Smart Ring Buyers Guide 2026: Oura, Samsung, Ultrahuman, Circular, and More

Smart rings became a serious category in 2024 when Samsung entered a market Oura had built alone. Two years later there are six credible players, a patent war touching almost every subscription-free competitor, and three major products about to get updated at once.

Here is where every ring stands.

Oura Ring 5: Any Day Now

Works with: iPhone and Android

A document shared on Reddit this week appears to show internal launch material listing a May 28 announcement and June 4 shipping date. Oura hasn't confirmed it, but the evidence is more solid than most leaks. FCC filings from April list the ring as model OA13 and the charger as OA14. Oura's own checkout page briefly called it "Oura Ring 5" in a sizing video before correcting it back to Ring 4. The leaked document says it's smaller and more comfortable than Ring 4, with the same health tracking and subscription features. The charging case charges the ring four times. No new sensors confirmed — Oura appears to be refining existing sensors for better accuracy and longer battery, not adding new hardware.

Design: slightly more curved than Ring 4, a new Deep Rose color replacing Rose Gold, with Matte Black, Silver, and Gold continuing. Pricing wasn't in the leaked document. Oura is working toward FDA clearance for blood pressure monitoring and has a Dexcom partnership pointing at glucose monitoring, but neither is confirmed Ring 5 hardware.

As we recently covered, Oura now lets US users get a contraception prescription from a licensed clinician without leaving the app, through a partnership with Twentyeight Health. Apple Watch and Samsung's Galaxy Ring track cycles too, but neither has a clinical care pipeline built into the product.

Samsung Galaxy Ring 2: Early 2027 Likely

Works with: Samsung Android fully · Other Android limited · No official iPhone support

Samsung's Galaxy Ring launched in July 2024 at $399 with no subscription fee, which immediately set it apart from Oura. The Ring 2 is now reportedly targeting an early 2027 release, with further news likely in July alongside its "intelligent eyewear."

Hardware upgrades leaked so far: a battery targeting 9-10 days (up from 6-7), enhanced body temperature sensors, a thinner and lighter build through reorganized internals, and improved sleep tracking. A solid-state battery is rumored but not confirmed.

At CES 2026, Samsung announced Brain Health, an AI system designed to monitor behavioral patterns associated with cognitive decline by tracking changes in speech, walking speed, and sleep over time. It’s one of the most ambitious cognitive-monitoring initiatives announced by a major wearable company, though it remains in clinical testing in South Korea and the US. Samsung says the feature will not be positioned as a medical diagnostic tool at launch, and no FDA clearance has been announced.

Read our full piece: Samsung's Galaxy Ring 2 Was Built to Spot Dementia Before You Do.

RingConn Gen 3: Shipping Now

Works with: iPhone and Android

RingConn's Gen 3 launched at CES 2026 at $299 with two features no other mainstream ring has: blood pressure tracking and a vibration motor that taps your finger for health alerts. Our smart ring battery life guide puts the Gen 3 at the top for value, with a claimed 14-day battery. Plan for 15-25% less in practice. RingConn settled its Oura patent lawsuit in October 2025 by agreeing to pay royalties, so US stock is stable.

Ultrahuman Ring Pro: Shipping Now

Works with: iPhone and Android

Ultrahuman started US shipping on May 15 after clearing Oura's patent claims through a redesigned ring. The Ring Pro claims 15-day battery life. An onboard dual-core processor handles AI analysis directly on the ring rather than sending everything to your phone. AFib detection is available through the PowerPlugs platform, powered by FDA-cleared FibriCheck technology — though Ultrahuman labels PowerPlugs as general wellness tools, not medical features.

No subscription fee for core features. The ring alone is $399. The $479 bundle adds the Pro Charging Case, which extends combined battery to a claimed 45 days. See how those numbers hold up in our smart ring battery life guide.

Circular Ring 2: Big Medical Claims

Works with: iPhone and Android

Circular Ring 2 is the only smart ring with FDA-cleared ECG and FDA-cleared AFib detection. You place your index finger on the ring's surface for 40 seconds and it records your heart's electrical activity using an advanced PPG sensor. Blood pressure is coming in a future software update at no extra cost. No subscription fee. Battery lasts up to 8 days. Starts at $379 for matte black, up to $549 for gold and rose gold.

Although Circular has some of the strongest medical ambitions in the smart ring market, the company has also faced criticism over app reliability, delays, and inconsistent execution in earlier products. Buyers should weigh the FDA-cleared features against the platform’s still-maturing software experience.

If you need a ring that does actual cardiac monitoring backed by FDA clearance, this is the only one.

Dreame Smart Rings: From Robots to Rings

Works with: iPhone and Android (full compatibility not confirmed for all models)

Dreame makes robot vacuums. At CES 2026 it launched three smart rings and followed up with a San Francisco event in April.

Battery life around a week across all three. US pricing not confirmed. RingConn Gen 3 and Dreame's AI Haptic Ring are the only mainstream rings with haptic alerts.

Apple: Don't Hold Your Breath

Apple has filed ring-related patents since 2019 and has reportedly surveyed Apple Watch users about smart rings. Mark Gurman has reported repeatedly that Apple has no active plans to build one because it would take sales away from Apple Watch. Some analysts still expect 2026. Most don't. The Apple Watch is doing the job Apple wants done on your wrist.

The Patent War Is Shaping What You Can Buy

As we recently wrote about, the wearable market is literally suing itself right now.

The Galaxy Ring 2, Amazfit Helio Ring, Reebok Smart Ring, and Luna Ring 2 all face potential US import bans before the end of the year. When you're buying a smart ring in 2026, the brand's legal status matters as much as the sensor count.

For the full picture of how wearables are shifting from passive trackers to something that acts on what they find, see our piece Your Wearable Stopped Watching. Now It's Doing Something About It.

Other Rings Worth Knowing

Which One to Buy?

The Galaxy Ring does not officially work with the iPhone, though unofficial hacks and workaround setups exist for users willing to get their hands dirty.