Not medical advice. Smart rings are consumer wellness devices, not diagnostic tools, unless a specific feature has regulatory authorization (we name it where one exists). This page reports what published studies and makers state, with sources. If a reading worries you, talk to a clinician. Our health-content rules.
Quick picks
The picks at a glance
| # | Product | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  RingConn Gen 2 The only ring on sale now whose maker names "automatic sleep apnea monitoring" as a shipped feature, with a 90.7% monitoring accuracy figure of its own. No subscription, 10-12 days a charge, and the charging case in the box. | Best apnea feature you can buy todayNo subscription | 8.2/10Researched | $299.00Amazon #ad · Disclosure |
| 2 |  Samsung Galaxy Ring Samsung said in July 2026 that an FDA-cleared sleep apnea feature is coming to the Galaxy Ring in the fall. That is the strongest regulatory position in the category - and it is Android-only, with the feature not yet on Samsung's US page when we checked. | The only FDA-cleared ring feature announcedNo subscription | 6.2/10Researched | $229.99Amazon #ad · Disclosure |
| 3 |  RingConn Gen 3 RingConn's current ring lists "Sleep Apnea Pattern Insights" alongside up to 14 days a charge, and says plainly it is "not a medical device". No published validation of this model exists yet. | Longest battery with apnea insightsNo subscription | 8.1/10Researched | $349.00Amazon #ad · Disclosure |
| 4 |  Withings Sleep A mat under the mattress with nothing to wear or charge, reporting snoring episodes and breathing disturbances from a pneumatic sensor. Withings also makes the prescription-only Sleep Rx, which is the FDA-cleared route for home apnea screening. | Best if you want the cleared deviceNo subscription | 7.7/10Researched | $199.95Amazon #ad · Disclosure |
#ad · Prices come live from Amazon, last checked October 11, 2026. Scores are ours, built from published specs, manuals, warranty terms and named studies. Photos are illustrative stock. Tap a row for the full write-up.
What a ring can see at night
A smart ring sits on a finger and shines light through tissue. From that it reads pulse, the interval between beats, and - on most current rings - an estimate of blood oxygen saturation. Obstructive sleep apnea leaves fingerprints in exactly those channels: repeated dips in oxygen, a jolt in heart rate as breathing resumes, and a night full of micro-arousals that wreck sleep continuity. So a ring can plausibly notice the pattern. What it cannot do is measure the thing that defines the diagnosis, which is airflow and respiratory effort over a scored night.
That gap is why the honest version of this page ranks the rings by what their makers have actually committed to in writing, and by who has a regulator behind the claim - not by which app draws the prettiest breathing chart. We keep the full evidence picture on smart rings and sleep apnea, and the question of whether a ring can stand in for a lab night on smart ring vs a sleep study.
How we ranked them
- Is the feature shipped, and does the maker name it? A feature on a spec sheet beats a feature in a press cycle.
- Is there a regulator behind it? FDA clearance for an apnea feature is a different order of claim from a marketing percentage, and only one device family here has it.
- What does it cost to keep? Every pick here charges nothing for the overnight data, which is the whole point of this site. A ring that paywalled your breathing data would not make the list.
- Will you actually wear it every night? Battery, a charging case and a free sizing kit decide that more than any sensor does.
The three claims, side by side
- RingConn Gen 2 - a shipped feature with the brand's own number. RingConn's Gen 2 page lists “automatic sleep apnea monitoring” and a “90.7% Sleep Apnea Monitoring Accuracy” figure (RingConn). That is the maker's claim, with no published study behind it that we could find, and no FDA clearance. It is still the most specific commitment any ring brand makes about apnea today.
- Samsung Galaxy Ring - the clearance. In July 2026 Samsung said an FDA-cleared sleep apnea feature would come to the Galaxy Ring in the fall (Android Authority, Gizmodo). When we checked, it was not yet on Samsung's own US product page, so treat it as announced rather than in your hand. Samsung's existing apnea feature on its watches is the precedent, and the ring is Android-only either way.
