“Do I really need a fitness ring in my life?” That was my first thought when I started seeing UltraHuman’s Ring Air pop up online. I’ve tried a few wearables in the past. Fitbit, Apple Watch, even one of those clunky old step counters… but I wasn’t convinced a tiny ring could really do much.
But lately, I’ve been on a kick to better understand my sleep, stress levels, and recovery habits. So when UltraHuman reached out to review their latest product, I was excited to give the Ring Air a shot to see if it could actually help—or if it’s just another overhyped tech and wellness gadget.
After wearing it daily for three weeks, I have a lot of thoughts. Some good, some not-so-good, and definitely a few surprises. If you’re wondering whether to spend $349 on this sleek little tracker, keep reading. Bonus: UltraHuman is offering a great prime day deal on their Ring Air with an additional 10% off using the code AMZND2C10 and the link below:
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UltraHuman isn’t your typical wearable brand. They started by making continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to help people understand how their blood sugar responds to food, exercise, and stress. From there, they built an app that’s kind of like a command center for your metabolic health. It tracks sleep, recovery, workouts, and even offers habit suggestions.
The Ring Air is their latest innovation. It’s a sleek, minimal ring designed to collect tons of data such as heart rate variability, body temperature, sleep cycles, and activity levels, all without feeling like you’re wearing a gadget. The goal is to give you actionable insights to improve your health, not just another notification buzzing on your wrist.
The first thing I noticed about the Ring Air is how light it feels. Being that the only rings I ever wear often are my wedding rings, I thought I’d constantly notice it on my finger. But after a day or two, I completely forgot it was there—even when I slept or worked out. I credit a lot of this to the ability to trial sizes before receiving your Ring Air. UltraHuman offers a free sizing kit that allows you to test different sized rings on different fingers for the best results and overall comfort. I tried it for two nights prior to sending in my final size for the Ring Air in the Bionic Gold finish.
Here’s what stood out after a few weeks of daily wear.
This is where the Ring Air really shines. Every morning, the app gives you a Recovery Score based on deep sleep, REM cycles, heart rate variability, and even subtle temperature changes.
I was surprised at how well it picked up on trends that matched how I actually felt. On nights where I tossed and turned or stayed up too late scrolling on my phone, my score reflected it. On nights I woke up refreshed, my recovery data was higher. It even flagged slight temperature changes before I felt a little run down or prior to a change in my cycle.
I also liked how it tracked stress markers throughout the day. Seeing my heart rate variability dip after a stressful afternoon was a gentle reminder to take a breather or go for a walk. It definitely made me more aware of what factors in my day to day life caused me to feel overall more relaxed, stimulated, and stressed. By tracking my stress levels, I’ve felt more in tune and in control of my habits; learning how to incorporate breathing exercises and ways to relax throughout the day.
This is where I felt the Ring Air was more of a “nice to have” than a must-have. It tracks steps and calories burned well enough, but I personally prefer something on my wrist, like my Apple Watch, for workouts.
During exercise, I found myself wanting access to texts, music, and even just the time, which of course the Ring doesn’t provide without your phone. Lately, I’ve been wearing both: the Ring Air for passive tracking and recovery insights, and my Apple Watch for more active workouts. That may seem like overkill to some, but it doesn’t bother me too much as they both have their strengths with different things. But if you’re someone who wants the ultimate all-in-one wearable, the ring may lack some features you’re looking for when it comes to tracking exercise and workouts.
So after wearing the Ring Air 24/7 for three weeks - through workouts, sleep, showers, swimming, and even while lifting weights - here are my honest thoughts.
I expected it to feel bulky or get in the way, but it didn’t. The smooth design didn’t snag on anything, and I barely noticed it during sleep. The only downside? It picked up a few small scratches from weightlifting—so if you lift heavy, gloves might be a good idea.
The battery lasted 5–6 days on a single charge, which felt more than fair. Charging was quick and easy with the included dock. Although it could last several days on a single charge, I opted to just set it on the charger every evening during a shower to ensure it continuously has enough power to get me through each day. I haven’t had any problems with it ever reaching low battery since receiving it. This is a huge step up from my Apple Watch, which tends to need a full night’s worth of charging in order to perform each day.
For sleep, recovery, and stress tracking, the data felt spot-on. Activity tracking was good for general trends but didn’t replace the detailed stats I get from my Apple Watch during workouts.
One thing I didn’t expect with the UltraHuman Ring Air was how many unique features it has; stuff I haven’t really seen in other wearables, at least not like this.
For example, Circadian Alignment gives you gentle nudges on when to get sunlight, move your body, and start winding down. It sounds simple, but aligning my day with these cues has noticeably improved my energy and sleep.
There’s also the Caffeine Window, which was kind of eye-opening for me. It suggests the best times for caffeine so you can stay sharp without wrecking your sleep. As someone who loves a mid-afternoon coffee, seeing how that affected my recovery was a bit of a reality check.
And then there’s Ultra Age—a science-backed metric that combines your Brain Age, Pulse Age, and Blood Age into one number. (Blood Age isn’t offered in the US quite yet so I only have the first two factors) It’s fascinating (and a little humbling) to see how my daily habits might be influencing my aging trajectory.
And although I am still early on in testing these features with the Ring Air, I am totally hooked on learning more (I’ll report back on my findings as the data comes in the next few weeks).
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The Oura Ring is probably the first competitor you’re thinking about. Here’s how they compare:
I’ll be honest—I haven’t personally tried the Oura Ring, so I can’t give a side-by-side comparison from experience. But after researching specs, features, and user reviews online, I do have some first impressions on how it stacks up against the UltraHuman Ring Air.
The big standout for me? The Ring Air doesn’t require a monthly subscription. Oura, on the other hand, locks most of its insights and features behind a membership. That alone could be a dealbreaker for some people. I know it is for me, being these monthly subscriptions can add up quick. The UltraHuman Ring Air also feels more focused on holistic health—things like circadian alignment, stress management, and long-term markers like Ultra Age—whereas Oura seems to lean more into activity and readiness tracking.
That said, Oura has been around longer, and its app is often praised for being super polished and intuitive. I can’t speak to how it feels to use day-to-day, but if you’re deciding between the two, it’s worth thinking about whether you want a more established ecosystem or a subscription-free alternative that’s still packed with unique insights.
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So, is the UltraHuman Ring Air worth the hype?
I think it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a low-profile, comfortable wearable that excels at sleep, recovery, and stress tracking, it’s hard to beat. I love how it gives you a fuller picture of your health without constantly buzzing for your attention.
But if you’re big on activity tracking, need GPS, or don’t want to carry your phone during workouts, you might still want a smartwatch alongside it. For me, the sweet spot has been wearing both: the Ring Air for health insights and my Apple Watch for workouts and staying connected.
Overall, the Ring Air is a strong option for anyone focused on building healthier habits and understanding their body’s signals better.
Is the UltraHuman Ring Air waterproof?
Yes. It’s safe up to 100m, so you can shower, swim, or even surf with it.
Does the Ring Air require a subscription?
No. All features are included in the $349 price—there’s no monthly fee.
How long does the battery last?
About 5–6 days with regular use.
Can I wear it while lifting weights?
Yes, but you might want gloves to prevent small scratches.
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