The era of smart rings has dawned, no longer monopolized by Finnish innovator Oura. Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to test out smart rings from Ultrahuman, Ringconn, and Movano, with a Samsung Galaxy Ring review currently in progress. These sleek finger-based trackers offer valuable insights into our health and fitness with ease and style. As Amazfit, a key player in the fitness tracking realm, joins the smart ring trend with the Helio, it seems that they might still have some work to do to refine their offering.
Originating from Huami over a decade ago, Amazfit has a wealth of experience producing affordable tech gadgets. Launched in 2016, Amazfit is a sub-brand of Huami, which recently rebranded as Zepp Health in 2021, aligning it with the Zepp app while keeping the Amazfit brand for its devices.
Having tested various fitness trackers from Amazfit, including the Amazfit GTR Pro and Amazfit Balance, we were excited to explore the potential of their smart ring offering. Paired with the Zepp app for data aggregation, we tested the Cheetah Pro alongside the Helio ring and uncovered some interesting findings.
Rushing to Market
Photograph: Simon Hill
The Amazfit Helio is currently available in a single titanium color and two sizes, with plans to expand the size range in the future. At just under 4 grams and 2.6 mm thick, the Helio is comfortable to wear, albeit slightly bulkier than a traditional ring. Despite its durability, the Helio’s rushed market release leaves room for improvement.
With a water resistance rating of 10 ATM, the Helio can be worn while swimming or showering. The ring comes with a small wireless charging plinth and USB-C cable, requiring a separate power adapter for charging. Offering limited size options initially, Amazfit’s decision to rush the ring to market is evident.
Although durable, the ring’s design makes it susceptible to damage from contact with hard surfaces. The Helio boasts sensors for heart rate, activity tracking, sleep patterns, and more, but relies on the Zepp app for data analysis.
Metrics and More
Equipped with essential sensors such as photoplethysmography and accelerometers, the Helio tracks a range of metrics including heart rate variability, total steps, and calories burned. Users can view and analyze their data through the Zepp app for iOS and Android.
Photograph: Simon Hill via Zepp app