While smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra dominate the wearable tech scene, a new contender is steadily gaining traction: the smart ring. These unobtrusive devices offer a compelling alternative for those seeking a more discreet way to track their health and fitness.
Despite not yet matching the full functionality of their wrist-worn counterparts, smart rings boast an impressive array of features, including activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and even heart rate measurement. Their minimalist design and unparalleled comfort make them an appealing option for individuals who find smartwatches bulky or intrusive.
The smart ring market is burgeoning with exciting options. Let’s delve into some of the leading choices available today.
Oura Ring Horizon
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Oura Ring Gen 3
Best overall smart ring
Pros
Beautiful design
Lightweight and comfortable
Informative and easy to use app
Accurate sleep tracking
Wear-and-forget battery life
Convenient charging
Cons
Subscription required for app access
No general fitness tracking
Some people will need a smartwatch too
The Oura Ring Gen 3 is a sophisticated health and wellness tracker disguised as a stylish ring. Worn 24/7, it continuously monitors your body using advanced sensors that captures a wealth of data, including your heart rate, temperature, and movement. This information translates into personalized insights about your sleep, activity levels, and recovery, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health. It can also automatically track over 40 exercises, which is handy when you don’t have a screen to manually start an exercise.
While its sleek design and comfortable fit make it ideal for continuous wear, the actual value lies in the Oura app. Here, the data comes to life, providing detailed sleep stage analysis, personalized activity goals, and guidance on optimizing your recovery. Although it lacks some smartwatch features and requires a membership subscription for full functionality, the Oura Ring Gen 3 is a discreet and powerful tool for those seeking a deeper understanding of their well-being.
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The biggest negative about the Oura Ring Gen 3? There’s the aforementioned subscription fee, which isn’t present on some of its competitors. But also, there’s an even bigger reason not to buy the Oura Ring Gen 3 right now: The Oura Ring 4 is slowly making its way onto the market, and it’s sure to be the one to buy. We’ll let you know once we’ve put it through its paces.
The Oura Ring Gen 3 might not be around for much longer due to its successor being around now, and as such, you’re restricted to finding it on third-party stores, rather than from Oura officially. However, it might be worth keeping an eye out for a good discount.
Oura Ring Gen 3
Best overall smart ring
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Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
RingConn Gen 2
Best subscription-free smart ring
Pros
Thin, slim, and light
Sleep apnea monitoring
At least six days battery life
Convenient travel charger included
No subscription
Cons
No automatic activity tracking
Limited workout tracking
App lacks informative analytics
The RingConn Gen 2 is a compelling choice for those seeking a discreet and affordable entry into the world of smart rings. This lightweight and stylish ring punches above its weight, offering many features without the burden of a monthly subscription. The lightweight build is one of its strongest features, but don’t forget the six-day battery life, and included charging case, which means you’re not tethered to a cable when you need to recharge.
Despite its budget-friendly price, the RingConn Gen 2 provides comprehensive health data, tracking your sleep stages, heart rate variability (HRV), stress levels, and even SpO2 (blood oxygen) levels. Its standout feature is the ability to monitor for sleep apnea, a serious condition often undiagnosed, making it a valuable tool for those concerned about their sleep health. And with a battery life that lasts for days on a single charge, you can wear it continuously without interruption.
While it may not offer automatic workout detection or the granular fitness metrics of higher-priced competitors, the RingConn Gen 2 excels in its core functionality, providing valuable insights into your sleep quality and overall health. It’s a fantastic option for those seeking a simple, no-frills wearable that prioritizes essential tracking without breaking the bank. With prices starting from $300 and no subscription fee, it’s a tempting choice.
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RingConn Gen 2
Best subscription-free smart ring
Nothing says “normal” like a person wearing smart ring and holding a mug of tea
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Ultrahuman Ring Air
Best subscription-free smart ring runner-up
Pros
No monthly subscription charge
Comprehensive sensor array
Four-day battery life
22 workout tracking modes
Unobtrusive and comfortable design
Cons
Confusing app lacks clear motivation
No way to change your goals
App is cluttered and lacks focus
The Ultrahuman Ring Air enters the smart ring arena with a compelling proposition: robust health and fitness tracking without recurring subscription costs. This makes it a tempting alternative to established players like the Oura Ring, but does it dethrone the champion?
