Best Smart Rings of 2026
The Oura Ring 5 is the best smart ring, but it needs a $5.99/month membership. The RingConn Gen 2 Air is the best no-subscription pick at $199, and the Galaxy Ring is for Samsung phone owners.
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Quick answer
The Oura Ring 5 is the best smart ring, but it needs a $5.99/month membership. The RingConn Gen 2 Air is the best no-subscription pick at $199, and the Galaxy Ring is for Samsung phone owners. Best overall: Oura Ring 5, $399. Best without a subscription: RingConn Gen 2 Air, $199. Best for Samsung phones: Samsung Galaxy Ring, from $299.99.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Oura Ring 5 | most people | $399 + membership |
| Best without a subscription | RingConn Gen 2 Air | no subscription | $199 |
| Best for Samsung phones | Samsung Galaxy Ring | Samsung phones | From $299.99 at Samsung / Best Buy (Nov 2026 check) |
This list is built from PCMag’s[1] smart ring picks (updated September 22, 2026) and maker pricing pages, with prices checked November 2026. If you’d rather wear something on your wrist, see best fitness trackers.
Which should you buy? Our quick picks
How do they compare?
| Ring | Price | Battery (PCMag / maker) | Subscription | Phones | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oura Ring 5 | $399 (silver, black); $499 other finishes | 6–9 days | $6/mo or $70/yr for most insights | iOS and Android | Most people |
| RingConn Gen 2 Air | $199 | Up to 10 days | None | iOS and Android | No subscription |
| Samsung Galaxy Ring | From $299.99 (Samsung) | Up to 7 days | None | Android | Samsung phones |
| RingConn Gen 2 | $299 | — | None | — | Sleep apnea monitoring |
| Oura Ring 4 | $349 | — | Same as Ring 5 | — | A cheaper Oura |
The picks in detail
1. Oura Ring 5
Best for: most peoplePCMag’s[1] Editors’ Choice and best overall smart ring. It’s thinner than the Ring 4, lasts over 10 days in PCMag’s testing and works with iPhone and Android. Most insights need an Oura membership ($5.99 a month or $69.99 a year per PCMag); without it you only see limited scores.
Price (Nov 2026): $399 + membership Source
Pros
- Thinnest design PCMag tested
- Best sleep tracking
- iPhone and Android
Cons
- Membership needed for most insights
- No GPS for athletes
2. RingConn Gen 2 Air
Best for: no subscriptionPCMag’s[1] most affordable pick: $199, no subscription, and about 10.5 days of battery in testing. Sleep tracking is detailed; workout tracking is minimal, app syncing can be slow and heart-rate readings were sometimes inaccurate in PCMag’s tests.
Price (Nov 2026): $199 Source
Pros
- No subscription
- Affordable
- Up to 10 days
Cons
- Limited workout tracking
- Some inaccurate heart-rate readings (PCMag)
3. Samsung Galaxy Ring
Best for: Samsung phonesPCMag’s[1] pick for Samsung users: no monthly fee, pairs with recent Galaxy watches, and lasted about 6–6.5 days in testing. It works with most Android phones but is best with a Samsung handset for snore tracking and AI insights.
Price (Nov 2026): From $299.99 at Samsung / Best Buy (Nov 2026 check) Source
Pros
- No subscription
- Works with Galaxy Watch
- Cycle tracking
Cons
- Android only
- Best with a Samsung phone
- Accuracy limits without a Samsung phone (PCMag)
4. RingConn Gen 2
Best for: sleep apnea monitoringRingConn’s titanium Gen 2 sits above the Air on RingConn’s site and adds more health metrics (including sleep apnea and VO2 max claims on the maker page), still with no subscription. PCMag’s[1] tested pick in this lineup is the Gen 2 Air.
Price (Nov 2026): $299 Source
Pros
- Sleep apnea monitoring
- No subscription
- Titanium
Cons
- $100 more than the Gen 2 Air
5. Oura Ring 4
Best for: a cheaper OuraPCMag[1] still recommends the Ring 4 as a value Oura: same app and membership as the Ring 5, starting around $349 (sometimes on sale). PCMag measured about a week of battery in testing.
