The RingConn Gen 2 Air keeps the Gen 2's sensor set and drops the price. PCMag's Andrew Gebhart calls it a well-rounded smart ring that does not sacrifice looks, and Tom's Guide says it beats the Oura Ring 4 in three big ways, chiefly price and battery. Heart rate, HRV, SpO2, skin temperature, stress and sleep are all tracked with no subscription. Sleep apnoea detection is gone and the clamshell charging case is now a puck.
Full review
2.5 grams of stainless steel
At 2.5 grams the ring effectively disappears once it is on, and the switch from the Gen 2's titanium to stainless steel is the main visible cost saving. Android Authority's Kaitlyn Cimino wore it through weight training without complaint, taking it off only for rowing. The metallic finish carries down the side of the band rather than stopping at an uncoated stripe, which is the small detail that keeps it from looking like a budget product. Two finishes are offered, fewer than most rivals.
14 days between charges, on a puck
Battery life is rated at up to 14 days, which is the practical difference between a ring you wear and a ring you remember to charge. The app gives a charge-by estimate rather than a bare percentage. The downgrade is the charger itself: the Gen 2's clamshell case, which held its own reserve, is replaced by a USB-C puck. Cimino called that a significant step backward, and for travel it is, because the puck needs a cable and a socket where the case needed neither.
Same sensors as the Gen 2, minus sleep apnoea
The optical stack is unchanged: heart rate around the clock, HRV, SpO2, skin temperature and stress, feeding sleep and activity tracking that How-To Geek's Bill Loguidice found consistent, with Apple Health and Google Fit both supported. What has been removed is sleep apnoea detection, which stays exclusive to the Gen 2. For anyone tracking a suspected breathing problem that single omission decides the purchase; for everyone else the sensor set is complete.
No subscription, and an app that finally reads well
Gadgets and Wearables' Marko Maslakovic rates the app highly for how it presents information, since the readouts now say something rather than leaving you to interpret charts. Headache alerts, light exposure tracking and a ring finder have all been added. Nothing sits behind a monthly fee, which is the sharpest contrast with Oura and the reason the total cost over three years is not close.
$199, with the gaps that price implies
At $199 the Gen 2 Air undercuts every premium ring by a wide margin, and Trusted Reviews' 4 out of 5 and Android Authority's 8 out of 10 both read as scores for value rather than for capability. Workout tooling is thin next to a dedicated fitness watch, activity auto-detection is limited, and the finish choice is narrow. What it does not do is charge a subscription to look at data it has already collected.
Strengths
- +Affordable price point compared to premium smart rings like the Oura Ring 4
- +Accurate heart rate monitoring during workouts and rest
- +Waterproof design allows for swimming and showering
- +Long battery life of up to 14 days with normal use
Watch-outs
- −Sleep apnoea detection is reserved for the pricier Gen 2
- −USB-C charging puck replaces the Gen 2's self-powered clamshell case
- −Workout and training tools are thin next to a fitness watch
- −Only two finishes to choose from
How it compares
The RingConn Gen 2 Air offers the most affordable option among the smart rings, but it lacks the advanced features and accuracy of the Oura Ring Gen 4 and Samsung Galaxy Ring. While it matches the Oura Ring 4 in battery life, it falls short in sleep tracking insights and health monitoring precision, making it a basic alternative for budget-conscious buyers.
Rating sources
Our 4.0 score is the average of these published ratings. More about methodology.
