Very few people want to add another subscription to an ever-growing list of monthly payments, which makes subscription-free smart rings tempting.
I’ve been wearing the RingConn Gen 3, a subscription-free alternative to the Oura Ring 5, which has also been on my finger.
I’ll save feature and data-collection comparisons for the review, but I want to talk about the hardware specifications, comfort, and design differences, because this may sway your decision on which one to buy.
On-paper specs don’t tell the whole story
Very similar?
On its website, RingConn states the Gen 3 smart ring is 2.3mm thick and weighs between 2.5 and 3.5 grams, depending on the size. I’m wearing a size 11 ring, and it weighs 3 grams.
The Oura Ring 5 is 2.28mm thick, and the size 11 I’m wearing weighs 2 grams, which is the lowest weight you can expect from the range, according to Oura.
RingConn doesn’t state the width of the Gen 3, but it’s at least a millimeter wider than the 6.mm-wide Oura Ring 5.
Based on these on-paper specs, it doesn’t appear there will be any real difference between the two, but that is not the case.
What the specs don’t tell you
An impact on comfort
The RingConn Gen 3 has a squircle-like shape, and not a perfect circle like the Oura Ring 5. I don’t know where RingConn takes its 2.3mm thick measurement from, but there are thicker points due to the design.
Even visually, the RingConn Gen 3 looks thicker than the Oura Ring 5, more than the 0.2mm claimed in the spec sheets.
You feel the difference when you put on the two rings. The RingConn Gen 3 is more obvious between your fingers than the Oura Ring 5.
On my middle finger, the Oura Ring 5 is barely there. It feels like a non-smart ring and is just as inconspicuous. I feel the RingConn Gen 3 more, but more because of the extra gram of weight.
The squircle shape is a success, as it minimizes the smart ring pressing against your fingers on either side of it. However, the weight and thickness of the RingConn Gen 3 mean you still feel it there, compared to the Oura Ring 5.
What about the RingConn Gen 2 Air?
An Oura Ring 5 challenger
The last RingConn smart ring I wore was the RingConn Gen 2 Air, which is 2mm thick.
It is made from stainless steel rather than titanium like the Gen 3, but the diminutive size makes it supremely wearable, and it predates the Oura Ring 5 by a considerable time.
If you were going to choose a subscription-free smart ring, it was a fantastic choice. I’m not sure if I can say the same about the RingConn Gen 3.
All wearable tech has to be stylish and comfortable. If it fails in either area, someone may not want to wear it long-term, and it could become a waste of money.
The Gen 3 and Gen 2 Air differ in several ways, including a larger-capacity battery, which may be why the Gen 3 is a thicker smart ring.
RingConn’s decision to push ahead with more extensive health features over retaining the 2mm thickness it managed with the Gen 2 Air and even the older Gen 2 model makes it a harder smart ring to recommend when the Oura Ring 5 exists.
Is it all bad news?
No, but think twice before buying
The RingConn Gen 3 smart ring looks great. I like the concave surface, which gives it personality, alongside the unusual squircle shape.
I’m wearing the Future Silver model, and it’s bright and eye-catching. The titanium has picked up a few minor scuffs over the 10 days I’ve worn it, but you have to look hard to see them.
The RingConn Gen 3 is a high-quality piece of hardware, but the size and weight, regardless of what the on-paper specs say, make it feel like a step back in comfort compared to the Gen 2 models and the Oura Ring 5.
The Oura Ring 5 is the more comfortable, less conspicuous smart ring. It’s closer to wearing a non-smart ring than the RingConn Gen 3.
I’ve worn the Oura Ring 5 every day since July, and haven’t really thought about it on my finger. I’ve worn the RingConn Gen 3 for 10 days, and it has frequently bothered me. I know it’s there, day and night.
While the RingConn Gen 3 won’t cost you any more after the initial $350 cost, I think the Oura Ring 5 is the more refined, more comfortable smart ring. It costs more long-term, but if you’re sensitive to ring size and weight, it’ll likely be the model you’ll want to wear.
