Oura Ring vs Samsung Galaxy Ring: Which Smart Ring Actually Tracks Your Health Better?

Based on peer-reviewed accuracy studies, expert reviews from Wareable, Tom's Guide, and Android Authority, and real user experiences

The short answer: The Oura Ring 4 wins for anyone serious about health tracking. Independent studies show it has 99% accuracy for HRV measurements—the best of any wearable tested. Samsung's Galaxy Ring avoids subscriptions, but its sleep tracking is inconsistent and it only works with Android. If you want the most accurate health data, Get the Oura Ring 4 on Amazon for $349 →

The Fighters

	Oura Ring 4	Samsung Galaxy Ring
Price	$349 on Amazon	$399 on Amazon
Best For	Sleep optimization & health nerds	Android users avoiding subscriptions
Subscription	$5.99/month required	None
Compatibility	iOS & Android	Android only
Battery Life	7 days	7 days
Water Resistance	100m	100m

Oura Ring 4 in silver finish showing the sleek titanium design

The Death Match: 6 Rounds, 1 Winner

We're scoring each round from 1-10. Higher score wins the round. Let's fight!

Round 1: Sleep Tracking Accuracy

This is the main event. Both rings market themselves as sleep trackers, but one clearly outperforms the other.

The Oura Ring has been validated in peer-reviewed studies published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. It achieves 79% accuracy on sleep stage detection—remarkably close to the 83% gold standard of medical-grade polysomnography. Tech reviewer Tim Stevens wore both rings for a month and found that "Oura was far better at figuring out when I was awake and when I was asleep". He regularly saw sleep scores in the 90s on Oura.

The Samsung Galaxy Ring? Its sleep tracking was "all over the place." It consistently overestimated time in bed and underestimated deep sleep and REM phases. Multiple testers reported sleep scores in the 70s-80s on Samsung versus the 90s on Oura for the exact same night. Samsung also punishes you for sleeping 9 hours—something that should earn a high score.

Oura Ring 4	Samsung Galaxy Ring
9/10	6/10

Round 1 Winner: Oura Ring 4 — Clinically validated accuracy that actually matches how you feel in the morning.

Score after Round 1: Oura Ring 4 - 9 | Samsung Galaxy Ring - 6

Round 2: Heart Rate & HRV Accuracy

Heart rate variability (HRV) is the holy grail metric for recovery tracking. If your ring can't measure it accurately, the rest of your data is suspect.

A 2024 peer-reviewed study published in The Physiological Society compared Oura, WHOOP, Garmin, and Polar devices against medical-grade equipment. The results weren't close: Oura Ring 4 achieved a CCC of 0.99 and a MAPE of just 5.96% for HRV—the best of any consumer wearable tested. For resting heart rate, Oura achieved near-perfect correlation (r² = 0.996) against ECG readings.

Samsung Galaxy Ring performs adequately for basic heart rate during workouts—one tester found it matched a chest strap at 171bpm for max HR. But average heart rate was off by 4bpm during exercise, and users consistently report that SpO2 monitoring is "basically broken and useless."

Oura Ring 4	Samsung Galaxy Ring
10/10	6/10

Round 2 Winner: Oura Ring 4 — Peer-reviewed studies confirm it's the most accurate wearable for HRV, period.

Score after Round 2: Oura Ring 4 - 19 | Samsung Galaxy Ring - 12

Round 3: App Experience & Insights

Your ring is only as good as the app that interprets its data.

The Oura app "strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and depth," offering an intuitive dashboard for quick insights while letting you dive deep into trends. It provides three core scores—Readiness, Sleep, and Activity—that actually mean something. The app has over 600 integrations with other health platforms, making it the center of your health data ecosystem.

Samsung Health, in contrast, was described as "basic, clunky, frustrating" by reviewers. The UI isn't user-friendly, and interpreting the data can be a struggle. Samsung is improving—recent updates added sleep environment reports and Galaxy AI integration—but it's playing catch-up.

Samsung Galaxy Ring in titanium black finish

Oura Ring 4	Samsung Galaxy Ring
9/10	6/10

Round 3 Winner: Oura Ring 4 — More insights, better visualization, and 600+ app integrations.

Score after Round 3: Oura Ring 4 - 28 | Samsung Galaxy Ring - 18

Round 4: Design & Comfort

You'll wear this ring 24/7, so comfort matters.

Samsung wins on thickness—at 2.6mm, it's slimmer than Oura's 2.88mm. Its concave interior design makes it feel lighter, and testers report "forgetting they were wearing it." The portable charging case with battery level display (no app required) is a genuinely clever feature.

Oura counters with more design options—6 finishes versus Samsung's 3. The all-titanium construction inside and out makes it hypoallergenic and durable. But both rings share a fatal flaw: they scratch easily. Oura users report being "riddled with small scratches after a year," while Samsung owners see finish peeling "within days." Samsung even advises removing the ring during weightlifting and handling heavy objects.

Oura Ring 4	Samsung Galaxy Ring
7/10	8/10

Round 4 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Ring — Thinner, lighter, and the charging case is brilliant.

