Ultrahuman Ring AIR review
- Josie Shillabeer
- Mar 16
- 18 min read
Nutritional therapist review of the Ultrahuman Ring Air, the subscription-free, low-EMF smart ring designed for sleep. Can it really improve your sleep?
To support our health and wellbeing, we often focus our time and attention on improving diet and exercise. Yet we frequently overlook the importance of optimising our sleep. It’s vital for rest and recovery; in fact, poor-quality sleep has been linked to an increased risk of chronic health conditions, including dementia and heart disease.
But there’s one major problem with tracking our sleep … we are asleep! How do we know if our sleep is optimal or not? Thankfully, because of advances in smart wearables, we can now find out what we’ve been up to while we’re in Dreamland. And I’ve recently had the chance to test one out for myself—the Ultrahuman Ring Air.
Ultrahuman Ring Air review: A sceptic’s story
Before trialling the Ultrahuman Ring Air, I was convinced that smart health trackers were just a bit of fun that would soon end up at the bottom of a drawer unused. However, after wearing my smart ring for just a few months, I can now say that I was very wrong!
I have tried a variety of trackers, from a wrist-worn band to a pedometer clipped to my trouser pocket. While these devices were exciting to wear for the first couple of weeks, the promised motivation didn’t last. In the end, I found that the discomfort of wearing them was not worth the limited useful data they provided. And, while I had the data, I didn’t know how to turn it into actionable steps—making it virtually useless.
When asked to trial the Ultrahuman Ring Air for this review, I was hesitant because of my previous experiences with smart wearables. At first, I put up a bit of a fight. However, after trialling the ring for six months, I have been won over—especially for tracking and optimising my sleep.
Note: Ultrahuman provided the Ring Air for us to review. However, all opinions are our own.
Design: Lightweight and comfortable
My journey with the Ultrahuman Ring Air started when the ring-sizing kit arrived through my letterbox. I was initially concerned about ordering the correct size, since a ring can’t be adjusted. With 10 band sizes to choose from and time to put each size to the test (sleeping, swimming, and working), I felt confident with my final decision. I opted for the ring that fitted on multiple fingers, enabling me to move the ring to a smaller or larger finger as they swell up and down with the heat.
One unexpected surprise within the ring sizing kit was a colour swatch card. This had the five ring colours I could choose from: Bionic Gold, Aster Black, Raw Titanium, Space Silver, and Matt Grey. As I’m writing this review, Ultrahuman has just released a sixth colour—Brushed Rose Gold. Originally, I had selected ‘Raw Titanium’, but after seeing the colours in person I opted for ‘Aster Black’ as I felt it suited my more feminine hand.
As a nutritional therapist, I have come across many smart health devices. With my previous scepticism, their expensive upfront cost and ongoing subscriptions, I felt disinclined to invest my money or recommend them to others. When the Ultrahuman Ring Air landed on my desk, I wanted to know what the catch was. £329 (UK) / $349 (US), with no subscription fees, provides ongoing access to all of your data and future updates. And, while this is a significant initial investment, Ultrahuman has promised to stick with its subscription-free model.
My Ultrahuman ring arrived swiftly after confirming my size and colour. The packaging was well thought out and felt very premium. The harsh critic in me was not as impressed with the ring when I first put it on my finger. It weighs just 2.4g, and this initially made it feel cheap. However, after wearing the ring day and night for just a few days, I could see why having the ‘world’s lightest smart ring’ was actually an advantage. It was so light that I frequently forgot I was wearing it.
The Ultrahuman Ring Air is made from a smooth, hypoallergenic casing, wrapped in ‘fighter jet grade’ titanium. Aster Black is further coated with tungsten carbide carbon, and Matte Black is finished with a Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC). The Ring Air is water-resistant to a depth of 100m and can be worn in tap, salt and chlorinated water. Unfortunately, as noted in other reviews, the coating of my Aster Black ring has flaked off in places. I have been careful to look after my ring, storing it safely and removing it when at risk of getting damaged. Fortunately, it is just the thin coloured coating that has come away—my ring has no chips or scratches that could affect its structure.
One thing to note: if you are opting for a ring with a shiny finish, you cannot escape fingerprints. Negative, although this may seem, I actually really like the rustic look and character this provides. If fingerprints and marks are a pet peeve, opt for raw titanium as this has a matte finish and doesn’t have an additional coating that can flake off.
In-built sensors: What do they track?
Under the hood, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is packed with an array of sensors to collect useful data. These include:
Medical-grade temperature sensor: measures external skin temperature.