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In short: No. Our experience with the Ring Air has been mixed. The hardware is undeniably impressive. It’s incredibly comfortable, lightweight, and packed with sensors to capture a wide range of physiological data. However, the accompanying app leaves something to be desired. The interface feels cluttered and needs more of the motivational elements that make other fitness trackers engaging. Those who love pure data though? Well, they’ll have a field day with this app, though even they may need a Google search or two to figure out what some stats mean.
While Ring Air excels at collecting data, it needs to improve at presenting it in a user-friendly manner. The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, and the insights aren’t always readily apparent. While the fitness tracking features are robust, the inability to personalize goals feels like a missed opportunity.
The Ultrahuman Ring Air is undeniably a bold attempt to disrupt the smart ring market. It’s a scrappy underdog with a unique approach, but it’s not without its shortcomings. Still, it’s another solid choice for a ring without a subscription cost.
Ultrahuman Ring Air
Best subscription-free smart ring runner-up
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Galaxy Ring in its charging case
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Best smart ring for Samsung phones
Pros
Incredibly light and comfortable design
Great sleep tracking
4+ days of battery life
Excellent charging case
Doesn’t have a subscription
Cons
Wildly inaccurate SpO2 levels
Poor workout tracking accuracy
Doesn’t work with the iPhone
Too expensive, tough competition
Samsung has entered the smart ring arena with the Galaxy Ring, a sleek and stylish device boasting impressive battery life and seamless integration with the Samsung ecosystem. While this first-generation product showcases Samsung’s potential in this burgeoning wearable category, it’s not without its shortcomings.
Crafted from lightweight titanium, the Galaxy Ring offers a comfortable fit and a premium aesthetic. Its four-plus-day battery life surpasses a number of competitors, ensuring uninterrupted tracking. Where the Galaxy Ring truly shines is in its sleep tracking capabilities, providing detailed insights into sleep stages and patterns. This, combined with its seamless integration with Samsung Health, makes it a compelling choice for those already invested in Samsung’s ecosystem.
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However, the Galaxy Ring stumbles in key areas. Its activity tracking accuracy falls short of expectations, particularly when compared to more established fitness trackers. Furthermore, the $400 price tag feels steep considering these limitations and the competitive landscape.
Despite these drawbacks, the Galaxy Ring represents a significant step for Samsung. It demonstrates the company’s commitment to innovation in the wearable space and lays the foundation for future iterations. With improvements to activity tracking accuracy and a more competitive price point, subsequent generations of the Galaxy Ring could truly solidify Samsung’s position as a leader in the smart ring market.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Best smart ring for Samsung phones
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Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
RingConn Gen 1
Best low-cost smart ring
Pros
Very comfortable to wear
No app subscription
Detailed sleep tracking
Travel charging case included
Seven days battery life
Cons
No workout tracking
App notifications haven’t worked
HRV and blood oxygen accuracy needs improvement
The Oura Ring has long been a leader in the smart ring space, but the premium price and subscription model can be a barrier for some. Enter the RingConn Smart Ring, a first-generation device that aims to deliver similar functionality at a more accessible price point. But can it truly compete with the established giant?
Designed for 24/7 wear, the RingConn prioritizes comfort with its unique “squircle” shape and tapered edges that minimize irritation. An impressive seven-day battery life ensures uninterrupted tracking, further enhancing its wearability. Our in-depth review revealed surprisingly accurate sleep tracking, rivaling the Oura Ring’s data in precision. The RingConn app presents this data clearly, offering valuable insights into sleep stages, activity levels, and vital signs without overwhelming users with complex jargon.
However, the RingConn isn’t without its limitations. Dedicated workout tracking is absent, which may disappoint fitness enthusiasts. Furthermore, we observed some inconsistencies in heart rate variability and blood-oxygen readings, indicating that the sensor technology may not be as refined as that found in higher-priced competitors.
