Expert Comparison: Ringconn vs Oura (2024)

Are you looking for the best fitness tracker, but want one that’s not so in-your-face? We totally understand on-wrist calls and push notifications can be a bit much. That’s why we like a fitness ring—it has no screen, but it’s still an excellent way to benefit from the latest tech without it being front and center in your life. 

If a passive health tracking experience sounds more like you, this comparison will put two popular fitness rings side by side: RingConn vs Oura. Let’s get tracking! 

Oura Ring

Product Highlights

• Measures your heart rate, oxygen saturation levels, and skin temperature
• Over time, it can track your sleep patterns and suggest improvements
• Battery lasts 7 days and can fully charge in 20 minutes
• Can help you find your balance between activity and recovery
• Water resistant up to 100 m

Pros

• Long battery life
• Fast charging
• No membership required

Cons

• May develop scratches with daily wear
• Limited statistics without membership
• Comparably expensive

If you are looking for a fitness tracker that is more subtle and sleek than a traditional wrist tracker, the Oura Ring is a great alternative option.

RingConn

Product Highlights

• Smart ring that tracks sleep and activity 
• Included: Smart ring, USB-C cable, quick guide, manual, and portable charging case  
• Available in 3 colors

Pros

• 7 day battery life
• No subscription fee
• 24/7 monitoring with 7 days of offline storage
• Portable charging case with capacity for 18 full recharges
• Compatible with Apple Health and Google Fit

Cons

• Expensive
• Only 1-year warranty
• Customer reviews had issues with linking to Google Fit

The RingConn Smart Ring is a ring-style fitness tracker that tracks sleep and activity. The initial price is expensive but the RingConn does not require a monthly subscription to use the device. Customers liked the ring and found the information useful. Some customers had issues with connectivity, particularly linking with Google Fit.

RingConn vs Oura Ring: Comparison Chart

Quick Look: RingConn vs Oura Ring

The RingConn and Oura Ring are wearable, screenless devices that both made it our best fitness tracker ring roundup. Both rings are great options for people who want to track both movement and sleep without wearing something bulky (like an Apple Watch). They offer similar health metrics and have a similar battery life. 

We’ve personally tested the Oura Ring Gen 3—which we detail in our Oura Ring review—but there is a newer iteration currently available (Oura Ring 4). However, for this comparison, we used the specs from the Gen 3 model. 

Additionally, for the RingConn, the Gen 1 is featured in this comparison and is the iteration we tested. At the time of writing, the RingConn Gen 2 is on pre-order but not available for immediate purchase. 

Who Should Buy the Oura Ring

• Anyone looking to track sleep data and general fitness metrics
• People who can utilize an HSA or FSA account for this purchase 
• Exercisers who specifically want to track walking, running, and cycling 

Who Should Buy the RingConn Smart Ring

• People interested in an EMF-safe fitness tracker with airplane mode option
• Folks who want to avoid monthly subscription fees  
• Anyone who likes the flat-matte finish of RingConn

Key Similarities Between RingConn and Oura Ring 

• With either device, you’ll receive a ring sizing kit to ensure correct fit
• Both products are available on Amazon and corresponding brand websites
• Both rings are screenless fitness trackers that sync to your smartphone
• The RingConn and Oura are both waterproof fitness trackers 
• Both fitness rings are compatible with iPhone and Android users 
• Both rings can sync with the Apple Health App or Google Health 
• Both devices have a week-long battery life 
• Both rings can track health data like heart rate,  body temperature, respiratory rate, and blood oxygen levels (SpO2) 
• Neither ring has activity tracking that can detect a weight training workout

RELATED: Apple Watch Series 6 Review

Important Differences Between the RingConn and Oura Ring 

• The Oura Ring has a monthly subscription fee of $5.99 to access all your metrics
• The RingConn has fewer colors and finishes to choose from
• RingConn is less expensive up front and is totally subscription-free 
• The Oura Ring uses an accelerometer to sense sleep and heart rate, while the RingConn uses additional sensors (like photoplethysmography (ppg) sensors and temperature sensors) 
• The Oura Ring can detect and track walking, running, and cycling 

Fitness Tracking

Neither fitness tracker is going to blow you away with workout tracking capabilities, especially if you lift weights, because neither device has the ability to detect a lifting session. It’s likely you’ll need to remove the ring for heavy lifts anyway. 