- RingConn Gen 3 - insights, carefully worded. The Gen 3 feature list includes “Sleep Apnea Pattern Insights” next to the line “not a medical device” (RingConn). Pattern insight is a weaker promise than monitoring with a percentage, which is why the newer ring sits below the older one on this specific job.
Everything else we cover - Oura, Ultrahuman, Circular - makes no apnea claim at all. If a listing for an unbranded ring promises apnea detection, that is the clearest possible signal to walk away; the five things you cannot verify about those listings are set out in best smart rings under $100.
Published specs
Cleared vs claimed: why the distinction decides this page
“FDA-cleared” means a regulator has reviewed evidence that a feature performs as described for a stated purpose. A marketing accuracy percentage means a company ran something internally and liked the result. Both can be true and useful; only one is checkable. Oura is explicit that no Oura ring feature is FDA-cleared today, and has written publicly about where wellness features sit under FDA guidance (Oura).
The device family with an actual clearance for home apnea screening is not a ring at all: Withings' Sleep Rx mat was cleared for obstructive sleep apnea, and it is prescription-only, supplied through healthcare professionals (AASM, Withings Health Solutions). The consumer Withings Sleep mat on this list is the same form factor without the clearance: it reports snoring episodes and breathing disturbances from a pneumatic sensor under the mattress, with no required fee. That is why it is the fourth pick here rather than a ring.
What the research says about rings and apnea
The best available summary is a 2026 meta-analysis of finger-worn devices for sleep staging and apnea detection (Jin et al., Journal of Translational Medicine 2026), alongside a clinical sleep-lab comparison of ring trackers (Herberger et al., Scientific Reports 2025). The consistent finding across this literature is that finger devices do a reasonable job of total sleep time and a much weaker job of the fine-grained events that apnea scoring depends on. None of that research validates the specific apnea features on the rings above, because those features have not been through it.
Who should skip a ring for this
- Anyone with symptoms. Loud snoring with witnessed pauses, waking unrefreshed, daytime sleepiness at the wheel - that is a doctor conversation and a proper test, today, not a ring.
- Anyone who needs a number for a claim or a referral. A ring's nightly chart is not a diagnostic report, and no clinician will treat on it.
- Anyone on an iPhone who wants Samsung's cleared feature. The Galaxy Ring does not work with iOS at all; our best smart ring for iPhone page covers what is left.
In detail
The picks, in full
Rank 01
Best apnea feature you can buy today
RingConn Gen 2
The only ring on sale now whose maker names "automatic sleep apnea monitoring" as a shipped feature, with a 90.7% monitoring accuracy figure of its own. No subscription, 10-12 days a charge, and the charging case in the box.
Published specsResearched · every value sourced
| Subscription | None ("No Subscriptions") |
|---|---|
| Battery (claimed) | 10-12 daysMaker's claim |
| Charging case | Included; "Extended Up to 150 Days With Charging Case"Maker's claim |
| Sizes | 6-14 |
| Sizing kit | Complimentary |
| Phones | iOS 17.0+ and Android 10.0+ |
| Water resistance | IP68 (100 m / 328 ft) |
| Materials | Titanium alloy with medical-grade epoxy resin |
| HSA/FSA | Eligible through Flex |
| Warranty (US) | 1 year (non-EEA); normal battery capacity loss excluded; optional 2- or 3-year protection in the US |
| Features | "Automatic sleep apnea monitoring" with a "90.7% Sleep Apnea Monitoring Accuracy" claim (maker's claim; not a diagnosis)Maker's claim |
| US availability | Listed on Amazon.com |
How the 8.2 score breaks down
- Cost of ownership (3 years) (30%)
- 10
- Evidence of accuracy (25%)
- 5
- Battery (claimed) (15%)
- 9
- Sizing & fit (10%)
- 9
- Data ownership (10%)
- 8
- Platform support (10%)
- 9
What the specs support
- No subscription
- The charging case turns a 10-12 day ring into a months-between-outlets ring (maker's claim)
- A 2026 preprint compared it with a Polar H10 at rest: heart rate bias -0.42 bpm
- iOS and Android, free sizing kit
Where it falls short
- The chest-strap study is a preprint, seated only, and not peer-reviewed
- A reviewer found it read heart rate high during runs compared with a chest strap
- Needs iOS 17 or Android 10 or newer
- Sleep apnea figure is RingConn's own claim
Skip this if…
…You want workout heart rate you can trust on runs: a reviewer found it read high against a chest strap. Wear a strap for training.
