Head-to-head · Heart rate monitoring
Best smart rings for heart rate monitoring 2026
We compared five smart rings on resting heart rate accuracy, continuous HR monitoring quality, exercise heart rate tracking, HRV measurement, and optical sensor specification. Here is what separates them.
Updated July 2026 · 5 rings tested · 7 criteria · General wellness data only — not a medical device assessment
Most accurate resting HR
Oura Ring 4
6-sensor array with dual wavelength PPG produces the most validated resting HR accuracy.
Best exercise HR tracking
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Highest-frequency exercise sampling rate. Integrates with Samsung Health workouts seamlessly.
Best continuous monitoring
Oura Ring 4
24/7 continuous HR with irregular heart rhythm notification — most complete HR dataset.
Best budget HR tracker
RingConn Gen 2
Solid resting HR accuracy, 12-day battery, no subscription. Best value for HR trend tracking.
Best HR for women's health
Evie Ring
HR data overlaid with cycle phase — shows how resting HR changes across the menstrual cycle.
Head-to-head: heart rate monitoring features
| Feature |
Oura Ring 4 |
Galaxy Ring |
RingConn Gen 2 |
Ultrahuman AIR |
Evie Ring |
| HR accuracy score |
9.4 |
9.0 |
8.2 |
8.5 |
7.8 |
| Resting HR (daytime) |
Continuous |
Continuous |
Continuous |
Continuous |
Periodic |
| Exercise HR tracking |
Yes |
Yes |
Basic |
Yes |
Basic |
| HR during sleep |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| HRV measurement |
Advanced |
Advanced |
Standard |
Standard |
Basic |
| Irregular rhythm alert |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Number of optical sensors |
6 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
| Cycle-linked HR insights |
Partial |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Subscription required |
$5.99/mo |
None |
None |
None |
None |
| Ring price |
$349 |
$399 |
$269 |
$349 |
$269 |
Ring-by-ring heart rate assessment
Oura Ring 4
#1 HR accuracy
$349 + $5.99/mo · 6 optical sensors · Continuous 24/7 HR
HR accuracy: 9.4/10
HRV: Advanced
Six infrared and red PPG sensors give Oura Ring 4 the most comprehensive heart rate dataset of any ring here. The dual-wavelength sensor approach improves accuracy under real-world conditions — movement, dry skin, poor ring fit — compared to single-wavelength competitors. Oura's continuous day and night HR stream feeds directly into the readiness and recovery scores, which remain the most actionable HR-derived insights available on a ring. The irregular rhythm notification is a standout feature: it alerts you when your heart rate pattern shows characteristics associated with atrial fibrillation. Main drawback: Requires a $5.99/month subscription for advanced features. Without it, HR data access is significantly limited.
Check Oura Ring 4 →
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Best exercise HR
$399 · No subscription · 9-day battery · Samsung Health integration
HR accuracy: 9.0/10
HRV: Advanced
Galaxy Ring's heart rate tracking during exercise is the strongest of any ring in this comparison. The higher sampling frequency during active workouts (synced via Samsung Health workout tracking) produces more accurate exercise HR zones compared to Oura or Ultrahuman during high-intensity movement. Resting HR accuracy is excellent — slightly below Oura in third-party benchmark comparisons, but meaningfully better than RingConn or Evie. Full HRV nightly analysis and the Energy Score readiness metric are included with no subscription. Main drawback: Best performance requires a Samsung Galaxy phone. On iPhone, workout integration is reduced and some HR analytics are unavailable.
Check Galaxy Ring →
RingConn Gen 2
Best value HR
$269 · No subscription · 12-day battery
HR accuracy: 8.2/10
HRV: Standard
For resting HR tracking and trend monitoring, RingConn Gen 2 delivers reliable data at the lowest price of any ring here. Continuous daytime HR monitoring works consistently, and the 12-day battery means HR data is never interrupted by dead-ring events. HRV is measured overnight and included in the recovery dashboard — standard quality rather than the deep analysis of Oura or Samsung. Exercise HR is the weakest area: RingConn does not actively integrate with workout sessions the way Samsung or Oura does, so exercise HR readings can lag or miss peaks. Main drawback: Limited exercise integration. Best suited for passive trend tracking rather than athletes who want real-time exercise HR zones.
