We Tried The RingConn Gen 2 & The Fitness Tracker Runs Circles Around The Competition

Wearable fitness trackers are one of the greatest tools you can use to monitor your health goals, whether you want to track stress levels or improve the quality of your sleep. While the digital pedometers of yesterday merely counted steps, today's digital fitness trackers can calculate everything from your blood's oxygen saturation to hours spent dreaming in REM sleep. The only catch? Your smart watch, which isn't even always in style, can be bulky, take forever to charge, and regrettably die in the middle of your run. As many gym-goers can attest, there's nothing more discouraging than glancing down at a dead Apple Watch screen halfway through an intense trot on the treadmill.

However, the Apple Watch and FitBit have some serious competition with the advent of fitness rings, like the RingConn Gen 2. The newly released RingConn Gen 2 represents the latest in wearable fitness-tracking technology, and it's bound to be your new bestie if you want to take your fitness to the next level. As someone fascinated by fitness trackers since I first slid my ankle through a Skip-It, I couldn't wait to get acquainted with it. I wore the RingConn Gen 2 for several days to test its fitness-tracking capabilities for Glam, and I'm pleased to report that the lightweight device ran circles around the competition.

Like other fitness trackers, The RingConn Gen 2 syncs to your phone using Bluetooth technology. It's currently available for pre-order, with the first wave of devices set to ship out this October. At $299, this ring is only slightly more expensive than its predecessor, the RingConn Gen 1, which retails for $279.99. It comes with a wireless charging station that holds 150 days' worth of charge, though you can recharge the power station using a USB-C cable when needed. On the other hand, the ring itself boasts a battery life of 10 to 12 days. This is a huge improvement over my Apple Watch 8, which often croaks after less than one day of use.

The RingConn Gen 2 has several advantages over the RingConn Gen 1, its slightly bulkier predecessor. At only 2 mm, it's the company's thinnest and lightest model yet, weighing just over 2 grams. What's more, you can wear the ring in the shower or while swimming, thanks to its IP68 waterproof rating, and it boasts medical-grade accuracy in its readings, whether monitoring your sleep phases or heart-rate variability throughout the day. Moreover, the RingConn Gen 2 is available in matte black, shiny silver, or gold in ring sizes 6 through 14. But if you aren't sure of your ring size, you can request a free ring-sizing kit through RingConn's online storefront before you place your order. And unlike competitor products, the RingConn 2 doesn't require an additional subscription — simply download the free RingConn App to keep tabs on your daily fitness data.

Tired of your Apple Watch gasping for breath and powering off after what feels like five minutes of wear? So am I, which is why I took a liking to the RingConn Gen 2 right away. While my dejected Apple Watch collected cobwebs elsewhere, the new RingConn Gen 2 got right to work straight out of the package. It arrived fully charged, allowing me to test its many fitness-tracking functions immediately. The RingConn doesn't have the bright display of an Apple Watch or Fitbit screen, but its impressive battery life more than makes up for all those visual bells and whistles.

The black version of the RingConn Gen 2 is a lot like a silicone wedding ring — perfect for dissuading strangers from speaking to you at hotel bars. A size 7 runs slightly bigger than other rings I own in the same size, but I'm able to wear it snugly on my index finger. Unlike other wearable fitness trackers, chances are that you'll forget you're even wearing the RingConn 2 due to its feather-light weight. Best of all, there's no need to remove it in the shower, and it's safe for those with sensitive skin types. I've experienced my share of irritations from fitness-tracking watches over the years due to nickel allergies, and I can gladly report that nonstop use of the RingConn 2 didn't bother me one bit. 

Who doesn't want to view physical evidence of their day-to-day stressors and traumatic experiences? The RingConn calculates stress levels by evaluating your heart rate and heart-rate variability measurements, displaying the data in a charming graph to show which times of day you're more or less stressed. Interestingly, the ring continues to measure your stress levels as you sleep, in case you thought you could seek any reprieve in dreamland. Sadly, the stress-tracking function was a bit of a let-down. It didn't seem to notice when I was actually stressed, delivering hunky-dory readings at times when I felt terror coursing through my veins — and it only seemed to pick up on one stressful event over the course of an entire week.

