With sensible rings steadily making their means into the mainstream, it is smart for corporations that usually construct smartwatches to step into the ring, so to talk. We fairly get pleasure from Amazfit smartwatches, and so we had been naturally excited in regards to the prospect of an Amazfit sensible ring. However, this primary try from the corporate feels very very similar to that, and probably not in a great way.
With spectacular sensible rings just like the Oura Ring and even these from comparatively unknown corporations like RingConn and Ultrahuman, the Amazfit Helio Ring seems like a product that has a lot potential however fails to fairly attain it. It has a variety of fairly apparent shortcomings whereas being one of many few sensible rings in the marketplace to throw a subscription in your face, even when the corporate says it is not essential.
That’s to not say there aren’t issues to love in regards to the Amazfit Helio Ring, and the corporate has been including new options within the time since its launch. The firm additionally neatly leverages AI to merge information from its smartwatches to get a full have a look at your well being and efficiency. However, the ring feels extra like a beta product, and I’m unsure the value tag actually matches the worth.
Amazfit Helio Ring: Price and availability
The Amazfit Helio Ring was introduced in January 2024 however didn’t go on sale within the U.S. till May of the identical yr. The ring retails for $299, though it may be discovered at a reduction at some retailers, going as little as $199.
The Helio Ring is accessible in a single shade and end, though it may be bought in three sizes: 8, 10, and 12.
| Category | Amazfit Helio Ring |
|---|---|
| Materials | Titanium alloy, resin |
| Protection | 10ATM |
| Sensors | BioTracker PPG coronary heart price, temperature sensor, EDA sensor |
| Movement | 3-Axis Acceleration, 3-Axis gyroscope |
| Battery | Up to 4 days, USB-C charging cradle |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth LE |
| Platform help | iOS, Android |
| Dimensions | 8mm (width), 2.6mm (thickness) |
| Weight | 3.65g (dimension 8), 3.75g (dimension 10), 3.82g (dimension 12) |
| Sizes | 8, 10, 12 |
| Colors | Titanium |
Amazfit Helio Ring: What I like
The Amazfit Helio Ring might not be the thinnest, slimmest, or lightest sensible ring in the marketplace, however the general design is straightforward and stylish. I fairly like the texture and end of the titanium alloy, particularly with the textured high part that allows you to know whether or not or not the ring is on the right path. The brushed metallic not solely seems nice, but it surely handles the trials and tribulations of each day life higher than my Oura Ring Gen 3 or different sensible rings which have choices for shiny finishes, as they have an inclination to scuff and scratch very simply. In my time with the Amazfit Helio Ring, I have never needed to fear about that, regardless of sporting it throughout exercises.
Additionally, neither the load nor the thickness bothers me. Perhaps I’ve gotten used to the texture of sensible rings, however the Amazfit Helio Ring does not really feel as heavy because it seems.
Aside from the precise ring, the Zepp companion app can be fairly good and has a really easy-to-use structure that you would be able to customise to your liking. Each metric will get its personal card, and they are often organized in a means that is smart for what you are centered on most; I preserve my Readiness rating on the high, adopted by my exercise historical past for a fast look at my week, after which a Training Recovery Card, adopted by different particular person metrics.
The backside has simply 4 tabs for fast navigation to your sleep and exercise information, in addition to your profile. The latter possibility permits you to view and add units to the app when you’ve got a sensible ring and Amazfit smartwatch, and you’ll dive into every system to allow or disable well being options and replace the firmware. You may also shortly soar to every system in your app from the Home tab simply by tapping their respective icon within the high left nook.
The app will inform you on tips on how to put on the ring accurately, present each day use suggestions, and extra so that you could perceive the ins and outs of utilizing the ring. Additionally, you’ll be able to set each day objectives like goal steps, weight, and sleep. The Zepp app additionally helps third-party app linking, with fashionable choices like Strava and Adidas Running.
One function that was added in August was a Find Device operate, which can activate the inexperienced LED to hopefully make the ring simpler to search out. This is a operate I first noticed on the Samsung Galaxy Ring, and I assumed it was fairly genius since I tend to misplace my sensible rings. How useful that is stays to be seen, but it surely’s higher than nothing (taking a look at you, Oura) since a hoop cannot precisely emit any audible sounds.
Amazfit Helio Ring: Health monitoring
Health monitoring is fairly normal on the Helio Ring. It has a PPG coronary heart price monitor, temperature sensor, and EDA sensor. It’s able to monitoring blood oxygen ranges, stress, and menstrual cycles, which is par for the course in terms of sensible rings. That is to say, none of it is significantly groundbreaking, but it surely offers you the data you want.