#ad · Price as of October 11, 2026 · How we make money for the link to RingConn Gen 2
Rank 02
The only FDA-cleared ring feature announced
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Samsung said in July 2026 that an FDA-cleared sleep apnea feature is coming to the Galaxy Ring in the fall. That is the strongest regulatory position in the category - and it is Android-only, with the feature not yet on Samsung's US page when we checked.
Published specsResearched · every value sourced
How the 6.2 score breaks down
- Cost of ownership (3 years) (30%)
- 10
- Evidence of accuracy (25%)
- 2
- Battery (claimed) (15%)
- 6
- Sizing & fit (10%)
- 8
- Data ownership (10%)
- 7
- Platform support (10%)
- 3
What the specs support
- No subscription
- Charging case included (up to 14 days total, maker's claim)
- Sizes 5-15, with a complimentary sizing kit before the ring
- Titanium, 10ATM and IP68
Where it falls short
- Does not work with iPhone
- Energy Score insights, Find My Ring and gestures need a Samsung Galaxy phone
- No peer-reviewed validation study found
- Up to 6 days on smaller sizes; a reviewer got about 5 days from a size 11
Skip this if…
…You own an iPhone (it doesn't work with iOS), or you use a non-Samsung Android phone and want every feature.
#ad · Price as of October 11, 2026 · How we make money for the link to Samsung Galaxy Ring
Rank 03
Longest battery with apnea insights
RingConn Gen 3
RingConn's current ring lists "Sleep Apnea Pattern Insights" alongside up to 14 days a charge, and says plainly it is "not a medical device". No published validation of this model exists yet.
Published specsResearched · every value sourced
How the 8.1 score breaks down
- Cost of ownership (3 years) (30%)
- 10
- Evidence of accuracy (25%)
- 4
- Battery (claimed) (15%)
- 10
- Sizing & fit (10%)
- 9
- Data ownership (10%)
- 8
- Platform support (10%)
- 9
What the specs support
- No subscription, no locked tier
- Longest claimed single charge of the rings sold on Amazon (up to 14 days), plus a charging case
- Widest size range here (6-15), with a free sizing kit before the ring ships
- Legal US status settled: licensed by Oura since October 2025
Where it falls short
- No published validation study of Gen 3 found; evidence comes from the Gen 2 preprint
- The Gadgeteer's reviewer got about 10 days with vibration alerts on, not 14
- Normal battery capacity loss isn't covered by the warranty
Skip this if…
…You want published, peer-reviewed accuracy evidence for the exact ring you buy: none exists yet for Gen 3.
#ad · Price as of October 11, 2026 · How we make money for the link to RingConn Gen 3
Rank 04
Best if you want the cleared device
Withings Sleep
A mat under the mattress with nothing to wear or charge, reporting snoring episodes and breathing disturbances from a pneumatic sensor. Withings also makes the prescription-only Sleep Rx, which is the FDA-cleared route for home apnea screening.
