Once rumoured to hit the market from Apple, talk of an upcoming smart ring has grabbed the imagination of techheads, thanks to the prospect of health tracking, NFC payments and much more for money – all in keeping with the functionality of Samsung’s Galaxy Ring. With so many products on its launch calendar, though, the company has paused its ring project and has to keep fans guessing about whether (or when) it will come to life.
We don’t know exactly what the Apple Ring would have looked like, but we’ve got a few smart rings with similar functions. Here are some of the best alternatives that might meet your needs:
1. Oura Ring: writes The Health and Wellness Expert
- What It Does: The Oura Ring is well known for its accuracy when it comes to tracking sleep, physical activity and wellness metrics in general. Realistically, this thing tracks your heart rate, body temperature, activity levels, your readiness for the day, everything.
- Pros: Compact design, great for sleep monitoring, with accurate health metrics.
- Cons: The long term costs are more as you’ll need to subscribe every month to access other features.
- Best for: Users seeking sleep and wellness metrics and more health-conscious.
2. Samsung Galaxy Ring: The Fitness Tracker
- What It Does: The smart ring from Samsung has the same functionality as Oura, with sleeping tracking, heart rate monitoring and activity tracking capabilities. And it pairs easily with Samsung Health to create an all around fitness experience.
- Pros: Accurate tracking, integrates with Samsung’s ecosystem, and requires no subscription.
- Cons: Only for those who own Samsung devices, and may not have some of the more sophisticated features available in other smart rings.
- Best for: Users of Samsung devices searching for an affordable, not subscription based option.
3. Amazfit Helio Ring: Affordable and Accessible
- What It Does: Basic health and activity tracking features are provided by the Amazfit Helio Ring, which also monitors heart rate and your sleep. It’s a pretty affordable program and works great for Android and iOS users.
- Pros: No subscription, budget friendly, cross platform compatibility.
- Cons: While not as advanced in tracking as pricier options may not.
- Best for: Low budget users who want just the basics with no subscription fee.
4. Rikki Ring: The NFC Payment Option
- What It Does: The Rikki Ring, unlike the others, isn’t a fitness tracker. It’s not a card or a key, and instead is a contactless payment solution, in which you link a card to the ring, then tap it at the terminal to pay.
- Pros: Very sleek design, no battery needed, and convenient for NFC payments.
- Cons: No health tracking feature, only a payment tool.
- Best for: People looking for a fashionable and easy method to pay without having cards.
5. Other Budget-Friendly Options
In fact, there are many other smart rings out there aimed at niche markets but the Apple Ring is, for the most part, a far better device than most of these. However, established brands set the bar too high for these rings, providing simple activity tracking or a minimalist design, but rarely hitting the mark.
Why These Alternatives Matter
None of these options actually live up to the vision of what we thought an Apple Ring could be, but they have several features that could be useful for an array of use cases. From health tracking to NFC payments, and even as a fashionable piece of jeweler, there’s something here for anyone.
Who knows, maybe Apple’s smart ring is dead and gone but of course. There is the potential for new wave of inventions, perhaps even from Apple itself with a smart ring of its own. For the foreseeable future, these alternatives can help you get your tech fix without waiting for Apple to decide to make its move.
Do You Have a Smart Ring?
If you already have one of these rings (or something alternate you have in mind), feel free to share your experience in the comments. What are things that you love, and things you would like to see improved? Although we still hope for Apple version in the future let’s talk about which ring is the best for other needs.