IMU (inertial measurement unit): tracks movement across six axes; tosses and turns during sleep are recorded, as well as the number of steps you take throughout the day.
PPG (photoplethysmography) sensor: measures blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, and heart rate variability (HRV).
The Ring Air uses a combination of these sensors to provide you with an array of data—from sleep stages and duration, to heart rate zones and step count. For the tech-curious, the clear inner casing shows off the internal workings. And it’s very impressive to see how Ultrahuman has engineered each component to fit into such a small, curved device.
Low-EMF smart ring: Why is it important for health?
Over the past few years, I’ve made a conscious effort to limit exposure to man-made sources of EMF (electromagnetic fields), which are emitted by devices like phones, Wi-Fi routers, and Bluetooth gadgets. While EMF also exists naturally—from the earth’s magnetic field and the sun—our increased exposure through modern technology has been linked to various health issues, including fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, and even cancer.
That’s why I was excited to discover that the Ultrahuman Ring Air emits significantly lower EMF radiation compared to other Bluetooth wearables. By limiting connections with your smartphone—only when you open the Ultrahuman App, or at regular time intervals—Bluetooth activity remains below 1% throughout the day. What’s more, aeroplane mode enables you to turn off Bluetooth entirely, making me feel more comfortable wearing it against my skin 24/7. I activate aeroplane mode before bed, and the ring continues to collect data overnight, which I then sync with the app the next morning.
There are a few quirks to using the Ultrahuman ring in aeroplane mode. For instance, it can’t be activated when the ring is at 100% charge, so I sometimes have to wait for the battery to drop slightly. Also, to reconnect it with the app, the ring must be placed on the charger. While this is great for helping to keep my ring charged, it is not always convenient. For example, when I went swimming, I forgot to turn aeroplane mode off before leaving home. I went to activate a workout on the app and realised that I could not do this. Despite these minor inconveniences, the ability to minimise EMF exposure is a top priority for me, and I highly recommend the Ring Air to anyone with similar concerns.
Ultrahuman Ring Air: Battery life
If you think fitting sensors into such a small, curved object would prove difficult, then what about the battery? Somehow, Ultrahuman has defied physics with the use of a curved, 24mAh lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. During testing, I found the ring lasted:
4 days (105 hours) in aeroplane mode, wearing 24/7, reconnecting with the phone app twice a day and without activating workouts or breath work.
6 days (144 hours) in aeroplane mode, wearing only while sleeping, reconnecting with the phone app twice a day and without activating workouts or breath work.
This is a little less than the “up to six days battery life” Ultrahuman promises. However, its ring still rivals many flagship smartwatches, such as the Apple Watch Series 10 (36 hours) and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (22 hours). Additionally, it only takes 125 minutes to fully recharge the Ring Air. To do so, you simply place the ring onto the wireless charger and connect to a power source. It’s really easy to do on the go, and the included USB-C to USB-C braided cable is a nice touch.
Sleep tracking: The best smart ring for tracking your sleep
For the first few weeks of using the Ultrahuman Ring Air, I didn’t know that it was designed with sleep at the forefront. In fact, I originally envisaged using the ring to track exercise and HRV. However, after just a short time, it became apparent that the ring’s sleep tracking capabilities were its standout feature.
As a nutritionist, I always recommend good sleep hygiene:
Optimal duration, sleep cycles and stages (personalised to the individual)
A consistent sleep schedule—waking up and going to sleep at the same time each day
Creating the ideal sleeping temperature
Managing stress
Exercising in the morning
Avoiding caffeine later in the day
Using breath work or guided sleep stories for additional support
The Ultrahuman Ring Air tracks, motivates, and educates you about all of this and more.
After wearing the ring for a few months, I could see that I function best when I get 8.5 hours of sleep, while my partner Ben seems to only need 7.5 hours. If I see in the Ultrahuman app that I haven’t had enough sleep, I make a conscious effort to get more. When I see my sleep score go up, it feels like a welcome pat on the back. One of my concerns about sleep tracking was that I would feel disheartened seeing poor sleep data each morning. To my surprise, it has been the reverse. Often when I feel like I haven’t slept well, my Ultrahuman data says I have—this makes me start the day more positively.
Ultrahuman places a strong emphasis on consistency in its approach to sleep hygiene, which can be both a strength and a limitation. Regular notifications and the incentive of improved sleep scores encourage me to stick to a consistent sleep and wake time each day, helping me prioritise my sleep routine. When my sleep score drops, it’s a clear signal to adjust my habits—such as having an earlier dinner or allowing more time to wind down. After just a few days of staying consistent, I’ve been able to achieve a sleep score of 100, which Ultrahuman considers ideal.