Sleep monitoring does not really feel as detailed as what you’d get on different rings, however I believe that is largely as a result of the data is offered in such a means that makes it simple to see the way you slept. You get a sleep rating based mostly on the assorted elements, and to date it intently matches the scores I’d get from my Oura Ring and Fitbit. You may also develop the sleep phases graph for a greater visible illustration of your complete sleep time, or you’ll be able to check with the person playing cards to see how lengthy you had been in every sleep stage.
In addition to coronary heart price variability, one attention-grabbing function is the Sleep respiration high quality, which is at the moment in beta and may also help detect indicators and signs associated to sleep apnea. The Helio Ring will look out for and monitor the variety of “episodes” you might have throughout your sleep, which could possibly be helpful for individuals who suspect they might endure from sleep apnea or are attempting to trace and reduce their signs.
Workout monitoring is fairly primary, which is often the case for sensible rings since these are extra centered on well being and never precisely focused for health use. However, there are a number of exercises you’ll be able to observe from the app when utilizing simply the Helio Ring, together with operating, strolling, and biking. I really like that you would be able to specify when you’re operating exterior or on a treadmill, and the app will use your telephone’s Location Services if it is the previous.
That mentioned, there isn’t any solution to really observe issues like lifting weights, which I’m extra more likely to do than go on a run. That’s the place a smartwatch is available in, and it is one thing Amazfit is relying on. The firm is leveraging some helpful AI methods that can embody and de-duplicate information added from an Amazfit smartwatch in order that none of it overlaps. That means, you’ll be able to observe a exercise on the watch after which observe a run later with the ring (or sporting each), and the app will fuse the information.
In reality, I spoke to Gregory Heard, product supervisor for the Helio Ring, in regards to the variations between utilizing a hoop and watch when monitoring information and whether or not one is “higher” than one other. He says that figuring out which is “higher” form of misses the purpose, and that they are meant for use interchangably.
“Generally talking, each rings and watches are nice applied sciences for understanding your physique, encouraging a wholesome life-style, and monitoring your athletic efficiency, each in real-time and over time,” Heard instructed me in an e mail. “But they excel in numerous conditions.”
“Many individuals discover watches uncomfortable for sleeping, however rings are an important for this. Conversely, a sports activities watch is a lot better in your exercises as a result of it shows all of your metrics throughout exercise, and doesn’t need to be tethered to your telephone for issues like Location Services monitoring. We take into account them completely different instruments for various jobs.”
This is a great method because it’s how I’ve discovered myself utilizing sensible rings. With Oura, the additional information comes from app integrations like Strava, which are not all the time dependable or will duplicate information that the ring has already tracked itself, which I generally discover irritating.
For the needs of the assessment, I wore the Amazfit T-Rex Pro for weightlifting and the ring for different issues like operating and sleeping, and I wasn’t frightened about any of the information being duplicated. I like that it even permits you to select which system to make use of to trace your coronary heart price when you choose the Helio-supported exercises.
Unfortunately, there’s technically no computerized exercise monitoring, however the ring will log sure actions in your calorie card, which I discover attention-grabbing. It will inform me if I used to be strolling gradual or quick, or if I used to be doing a lightweight exercise.
The Helio Ring has many primary health-tracking options however misses out on some large ones or depends on a linked smartwatch to fill within the blanks.
As for step counting, the Helio Ring carried out surprisingly nicely in our multi-smartwatch/sensible ring step take a look at, logging the fewest errors of every other system. There are instances when I’ve observed it would deviate by a couple of hundred steps when in comparison with my Pixel Watch 2 or Garmin Venu 3, so I all the time warning that it’s best to take sensible ring step counts with a grain of salt, however general, I discover that it does not endure as a lot from the phantom steps that my colleagues have complained about with different rings, the place they may discover 1000’s of steps logged whereas barely having moved in the course of the day.
The ring has an Auto Emotions Monitor, which can examine your emotional well-being all through the day and aid you perceive your stress. It jogs my memory of a really comparable function on my Pixel Watch 2, however I have never discovered this to be significantly helpful, and I discover it form of anxious when an app tells me I’m confused.
All of this comes collectively to feed the Readiness rating, which takes all of your metrics under consideration that can assist you decide how finest to sort out your day. Tapping on this card will offer you perception into what contributed to your rating and recommendation on what you are able to do to keep up it or benefit from it.
