| Manufacturer | Ultrahuman |
|---|---|
| Type | Smart ring |
| Series | Ultrahuman Ring R1 (first generation) |
| Released | Approx. mid-2022; succeeded by Ring AIR in approx. mid-2023 |
| Price at launch | $299 (about £230) |
| Successor | Ultrahuman Ring AIR |
| Colours | Not confirmed |
| Subscription | None |
Specifications and features as at launch. Figures for the R1 come from third-party sources and need checking against Ultrahuman before publishing.
Expert opinion | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Further reading
Expert opinion
The Ultrahuman Ring R1 tracks sleep, movement, resting heart rate, skin temperature and heart rate variability, presenting these through daily sleep, recovery and activity scores. Its smooth inner surface feels comfortable initially, although the raised sensor area and tendency to slip can affect fit. Real world battery life was around four days in early testing, towards the lower end of the claimed range. Accuracy is uneven: one experienced tester found overnight heart rate variability readings inconsistent with an Oura ring and chest strap, while blood oxygen readings appeared implausibly low. The app provides historical trends and personalised guidance without a compulsory subscription, but some metrics and sleep stage estimates were immature in early firmware.
The R1 offers a useful overview of sleep, recovery and daily movement, helping health conscious users identify patterns in their routines. Its app gives the data context through explanations and practical suggestions, rather than simply displaying numbers. However, inconsistent physiological readings, unreliable sleep stage estimates and the lack of automatic workout detection limit its value for athletes who need dependable training data. It is more suited to general wellness tracking than precise performance analysis.
Specifications
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Weight | About 3.6 to 6.5 g depending on size (third-party figure), heavier than Ring AIR |
| Width | 8.1 mm |
| Thickness | About 2.8 mm, varying slightly by size |
| Material | Fighter jet grade titanium shell with a tungsten carbide carbon coating and a hypoallergenic seamless inner moulding |
| Water resistance | 100 m (10 ATM) |
| Design | Textured upper shell that acts as a position indicator |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Sensors | |
| PPG | Infrared PPG for continuous heart rate and SpO2 |
| Skin temperature | Yes |
| Motion | 6-axis motion sensors |
| LEDs | Red, green and infrared |
| Power and connectivity | |
| Battery | 24 mAh rechargeable, non-replaceable |
| Charging | Wireless dock, about 1.5 to 3 hours (users report 2 to 4 hours) |
| Bluetooth | Low Energy 5 |
| Compatibility | iOS 14 and later, Android 6 and later |
| Firmware | Automatic updates through the Ultrahuman app |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Battery life
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Battery life | 4 to 6 days on a full charge, depending on use |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
Features
- Continuous heart rate and SpO2 tracking
- Skin temperature and motion tracking
- Sleep and recovery insights in the Ultrahuman app
- No subscription
Other Ultrahuman models
Compare this model with the others in the range.
Further reading
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee
Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
