Samsung Ring Vs Oura (2024): Which Smart Ring Best Fits Your Needs?

The best fitness tracker rings are becoming a staple in the fitness world, as these fitness trackers are much smaller than the typical smartwatches and bands. Although they lack a screen, they’re popular for measuring metrics like heart rate, sleep, and workouts, then sending the information to your phone. 

A 2021 study¹ even found that wearing a smart ring—while being coached and educated—was helpful in increasing daily movement, improving heart rate variability, and decreasing body fat percentage.

Two of the more popular smart rings are the golden standard Oura Ring, as well as an Android user’s dream—the Samsung Galaxy Ring. Which ring is best for you? Each has its pros and cons, and in this Samsung Ring vs Oura Ring comparison, we’ll get into each feature of these smart rings to help determine which ring might be the best fit for you.

Samsung Galaxy Ring

Samsung Galaxy Ring

GGR Score: 4.33

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Product Highlights

• Scratch-resistant titanium construction
• Up to 7 days of battery life
• Location tracker
• Hands-free control of your Android phone
• Three colors to choose from

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Integrates with Android devices
• Built-in location tracker
• Control your phone by pinching your fingers
• Durable titanium construction

Cons

• Only works with Android phones
• More expensive than competitors

Bottom Line

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is an excellent choice for those who want to use their ring with a compatible Android phone. The ring tracks your health metrics, allows you to control your phone by pinching your fingers, and includes a location tracker if you lose it. It's expensive, but a great choice for Samsung users.

Oura Ring Gen 3

Oura Ring

GGR Score: 4.2

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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 & Cons

Pros

• Long battery life
• Fast charging
• No membership required

Cons

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

Bottom Line

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.

Samsung Ring Vs Oura: Comparison Chart

Quick Look: Samsung Galaxy Ring vs Oura Ring

Both the Samsung Galaxy Ring and the Oura Ring are two of the best smart rings that are becoming wildly popular for users who want to track sleep and health without the need for a bulky smartwatch or wristband. Each of these gadgets supply similar health data and metrics, providing health tracking, sleep scores, readiness scores, and activity tracking across a variety of workouts. 

From a bird’s eye view, the main difference is that the Samsung Galaxy Ring is only compatible with Android devices, like the Google Pixel or any Samsung phones. Rest assured, iPhone users: The Oura Ring, on the other hand, can work for both Android and Apple smartphones.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring was released in late summer of 2024; meanwhile, the Oura Ring has been around for a bit, and has just released its Gen 4. Instead of the Oura Ring 4, this comparison will focus on the Gen 3 version of the Oura Ring, which is focused on in our Oura Ring review. Regardless, Oura has updated the app with new features, so even Gen 3 users will notice some improvements on the user experience.

Who Should Buy the Samsung Galaxy Ring

• People who prefer a less bulky smart ring
• Android phone users who are already invested in the Samsung ecosystem
• Those who wish to avoid a subscription fee

Who Should Buy the Oura Ring

• Both Android and iOS users
• Those who wish to have a few more colorway and design options
• Fitness enthusiasts who want to track walking, running, and cycling

Key Similarities Between Samsung Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring

• Both rings give sleep and energy scores
• Both provide sleep, activity, and cycle tracking metrics
• A sizing kit can be requested to help determine your ring size for either ring
• Each ring has a battery life of up to 7 days
• Both rings are HSA and FSA eligible
• Both rings have a 1-year warranty
• Both are also available through third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy
• Each ring is rated water-resistant up to 100 m

Important Differences Between Samsung Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring

• The Oura Ring is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, while the Samsung Ring only works with Android devices
• The Samsung Galaxy Ring has a portable charging case, whereas the Oura Ring charger has to be plugged in
• The Oura App requires a monthly subscription fee of $5.99
• The Samsung Galaxy Ring has fewer color options than the Oura Ring
• The Oura Ring is a heavier and bulkier smart ring
• While neither is great for tracking weightlifting, the Samsung Galaxy Ring does have the ability to track weight machines
• The Samsung Galaxy Ring is more expensive than the least expensive option for the Oura Ring 3, but less expensive than the Oura’s priciest option

Aesthetics

Having worn both the Samsung Galaxy Ring and the Oura Ring before, I have to give the Oura Ring the upper hand in terms of looks and aesthetics. Both designs of the Oura Ring Gen 3 are thicker and look like they could be actual jewelry; plus, they have six colorways compared to the Samsung ring’s three. The actual Samsung Ring looks clean, but the matte exterior gives the ring a plastic look that’s similar to the plastic rings in the sizing kit.

Both rings are comfortable while on your finger, and most people might prefer the sleeker, thinner design of the Samsung Galaxy Ring. I had moments that I forgot I was wearing it. The Oura Ring is a bit larger than the Samsung Galaxy Ring, but I (and our other testers) still found it comfortable during daily wear.