The RingConn pretty much just detects your activity without categorizing it into a certain type of exercise. The RingConn will automatically detect and track your daily steps, calories burned, standing hours, and overall activity intensity. 

The Oura Ring will track your steps, calories, distance, and time. However, it can detect and track three main activities: walking, running, and cycling. So if you want to differentiate between your cardio workouts versus general activity, the Oura might be the better option. 

RELATED: Whoop Strap 4.0 Review

Health and Wellness Metrics

In addition to tracking movement and general exercise, both devices can track your vital signs: heart rate, skin temperature, and breathing (via blood oxygen levels). Both the RingConn and Oura Ring track your heart rate during exercise and at rest, in addition to heart rate variability (HRV). 

On both devices, there are also measurements for stress levels, especially when your heart rate deviates from your average when not exercising. 

RELATED: Best Fitbit Devices 

Sleep Tracking 

RingConn and Oura Ring both use built-in accelerometers to measure vibration and movement to detect how long you’re in bed and the type of sleep you’re getting. Upon waking, both apps provide sleep notifications and a breakout of how much time you spent awake versus in a light sleep, deep sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep (REM). 

If you choose the Oura Ring, keep in mind the app will provide more detailed information on sleep if you’re a paying subscriber. Without the subscription, you’ll get a sleep score without a deep dive into each sleep cycle. 

As part of your sleep data algorithm, both devices also track your heart rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen consumption overnight. In 2020, the Journal of Medical Internet Research¹ published a study that found the Oura Ring to perform just as well as medical-grade sleep trackers for both sleep quality and overall time. 

RELATED: Best Garmin Fitness Trackers

Cycle Tracking

Oura can track your body temperature changes to detect fluctuations in your cycle in addition to the ability to manually enter your menstrual cycles (and symptoms). Oura can also sync with the Natural Cycles app, an FDA-approved tool for non-hormonal birth control. 

The RingConn we tested didn’t have cycle tracking features, but the RingConn Gen 2 will have similar features for menstrual cycle tracking and cycle forecasting.

Battery Life

RingConn and the Oura Ring both have a seven-day battery life, which our testers confirm is accurate. Some Oura Rings have GPS settings (like the Horizon model) which could drain the battery more quickly than without. 

The Oura charger only takes about 30 minutes, while the RingConn takes closer to 90 minutes to reach a full charge. However, the RingConn has a portable charging case that makes it easy to charge on the go. 

Company Policies

RingConn and Oura have a 1-year policy, which we find is pretty standard for wearable fitness tech. RingConn has a short 14-day return window, while Oura has a standard 30-day return policy. Both companies have general enquiry forms to contact the company. However, if you purchase a wearable tracker on Amazon, you’ll be subject to Amazon’s return policies. 

Ringconn vs Oura Ring: Final Thoughts

RingConn and Oura Ring made it to the top of our list for the best smart rings. We think both are quality options for general health tracking like step count, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. 

If you want to have more workout tracking abilities, go with the Oura Ring. The Oura Ring can track three types of movement (walking, running, cycling) whereas the RingConn just detects general movement. However, neither device is an excellent option for athletes who want to track advanced metrics like speed, pace, running splits, repetitions, or lifting load. 

Ringconn vs Oura: FAQs

References

1. Asgari Mehrabadi, M., Azimi, I., Sarhaddi, F., Axelin, A., Niela-Vilén, H., Myllyntausta, S., Stenholm, S., Dutt, N., Liljeberg, P., & Rahmani, A. M. (2020). Sleep Tracking of a Commercially Available Smart Ring and Smartwatch Against Medical-Grade Actigraphy in Everyday Settings: Instrument Validation Study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(10), e20465.

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Lauren Strong, CPT

Lauren is an NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer working with clients of all ages and skill levels. She specializes in coaching the squat, bench, and deadlift and enjoys introducing beginners to barbell training. Before becoming certified, she worked in marketing roles after graduating from the University of Maine with a BA in Journalism. Writing for Garage Gym Reviews blends her two passions: writing and lifting. Lauren spends her leisure time in the kitchen, reading fiction, and taking nature walks. She’s also an avid downhill skier, learning how to ski when she was just two years old. She lives in Maine with her husband and two cats.

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