Check RingConn Gen 2 →
Ultrahuman Ring AIR
Best comfort:accuracy balance
$349 · No subscription · 6-day battery · 2.4–3.6 g
HR accuracy: 8.5/10
HRV: Standard
Ultrahuman AIR's three-sensor array punches above its weight for a ring of this size and weight. Resting HR accuracy is consistently rated between Oura and RingConn in third-party assessments — the 8.5/10 reflects solid daytime and overnight HR performance. The Movement Score and Strain Index incorporate HR data to give a useful daily activity picture without requiring explicit workout logging. Exercise HR integration is present — the ring detects elevated HR and classifies movement — though it is less granular than Samsung's workout-linked HR zones. Main drawback: No irregular rhythm detection. 6-day battery is the second-shortest, requiring more frequent charging attention.
Check Ultrahuman AIR →
Evie Ring
Best women's HR tracking
$269 · No subscription · 4-day battery · Women-focused design
HR accuracy: 7.8/10
Real-time alert: Yes
Evie Ring is the only ring here that contextualises heart rate data against menstrual cycle phase. Resting HR typically rises in the luteal phase — Evie's app flags this pattern and separates natural cycle-related HR elevation from potential signs of illness or overtraining. The real-time heart rate alert (vibration notification when HR exceeds a threshold) is a genuine differentiator for daytime use. Resting HR accuracy is adequate for trend tracking. Main drawback: 4-day battery is the shortest here, meaning frequent charging that can create data gaps. HR accuracy during exercise is below Oura and Samsung — not designed as a workout ring.
Check Evie Ring →
How we assess heart rate monitoring
❤️
Resting HR accuracy
Accuracy vs manual pulse count and medical-grade Holter monitor reference across manufacturers' published validation data and third-party reviews.
🏃
Exercise HR performance
Whether the ring maintains accurate HR readings during movement. Rings are less accurate than wrist-worn optical sensors during high-intensity exercise due to motion artefact.
📊
HRV quality
How consistently HRV is measured overnight. Advanced implementations (Oura, Samsung) use longer HRV measurement windows and apply signal processing to reduce noise.
🔋
Continuity of monitoring
Whether battery life and charging habits introduce gaps in the HR data record. Longer battery life (RingConn 12 days) produces more complete continuous datasets.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are smart rings for heart rate compared to a chest strap?
Chest strap heart rate monitors are generally the most accurate consumer-grade option for exercise HR, as they measure electrical signals rather than optical (PPG) signals. Smart rings, like wrist watches, use optical sensors that can be affected by movement, skin tone, ring fit, and ambient light. For resting HR, smart rings achieve good accuracy — studies on Oura Ring show resting HR agreement within 1–2 bpm of clinical reference in many cases. During high-intensity exercise, all optical wearables (rings and watches) are less accurate than chest straps. This data is for general wellness awareness, not clinical diagnosis.
Can a smart ring detect irregular heartbeats or atrial fibrillation?
Oura Ring 4 and Evie Ring both offer irregular heart rhythm notifications — they alert you when the HR pattern shows characteristics associated with atrial fibrillation (AFib). This is a wellness feature, not a clinical diagnostic tool. Oura's AFib detection is FDA-cleared in the US as a general wellness product, not as a medical device. If you receive an irregular rhythm alert, or have concerns about your heart rhythm, consult a healthcare professional — do not use ring data to diagnose or manage a cardiac condition.
Which ring is best for tracking heart rate during workouts?
Samsung Galaxy Ring has the strongest exercise HR tracking, particularly when used with Samsung Health's active workout mode. Oura Ring 4 and Ultrahuman Ring AIR also provide exercise HR data. RingConn and Evie Ring are better suited to passive resting HR monitoring than active workout tracking. Note that for high-intensity interval training (HIIT), all rings may underperform a chest strap or wrist-based optical monitor — ring sensors can suffer from motion artefact during rapid, high-force movements.
Does heart rate data from a ring require a subscription?
Oura Ring 4 requires a $5.99/month subscription to access advanced HR features — without it, the ring's analytical capabilities are significantly limited. All other rings here (Galaxy Ring, RingConn Gen 2, Ultrahuman Ring AIR, Evie Ring) provide full HR data access with no subscription. For users who want to avoid ongoing costs, the Galaxy Ring provides the strongest no-subscription HR capability.
Important: All information on this page is for general wellness and educational purposes only. Smart ring heart rate data is not a medical device output and is not a substitute for clinical assessment. Consult a healthcare professional for any cardiac health concerns. Pricing may vary — verify directly with the manufacturer. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
Full affiliate disclosure. Michalvi Empire LTD (HE 493986), Cyprus.