Tried, tested and worn 24/7, here’s how fitness fanatic Evelyn Richards felt the RingConn Gen 2 held up against the Oura Ring 4.
If, like me, you’ve ever been frustrated by the bulk of a smartwatch on your wrist during a Pilates class or wished for a more discreet way to track your steps while at a wedding, smart rings might already be on your radar. Once a niche category, they’ve been steadily gaining traction — and with each generation, they’re becoming more stylish, powerful and practical.
From monitoring sleep stages and stress levels to logging heart rate and even menstrual cycles, these sleek bands of titanium are positioning themselves as the future of wearable wellness tech. And for those of us who already track fitness closely — whether you’re marathon training, building strength or simply trying to get better sleep — they offer a compelling alternative to the smartwatch and phone combo.
I’ve already put the Oura Ring 4 through its paces, but when RingConn’s Gen 2 smart ring landed on my desk, I was curious to see how it compared — especially given its claims of impressive battery life, a slimmer build and, notably, no subscription fees.
So, I wore it everywhere for three months: during half marathon training, through gym sessions, on rest days and while sleeping. Here’s how it fared — and how it stacks up against the more well-known competition.
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First impression of the RingConn
Like the Oura Ring, RingConn lets you order a sizing kit — but if you already know your ring size, you can skip the wait and use the online guide to get the right fit immediately. It’s a small but refreshing time-saver.
Both smart rings are crafted from lightweight titanium and come in sleek shades like silver, gold and black.
While Oura offers more finish options (including brushed and rose gold), RingConn wins when it comes to wearability. At just 2mm thick and 2-3g depending on size, it’s slimmer and lighter than Oura’s 2.8mm, 3.3-5.2g build — which makes it feel more like an actual ring and less like a gadget.
How do the prices compare?
Here’s the big difference: RingConn Gen 2 costs £299 upfront — with no subscription fee. That’s it.
In contrast, the Oura Ring 4 starts at £349, going up to £499 depending on the finish, and locks many features behind a £5.99/month (or £69.99/year) subscription paywall. Over time, the cost of owning an Oura really adds up.
So, opting for the RingConn can save you up to £270 in your first year alone.
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Battery life
This is where RingConn crushes it. The ring itself lasted a solid 10 days between charges in my testing — slightly longer than Oura’s eight-day average.
The real game-changer is RingConn’s charging case. It stores up to 15 full recharges, doubling as a carry case. I kept it in my bag and topped up while showering or doing makeup, meaning I was never caught out.
Sleep tracking
Let’s be honest, it’s no secret that Oura’s sleep tracking is top-tier, complete with AI-led insights and trend analysis. RingConn’s sleep metrics are more basic, but still perfectly useful for understanding your general sleep quality and phases.
But here’s where RingConn surprised me: it flagged possible signs of minor sleep apnea, something Oura never did. You can even turn on a dedicated Sleep Apnea Mode (though it’s not a medical diagnosis — a GP visit would be needed for that).
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Fitness tracking
If you’re relying on a smart ring for fitness, Oura again outperforms. It offers interpreted VO2 max, cardiovascular age insights and syncs with apps like Strava. RingConn only syncs with Apple Health or Google Fit and skips more advanced interpretations.
That said, I’m loyal to my Apple Watch for workouts, as I mentioned in my Oura review, so this isn’t a deal-breaker for me. But I did find RingConn’s fitness scoring confusing at times: my half marathon PB Activity Score (more on that below) scored lower than a casual hike, which left me scratching my head.
The Wellness Balance
RingConn offers four scores (Sleep, Vitals, Activity and Relax) as well as an average total, while Oura combines these into a single Readiness Score backed by AI insights. Oura’s daily recommendations — whether to push yourself or take it easy — are still best in class.
RingConn’s scores update throughout the day, which is nice, but feel less intuitive. Especially that Activity score — I still don’t understand how it’s calculated, and that undermines its usefulness.
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Cycle tracking
This one really disappointed me. I logged my cycle dates in the RingConn app, but got zero insights or predictions, making me think there’s an issue with the software.
Oura, on the other hand, is incredibly detailed here — offering hormonal phase updates, symptom predictions and now even syncing with the Natural Cycles app for fertility tracking.
That said, Oura’s advanced cycle features are also behind the paywall. And if you already use an app like Flo or Clue, neither ring may replace that for now.
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So, is RingConn better than Oura?
If you’re looking for a sleek, comfortable and no-subscription smart ring that offers solid insights into your sleep and wellness, the RingConn Gen 2 is a smart, stylish buy.
But if you want more advanced tracking, daily health insights and seamless app integrations, Oura Ring 4 still leads — provided you’re willing to pay a premium for it.
Buy RingConn 2 from Amazon for £299.
Feature image: Oura, RingConn
