If you’re looking for Oura Ring alternatives, one option is now off the table thanks to a patent lawsuit between Oura and Ultrahuman. This week, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that Ultrahuman infringed upon Oura’s patents. This has immediate and significant ramifications for Ultrahuman smart rings.
Initially, it means that the brand’s flagship Ultrahuman Ring Air is effectively banned in the United States. According to an Oura blog post, “the ITC’s final ruling enforces exclusion and cease-and-desist orders, effectively banning the import and sale of Ultrahuman smart rings in the U.S.”
The Ultrahuman Ring Air is no longer available for sale on the brand’s site. (Image credit: Ultrahuman)
Ultrahuman made its own post and says that existing Ultrahuman Ring Air owners will continue to see support,” with the caveat that the device needs to be purchased on or before October 21, 2025. Apparently, retailers can still sell leftover inventory past that date. If you buy a Ring Air after the 21st, Ultrahuman says you will still be supported with diagnostic and tech support.
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Once the current stock of Ring Air models is gone, retailers won’t be allowed to restock them.
The company also promised that a new ring is in development. “A new ring design is already in development and will launch in the U.S. as soon as possible,” its post reads.
Presumably, this one would not infringe on Oura patents, though the post noted that Ultrahuman is waiting on the results of a U.S. Patent and Trademark review of one of Oura’s other patents. A decision on that isn’t supposed to come until December.
How we got here and RingConn
(Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom’s Guide)
Oura sued both Ultrahuman and RingConn earlier this year, with an initial judgment in favor of Oura declaring that its competitors had infringed on Oura’s patents. The ruling determined that both companies infringed on every element asserted by Oura.
Unlike Ultrahuman, RingConn decided to settle with Oura, meaning that the dispute is considered resolved. With that, Oura granted RingConn a multi-year patent license. So you can continue to buy the RingConn Gen 2 Air and other RingConn models in the US.
Oura has a reputation for suing rivals, something Ultrahuman heavily notes. In June 2024, Samsung made the unusual step to preemptively sue Oura in order to prevent Oura from filing patent claims against the Galaxy Ring. At the time, Samsung lawyers cited a pattern of Oura filing claims against other smart ring makers.
It’s also similar to the now-resolved Apple vs. Masimo lawsuit over blood oxygen tech, which resulted in Apple pulling the Series 9 and Ultra 2 from U.S. shelves in January 2024. Thankfully, blood oxygen monitoring is back in the latest Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3 devices.
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Oura and Ultrahuman alternatives
(Image credit: Future)
Unfortunately, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is one of our picks for the best smart rings and the best Oura alternatives.
However, there are other smart rings that you should consider, including the aforementioned Samsung Galaxy Ring, which is great for sleep analysis and features up to a week of battery life.
You can also check out the Amazfit Helio Ring, which is great for more budget-conscious individuals. It doesn’t require a subscription fee and at $199, is less than the competition while offering similar health features.
The RingConn Gen 2 Air is also sub-$200, subscription-free, and will last up to 8 days on a single charge.
Ultrahuman says it plans to make a US comeback, so we’ll likely see another smart ring from it in the future. For now, you’re not bereft of options.
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