However, even with a perfect score, some of my underlying sleep metrics weren’t actually optimal. For instance, I recorded just two sleep cycles, whereas the ideal is between four and six (a default smart goal within the Ultrahuman app), and I also had limited deep sleep—crucial for physical restoration. A score of 100 should reflect more than just consistency; it should show that all key sleep metrics are performing at their best. Without that, the score feels slightly misleading.
While you can’t always rely on your overall sleep score, Ultrahuman does a fantastic job of breaking down your sleep data. I really like that at a glance I can quickly see the stats that are important to me—hours slept, how restorative my sleep was, time of lowest heart rate (indicator of stress), temperature, restfulness, sleep stages and number of sleep cycles. Because this was my first time using an in-depth sleep tracker, it took me a month or two to get used to reading my results and knowing what was normal for me.
After a few months wearing the Ultrahuman Ring Air, my partner Ben wanted in on the action. Despite having two handy health-tracking watches by Coros, he was drawn in by the tiny ring. While his Coros watches are great for tracking sports performance, the Ultrahuman ring is much more comfortable to wear in slumberland. I was a little worried when Ben said he was going to use his Coros watches during the day and the Ring Air at night—I thought it would report lots of errors. However, this setup works perfectly. The Ultrahuman ring can be worn only for sleep, without the need to wear it during the day.
One thing to note about the Ultrahuman Ring Air is that it can sometimes over-report sleep timings. I have noticed that it will record me sleeping when I am actually listening to a podcast before bed or looking through my emails first thing (yes, a naughty habit). To overcome this, both Ben and I put our rings on when we are ready to fall asleep and take them off as soon as we wake up, to give the most accurate reading.
Once Ben had an Ultrahuman ring, we could test out ‘Zones’, a section on the Ultrahuman app where you can share and compare your health stats. This not only adds extra motivation to improve your movement and sleep scores, but I can also see when Ben has not slept so well and I should probably avoid winding him up with a silly prank.
All things considered, I can certainly say that the Ultrahuman Ring Air really excels when it comes to tracking sleep! But that’s not all …
Exercise & activity tracking
The Ultrahuman ring can record daily steps as well as specific exercise activities, such as running or swimming. Its auto-tracking feature has saved me a few times when I’ve forgotten to start a workout manually. Although less accurate, being able to confirm I walked to work or around the shops enables me to track more. It also auto-detects naps, and I find it funny when Ultrahuman asks, “Did you have a nap?”—honestly, this ring knowns everything.
When you activate a workout manually, you are given a long list of workout options to choose from. They even include household chores and yard work—yes, these count!
There are more activities where you can’t wear the Ultrahuman Ring than I initially expected. As a climber, I was excited to try it on the wall, but I quickly realised that wasn’t a good idea—the ring could easily get damaged. I also enjoy going to the local sauna, but my fingers swell too much and the heat might damage the battery.
One drawback when using a health tracking ring instead of a watch is the lack of a screen or buttons, which makes exercise tracking less convenient. For example, when Ben wears his Coros watch, he can easily view the time, track live stats, and start/stop his workout with the tap of a button. In contrast, I have to take my Ultrahuman Ring out of aeroplane mode (by placing it on the charger), sync it with my phone, and activate the workout through the app. Then I stash my phone in my swim bag or rucksack, leaving me unable to check the time or view any live stats until I finish.
While the ring does record useful data like heart rate zones, I can only access that information after the workout, which makes zone-specific training impossible. That said, the Ultrahuman Ring is incredibly lightweight and comfortable—much more so than most smartwatches—which makes it a great option for workouts in terms of wearability. Ultimately, it’s important to consider how you plan to use the ring before investing, especially if live feedback during workouts is something you rely on.
Ultrahuman Ring Air vs Coros watch
Ben has lots of experience testing and using smart health devices, so I asked him to put the Ultrahuman Ring Air and his favourite Coros watch head to head. “Over to you, Ben … “
Ben: “ … Thanks Josie!”
Since the Ring Air doesn’t have a built-in screen, I decided to test out its sports tracking functionality in ‘Outdoor Cycling’ mode. This way, I could view real-time heart rate data presented on my handlebar-mounted smartphone. I wore the Ultrahuman ring on my left index finger and tested it against my Coros Vertix 2S GPS watch, strapped to my left wrist.
