Affordable Smart Rings Compared: Ultrahuman vs Oura vs BoAt Ring
Smart rings have quietly stepped out of sci-fi movies and onto our fingers. In 2025, they’re no longer luxury gimmicks — they’re legit tools for tracking sleep, recovery, heart rate, and stress, all without the bulk of a smartwatch.
I tested three of the most talked-about smart rings under $300: the Ultrahuman Ring Air, Oura Ring Gen 3, and the new budget-friendly BoAt Smart Ring. Here’s how they stack up in real-world use.
💍 1. Ultrahuman Ring Air – Best for Fitness Performance
- Price: ~$349
- Key Features: HRV, sleep score, circadian alignment, metabolic tracking
- Battery Life: 5–6 days
- App Quality: Excellent (motivational + educational insights)
- Compatibility: Android & iOS
Emma’s Take:
This ring surprised me — in a good way. It gives you deep health insights like glucose zone timing, movement index, and recovery tracking. It’s clearly built for serious biohackers and athletes, but the app breaks it all down in plain English. Plus, it’s light as air, and looks sharp in matte black.
Verdict: The best choice for fitness-focused users and gym rats.
💍 2. Oura Ring Gen 3 – Best for Sleep & Recovery
- Price: $299 + $5.99/month subscription
- Key Features: Sleep staging, readiness score, period prediction
- Battery Life: 4–7 days
- App Quality: Clean UI, accurate trends
- Compatibility: Android & iOS
Emma’s Take:
Oura is still the OG in this space, and it shows. Sleep tracking is its superpower — the readiness score actually helped me notice sleep debt before I felt it. The only downside? The monthly fee. But if sleep is your health focus, this is the most polished option.
Verdict: Ideal for wellness-oriented users who prioritize rest and recovery.
💍 3. BoAt Smart Ring – Best Budget Pick
- Price: ~$120 (India release)
- Key Features: Heart rate, SpO2, steps, gestures, IPX7 rating
- Battery Life: ~5 days
- App Quality: Basic but functional
- Compatibility: Android & iOS
Emma’s Take:
It’s not as deep or data-rich as the others, but the BoAt Smart Ring is super impressive for the price. You get gesture control for music and camera, solid heart rate data, and sleek build quality. It’s still early days — the app is minimal — but this is a major win for budget wearables.
Verdict: Best entry point if you’re curious but not ready to splurge.
🧠 Emma’s Takeaway
If I had to pick:
- Best all-rounder for athletes: 🥇 Ultrahuman Ring Air
- Best for sleep + wellness: 😴 Oura Ring Gen 3
- Best for budget and beginners: 💰 BoAt Smart Ring
Smart rings aren’t here to replace your smartwatch (yet), but for 24/7 wellness tracking in a tiny, discreet package? They’re finally worth the hype — as long as you pick the right one for your lifestyle.