Google is finally fixing a longstanding problem with the way third-party password managers work within the Android version of Chrome.
In an update coming next month, Google will enable native autofill for third-party password manager apps like Dashlane and 1Password in the Chrome app on Android.
The update was announced in a post to Google’s Android Developers Blog by developer advocate Eiji Kitamura and will hopefully alleviate several issues with the way such password managers work with the app currently.
In the post, Kitamura details current issues including “showing duplicate suggestions from Google and a third party”, and “janky page scrolling” when using third party password managers. This stems from the password manager having to use a “compatibility mode” when interacting with Chrome, even when set as the Android phone’s system default in settings. As The Verge notes, this causes glitching that isn’t present on Safari or even Chrome for iOS.
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The forthcoming update will, in turn, enable third party password managers to natively autofill passwords and passkeys, as well as other details including addresses and payment information.
How to test the update yourself
This fix will hopefully put an end to the issues. But if you’d rather check for yourself you can test the new third party password manager integration by installing a beta version of the upcoming Chrome 131 update from the Google Play store and following these instructions.
First, head to the Settings app and select the Passwords, passkeys and accounts tab, and tap the Change button underneath the currently selected service. Select a new third party service.
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This is where it gets a bit technical – open the Chrome app and paste the following into the URL bar: chrome://flags#enable-autofill-virtual-view-structure
Set the flag that appears to Enabled, then restart Chrome. Head to Chrome’s Settings and select Autofill services, select Autofill using another service, and then restart Chrome again.
Voila! You should now have access to smoother autofill for your third party password manager.
The stable version of Chrome 131 releases to all users on November 12. Until then, be sure to keep up with our Android coverage for the latest updates.
DC Studios’ upcoming film Superman is less than a year away, and countless comic book fans are anxious to see the new Man of Steel in James Gunn’s reboot of the DC Universe. Originally titled Superman: Legacy, this blockbuster will be the Last Son of Krypton’s first solo film in over 10 years, so the hype is palpable. For those excited to learn more about this superhero epic, here’s a breakdown of everything that’s been revealed about 2025’s Superman so far.
According to Variety, the film “tells the story of Superman’s journey to reconcile his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing as Clark Kent of Smallville, Kansas. He is the embodiment of truth, justice, and the American way, guided by human kindness in a world that sees kindness as old-fashioned.”
Though plot details are still scarce, Gunn revealed on Instagram that the story and its characters are inspired by comics across several eras. Gunn’s influences include the comics from writer Grant Morrison, particularly All-Star Superman, as well as Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come, Jeph Loeb’s A Superman For All Seasons, and Alan Moore’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow? Gunn also revealed that he was influenced by director Richard Donner’s Superman films, 1941’s animated movie Superman: The Mad Scientist, and Superman: The Animated Series.
As the first film in Gunn’s cinematic universe, Superman has assembled a large cast of notable comic book characters to bring this new franchise to life. The movie won’t just feature characters from the Man of Steel’s corner of the world. Superman will also feature characters more often linked to other notable DC heroes and teams, including Wonder Woman, the Justice League, and the Green Lantern Corps. Many of them haven’t even appeared in a live-action film yet, displaying Gunn’s knack for taking overlooked comic book characters and turning them into household names. Here’s a quick overview of the confirmed cast members and their characters so far:
David Corenswet as Clark Kent/Superman
Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane
Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl
Edi Gathegi as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific
Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner/Green Lantern
Anthony Carrigan as Rex Mason/Metamorpho
María Gabriela de Faría as Angela Spica/The Engineer
Sara Sampaio as Eve Teschmacher
Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor
Terence Rosemore as Otis
Wendell Pierce as Perry White
Pruitt Taylor Vince as Jonathan Kent
Neva Howell as Martha Kent
Sean Gunn as Maxwell Lord
Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard
Mikaela Hoover as Cat Grant
Christopher McDonald as Ron Troupe
Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr.
Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El/Supergirl
The film will also star Will Reeve, son of late Superman actor Christopher Reeve, as a news reporter. Harley Quinn actor Alan Tudyk has also been cast in an unknown role.
