Ultrahuman — one of the biggest players in the smart ring space not named Oura — just announced the new Ultrahuman Ring Pro. This flagship, third-generation model features competitive specs, including 15 days of battery, dual-core processing with on-chip machine learning, and overhauled continuous heart rate tracking for improved sleep and workout recovery insights.
The Ultrahuman Ring Rro debuts alongside Ultrahuman's new Pro charging case, which offers quite a few additional functions, beyond storing and recharging the ring. Read on for the pertinent details on this new Oura Ring 4 competitor and accessory, along with my take on whether or not it be one of the best Oura Ring alternatives.
Ultrahuman Ring Pro: Key specs and features
- Ultrahuman's third-generation smart ring and new flagship model
- Redesigned heart rate sensor should improve tracking accuracy
- New dual-core processor for faster/improved data processing
- Core holistic features are subscription-free
- Up to 15 days of battery per charge
- New 'Pro' charging case keeps the ring charged for up to 45 days; also delivers firmware updates
- 'ProRelease Technology' makes the ring easier to remove in an emergency
- Available in Bionic Gold, Space Silver, Aster Black, and Raw Titanium
- Sizes 5–14
- $479; ship in March
- No U.S. availability at launch
Ultrahuman Ring Pro: Price and availability
The Ultrahuman Ring Pro starts at $479, which is $129 more than the Oura Ring 4. However, that cost (presumably) includes the Pro charging case (Oura's charging case is another $99).
Ultrahuman's new flagship smart ring will be available in sizes five through 14 and in four finishes, including gold, silver, black, and titanium. Available for preorder now, the Ultrahuman Ring Pro is expected to begin shipping in March. However, it will not be available in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.
Ultrahuman Ring Pro: Key features explained
Compared to the brand's most recent device, the Ultrahuman Ring Air, the new model features an overhauled heart rate sensor that promises more accurate signal readings, particularly while users are sleeping. Ultrahuman says this should result in more meaningful insights into workout recovery, too.
Processing power has also been greatly improved. The Ultrahuman Ring Pro sports a dual-core processor that can handle on-chip machine learning tasks (rather than relying on a paired phone).
Battery life has been vastly increased, too. Ultrahuman claims the Ring Pro can keep on chooglin for up to 15 days per charge compared to just four days for the Ring Air. Once you factor in the new Pro charging case, that rating increases to 45 days of use before needing to find a power outlet.
Beyond powering and protecting the Ring Pro, the new case can also be used to update the device's firmware. Plus, it has onboard storage with enough room to store up to a year's worth of offloaded health data from the ring. An LED indicator on the case lets you easily keep tabs on remaining power, while haptic feedback delivers alerts.
Ultrahuman Ring Pro: Outlook
Before getting into the Ultrahuman Ring Pro's overall outlook — or more simply, predicting whether or not it will make it into our best smart ring guide — I'd be remiss not to address the elephant in the room: lack of U.S. availability.
This is almost certainly a result of the Oura vs Ultrahuman patent dispute that culminated in Ultrahuman being forced to yank the Ultrahuman Ring Air from U.S. markets right toward the end of last year.
Clearly, Ultrahuman is worried about the brand's latest flagship facing a similar reckoning. So, does this mean that the Ring Pro won't ever make it to the grand ol' USA? Not necessarily.
It's entirely possible that Ultrahuman was able to find workarounds for the Ring Pro that don't infringe on Oura's patents. If this is the case, I suspect the brand is simply doing a bit of extra due diligence to ensure that when the new flagship does come Stateside, it will actually be able to be sold.
Lawsuits aside, based on launch specs and features — plus our positive impressions of prior Ultrahuman models — I can definitely see the Ultrahuman Ring Pro giving the Oura Ring 4 a proper run for the money.
Unfortunately, as a U.S.-based journalist, I'm not sure the new device will ever grace my index finger. Thankfully, my colleagues in the UK will still be able to handle a full review in my place as soon as samples become available.
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