Amazfit Helio Smart Ring Review – Features, Pros & Cons

The smart wearables market has seen a surge in innovation, with smart rings becoming the latest trend for health tracking and convenience. The Amazfit Helio Smart Ring, launched by Zepp Health, aims to provide users with a compact yet efficient way to monitor their health and wellness. Priced at around $199.99, the Helio Ring is significantly cheaper than premium competitors like the Oura Ring. But does it deliver on its promises, or does it fall short? This review will break down everything you need to know before making a purchase.

Amazfit Helio Smart Ring: Design and Build Quality

The Amazfit Helio Smart Ring sports a minimalistic and sleek design, constructed from a titanium alloy for durability and a premium feel. The ring’s interior is lined with a resin material, ensuring a comfortable fit for prolonged wear. However, unlike competitors offering a broad range of sizes, the Helio Ring is limited to just three sizes: 8, 10, and 12. This limitation may lead to discomfort or poor fit for some users.

Amazfit claims the ring is designed to be “ultra-lightweight,” making it convenient for all-day wear. Weighing only 4 grams, it does live up to this expectation. The IP68 water resistance rating makes it suitable for washing hands and light water exposure, but it’s not advisable for swimming or high-intensity water activities.

In terms of aesthetics, the ring comes in matte black and silver finishes, ensuring a subtle yet stylish look. The smooth, scratch-resistant coating enhances durability, although some users have reported minor scuffing after months of use.

Amazfit Helio Smart Ring: Health Tracking Features

The Amazfit Helio Smart Ring aims to track various health metrics, similar to smartwatches but in a more discreet form. Some of the key features include:

1. Sleep Monitoring

Tracks deep, light, and REM sleep cycles with PPG-based biometric sensors
Measures sleep quality using heart rate variability (HRV) and movement-based sleep analysis
Provides a detailed Sleep Score in the Zepp app, offering actionable insights for better rest
Supports naps tracking for short daytime rests

2. Heart Rate and SpO2 Monitoring

Continuously tracks heart rate (24/7 PPG monitoring) with high precision
Monitors blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) using a red-light optical sensor
Offers alerts for irregular heart rhythms, potentially indicating underlying health issues
Uses a dual-sensor approach to enhance accuracy compared to wrist-based devices

3. Stress and Readiness Tracking

Uses heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) response to assess stress levels
Provides a “Readiness Score” to indicate recovery status and optimal exercise timing
Includes guided breathing exercises to help reduce stress

4. Body Temperature Monitoring

Uses infrared thermography sensors to detect real-time skin temperature changes
Tracks core body temperature trends to detect signs of illness or hormonal fluctuations

5. Menstrual Cycle Tracking

Predicts menstrual cycles with an AI-driven cycle forecasting model
Provides hormonal balance insights and fertility window estimates
Sends personalized health reminders for different cycle phases

While these features appear robust on paper, real-world accuracy is a mixed bag. Sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring are relatively accurate for a budget-friendly device, but SpO2 readings and temperature tracking can sometimes be inconsistent, particularly during strenuous activities.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery performance is crucial for wearables, especially smart rings that lack large displays. Amazfit promises four days of battery life on a single charge. However, in practical use, the battery tends to last between 2 to 3 days with continuous tracking enabled. If you enable fewer tracking options, you might push it closer to the promised four days.

Charging the Helio Ring requires a proprietary magnetic charging dock. While this isn’t a major downside, it means you’ll need to carry the specific charger, unlike USB-C-powered competitors. Charging takes approximately 90 minutes to reach full capacity. The ring uses a low-energy Bluetooth 5.2 protocol, optimizing power efficiency.

Software and User Experience

The Zepp app is the core interface for viewing health insights from the Helio Ring. The app provides well-organized metrics, offering deep insights into sleep quality, readiness scores, and stress levels.

However, there are some drawbacks:

Occasional data sync issues between the ring and the app
Some premium features are locked behind a subscription
Lack of automatic workout detection
The AI-based health insights require constant syncing for real-time analysis

Despite these shortcomings, the app is user-friendly and provides clear, easy-to-read health analytics. For those already using Amazfit smartwatches, the ring integrates seamlessly into the existing ecosystem, allowing users to view combined data from multiple devices.

Amazfit Helio Smart Ring: Comparisons with Competitors

The smart ring market is relatively new but already has strong competitors. Here’s how the Amazfit Helio Smart Ring stacks up against them:

1. Oura Ring Gen 3 ($299+)

Pros:
- Industry-leading sleep and readiness tracking with multi-sensor technology
- Superior battery life (5-7 days)
- More size options (6-13 sizes available)

Cons:
- Requires a monthly subscription for full features
- More expensive than the Helio Ring

2. RingConn Smart Ring ($279)

Pros:
- No monthly subscription
- Compact charging case for travel convenience
- 5-7 days of battery life
Cons:
- Less refined AI-driven insights
- Lack of brand ecosystem integration

3. Samsung Galaxy Ring (Upcoming)

Expected to feature gesture controls for hands-free interactions
Likely to be optimized for Samsung Health and Galaxy devices
May not be compatible with iPhones

For those looking for a budget-friendly smart ring, the Helio Ring is a strong contender. However, those seeking superior accuracy and longer battery life might prefer Oura or RingConn.

Final Verdict: Is Amazfit Helio Smart Ring Worth Buying?

The Amazfit Helio Smart Ring is an ambitious attempt to bring smart ring technology to a wider audience at an affordable price. It excels in offering basic health tracking, sleep monitoring, and stress assessment while being more budget-friendly than the Oura Ring. However, its limited battery life, sizing constraints, and occasional data inconsistencies prevent it from being a perfect alternative.

Verdict: If you’re looking for an entry-level smart ring with basic health tracking, the Helio Ring is a good option. However, those seeking premium features and superior battery life should consider Oura or RingConn instead.