Wearables are moving beyond the smartwatch. Here are the newest categories, what they’re good at, and what to check before you buy.
Smart rings
Rings from brands such as Oura, Samsung (Galaxy Ring) and Ultrahuman track sleep, heart rate, heart-rate variability, skin temperature and activity, with batteries that typically last several days. With no screen, they’re comfortable and discreet, especially at night.
Check before buying: sizing (most brands send a sizing kit), whether a subscription is needed for full insights, and compatibility with your phone.
Smart glasses with AI
Camera- and speaker-equipped glasses, such as the Ray-Ban Meta models, let you take photos and video hands-free, listen to music and ask an AI assistant about what you’re looking at. Newer models add a small built-in display for messages, directions and live captions.
Check before buying: prescription lens options, battery life, and privacy, including the recording indicator light and your local rules about filming people.
Mixed-reality headsets
Headsets such as Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest blend digital windows with your real surroundings, for work, films and games. Powerful, but heavy for long sessions and expensive.
Dedicated AI gadgets
Pocket AI devices promised a phone-free future, but several struggled, and at least one was discontinued within a year of launch. For now, most people get the same AI features more reliably from their phone, earbuds or glasses. (The biggest recent AI updates.)
How to choose a wearable
- Start with the problem: better sleep, fitness, hands-free capture or notifications?
- Comfort wins: you’ll only benefit if you wear it every day.
- Ecosystem: check it works fully with your phone (iPhone or Android).
- Total cost: add any subscription to the price.
Browse our buying guide per il more picks, and see today’s deals before you buy.
Domande frequenti
Is a smart ring better than a smartwatch?
It depends. Smart rings are comfortable to wear at night and great for sleep and recovery tracking, but they have no screen. Smartwatches show notifications, run apps and track workouts more fully.
