin temperature, HRV, sleep score, etc. The metrics are insightful, but the tracking is not always the best.
There have been a few inconsistencies in my sleep data, such as tracking naps at the time I was working. The total sleep was also a tad off at times, but overall, for a no-subscription model, Ultrahuman sure comes close to Oura.
Compatibility: iOS 15 and higher, Android 6.0 and higher
Battery Life: Up to 6 Days
Price: $349
Subscription: no Subscription (A Few Power Plug Features Paid)
Comfort: 8.5/10
My Sleep Tracking Rating: 7/10
3. Prevention Circul+
Sleep metrics Prevention Circul+ tracks:
- Sleep Duration
- Sleep Stages
- Detailed HRV Report
- Temperature Trend
- Latency
- Resting Heart Rate Updated Per Second
- SpO2 Updated Per Second
- Sleep Apnea Analysis
- ODI (Oxygen Desaturation Index)
The Circul+ ring is not something I would normally reach for, given the look and feel of the product. But with FDA-approved blood oxygen sensing, it was worth trying out its performance. The accuracy is undoubtedly reliable.
The reports are detailed. However, I tried to sync the data to my Apple Health, and even though the claims were there, I was unable to get the data to my Health app. The sleep stage data requires a minimum of 4 hours of sleep, and the reports are highly informative.
The one thing I felt the Circul+ lacks though, is the guidance on how to improve these underperforming metrics and overall health. The other thing is the design– the ring is pretty uncomfortable to wear at night because of its bulky form. Even my finger could not bend entirely while it was on and comfort is a major factor for me while choosing a sleep tracking device.
Compatibility: iOS and Android
Battery Life: Up to 16 Hours with Continuous Monitoring
Price: $299
Subscription: No Subscription
Comfort: 4/10
My Sleep Tracking Rating: 9/10
4. RingConn Ring
Sleep metrics RingConn tracks:
- Sleep Score
- Nap Detection
- Sleep Stages
- Total Time Asleep
- Time in Bed
- Efficiency
- HR and HRV
- Temperature
- SpO2
- Sleep Reports
- Latency
- Sleep Goal Gap
- Sleep Time Ratio
- Time Awake Ratio
- Sleep Stability
- Movement During Sleep
The RingConn has pros and cons. Firstly, it’s comfortable and sleek to wear to bed comfortably but the sensor lights are so bright that it is weirdly noticeable. If you’re someone who likes to sleep in a dark room and gets disturbed by even a little light, this ring may not be for you unless your hand is constantly inside the blanket.
The sleep tracking metrics are at par with the industry leader, Oura, but the accuracy needs improvement. It detects naps at odd times and the sleep score is almost always positive, even after a very restless night.
The silver lining lies with it’s cost and the no subscription model, with hopes an improved accuracy with the roll out of RingConn Gen 2, currently in the crowd funding phase.
Compatibility: Apple Health and Google Fit
Battery Life: Up to 7 Days
Price: $279
Subscription: No Subscription
Comfort: 8/10
My Sleep Tracking Rating: 6/10
5. Amazfit Helio Ring
Sleep metrics Amazfit Helio Ring tracks:
- Sleep Stages
- Resting Heart Rate
- HRV
- Recovery Time
- Daytime Naps
- Sleep Breathing Quality
- Sleep Score
- Zepp Aura (Trial, Extended via Subscription in Select Regions)
- Apnea Risk Profile
- Daytime Sleepiness Risk Profile
- RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome) Risk Profile
- Insomnia Risk Profile
Right off the bat, the Amazfit Helio ring’s design is beautiful. Unlike the standard bands that are available, the ring has a dotted design all over, making it stand out. As for sleep tracking, the Helio ring, like most sleep trackers in the market, provides a good, detailed sleep report every morning with sleep stages, duration, HRV, RHR, and more.
Where this sleep tracker draws focus is the breathing quality, which it uses to detect signs of abnormal patterns and, therefore, detects sleep-related risk profiles. It also tracks if I woke up in the middle of the night and the duration for the same.
Additionally, I love the audio playlists for when I have a hard time falling asleep. All this with a free trial of the Zepp Aura app, offering deeper insights into my sleep cycle, powered by AI.
Another cool feature is I can see how my sleep quality compares to others who use the Helio ring. Like my REM sleep one day was normal and longer than 52% of others. It was almost always correct in noting the total sleep time, barring a few days. However, the resting heart rate and HRV were off by almost 10% compared to other trackers, which makes me question its accuracy.
Although the ring has the ability to track various metrics that others don’t provide, sleep tracking is the reason why people opt for smart rings as opposed to other wearables. Therefore, the accuracy when you boast such features is necessary to be spot-on. I truly hope they improve this in the next updates.
Compatibility: iOS 14 and higher, Android 7.0 and higher
Battery Life: Up to 4 Days
Price: $299.99
Subscription: Optional, Zepp Aura – $69.99/year, Zepp Fitness – $19.99 for 6 Months
Comfort: 8/10
My Sleep Tracking Rating: 6/10
Frequently Asked Questions
Wrap Up
Investing in the right smart ring will indefinitely lead to a better sleep cycle. Trust me, I am a live example. Whether you prioritize sleep tracking, design, or price, there is a smart ring available for you.
My guide above will help you unlock better sleep and a more productive, energized self. With the right data and insights into your sleep at your fingertips, you will be one step closer to optimizing your health.