After initiating the workout via the Ultrahuman App—a straightforward process—I pedalled out on a local, hilly 22-mile loop. The first thing I had to get used to was wearing the ring while holding drop handlebars. The ring didn’t affect my grip too much, but I was conscious of maintaining good contact with the fleshy part of my finger—for a better heart rate trace. That being said, more serious riders will want to stick with a chest strap and bike computer combo. For extra comfort, I like to wear mitts on longer rides; and these are more difficult to fit over the Ultrahuman ring.
For those who don’t have a dedicated cycling computer, however, the Ultrahuman App is a convenient alternative. Alongside current heart rate, heart rate zone, and a qualitative ‘energy usage’ indicator, the app can utilise your smartphone’s GPS to track your route—displaying distance and speed metrics alongside.
All the data is nicely presented and easy to see at a glance while on the bike. So, in principle, being able to view your real-time heart rate should enable pace adjustments on the fly. However, while my average heart rate matched up between the ring and watch (or was at least close enough), I noticed the ring underperform during the ride. For example, following a steep hill climb (within the first few miles) the Ring Air lagged behind my Coros watch (as my heart rate recovered on the flat). Additionally, midway through the ride, the Ultrahuman ring persistently recorded an inaccurately high heart rate while I was working in aerobic zones ‘two’ and ‘three’.
This is somewhat expected though; the pulse in your finger is weaker than that at your wrist. And it’s easier to maintain good skin contact using the adjustable strap of a watch. So, Ultrahuman has to rely on algorithms for much of the heavy lifting. Thankfully, like Coros, Ultrahuman seems to be a company seeking to provide good value to its existing user base. Updates and improvements have continuously rolled out during our testing, and as for the brand’s development roadmap … well, let’s just say it’s going to need some careful traffic management.
All that being said, sports tracking is not where the Ultrahuman Ring Air shines; in fact, it would be very difficult for any smart ring to outperform a good sports-tracking watch or heart rate strap in that race. For casual use (on walks and gentle swims, for example) the Ring Air can provide some useful data—steps, active calories burned, and even rehydration recommendations. As for my own personal use, I’m sticking with my trusty Coros watch to track everyday adventures. But the Ultrahuman Ring Air has earned a place on my bedside table—ready to track my sleep each night.
“Right, that’s enough from me, back to you Josie … “
Movement tracking & step counter
Structured workouts are not the only way to stay fit, though. Regular movement supports both physical and mental health by boosting circulation, keeping joints flexible, and improving focus and energy levels. Even small actions, like walking to the kettle and doing a few squats while it boils, can make a real difference. And the Ultrahuman App does a great job of encouraging this kind of daily movement. It sends helpful phone notifications to prompt activity and rewards consistent movement with a higher movement score, especially when you stay active across more hours of the day.
Ultrahuman App
As a nutritional therapist, I expected to understand the health stats from my Ultrahuman ring easily—but I felt a bit lost and overwhelmed. The app’s unique scoring system and slightly chaotic layout didn’t help, but the main issue was not knowing what was ‘normal’ for me yet; without a personal baseline, it was hard to make sense of the data. However, Ben, who had used health trackers before, found it much more intuitive.
After using the app for a few months, I got the hang of it. I learned what high and low readings looked like for me and noticed patterns. For example, I sleep less deeply when I’m stressed, and my body temperature rises when my environment is too warm and in the lead-up to my period. Once I became familiar with the app and could interpret my data, I felt far less overwhelmed and much more able to use the insights to support my health. There’s room for improvement in making the app more beginner-friendly. Adding simple guides that explain what typical readings look like, or including a daily pop-up that highlights any interesting changes (and the reasons for them), could help ease first-time users into the experience. That said, Ultrahuman offers a lot of in-app guidance. You can tap the ‘i’ symbol throughout the app for helpful explanations.
Another way Ultrahuman could enhance the app’s usability is by simplifying and streamlining the layout. Since the app supports multiple devices—including their smart ring, M1 glucose sensor, and home environment monitor—all the ring’s data ends up being compressed into a single tab. This feels like a missed opportunity. If the app were dedicated solely to the ring, those tabs could be used more effectively to navigate between key areas such as sleep, stress, movement, and individual metrics. As it stands, most of the data is presented on one long, scrollable page, which can make it difficult to find specific information. Some data is buried several clicks deep, and navigating between them isn’t always intuitive. While you get used to it over time, I still occasionally come across features or data points I didn’t realise were there.