Given that Tudyk voices Doctor Phosphorus in Creature Commandos, there is a chance he will reprise this respective role from the show in the film alongside Frank Grillo’s Rick Flag Sr. As recently revealed on X, Clark’s alien pet, Krypto the Superdog, will make his first appearance in a live-action film.
Unsurprisingly, James Gunn has signed up to both write and direct Superman. A movie about the Blue Boy Scout will surely be a departure from the more vulgar, comedic projects in his filmography, which include The Suicide Squad, Peacemaker, and Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. However, Gunn is the one who laid out the overarching story of this DC Universe, so it makes sense that he’d be the one to introduce it in theaters.
Since Superman finished filming in July 2024, it’s still too early for DC to release a full-length trailer. Despite this, Gunn revealed on Threads that he is considering showing a teaser or trailer to the public before the end of 2024.
No runtime has been revealed at this time. Given the scale and scope teased for the film, it is safe to say Superman will clock in somewhere between two and three hours long to do its vast story and numerous characters justice.
No official posters have been released for the film. However, a handful of promotional stills have circulated online, many of which show in Corenswet in the Superman suit, rocking the hero’s classic red briefs. His suit also bears Superman’s trademark “S” symbol, which is based on the suit design from Kingdom Come.
The images released so far include behind-the-scenes photos of filming in Metropolis, the Kent Farm, and possibly Superman’s Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic. All these images hint at an epic, expansive sci-fi blockbuster just waiting to be unveiled in theaters.
Right now, audiences are buzzing over the reveal of the DCU’s Krypto, which shows the Kryptonian canine sitting on the moon, looking down on the Earth next to Superman. It’s a far cry from anything audiences have seen from the Man of Steel in the DC Extended Universe, yet it harks back to the days of Christopher Reeve’s more whimsical Superman movies.
All in all, the image implies that the studio has embraced the wondrous, lighthearted nature of the source material, which should please die-hard comic book fans.
Superman will be the initial film in the DC Universe’s first phase, dubbed “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters,” meaning it will help lay the groundwork for multiple future stories. DC Studios has already greenlit projects for Chapter One centered around Supergirl, the Authority, and the Green Lantern Corps. The appearance of Supergirl, Guy Gardner, and the Engineer will likely help set up the events of these upcoming projects, with the former most likely debuting in a post-credits scene.
Rick Flag Sr.’s appearance in the film will also tie into the animated series Creature Commandos, which will debut the character a year before this film’s premiere. Due to Flag’s relationship with Amanda Waller through the Creature Commandos, his presence should even link Superman to characters like Waller, Peacemaker, and the Suicide Squad.
The Samsung Galaxy A16 4G has been announced with major Android OS update promise
The device comes pre-installed with Android 14 out of the box, and Samsung’s One UI skin on top of it, of course. Considering this update promise, the device should be getting updates up to Android 20 in 2029.
In terms of design and specs, this phone is almost identical to the 5G model. It does come with a different SoC, though, as 5G support is not included here. This is a 4G LTE smartphone, which launched in France first.
The device has a flat display, with rather thin bezels, well, all but the bottom one. That ‘chin’ is noticeable thicker than the rest of the phone’s bezels. A notch is also placed on this display.
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The power/lock button doubles as a fingerprint scanner, and together with the volume rocker buttons it sits on a protrusion on the right side. For some reason the part where the buttons are sticks out more than the right side of the phone in general. It should make finding the buttons real easy, though.
It has three rear cameras and a 90Hz display
There are three cameras on the back of this phone. They are vertically-aligned in the top-left corner of its back side. The back side of the phone is flat, by the way.
A 6.7-inch fullHD+ Super AMOLED display is used here, with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone is fueled by the MediaTek Helio G99 processor, and it comes with 4GB of RAM. 128GB of internal storage is also included. Its storage is expandable, by the way.
This phone is IP54 certified for water and dust resistance, while a 5,000mAh battery sits on the inside of the phone. The device supports 25W wired charging, but no wireless charging.
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A 50-megapixel main camera is included, along with a 5-megapixel ultrawide camera. A 2-megapixel macro camera also sits on the back. On the front, you’ll find a 13-megapixel selfie shooter.