The stressful event in question appeared to be my response to the ending of "The Substance," a rather gory horror film starring Demi Moore and directed by Coralie Fargeat. While I won't reveal any spoilers for those who haven't seen it, I don't recall feeling particularly stressed by the movie's third act. However, increased heart rate can easily be misinterpreted as stress, or even attraction, in the case of famous psychology experiments like Dutton & Aron's 1974 Suspension Bridge study. In any event, as memorable as "The Substance" was, I would have forgotten all about my physiological response to the film's ending if it weren't for the RingConn 2's timed stress reading.

The activity window measures your physical fitness and energy expenditure. It also takes into account your basal metabolic rate using the weight and height information you provide when you begin using the RingConn Gen 2, paired with your activity data collected by the app. Similar to the Apple Watch, the ring measures your standing hours versus your sedentary waking hours, and it will prompt you with a warning to get up and move more accordingly. Still, the ring itself doesn't have a display screen like the Fitbit or Apple Watch, so you'll need to keep your phone nearby to receive notifications.

I didn't push the RingConn Gen 2's activity monitoring to its limits, as my most vigorous exercise over the weekend involved traipsing around a book sale and a leisurely stroll outdoors. In my defense, it was a very nice day, and speed-walking would have ruined my makeup. The ring interpreted this as moderate activity and reported that I needed to work on my fitness levels in a daily summary. You can't win them all, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had nearly satisfied some of the app's activity challenges, including a preset step goal of 6,000 steps per day.

Sleep monitoring and sleep apnea assessment is one of the most useful features of the RingConn Gen 2. The ring can track different phases of rest, including REM and light sleep, and generate tailored recommendations based on your sleep patterns. As a card-carrying member of the lifelong insomnia club, my sleep score was about half of what it should be by RingConn's standards. On an average night, I earned just 53 points, compared to the ideal score of 90 points or more. Yet there's always room for improvement, and the RingConn app is filled with helpful insights, tips, and tricks to boost your nightly sleep score.

To check for sleep apnea, the RingConn Gen 2 requires at least three days of sleep data. If you don't manage to get at least three hours of sleep on each of those three nights, the device won't be able to produce a detailed sleep apnea report. After three full nights of rest, you can expect to see any sleep apnea events that may have occurred while you were snoozing, as well as your total sleep apnea risk score. I was fortunate that I had very few sleep apnea risk factors to speak of, though my partner — another RingConn Gen 2 reviewer — received a high sleep apnea risk score.

For many people with periods, minding your menstrual cycle can be a huge source of frustration. Anyone who experiences PMS, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or other delightful conditions associated with hormone fluctuations throughout the month knows that it's crucial to pay attention to each phase of your cycle, and the RingConn Gen 2 can help predict your periods with ease. The app asks for some data, including your last period, age, and typical cycle duration, and combines this information with body temperature readings to confidently chart the exact date of your next expected period.

I haven't used the ring long enough to judge the accuracy of its period-tracking predictions, but it seemed to line up with my Stardust app (another useful menstrual-tracking tool) precisely. For those of us who want more accurate predictions or just tend to forget about our period's start date, it's an invaluable feature to have. What's more, the RingConn app allows you to document additional data in the period tracker window, including ovulation, alcohol consumption, and dates of consummation.

After wearing the RingConn Gen 2 for a full week, I have to admit that I developed fond feelings for my new fitness companion. As much as I love the look and functionality of an Apple Watch, I've noticed the popular timepiece can barely hold a charge after a while, creating a vicious cycle of lost motivation, missed data tracking, and plenty of reasons to skip workouts. Conversely, the RingConn Gen 2 blew my mind in terms of its juiced-up battery, requiring minimal time on the charging dock over the course of several days and motivating me to get moving. The RingConn Gen 2 may not have the flashiest appearance, but its features and app are easily up to snuff with other fitness trackers in its class.

Overall, I really enjoyed the RingConn Gen 2 experience, especially compared to the Apple Watch, FitBit, and many other Bluetooth fitness-tracking devices I've used in the past. That's not to say the RingConn 2 couldn't use some improvement — I'd love to see achievable badges, customizable ring designs, or app themes, for a start — but it's easily one of the best wearable fitness devices I've ever tried. Aside from its outstanding battery life, I loved seeing my health data neatly summarized in the app each day with personalized comments regarding my scores in each category.