Ultrahuman uses a wide variety of visual formats to present data—bar charts, progress bars, line graphs, timelines, and colour-coded labels like ‘optimal,’ ‘good,’ or ‘within range.’ While this may be intended to make the app feel more dynamic and visually engaging, it can actually be quite overwhelming, especially when trying to skim through the information. This inconsistency in design has been pointed out in other reviews, so hopefully Ultrahuman takes this feedback on board and moves toward a more unified, user-friendly interface.
One area where the app has achieved more consistency is with the overall scores for sleep, dynamic recovery, stress, and movement, all rated on a scale of 0 to 100—with 100 being the ideal. I’ll admit I was a bit confused at first when I saw my stress score was high (assuming a lower number would be better), but after a few months, I got used to their system. Now, I find these scores genuinely helpful for quickly identifying which areas of my health need the most attention.
While I’ve shared a few critiques of the Ultrahuman app, there are also plenty of positives—one of the biggest being how rapidly the platform continues to develop. Since I first put the Ultrahuman Ring Air on six months ago, the number of new and exciting features added has been impressive. With no ongoing subscription fees and access to all updates, the ring essentially improves over time as the platform does.
Ultrahuman Powerplugs: Personalisation and exciting features
A standout feature is the ability to download ‘PowerPlugs’—optional data modules that let you personalise the app based on your specific needs. My favourite so far has been the ‘Cycle & Ovulation’ tracker. After entering the start date of my period, the app predicts my ovulation window and the date of my next cycle. It also provides updates throughout the month, informing me of where I am in my cycle, anticipated physiological changes (like temperature shifts), and even tailored recommendations such as when to prioritise rest. Looking ahead, I hope to use this same feature to help track ovulation when trying to conceive, making it a valuable tool for fertility planning.
As a coffee-lover, Ben’s favourite Powerplug is (surprise, surprise) the ‘Caffeine Window’. It gives clear guidance when caffeine can be consumed without interfering with your sleep cycle. Of particular note is the ‘Adenosine Clearance Window’, which refers to the first two hours after you wake up. Ideally, at this point, coffee should be delayed to allow your body to flush out adenosine and respond naturally to rising cortisol levels.
So now, when I hear the whirring of Ben’s hand-cranked Comandante grinder, I know he’s preparing his morning coffee at the best time of day, while minimising any negative effects on his sleep later.
Ultrahuman Digital: Free guided workouts, meditations, and more
An unexpected perk within the Ultrahuman app is Ultrahuman Digital (previously known as Discover). This section offers access to over 1,000 hours of digital health and wellness content, ranging from workouts and guided meditations to focus music and sleep stories. While I haven’t explored this area extensively myself, it’s a valuable inclusion—especially for those who pay for separate subscriptions. Having all of this included at no extra cost adds even more value to the overall Ultrahuman experience.
I’m genuinely excited to see what new features and updates Ultrahuman rolls out in the coming year. If the past few months are any indication, there’s a lot to look forward to.
Final thoughts
Testing out the Ultrahuman Ring alongside Ben has been a fascinating experience. With my background as a nutritionist and Ben’s years of experience reviewing health-tracking smart devices, we’ve really put it through its paces.
Six months in, I can confidently say I won’t be selling my Ultrahuman Ring Air or stashing it away in a drawer. I genuinely enjoy waking up and checking my sleep statistics. If they’re poor, I make changes throughout the day to improve them. If they’re optimal, I start my morning feeling like I’ve already had a win. I’m motivated to put it on at night, and with the ability to turn on aeroplane mode (reducing EMF) I can sleep soundly, knowing that I am actively looking after my health.
Like Ben, I recommend pairing the ring with a smartwatch—such as the COROS Vertix 2S—for tracking exercise like weightlifting, running, or climbing. These devices provide real-time data on their built-in screens and are better suited for hand-intensive activities, where a ring might get in the way or risk damage. That said, the lightweight and comfortable Ultrahuman Ring Air excels at sleep tracking.
When I first started using the app, I would have appreciated a simple guide to explain the data. A more streamlined layout would also have made this easier to digest. However, no doubt, the Ring Air has had a clear and positive impact on my health—particularly my sleep. Over the past six months, I’ve seen improvements in my heart rate variability (HRV) and resting heart rate, and I’ve developed a much greater awareness of the importance of sleep consistency. So, if you’re looking to better understand and improve your sleep, I highly recommend the Ultrahuman Ring Air.
This article was originally published at AdaptNetwork.com and was republish with permission.
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