Battery Life and Durability

The Oura Ring and the Samsung Galaxy Ring are pretty much identical in terms of battery life, each lasting about 7 days on a single charge. The battery life is much longer than smartwatches (like the Samsung Galaxy Watch), which may have a battery life of just a couple of days.

Both smart rings are also rated water-resistant for a depth of 100 meters, making them great for swimming workouts. Morgan, a former NCAA Division 1 swimmer and partner of GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly, says about the Oura Ring’s water resistance, “I love how waterproof it is. It’s annoying when I have to take off a fitness tracker before getting into the pool.”

RELATED: Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers

After hands-on testing of the Galaxy Ring, it holds up pretty well, too; I’ve had the ring in the shower and pool and never had any issues with it. It’s important to note, however, that these rings can get in the way of barbell training, and if you wear it while gripping an Olympic barbell or dumbbell, you may cause some scuffs or marks on the ring.

Fitness Tracking

Both rings track an array of activities, although neither is the best at strength training. Samsung and Oura both can automatically detect workouts or activities to begin tracking calories, steps, and distance (if it’s running, cycling, or a similar cardio activity).

RELATED: Best Fitness Trackers

Most activities that Oura and Samsung track are cardio-based. Out of the 40 activities that the Oura automatically detects, there is only “strength training” to track weight training. The Samsung Health app allows tracking weight machines, but that’s about it for strength training tracking.

I’ll also mention that barbell training with either of these rings is challenging, as the ring is still bulky enough to affect your grip on the bar. As an Olympic weightlifter, your grip on the barbell is vital in maintaining proper positions during the snatch and clean and jerk, so I usually just take the smart ring off prior to lifting.

Health and Wellness Metrics

Along with workout tracking, each ring tracks general health metrics: your heart rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen levels. Both rings can track your heart rate while active or at rest, as well as heart rate variability (HRV), which is the natural variation in time between heartbeats. 

Each ring can also measure your stress levels, which is usually a measurement of how your resting heart rate may change while not exercising. They also can help track cycles for people who menstruate, although this is a feature I haven’t tested.

Sleep Tracking

While the Samsung Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring are very similar in sleep tracking, Oura Ring has developed quite a reputation for its sleep tracking; that’s why I used it leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. The Journal of Medical Internet Research² published a study in 2020 that determined the Oura Ring worked just as well as medical-grade sleep trackers in sleep quality and overall time.

Both rings track your sleep stages and sleep cycles to help determine your quality of sleep and recovery, giving you a sleep and readiness score each day. Along with sleep cycles, the rings each use heart rate monitoring, HRV, body temperature, and blood oxygen levels to determine your sleep score and energy score.

To get the full functionality of the Oura Ring’s sleep tracking, you’ll have to pay for an Oura App subscription. Otherwise, you’ll get some basic metrics and scores without much insight.

Company Policies

Both companies have similar policies on warranties and financing. Each ring comes with a 12-month warranty on parts and labor, which is pretty standard in the world of fitness trackers. Financing is available on both rings, and each is also HSA and FSA eligible. Both companies even have a trade-in policy, where you can get store credit for giving back your old fitness tracker ring.

The one major difference between the two companies lies in the return policy. The Oura Ring can be returned in 30 days, while the Samsung ring has a shorter 15-day window, which doesn’t give you a lot of time to determine if you like the product, its fit and feel, and more.

Samsung Ring Vs Oura Ring: Final Thoughts

Looking between the Samsung Galaxy Ring and the Oura Ring, both have nearly identical tracking capabilities and durability specs. Both are high-quality fitness trackers that operate well, but there are some small differences. Here are a few things to factor in to decide which wearable fitness tracker is right for you:

• The Samsung Galaxy Ring is only compatible with Android devices.
• Oura Ring has a monthly subscription fee to use the Oura app and get its full functionality.
• The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a lighter and thinner ring than the Gen 3 Oura Ring.
• Oura Ring has developed a reputation for accurate sleep tracking and insights.

Samsung Ring Vs Oura: FAQs

References

1. Browne, J. D., Boland, D. M., Baum, J. T., Ikemiya, K., Harris, Q., Phillips, M., Neufeld, E. V., Gomez, D., Goldman, P., & Dolezal, B. A. (2021). Lifestyle Modification Using a Wearable Biometric Ring and Guided Feedback Improve Sleep and Exercise Behaviors: A 12-Month Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study. Frontiers in Physiology, 12, 777874. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.777874
2. 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. https://doi.org/10.2196/20465

Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1

Caine Wilkes is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A former gym owner, he also has more than 15 years of experience coaching other athletes in weightlifting, CrossFit, and functional fitness.

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