Can a smart ring track steps and workouts?
Short answer
Yes. The Oura Ring counts steps and detects workouts automatically, but on Gen3 and newer rings only with an active membership. Samsung's Galaxy Ring detects workouts automatically once you switch on the exercise types in the Galaxy Wearable app.
Which products can do it?
- Samsung Galaxy RingYes
Samsung says the Galaxy Ring can automatically detect workouts once you turn on Auto detect and choose the exercise types in the Galaxy Wearable app.
Good to know: Samsung's support page; no subscription. Android only.
- Oura Ring 5Yes
Oura says its ring counts steps from accelerometer data and detects workouts automatically, suggesting the type, duration and intensity for you to confirm or edit.
Good to know: On Gen3 and later rings, steps and activity tracking need an active Oura membership ($5.99/month).
Why it matters
People who sleep in a ring want it to cover their daytime activity too, without also wearing a watch.
Not proven yet
How accurate ring step counts and workout detection are compared with a watch or chest strap; Oura itself says step counts differ between devices. No independent test in our sources.
How we know (5 sources)
Review of the Oura Ring 5: much smaller titanium ring, $399 (Black, Silver) to $499 for other finishes, plus $5.99/month membership that unlocks most features, so about $470 in year one. About a week of battery. Sleep and recovery analysis among the best; new blood pressure and breathing trend features have little independent validation and are not diagnostics. Not a medical device.
Read the sourceOura support, How Oura Measures Steps & Activity (last updated Oct 14, 2026): the ring uses a 3D accelerometer and recognizes step patterns within 30-second windows. Steps and activity tracking are available on Gen2, and on Gen3 or later with an active membership. Oura notes other wearables count steps differently, so numbers aren't comparable across devices.
Read the sourceOura support, Automatic Activity Detection (last updated Oct 14, 2026): the ring detects workouts and other movement and suggests time, duration, type and intensity, which you can confirm, edit or dismiss. Available on Gen2, and on Gen3 or later with an active membership.
Read the sourceGalaxy Ring vs Oura Ring 4 (last updated Aug 6, 2025): Galaxy Ring $399 with no subscription but Android only (Samsung phone for all AI features); Oura Ring 4 from $349 plus $5.99/month membership, works with iPhone and Android. Neither does detailed workout tracking on its own.
Read the sourceSamsung support, Keep track of your workouts with the Galaxy Ring (read Oct 24, 2026): the ring measures heart rate and can automatically detect workouts; you turn on Auto detect in the Galaxy Wearable app and switch on the exercise types you want detected.
Read the source
Status timeline
No status has changed since we started tracking. Every entry is dated and backed by the sources on this page.
- First recorded: In storesSamsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung says the Galaxy Ring can automatically detect workouts once you turn on Auto detect and choose the exercise types in the Galaxy Wearable app.
- First recorded: In storesOura Ring 5
Oura says its ring counts steps from accelerometer data and detects workouts automatically, suggesting the type, duration and intensity for you to confirm or edit.