I just went hands-on with the Ultrahuman Ring Pro — 7 things to know about this subscription-free Oura rival

(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide) When Ultrahuman first announced its new flagship Ring Pro last February, we didn’t know whether the wearable would ultimately go on sale in the U.S. because of ongoing litigation with U.S.-based rival Oura.Then, in March, Ultrahuman opened preorders for the Ring Pro to U.S. customers. Now, in the final week of October, the Ultrahuman Ring Pro has officially hit U.S. store shelves at major retailers like Best Buy and Amazon for $479.But is the Ultrahuman Ring Pro worth the hype? I’ve been wearing one for a few days — full review coming soon — and I already think it’s a seriously strong competitor to the Oura Ring 5, the best smart ring in 2026.With that in mind, here are the seven most important things you need to know about the Ultrahuman Ring Pro.1. It's been completely redesigned to avoid Oura's (legal) wrath (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)The Ultrahuman Ring Pro features a unique unibody design that's purpose-built not only to withstand daily wear but also to avoid infringing on any of Oura's existing patents. As a reminder, Oura successfully litigated to keep the Ultrahuman Ring Air, the Pro's predecessor, off U.S. store shelves in 2025 for patent infringements.However, when I spoke with Mohit Kumar, the founder and CEO of Ultrahuman, earlier this year, he seemed confident in his team's reworked design for the newer model."We went through the [U.S.] Customs procedure 177 to get the device approved, noted Kumar. " We took the right path to make sure that the design is approved by (U.S.) Customs, and they officially issue an order that says, 'This is a design which is unique and non-infringing, for the patent which Oura holds.'"Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Another benefit of the updated design: It features Ultrahuman's "ProRelease Technology," a safety feature that makes it relatively easy for emergency responders or medical professionals to cut the ring off for any reason (like a faulty, swollen battery).2. It’s pricier than the Oura Ring 5, but… (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)The Ultrahuman Ring starts at $479, which is $79 more than the starting cost of the Oura Ring 5 (more on that in a second). It's available in four finishes, including gold, silver, black, and titanium, with sizes ranging from five to 14.The $479 covers not only the ring but also the cost of Ultrahuman's swanky/handy Pro Charging case (further details on that too, below).3. Core features are subscription-free (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)Despite a higher up-front cost compared to the Oura Ring 5, the Ultrahuman Ring Pro is a better value after the first ~14 months of ownership. This is because Oura requires users to sign up for a subscription to use their smart ring for $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year.Ultrahuman, on the other hand/finger, takes a more wallet-friendly, subscription-free approach to wellness tracking, which is perhaps the most notable difference between the two brands.4. It’s thicker and heavier than other smart rings (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)The Ultrahuman Ring Pro is noticeably heavier than the Oura Ring 5. My size 11 silver Ultrahuman Ring Pro weighs 4.52 g versus ~2.5 g for the comparable Oura Ring 5. The latest Ultrahuman flagship is also thicker than its rival...then again, Oura's latest is one of the smallest, lightest smart rings in the world.The Ultrahuman Ring Pro has a thickness of 2.6mm around the band and ~4.8mm at the sensors, making it thicker (and heavier) than other popular smart rings I've tested/demoed, too, like the RingConn Gen 2 Air.That said, after 24 hours of wearing the Ring Pro, I hardly notice it on my left index finger, and this is coming from someone who doesn't usually rock rings. That said, let's see if my tune changes over the coming weeks.5. Ultrahuman reworked the heart rate sensor for better accuracy (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)In addition to a redesigned body, the Ultrahuman Ring Pro features an overhauled heart rate sensor with added processing power for more accurate cardiovascular, sleep, and recovery insights. The updated processor additionally supports on-device machine learning capabilities.But how does the heart rate accuracy of the Ultrahuman Ring Pro compare to the competition? I intend to find out, not just versus the best smart rings but some of the best fitness trackers too.6. It gets up to 15 days of battery per charge (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)The Oura Ring 5 promises up to a respectable nine days of battery per charge, even if in reality, that number is closer to seven or eight. Meanwhile, the Ultrahuman Ring Pro blows its Oura rival away with claims of up to 15 days of battery life per charge.Will it really last that long? You can also count on me finding that out! But given its heftier-by-comparison footprint, there's a good shot the new Ultrahuman has a larger-capacity battery than the 22 mAh one in the latest Oura Ring.7. The Pro case extends battery life to 45 days (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)Finally, remember that free charging case I mentioned earlier? It's perhaps the nicest smart ring case I've encountered. The exterior shell is all-metal with a no-slip silicone bottom. It opens and closes clam-shell-style with a seriously satisfying snap.LEDs on the side reflect the remaining battery capacity of the case, which can fully recharge the Ultrahuman Ring Pro two times, pushing its battery life to a max of 45 days without needing to hit a wall outlet.But wait, there's more. The Pro Case doubles as a connection point for updating the Ultrahuman Ring Pro's firmware, and it supports haptic feedback and audible alerts for things like a fully charged battery.What are your thoughts on the newly available (in the U.S.) Ultrahuman Ring Pro? Would you consider it over the Oura Ring 5, knowing that it's subscription-free? And besides the latest Oura Ring, what should I test the Ultrahuman Ring Pro against? Shout out your thoughts below! Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Alternatively, you can read our content on the Tom's Guide app available now for iOS and Android. More from Tom's GuideI ditched alcohol for 30 days — and my Oura Ring 5 showed one surprising changeI just went hands-on with the new Circular Ring 3 — and it beats the Oura Ring 5 in 3 big waysGarmin looks to be developing a smart ring: Here’s what we know so far Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others. An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.