Tech giants such as Apple, Samsung and Huawei have long focused on the wrist. It’s not the most comfortable option for everyone, and it can be challenging to maintain precise tracking through the wrist. Ensuring that your smartwatch fits snugly to obtain accurate data is crucial. A smart ring can be the great solution, however, provided you have the right size.
A finger has access to arteries, which a smartwatch could not reach, Mohit Kumar, founder and CEO of Ultrahuman, which counts iSeed, Steadview, Nexus Venture Partners and Blume among its key investors, told TechCrunch.
“If you go to any medical grade pulse oximetry devices, you put it on your finger. You don’t put it on your wrist. That’s primarily because this is a much better source of data,” he said.
Khatri of Noise agreed with Kumar and said the data available through a finger is way higher than a device can get from a smartwatch. Launching smart rings from BoAt and Noise is expected to bring competition to this nascent space.
The products are not yet launched, but the R&D and work commenced over a year back. Another positive sign is that it is unlikely that the data will sit behind a subscription pay wall (as Oura’s latest ring has). I’ve been pretty impressed with my Oura ring, but it was very costly, and they did send me a replacement ring just after the warranty expired as the battery was suddenly giving out. So I may be keen to test one of these new Indian rings out when they are available. So I’ll be watching this space closely.
More competition in the market, especially from India, is going to be good for consumers.
I tried wearing a fitbit for about a year but I work outside in a hot climate and it kept dying from baking in the heat all day. Sent two of them in for warranty replacements until I finally gave up on it and sold the last replacement I got on ebay. I definitely would be willing to try a ring though, assuming it could hold up better.
Get a Garmin Fenix if you can afford it. Even a used one like a Fenix 5x would work. They’re bad-ass watches, made to withstand harsh sporting environments, and last about 3-6 weeks between charges depending on the model.
Yes I had big issues with Fitbit straps always breaking. But they only lasted for me just past warranty dates. A ring is really hardy and still gives about 6 days ona charge.
Invest in a garmin. I had a few fitbits and they all had issues. I’ve been rocking a fenix 7x for nearly a year now and it’s been rock solid, even outside in the heat doing yard work.
My one wish for a smart ring is that I can use it without an account and without uploading all my data to the cloud
I saw an ad for Oura that made me chuckle the other day. It said “Oura - the original and most trusted ring” or something like that, and I thought “oh there are other ones to choose from, that are likely just as good and cheaper? Thanks for letting me know!”
Hmm I guess this still does not make me a potential customer. I don’t like wearing things on my wrists, and on my fingers even less so.
Smartwatches made by Boat and Noise are not actually smartwatches, they are feature watches at best.
I thought the title said nose rings and was like where do I sign up?
Good, I want an oura but can’t afford one.
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While wrist-worn wearables are still wildly popular in India, a pair of domestic manufacturers are banking on consumers who are meticulous about health and sleep tracking but are less interested in the form factor.
The primary reason for the continuous success of local companies is their focus on launching ultra-affordable, sub-$30 smartwatches and wireless earbuds that offer a look and feel similar to high-end devices.
“This move is likely to inspire other wearable brands to enter this category, leading to increased variety and choices for consumers,” Navkendar Singh, associate vice president at IDC India, told TechCrunch.
A finger has access to arteries, which a smartwatch could not reach, Mohit Kumar, founder and CEO of Ultrahuman, which counts iSeed, Steadview, Nexus Venture Partners and Blume among its key investors, told TechCrunch.
Kumar said the startup evaluated the option of going with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) route but decided to set up its native production to have complete control over hardware and software.
In the future, BoAt envisions the possibility of introducing a “recharge model.” This approach would allow users of its smart ring to access services by paying a nominal fee at regular intervals.
