Christmas 2024 is around the corner and it is time to buy gifts for your family, friends and most importantly for yourself. There are a million things to choose from depending on your budget.

But if you have eliminated all others and are confused between Smart Ring & Smart Watch, then you have come to the right place.

I have personally gone through this confusion for weeks until I made my decision. In this guide, I have covered certain facts and figures that helped me make my decision.

Smart Watch – A combination of a traditional wristwatch with advanced features powered by software and sensors. It can be worn on either of the two wrists.

Smart Ring – A digital ring is a wearable device that combines fashion with technology, offering a range of functionalities similar to those of smartwatches. You can wear it on any of your 8 fingers and 2 thumbs.

Both these devices offer similar features more or less which makes it difficult to choose.

Smart Watches have been around for many years and are considered as an extension of your smartphone. They come in different budget segments where the top ones are dominated by Apple and Samsung.

There are other medium-ranged brands like Mi, Honor, etc, followed by cheap imitations from China.

Smart Rings, on the other hand, are new gadgets that carry out almost the same functions as Smart Watches and are compact in size. Although they lack a screen, they are designed to track health metrics, receive notifications, and even control smart devices. The common ones are Oura, Motiv, and Amazon brands.

Read Also: WatchOS 11.2 Is Out With Two New Features For Apple Watch Users

Smart Ring vs Smart Watch – Features.

I have listed the most common features of a Smart Ring and a Smart Watch. There might be some brands that may offer an extra feature or so. But I would like to compare them based on their common functionality before I decide which gadget to buy.

Features Of A Smart Ring

• A Smart Ring includes Health & Fitness tracking like Heart Rate Monitoring, Sleep Tracking, Step Counting, Calorie tracking, and Blood Oxygen Monitoring (SpO2).
• It can also notify about incoming calls, Messages, App alerts, etc.
• Some smart rings allow users to control smart home devices, and music, or even scroll through presentations with simple finger gestures.
• Some smart rings can be used for two-factor authentication, unlocking your smartphone, or even making payments using NFC (Near Field Communication) technology.
• Typically, smart rings offer longer battery life than many smartwatches, with some lasting up to a week or more on a single charge.

Features Of A Smart Watch

• You can receive, view, and reply to messages from your Smart Watch. You can also take calls from your Smart Watch.
• App alerts and notifications can be checked on Smart Watch due to the presence of a screen.
• Many smartwatches feature continuous heart rate tracking to help monitor cardiovascular health.
• Track daily steps, exercise, and calories burned, often with goals or challenges along with blood oxygen levels.
• Advanced smartwatches may include sensors to track electrocardiograms and monitor blood pressure as well as track the quality and duration of sleep.
• Built-in GPS allows for real-time navigation, making smartwatches particularly useful for outdoor activities like running, cycling, or hiking.
• Smartwatches often include voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa, enabling hands-free control of various functions and allowing users to store music or control music playback on other devices.
• NFC (Near Field Communication) enables features like contactless payments (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) directly from the watch.
• Many smartwatches support third-party apps, which can add extra functionality like weather updates, news feeds, meditation, or even remote control for smart home devices.

Smart Ring vs Smart Watch – Benefits & Limitations

Smart Rings (Worn On Fingers)		Smart Watches (Worn On Wrists)
Benefits	Limitations	Benefits	Limitations
Smaller in Size.	No screen	Extension of your Smartphone.	Less battery life up to 48 hours.
Convenient to wear.	Fewer functions as compared to a Smart Watch.	Multitasking with many functions including taking calls.	Expensive.
Fashionable.		Customizable with different watch faces and bands/straps.
Great battery life up to 1 week or more.		Emergency SOS and other safety features.

Smart Ring vs Smart Watch – Comparison Factors

Factor 1 – Where Do You Want To Wear It?

The first comparison factor between a smart watch and a smart ring is where you want to wear it. If you are bored of wearing watches then you should go for a smart ring.

