What's Going on With Smart Rings?

"As we reported in August, the US International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Oura in a patent case in which Oura alleged that its competitors RingConn and Ultrahuman had infringed on the company's patent for a smart ring that tracks health and fitness stats. Oura's victory subsequently led to RingConn and Ultrahuman being banned from importing new rings into the US."

"The lawsuit was bad news for both Oura competitors, and especially Ultrahuman, which had planned to expand its US-based manufacturing facility to meet growing market demand (and ostensibly to also get around the new US tariffs). Ultrahuman is distinguished from Oura in that its smart ring does not have a subscription; Oura users pay $6 per month to use its rings."

"The ITC ruled that RingConn and Ultrahuman had infringed on the 178 patent, which protects a specific ring hardware design-for example, if the ring has a layered arrangement with internal and external components housing interior electrical components. If you think this is a surprisingly broad description that can cover ... well, pretty much any smart ring, or a wide range of electronic devices in general, you are correct. Over the past few years, many smart ring manufacturers have been embroiled in legal disputes over this patent."

On October 21, 2025, the US International Trade Commission ruled that RingConn and Ultrahuman infringed Oura's patent, prompting bans on importing new rings into the US. The disputed patent (178) protects a specific ring hardware design, for example a layered arrangement with internal and external components housing electrical parts, a description that can cover many smart rings. The ruling reduced the number of health-tracking rings available for purchase. Ultrahuman had planned to expand a US manufacturing facility to meet demand and potentially avoid tariffs. Ultrahuman's ring lacks a subscription model, while Oura charges $6 per month. Multiple manufacturers have faced similar legal disputes.

Read at WIRED