There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack here, while Bluetooth 5.3 is supported too. The Samsung Galaxy A16 comes in Gray, Midnight Blue, and Water Green color options. The price tag is still unknown.
Amazon finally did it: This week the company announced the Kindle Colorsoft, its first color E Ink e-reader. In this episode, Devindra and Cherlynn discuss where this device sits in a world of cheap tablets, and they dive into the updated Kindle Paperwhite and the writable Kindle Scribe. Also, we’ve got final thoughts on the Meta Quest 3S, the updated iPad Mini and tons of news.
Listen below or subscribe on your podcast app of choice. If you’ve got suggestions or topics you’d like covered on the show, be sure to email us or drop a note in the comments! And be sure to check out our other podcast, Engadget News!
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Topics
Amazon announces new Kindle Colorsoft, updated Kindle Scribe and Paperwhite – 0:51
Devindra’s Meta Quest 3S review: impressive VR for a fair price – 38:14
Apple quietly drops new iPad Minis – 45:25
Tesla’s Robotaxi event: lots of big promises that will be hard to fulfill – 51:38
Amazon and Google go nuclear (power) – 54:44
Android 15 starts to hit Pixel devices – 55:51
Analogue 3D will give you 4K N64 games, just don’t call it an emulator – 57:14
Working on – 1:00:48
Pop culture picks – 1:04:38
Livestream
Credits
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low Producer: Ben Ellman Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
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Google is planning to ban advertisers from running ads related to the US presidential election after polls close on November 5th. Axios reports that this is the second time Google has decided to ban election ads once polls close, after first implementing the policy during the 2020 election.
Google says it’s reenacting the policy again this year “out of an abundance of caution and to limit the potential for confusion, given the likelihood that votes will continue to be counted after Election Day.”
During the last presidential election in 2020, it took days for President Biden’s win to be confirmed after an influx of postal voting during the pandemic. Google’s policy applies to any US election ads or ads that refer to the US elections that run through its ad platforms like Google Ads, YouTube, Shopping ads, and more.
Meta is also blocking new political ads during the final week of the US election campaign, like it did in 2020. It has also been requiring advertisers to disclose when they use AI or other digital methods to alter ads.
Netflix has shared a glimpse at Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan’s (Martin Henderson) dreamy wedding in the new Virgin River season 6 teaser – and I’m now just waiting for my invite in the mail!
Mel and Jack have faced many hardships throughout their time in the sleepy town. While struggling with their own traumas, they’ve endured a heartbreaking miscarriage, love triangle, and a devastating wildfire. But now, our favorite couple will walk down the aisle and have the happily ever after they deserve.
The teaser trailer (see below) starts with a heartwarming montage of the couple’s most romantic moments along with a voiceover of Jack’s swoon-worthy proposal from the season 4 finale. We also get a glance at Mel’s wedding dress and Jack looking dapper in his wedding suit, as well as snippets of Mel’s bachelorette party.
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Adjust your buttonholes and grab your bouquets
Spoilers follow for the ending of Virgin River season 5.
Virgin River: Season 6 | Official Teaser | Netflix – YouTube
Virgin River season 6 focuses on the lead-up to Mel and Jack’s wedding, with showrunner Patrick Sean Smith telling Tudum: “We’re trying to hit all the milestones of the pre-wedding planning, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner. I’m so proud of how it turned out. It felt very Virgin River in its production – the ambition of it, and that we’re a small group of people that care about something so much: the fans. So we just busted our humps to get it done.”
While season 6 leans into the romance of the series, there’s still going to be “the signature Virgin River twists and turns,” Sean Smith said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
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The upcoming installment of the best Netflix show takes place in the springtime, a few months after season 5’s Christmas episodes where Mel discovered the identity of her biological father, Everett Reid (John Allen Nelson). We’ll also be introduced to two new characters in Virgin River season 6, as Jessica Rothe (Happy Death Day) and Callum Kerr (One Piece) will play a young version of Mel’s parents, Sarah and Everett who will appear in flashbacks as they meet and fall in love in the 1970s.
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