Dame Patricia Routledge was 96 when she died in October 2025, leaving behind a substantial legacy in Britain’s TV industry. Learn about her life and career here.
Dame Patricia Routledge was 96 when she died in October 2025, leaving behind a substantial legacy in Britain’s TV industry. Learn about her life and career here.
It’s getting increasingly difficult to say smart rings are just a niche inside the broader world of wearable technology. The raft of celebrities who are seen wearing them, the NBA’s use of Oura rings as an early warning system against COVID-19 and, last year, Samsung’s entry into the market has made them far more prominent in the minds of mainstream consumers. We’ve tested plenty of smart rings, and are likely to test plenty more as the years roll on. To help you better understand the category, we’ve built this guide that explains what they do, what they’re for and which ones are worth your time and money right now.
Smart rings offer an alternative to smartwatches and fitness trackers to keep an eye on your health and daily activity. They can track your movements, heart rate, temperature and monitor how well you’ve been sleeping. Essentially, they take much of the same hardware you’d find in a smartwatch or tracker and shrink it down into a much smaller package.
The trade-offs are, as such, obvious: Rings are smaller and can’t track anywhere near as many things as a wrist-worn device can. You’ll also miss out on any of the added features that are found on those bigger pieces of gear, like a screen on which to see your notifications or real-time readings of your steps count. But they may be more accurate for your heart rate and temperature, and are significantly more discreet.
That discretion is important if you want to keep an eye on your health without looking like you care. Sure, they’re still gadgets, so they’re still noticeably bigger than traditional pieces of jewelry — but not by much. Plus, it’s an alternative for people who don’t like watches, with one statistic saying 68 percent of Americans don’t wear them.
Much like smartwatches and fitness trackers, smart rings are equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes that can track your movement. That lets them interpret how much you’re moving and, based on whether you toss and turn in the night, how well you’re sleeping.
Many rings have PPG (photoplethysmography) sensors to monitor your heart rate and blood oxygenation, either continuously or at intervals. Plus, they often come with temperature sensors that can be used to track signs of infection, and the data they gather on body heat can be used to predict the wearer’s menstrual cycle.
It’s possible to use this information to draw broader conclusions about how you’re doing more generally. You can get metrics for your stress, resilience and recovery rates, and you’ll even get data on how calm you are during meditation sessions.
I’ve personally been able to look back at stressful days and then compare my vital signs to the baseline. This can be useful to monitor how well, or badly, you’re dealing with stress at any given time and chart progress made.
But not all smart rings are alike. Circular’s Ring 2 is one of a handful to offer its own one-line ECG (electrocardiogram). This, like many fitness watches that now offer the same, will look at your heart’s electrical activity to look for irregularities, such as atrial fibrillation. Evie, meanwhile, markets itself as a smart ring “designed for women” with a focus on reproductive cycle tracking.
At the risk of winning this year’s “Yeah, obviously” award, smart rings are not a replacement for smartwatches. Rings do not have built-in displays or vibration motors, so the only way to interact with them is via their companion apps on your phone.
There’s no way for you to get any idea of how you’re doing at any given time unless you’re able to look at your primary device. Even activity alerts — pop-ups telling you to move if you’ve been still for too long — can only be pushed to your phone.
You won’t get any of the added-value stuff you get with most wrist-worn devices either, and not just the ability to tell the time. That means no calls, apps, message responses, GPS, fall detection or mobile payments via NFC. There are a few exceptions: Samsung’s Galaxy Ring can detect pinch gestures to activate the camera trigger or turn off alarms with a compatible phone.
It’s probably worth noting that while no consumer wearable will be as accurate or reliable as a clinical diagnostic tool, the smaller hardware may mean a compromise in accuracy. Rings might also get in the way of certain types of activity, like pull-ups, barbell deadlifts or any other movement that involves gripping onto a handle that might push the accessory into your finger and cause discomfort.
Given the broader features available in even the most basic fitness tracker, it’s hard to say smart rings are a “better” choice. A $300 ring will do a lot less than a $50 tracker, and if you’re led by your wallet, a ring will always work out to be the luxury option. What they offer, however, is a far more elegant aesthetic, especially if you’re not likely to wear a tracker, smartwatch or fitness watch. And that’s before we get to people with skin sensitivities or other reasons for preferring a smaller, more unobtrusive tracker.
What do you want to get out of it?
Are you hoping a smart ring will encourage you to get out and exercise more? Help you keep an eye on your physical health? Manage your mental health? It’s good to go in with a clear picture of what you want because you may find the limited applications frustrating.
Will it fit your finger?
Most reputable smart rings will, during the ordering process, send you a sizing kit so you can find the most comfortable model. You’re asked to find a size that sits snugly on your index finger ensuring the sensors make good contact with your skin.
The companies often suggest you wear this plastic dummy on your hand for a few days before placing your order. After all, our hands can swell and shrink during the day and depending on the ambient temperature.
Normal rings can be sized up or down a bit (by a competent jeweler) if your body shape shifts over time. You can’t do that with most smart rings, so if you do change sizes drastically, you’ll have to go through the process from the start and pay full price again.
There are exceptions to this: If you pay for a coverage plan with Ultrahuman, for example, you’ll get one free ring replacement if you lose weight. Anecdotally, some makers will offer ad-hoc discounts if you speak to them but that’s obviously at the discretion of the name in question.
One thing to bear in mind is wearing your ring while working out, which might be an issue as pointed out earlier. Depending on your activity, you might find a ring uncomfortable compared to a watch. If gripping onto a dumbbell or handlebars is something you do frequently, it might be better to use a smartwatch or wristworn device. But for runners, swimmers or other folks who don’t need to grab onto much while they work out, a ring should be just fine.
