## Amazfit Helio Ring Review: A Smart Ring with Promise, but Lacks Efficiency
### Introduction
As smart rings become increasingly popular in the wearable technology landscape, brands historically focused on smartwatches are beginning to venture into this domain. Amazfit, a brand renowned for its smartwatches, has entered the smart ring arena with the Amazfit Helio Ring. While the Helio Ring possesses potential, it finds it challenging to rival more established offerings like the Oura Ring. This review explores the advantages and disadvantages of the Amazfit Helio Ring, assisting you in determining if it merits your investment.
### Design and Build Quality
The Amazfit Helio Ring features a sleek yet minimalistic design, made from titanium alloy with a textured upper section that aids in orienting the ring correctly. Its brushed metal finish not only appears upscale but also withstands scuffs and scratches better than many competing smart rings, including the Oura Ring Gen 3. Although slightly bulkier in appearance, the Helio Ring is pleasant to wear, and its weight is barely perceptible during everyday tasks.
However, the ring is available in just one color and finish, which limits personalization options. Furthermore, it comes in only three sizes—8, 10, and 12—making it tough for individuals with smaller or larger fingers to find a suitable fit.
### User Experience and App Interface
A highlight of the Amazfit Helio Ring is its companion app, Zepp. This app is intuitive and customizable, allowing you to organize metrics in a way that meets your preferences. The app’s design is straightforward, featuring only four tabs for easy navigation to your sleep and exercise data, as well as your profile. The Zepp app also accommodates third-party app integrations, including Strava and Adidas Running, enhancing its appeal for fitness fans.
A recent update introduced a “Find Device” feature, which triggers the ring’s green LED to assist in locating it if lost. While this feature is not revolutionary, it is a handy addition, particularly for people prone to misplacing small items like rings.
### Health and Fitness Tracking
The Amazfit Helio Ring comes equipped with various health-tracking functionalities, including heart rate monitoring, temperature tracking, and an Electrodermal Activity (EDA) sensor. It also tracks blood oxygen levels, stress, and menstrual cycles. Although these features are standard among smart rings, they offer valuable insights into your holistic health.
Sleep tracking on the Helio Ring is uncomplicated, providing a sleep score based on several factors. The ring also features a beta function for identifying sleep apnea symptoms, which could be advantageous for those who suspect they may have this condition.
However, the workout tracking features of the ring are somewhat lacking. It can register basic activities such as running, walking, and cycling but falls short for more specialized workouts like weightlifting. Amazfit attempts to mitigate this by integrating data from its smartwatches, allowing for a more thorough health overview. Nonetheless, the absence of automatic workout tracking is a significant limitation.
### Battery Life and Charging
A critical downside of the Amazfit Helio Ring is its battery performance. While most smart rings offer battery life extending beyond seven days, the Helio Ring lasts up to four days. This is particularly disappointing considering the ring’s size, which could have supported a larger battery.
Charging the ring can also prove to be an irritating ordeal. The accompanying charging puck is challenging to align correctly with the ring’s sensors, often necessitating several attempts to initiate charging.
### Subscription Model
Amazfit asserts that the Helio Ring does not necessitate subscriptions for most functionalities, though this is somewhat misleading. The app frequently encourages users to subscribe for deeper insights into sleep data and weekly fitness reports. While these subscriptions aren’t compulsory, their existence feels insincere, especially compared to other smart rings that require no subscriptions.
### Competition
The Amazfit Helio Ring contends with robust competition from other smart rings. For instance, the Oura Ring Gen 3 delivers a more feature-rich experience with a longer battery life, albeit at a higher price. The RingConn Gen 2 Smart Ring is another formidable rival, providing up to 12 days of battery life and a broader selection of sizes and finishes. Samsung’s Galaxy Ring, while new to the market, offers innovative features such as smartphone gestures and Galaxy AI integration.
### Should You Buy It?
**You might consider purchasing this if:**
– You already possess an Amazfit smartwatch and are seeking a companion device.
– You suspect you may experience sleep apnea and require a device to monitor symptoms.
– You desire a ring that tracks stress and emotional states.
**You might want to skip this if:**
– Extended battery life is a top priority for you in a smart ring.
– You have smaller fingers and require a more extensive range of sizes.
– You do not own an Amazfit smartwatch and prefer a standalone device.
### Conclusion
The Amazfit Helio Ring is a
