Good rings have arrived. They’re now not the protect of Finnish pioneer Oura; we’ve got examined rings from Ultrahuman, Ringconn, and Movano in latest months, and our Samsung Galaxy Ring review is within the works. These finger-based trackers are straightforward to put on and supply probably beneficial insights about our well being and health. As maybe the dominant Chinese language participant within the health monitoring area, Amazfit ought to be well-placed to leap aboard the pattern, however the Helio sensible ring appears like a piece in progress.
Amazfit grew from Huami, based greater than a decade in the past. The corporate has a lot of expertise turning out inexpensive devices, and Amazfit is a sub-brand that launched its first smartwatch in 2016. Huami rebranded to Zepp Well being in 2021, and the Amazfit app turned the Zepp app, regardless that the Amazfit model was retained for the units. (Please simply decide one title.)
We now have examined a couple of of Amazfit’s health trackers, together with the Amazfit GTR Professional (5/10, WIRED Review) and the Amazfit Steadiness (5/10, WIRED Review). Amazfit was bullish in regards to the ring and watch mixture, with the Zepp app aggregating knowledge from each, so it despatched me the Cheetah Professional alongside the Helio. (Amazfit additionally sells the ring bundled with different fashions.) The duo works nicely, however testing the Helio ring alone rapidly revealed its shortcomings.
Rushed Ring
{Photograph}: Simon Hill
The Amazfit Helio is available in just one coloration and two sizes. Amazfit calls the colour titanium. It’s titanium alloy, however the end appears to be like bronze with a refined, classy-looking dot sample on the highest and a tiny indentation on the opposite facet that can assist you align the sensors accurately. The Helio weighs simply shy of 4 grams, is 2.6 mm thick, and is cozy to put on. It’s bulkier than an everyday ring however not terribly so.
The Amazfit Helio is rated at 10 ATM for water resistance. You possibly can swim or bathe with it on. It comes with a wee, wi-fi charging plinth, identical to Oura’s, and a USB-C cable, however you have to provide an influence adapter. Amazfit presents measurement 10 or 12. (Fortunately, I’m measurement 12.) Ultimately, it’s going to supply sizes 7 by 13. The restricted choices increase my impression that Amazfit has rushed the ring to market.
The ring appears sturdy. Mine is generally blemish-free after a few weeks, and I are typically robust on sensible rings, although I did handle to gouge my porcelain lavatory sink. (You will need to bear in mind to take away your ring earlier than cleansing, lifting weights, or any exercise the place it’s prone to contact a tough floor.) Like most sensible rings, the Helio works finest in your index finger, however this makes it extra prone to come into contact with … nicely, every thing.
Mighty Metrics
The Helio has the same old sensor suspects, together with a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, temperature sensor, and electro-dermal (EDA) sensor. It may well observe your coronary heart charge and coronary heart charge variability, energetic minutes, whole steps, energy burned, and some different bits. You will need to set up and hyperlink the Zepp app (iOS, Android) to evaluation your knowledge.
{Photograph}: Simon Hill by way of Zepp app
