Smart rings: what they can really do
Smart rings are the quiet alternative to a watch, mostly bought for sleep tracking. The questions people ask are about the real cost, phone compatibility and accuracy.
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Every product at a glance
| Product | Where it stands | In one line |
|---|---|---|
| Oura Ring 5Oura | Smaller smart ring with strong sleep tracking. $399 and up, plus $5.99/month. | |
| Samsung Galaxy RingSamsung | Smart ring with no subscription, for Android phones. $399. |
Labels: In stores. How we label
What people ask
Do I need a subscription?
For Oura, effectively yes: most features sit behind a $5.99 monthly membership, which makes a $399 Oura Ring 5 about $470 in year one. Samsung's Galaxy Ring has no subscription.
Sources: [1] BGR, [2] Tom's Guide
Does it work with an iPhone?
Oura works with iPhone and Android. The Galaxy Ring needs an Android phone, and a Samsung phone for all its AI features.
Sources: [2] Tom's Guide
How long does the battery last?
About a week. BGR got around a week from the Oura Ring 5, and notes the Galaxy Ring lasts around seven days.
Sources: [1] BGR
Can a ring measure blood pressure?
Not like a cuff. Oura's new blood pressure feature shows overnight trends, not readings, and BGR notes it has little independent validation yet. Oura says the ring is not a medical device.
Sources: [1] BGR
Guides
What can they do?
- Question · Smart rings
Can a smart ring track your sleep without a watch?
Yes. Rings from Oura and Samsung track sleep, heart rate and recovery for about a week per charge. Oura needs a monthly membership; Samsung's ring needs an Android phone.
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Start with your problem
How we know (2 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 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 source