Published specsResearched · every value sourced
How the 7.7 score breaks down
- Cost of ownership (3 years) (30%)
- 9
- Evidence of accuracy (25%)
- 5
- Setup & upkeep (15%)
- 9
- Who it suits (bed, partner, mattress) (10%)
- 7
- Data ownership (10%)
- 8
- Platform support (10%)
- 9
What the specs support
- No required subscription, and Withings says sleep history and trends stay free
- Nothing to wear, nothing to charge: it is mains-powered and 5 mm thick
- Reports breathing disturbances and snoring, which no smart ring microphone can do
- Free unlimited data storage plus Apple Health and Google Health Connect sync
Where it falls short
- Only tracks you in your own bed: no travel, no naps on the sofa, no daytime data
- Needs 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and a phone for setup; it cannot be installed from a computer
- Not for waterbeds, and air mattresses may affect accuracy
- The Readiness Indicator sits behind the optional Withings+ plan
Skip this if…
…You want daytime activity, workouts or travel nights covered, or you sleep on a waterbed: a mat under your own mattress can do none of that.
#ad · Price as of October 11, 2026 · How we make money for the link to Withings Sleep
Mistakes to avoid
- Reading a percentage as a clearance. 90.7% is RingConn's figure for its own feature. It is not a regulator's verdict and it is not a study.
- Buying the Galaxy Ring today for a feature announced for later. If the apnea feature is your only reason, confirm it is live on Samsung's US page before you spend anything.
- Treating blood oxygen dips as a diagnosis. Ring SpO2 is an estimate from light through a finger; what it is good for and not is on smart ring blood oxygen accuracy.
- Ignoring the fee question. Overnight breathing data behind a monthly paywall is a recurring bill on your own body. Every pick here charges nothing for it - see the no-subscription roundup.
- Buying the wrong size and not wearing it. A ring that is loose at 3am reads badly. Use the free kit and our sizing guide.
How we scored this
How these picks were chosen
Every pick here is labeled Researched: chosen from each brand's fee policy, spec sheet, sizing and warranty pages, and the published studies that measured the ring (or its predecessor) against a chest strap, an ECG or a sleep lab, then scored on a public rubric. Every figure links to where it came from, and maker performance numbers are labeled “maker's claim,” so you can see exactly what you're paying for before you buy.
Scores are editorial judgments built from that documented research. Commissions never set a score or decide a pick. The rubric and its weights are published.
What changed
- Published.
Questions
Frequently asked
Can a smart ring detect sleep apnea?
Which smart ring is FDA-cleared for sleep apnea?
Is RingConn's 90.7% apnea accuracy figure independent?
Does the Oura Ring track sleep apnea?
What should I do if my ring flags disturbed breathing?
Receipts
Sources
- RingConn: Gen 2 product page (checked 2026-09-19)
- RingConn: Gen 3 features page (battery, charging case, vascular and sleep apnea insights) (checked 2026-09-19)
- Samsung US: Galaxy Ring product page (checked 2026-09-19)
- Android Authority: Samsung Galaxy Ring sleep apnea feature (July 22, 2026) (checked 2026-09-19)
- Gizmodo: Galaxy Ring gets FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection this fall (July 2026) (checked 2026-09-19)
- Withings US: Sleep under-mattress tracking mat (sensors, metrics, dimensions, power, app, subscription FAQ) (checked 2026-09-26)
- Withings Health Solutions: Sleep Rx (FDA-cleared, prescription, via healthcare professionals) (checked 2026-09-26)
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine: FDA clears Sleep Rx mat for OSA diagnosis (checked 2026-09-26)
- Sleep Review: FDA clears under-mattress mat for home sleep apnea screening (Sept 2024) (checked 2026-09-26)
- Jin et al., J Translational Medicine 2026: finger-worn devices for sleep staging and apnea, meta-analysis (PMC13348430) (checked 2026-09-19)
- Herberger et al., Scientific Reports 2025: finger ring trackers in the clinical sleep lab (PMC11923143) (checked 2026-09-19)
- Oura blog: what the new FDA wellness guidance means (Feb 10, 2026) (checked 2026-09-19)
Every figure on this page is traceable. Fees come from each brand's own policy pages (with the date we checked), specs from maker pages and listings, and accuracy claims from named, published studies. Hardware prices are set by Amazon and change daily, so we link them live instead of printing them. Read the full method.