But if you do not like wearing rings and prefer to keep your fingers free (like me) then the comparison is over. You need to buy a smartwatch.

Remember, these gadgets can deliver the best of their performance only if you wear them for longer periods. However, during sleep, I would prefer wearing a smart ring instead of a watch, which I know would be rather uncomfortable due to the tight strap.

The confusion is still on because I prefer one gadget when I am awake and another one when I sleep. If you are confident about where you wear it then you can make the decision but I would still recommend you to read on to know more about both these gadgets.

Factor 2 – The Device Itself

As noted, smart rings typically do not have displays and, in most cases, lack physical controls. They depend on a paired smartphone with a companion app to adjust settings, display information, store health data, and update software. This means that many smart rings cannot function as standalone devices.

In contrast, smartwatches offer a variety of control methods, including touchscreens, buttons, rotating dials, microphones, and touch-sensitive areas. With their larger displays, smartwatches can provide more functionality, running apps independently of a connected smartphone.

Read Also: How to Back Up Your Apple Watch?

Factor 3 – Battery Life

Smart rings typically use smaller batteries than smartwatches, but this doesn’t always mean they have shorter battery life. Due to their simple designs and absence of displays, smart rings are highly energy-efficient, even if they can’t match the larger sizes of smartwatches.

For example, the Oura Ring 3 can last up to seven days on a single charge, outperforming many high-end smartwatches. However, using advanced features will reduce this time. In comparison, despite having a larger battery, the Apple Watch Series 9 only lasts up to 36 hours.

Factor 4 – Privacy & Security

Both smart rings and smartwatches collect personal data, which raises concerns about privacy and security. Due to their broader range of features, smartwatches tend to collect more data, such as location, heart rate, and activity patterns. While most manufacturers take steps to secure user data, the risk of data breaches can never be fully eliminated.

Factor 5 – Pricing

Smartwatches generally carry a higher price due to their advanced features, larger displays, and more intricate components. While there are budget-friendly models available, they often come with significant compromises in terms of features and hardware. Premium models, on the other hand, can be quite costly.

Smart rings, though smaller and simpler, can also be expensive, especially since they are often made from high-quality materials like ceramic or titanium. Ultimately, the price of both a smart ring and a smartwatch depends on the specific features and brand.

Factor 6 – Health Tracking

A key advantage of smart rings is their accuracy in sleep tracking, as they collect data such as heart rate, movement, and even temperature. For those who find wearing wrist devices uncomfortable at night, a smart ring could be a more comfortable alternative.

Many high-end smart rings are primarily designed to monitor sleep, providing insights into energy levels and overall well-being, rather than focusing mainly on fitness.

Smartwatch health tracking involves using built-in sensors to monitor various aspects of your physical well-being. Common features include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, activity tracking (steps, exercise, calories), blood oxygen (SpO2) levels, ECG (electrocardiogram), stress monitoring, and fall detection.

Many smartwatches also track menstrual cycles and skin temperature. They sync data with health apps, providing insights into your fitness, sleep quality, and overall health.

While they offer convenience and real-time feedback, their accuracy can vary, and battery life may be affected by continuous tracking. Overall, smartwatches are valuable tools for monitoring and improving health, though not a substitute for medical-grade devices.

Have You Made The Decision Between Smart Ring & Smart Watch?

Smartwatches are wearable devices that combine traditional timekeeping with advanced features like fitness tracking, notifications, and smart functionality. Smart Watches are typically designed to sync with your smartphone via Bluetooth, making them an extension of your mobile device.

But Smart Rings are small, wearable devices that combine advanced technology and fashion. Due to their compact size and simple design, they are less intrusive than smartwatches, but with fewer interactive features. Smart rings are ideal for those seeking minimalistic, health-focused wearables without the bulk of a smartwatch.

Next Read:

How To Use Image Playground in iOS 18.2