Score after Round 4: Oura Ring 4 - 35 | Samsung Galaxy Ring - 26

Round 5: Value for Money

Let's do the math on total cost of ownership.

Samsung Galaxy Ring costs $399 upfront with no subscription. That's it. Three years later, you've still paid $399. (It went on sale for $279 during Black Friday 2025.)

Oura Ring 4 starts at $349, but you need the $5.99/month membership to access your data—without it, the ring is "effectively defunct." That's $72/year, making your first-year cost $421 and your three-year cost $493+.

But here's the thing: Oura's accuracy advantage means you're actually getting useful data. Samsung's cheaper price doesn't matter if the sleep scores are wrong. Still, Samsung deserves credit for no subscription and significantly better long-term value for casual users.

Oura Ring 4	Samsung Galaxy Ring
6/10	9/10

Round 5 Winner: Samsung Galaxy Ring — No subscription and lower long-term cost.

Score after Round 5: Oura Ring 4 - 41 | Samsung Galaxy Ring - 35

Round 6: Compatibility & Ecosystem

This round is straightforward but crucial.

Oura Ring works with iOS and Android. Period. If you have an iPhone, it's your only option among these two. The 600+ app integrations—including Natural Cycles, Clue, Strava, and Apple Health—make it the hub of your health data.

Samsung Galaxy Ring requires Android 11 or later and works best with Samsung phones. No iPhone support whatsoever. If you switch from Android to iPhone, your $399 ring becomes a paperweight. Within the Samsung ecosystem, it integrates well with SmartThings and Galaxy Watch, but that's a limited audience.

Person sleeping peacefully in bed at night - sleep tracking lifestyle

Oura Ring 4	Samsung Galaxy Ring
10/10	5/10

Round 6 Winner: Oura Ring 4 — Works with any smartphone and integrates with everything.

Score after Round 6: Oura Ring 4 - 51 | Samsung Galaxy Ring - 40

Final Score

Product	Total Score	Verdict
Oura Ring 4	51/60	WINNER
Samsung Galaxy Ring	40/60

The Winner: Oura Ring 4

The Oura Ring 4 wins this death match decisively, taking 5 of 6 rounds. The data tells the story: 99% HRV accuracy versus inconsistent readings, 79% sleep stage accuracy versus "all over the place," and an app that actually helps you interpret your health.

Yes, the $5.99/month subscription stings. And yes, Samsung's thinner design and no-subscription model are genuinely appealing. But smart rings exist to track your health accurately. If the data isn't reliable, the ring is just expensive jewelry.

Oura has also proven its staying power—they've sold 5.5 million rings and successfully defended their patents against competitors. Samsung's Galaxy Ring 2 has been reportedly shelved due to "underwhelming sales" and the ongoing patent dispute with Oura.

For anyone serious about sleep optimization, recovery tracking, or women's health features (Oura's cycle tracking is excellent), the Oura Ring 4 is worth the premium.

Ready to buy the winner? Get Oura Ring 4 on Amazon for $349 →

When the Loser Actually Wins

The Samsung Galaxy Ring isn't right for everyone, but it's the better choice if:

You refuse to pay subscriptions — $399 once is genuinely simpler than $349 + $72/year
You're deep in the Samsung ecosystem — Galaxy Watch, SmartThings, and Galaxy AI integration add real value
You want a thinner, lighter ring — At 2.6mm thick, it's noticeably more comfortable
You're a casual tracker — If you just want steps and basic sleep data, Samsung delivers that without monthly fees

Samsung Galaxy Ring might be right for you: Check price on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

Morning wellness routine - woman starting the day with healthy habits

Can I use the Samsung Galaxy Ring with an iPhone?

No. The Samsung Galaxy Ring requires an Android phone (Android 11 or later) and will not work with any iPhone. If you have an iPhone and want a smart ring, Oura is currently your only mainstream option.

Is the Oura Ring subscription worth it?

For serious health trackers, yes. The subscription unlocks detailed sleep analysis, HRV trends, Readiness scores, and access to all historical data. Without it, you only see basic metrics—essentially turning a $349 ring into a $50 tracker.

Which ring is better for fitness tracking?

Neither excels at workout tracking compared to a dedicated fitness watch. Oura tracks 50 workout types but can't start/record sessions manually. Samsung auto-detects walking and running only. For serious fitness tracking, pair either ring with a proper sports watch.

Do both rings scratch easily?

Unfortunately, yes. Users report visible scratches on both rings within weeks to months of daily wear. Samsung specifically advises removing the ring during weightlifting. If pristine aesthetics matter to you, consider how you'll use it.

Which smart ring is better for women's health?

Oura Ring, by a significant margin. Its cycle tracking integrates with Natural Cycles (FDA-cleared contraceptive app) and has reportedly detected pregnancies before users knew. Samsung has added basic period tracking through a Natural Cycles partnership, but without the full fertility planning features—and you'd need a separate subscription anyway on Oura's side for full Natural Cycles access.