Amazfit Helio Ring: What I do not like
Unfortunately, one of many Helio Ring’s greatest downsides is its battery life. While lots of the extra fashionable fashions final seven days or extra, the Helio Ring solely lasts 4 days, and even that is not a given. Toggle on a few of the well being monitoring options, and you will be met with a warning that they may “enormously” or “considerably” scale back battery life.
Four days is a lot better than many Android smartwatches, significantly these operating Wear OS, but it surely’s woefully behind different sensible rings. Given its dimension, I’m shocked Amazfit wasn’t in a position to match a bigger battery into the ring.
Additionally, when it is time to cost the ring, the included charging puck is a bit irritating to make use of. It’s formed largely just like the one which comes with the Oura Ring, however the divots on the puck to suit the ring sensors make it annoyingly onerous to simply drop the ring on and cost. I discover myself twiddling with it extra usually than now.
Another drawback is that this ring is just obtainable in three sizes, whereas different units are supplied in eight or 9 sizes. That’s yet one more than at launch, but it surely’s extraordinarily restricted when sensible rings are anticipated to have a sure match to work correctly. Those with smaller fingers could discover themselves out of luck in the event that they’re seeking to buy a mannequin, whereas these with bigger fingers could discover it troublesome to get a correct match on the really helpful digits.
In addition, you solely get one shade and end, so there is not a lot in the way in which of choice when shopping for it. While I just like the design, it might be good to have a silver or rose gold possibility for anybody who does not look after the gold-esque Titanium shade.
If Amazfit is hoping to promote lots of these, it definitely does not present.
Lastly, whereas Amazfit highlights that there are “no subscriptions required,” there are nonetheless subscriptions, and the app does a great job of hiding them and popping them up while you least count on it. Want deeper insights into your sleep or entry to your weekly health report? Sign up for not one, however two completely different prescriptions. Even the AI chatbot Aura is proscribed in it performance till you enroll.
It’s fairly intelligent to cover these subscriptions within the app, however whereas they don’t seem to be essential for many features, it nonetheless feels fairly disingenuous to have them when most different sensible rings, other than Oura, do not require subscriptions.
Amazfit Helio Ring: Competition
If you are out there for a sensible ring, there are fairly a couple of to select from, however the Oura Ring Gen 3 has just about set the usual. Despite launching in 2021 and being a bit tough across the edges, the ring has come a good distance, including an increasing number of options all through the years and basically being the one to beat. That mentioned, it does get costly and may go for greater than $500, relying on the end you get. However, it is rather more feature-rich and has a battery that can final a few week.
If you need one thing with much more battery life, the RingConn Gen 2 Smart Ring can last as long as 12 days on a single cost and comes with a charging case. It additionally is available in extra sizes and finishes, and it helps sleep apnea detection. Unfortunately, you will not discover computerized exercise monitoring in any type, and there isn’t any connection to smartwatches that the ring can benefit from.
That’s the place the Galaxy Ring is available in, which is the present newcomer within the sensible ring house. While the ring is a little more costly and tough across the edges, it does include the advantage of Galaxy AI and even has distinctive smartphone gestures that allow you to seize images remotely or flip off alarms.
Amazfit Helio Ring: Should you purchase it?
You can buy this if…
- You personal an Amazfit smartwatch
- You could endure from sleep apnea
- You desire a ring that can observe your stress and feelings
You should not purchase this if…
- You desire a sensible ring with nice battery life
- You have smaller fingers
- You will not personal an Amazfit smartwatch
Just like how a few of the options are in beta, the Helio Ring itself seems like a beta product. There’s no denying there’s fairly a little bit of potential right here with how the app combines information from a smartwatch to contribute to your Readiness rating, however the system simply falls behind on a few of the most necessary facets of a sensible ring. Battery life is the largest factor, and whereas it is not horrible, it is nonetheless behind the pack.
There additionally simply is not a lot alternative when shopping for a Helio Ring, which makes me really feel like little thought was put into making a sensible ring. That’s stunning, given the corporate’s spectacular lineup of smartwatches.
As a primary well being tracker, the Amazfit Helio Ring will get lots of the fundamentals proper with a sturdy design and a reasonably correct step counter. But for this worth level, you would be higher off simply getting an Oura Ring or perhaps a RingConn Gen 2 Smart Ring. However, it could be price a glance if you will get the ring at a reduction.
Your Amazfit companion
The Amazfit Helio Ring is a good sensible ring that options lots of the fundamentals in terms of well being monitoring. It’s additionally an important possibility for sleep monitoring, particularly for anybody struggling with sleep apnea. If you have already got an Amazfit smartwatch, this is perhaps an important companion for instances when you do not wish to put on a cumbersome watch.