Price (Nov 2026): $349 Source
Pros
- $50 less than the Ring 5
Cons
- Older, thicker design vs Ring 5
- Membership needed
Also considered
If you want a screen and GPS, look at a Garmin watch or one of the best smartwatches.
Two-year cost and specs (checked Nov 11, 2026)
Details from Oura's and RingConn's own pages, checked Nov 11, 2026.
- Oura Ring 5: $399, or $499 for other finishes. Titanium exterior, IP68 water and dust rating, a full charge in about 80 minutes, and about a day of use from a 10-minute charge. Most insights need the Oura Membership: $5.99/mo or $69.99/yr in the US, first month free.
- RingConn Gen 2 Air: $199. Titanium, rated for up to 10 days per charge with 90-minute fast charging, and 2.4 to 3.6 g depending on size. No subscription.
The tradeoff: Over two years, an Oura Ring 5 with an annual membership costs about $538.98 ($399 + 2 × $69.99). That's more than 2.5 times the $199 RingConn Gen 2 Air. Oura's extra cost buys the more polished app and features like nighttime blood-pressure trends. If you mainly want sleep and steps, the subscription-free ring is the value pick.
Subscription vs no subscription
Over two years, an Oura Ring 5 with a $70-a-year membership costs about $540, while a RingConn Gen 2 Air stays at $199 and a Galaxy Ring at about $300 at Samsung’s current price. Oura’s app and sleep tracking are the reason to pay more.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best smart ring?
Which smart ring has no subscription?
Does the Galaxy Ring work with an iPhone?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- PCMag: The best smart rings we’ve tested for 2026 (pcmag.com)
- Samsung: Galaxy Ring (samsung.com)
- Oura: Oura Ring 5 (ouraring.com)
- Oura: Membership pricing (ouraring.com)
- RingConn: Gen 2 Air (ringconn.com)
Related
The Best Smart Glasses in 2026
For AI glasses with a camera, both WIRED and Tom’s Guide pick the Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 ($379 from Meta). For a virtual screen to watch or work on, both pick the Viture Beast ($549). If Meta’s privacy record worries you, WIRED suggests the camera-free Even Realities G2.
comparisonOura vs Ultrahuman
Get the Oura Ring 5 for a slimmer ring and better sleep tracking. Get the Ultrahuman Ring Pro for twice the battery life and no required subscription.
comparisonWhoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 5
Whoop has no upfront hardware cost but needs a $199–$359 yearly membership. The Oura Ring 5 costs $399 upfront plus $69.99 a year. Whoop focuses on training strain and recovery; Oura is a discreet ring focused on sleep and readiness.
best ofWhich Apple Watch Should You Buy in 2026?
The Series 12 (from $399) is the right Apple Watch for most iPhone owners. The SE 3 (from $249) saves $150 if you can skip some health features, and the Ultra 4 ($799) is for battery life and outdoor sports.
comparisonGarmin vs Apple Watch
Garmin watches last days to weeks and work with iPhone and Android. The Apple Watch has better smart features and calls but needs an iPhone and lasts about a day (Series 12) or two (Ultra 4).
comparisonOura Ring 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring
The Oura Ring 5 is WIRED’s best smart ring and works with iPhone and Android, but most insights need a $5.99/month membership. The Galaxy Ring costs less (from $299.99), has no subscription and is for Android, especially Samsung phones.
best ofBest Fitness Trackers
The Garmin Vivoactive 6 is the best overall, the screenless Fitbit Air is the value pick, and the Oura Ring 5 is the best if you don’t want anything on your wrist.
best ofBest Smartwatches
If you have an iPhone, get an Apple Watch Series 12 (or the SE 3 to save money). On Android, the Pixel Watch 5 has the best battery life of the big three, and the Galaxy Watch9 is the pick for Samsung phones.
best ofBest Garmin Watches of 2026
The Vivoactive 6 is the best Garmin for most people at $300. Runners should get the Forerunner 970, and the Fenix 8 is the best outdoor watch if you can afford it.