Amazfit Helio Ring

The Helio Ring is Zepp Health's first attempt at a smart ring, and it is pitched squarely as a cheaper alternative to the Oura Ring and Samsung Galaxy Ring. At £269 with no subscription fee needed for its tracking features, the value pitch is clear: you pay once and get the full experience. That alone makes it worth a look for anyone who has been put off by ongoing membership costs elsewhere.

On paper the hardware is understated. It has a titanium alloy shell, a resin interior and a sensor bump on the underside, and it charges on a dock much like Oura's. The bigger story is who it suits. This ring is at its best as a sleep and recovery tracker, and it makes the most sense for people who already wear an Amazfit smartwatch, since the two work together to provide recovery insights. It also suits people who want their data to flow into Apple Health, Google Fit or Strava. If you're after a do-everything fitness tracker for your finger, look elsewhere.

The Helio Ring gets the fundamentals right where it matters most for a smart ring. Sleep and recovery tracking is reported to perform well, and the lack of a subscription is a meaningful advantage over some rivals. Broad compatibility also counts in its favour: it works with both iOS and Android, and it can share data with Apple Health, Google Fit and Strava. That makes it easy to fit into an existing setup.

There are real compromises, though:

• Battery life: Around three days between charges is short for this category. You'll be docking it more often than you would some competitors, which chips away at the 'wear it and forget it' appeal.
• Activity tracking: Workout and activity tracking is more limited. That weakens its case as a standalone fitness device unless you pair it with an Amazfit watch.
• Sizing and style: Only three sizes and a single gold/grey colour are offered. Fit is critical for a ring, both for comfort and sensor accuracy, so this is arguably the most significant drawback. Some buyers simply won't find a size that works.

Our sources didn't give enough detail for a firm judgement on comfort or tracking accuracy compared directly with rivals, so we've weighted the rating towards the clearer factors: price, no subscription, sleep focus and the known limitations. Overall, it's a solid, focused buy for sleep-first users who fit one of the available sizes, but it isn't a full Oura replacement.