Based primarily on hands-on experience with the Ultrahuman Ring AIR, this article reviews measured aspects including size selection, charging time and the calibration period, and considers the product’s prospects for adoption in Japan.
Japan’s smart ring market has been slower to take off than the smartwatch market, but exposure has increased in recent years, particularly among influencers. Oura leads the global market for health-tracking smart rings, while Japan’s SOXAI is expanding into the market and South Korea’s Galaxy Ring is being rolled out in Japan. These developments could help drive broader adoption centered on tracking features.
The Ultrahuman Ring AIR introduced here is priced at $349 on the official website, with a suggested retail price of ¥59,800 in Japan. Users measure their finger after purchase using a sizing kit, and data learning gets fully underway after a 2-week calibration period. Charging takes approximately 3 hours with the dedicated charger, and battery life is 4 to 6 days. Basic features are available free of charge.
The device collects data including heart rate, skin temperature and blood oxygen levels, which are organized and analyzed across areas such as sleep, exercise, recovery and stress. It does not include GPS, and users must confirm the type of exercise for it to be identified. Its notification functionality also depends on a smartphone, unlike that of a smartwatch. For smart rings to gain broader long-term adoption, balancing comfort with power efficiency will remain a challenge.
Adoption in Japan is still believed to be limited, but smart rings could create a new trend against the backdrop of the expanding sleep market and growth in sleep-related products. Going forward, the key will be combining always-on sensor capabilities with notification functions as smart rings compete and coexist with smartwatches.