What’s the battery life like?
Bigger rings will have bigger batteries, so it’s a lot harder to give a clean figure as to how long each ring will last on a charge. Thankfully most rings sip, rather than slurp, at their batteries and so most of them last at least five days or so on a charge. That’s one big plus over some smartwatches given they often will only last a day or so before needing more power.
What can you do if you lose your smart ring?
Several companies include Find My Ring features in their apps to identify the last location that your ring was connected to your phone. However, if you’re not a fan of minimalism and your home is full, it might be harder to find them. After all, the rings don’t have vibration motors or speakers to offer an audible chirp as and when you’re looking for them.
I once lost an Oura Ring 3 for two days before downloading a third-party app that could locate it within a few feet. Turns out, when I’d made my kids’ bed, the ring had fallen into my daughter’s duvet cover, which I found only once I’d turned the room upside down twice.
Samsung, meanwhile, offers location-tracking in its app and can give you a rough idea of your ring’s last location. You can also, if you’re hunting for it in dark environments, set its lights to blink, which is something its rivals do not offer.
Are there long-term costs?
The nature of the technology world, especially in 2025, is that a lot of hardware companies can’t survive selling users one device every three or four years. So, to supplement that income and to offer users a better value proposition, companies offer additional features at an extra cost.
That can come in the form of a premium subscription to unlock additional features and insights about your body. There are also one-off purchases to unlock specific features that you may want to focus on, as well as extended warranties or insurances.
I’d wager most people plan on wearing a smart ring for several years before opting to upgrade, and so it’s important to keep an eye on the total cost of ownership. If your budget will only stretch to the initial payment and no further, keep in mind what features you’ll be missing out on.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-smart-ring-140000425.html?src=rss
Amazon’s fall edition of Prime Day is right around the corner, but you can already get some great deals on popular products like the Apple AirTag. Right now, a four-pack of Apple AirTags is $75, 25 percent off the regular price. If you’re an Apple user, then the AirTag is the best Bluetooth tracker on the market for you.
You can put these little discs in your wallet, in a backpack or in your luggage while you’re traveling. Your AirTag’s location will show up in your Find My app, powered by the vast network of iPhones, iPads and other compatible devices that receive the AirTag’s Bluetooth signal. Keep in mind these only work when close enough to participating devices to be located.
You can attach AirTags to just about anything thanks to an abundance of available accessories. Their built-in speakers can play a tone, triggered from your iPhone, to help you find them when the object they’re affixed to is lost. On iPhone 11 and newer models, you can take advantage of the AirTag’s Ultra Wideband capability and have your phone lead you right to your AirTag, complete with directional arrows on your iPhone screen.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/a-four-pack-of-apple-airtags-is-25-percent-off-ahead-of-prime-day-143112321.html?src=rss
Daniel Day-Lewis teams up with his son for ‘Anemone,’ a mysterious new film. Here’s everything to know about the full plot details, cast list, and more.
Daniel Day-Lewis teams up with his son for ‘Anemone,’ a mysterious new film. Here’s everything to know about the full plot details, cast list, and more.
The Fitbit Charge 6 fitness tracker is on sale right now via Wellbots for $110, which is a discount of $50. Just enter the code ENGFIT50 at checkout, as this is an exclusive deal.
The Charge 6 topped our list of the best fitness trackers, and for very good reason. It’s a solid device that gets the job done. It features built-in GPS, which is always handy for navigating around trails, and the battery lasts an impressive seven days per charge. The heart rate monitor is accurate and the AMOLED display is eye-catching.
It also tracks steps, oxygen saturation, sleep and a whole lot more, with more than 40 dedicated exercise modes. It’s a relatively thin device that we said feels “premium when compared to other fitness trackers.” The unit integrates with Google Maps and Google Wallet.
Some of the more advanced features are locked behind a paywall, which is unfortunate, and there’s no integration with Apple Health. Otherwise, this is a near-perfect fitness tracker.
Wellbots is also selling the Fitbit Inspire 3 at a deep discount. It’s available for just $75 with the coupon code ENGFIT25.
Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/fitbits-charge-6-fitness-tracker-is-50-off-right-now-130019229.html?src=rss
‘The Life of a Showgirl’ album is full of Taylor’s signature poetic songwriting, so is ‘Father Figure’ about anyone in particular?
‘The Life of a Showgirl’ album is full of Taylor’s signature poetic songwriting, so is ‘Father Figure’ about anyone in particular?
You don’t have to worry about losing access to Sunday Night Football and NBCUniversal’s other sports offerings and shows on YouTube TV over the next few years. The broadcaster has reached a multi-year agreement with Google to keep its programs on the streaming service after they were almost pulled by the end of the companies’ original deal. YouTube TV said at the time that NBC was asking it “to pay more than what they charge consumers for the same content on Peacock, which would mean less flexibility and higher prices for [its own] subscribers.” They were able to agree on a last-minute “short-term extension” while working on a more permanent deal to prevent the removal of NBCUniversal’s offerings.
The multi-year commitment will give you access to NBCUniversal’s portfolio, including NBC, Telemundo, Bravo, CNBC, Golf Channel, E!, Oxygen True Crime, MSNBC, USA, Syfy and Universo. You’ll also get access to the relaunched NBC Sports Network, the cable channel the broadcaster shut down in 2021, later this fall. “NBCSN will complement the prominent sports properties presented year-round on the NBC broadcast network,” the broadcaster announced. In addition, you will be able to get Peacock in the coming months as an add-on subscription through YouTube Primetime Channels.
Movies and shows from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will continue to be available to buy or rent from Google TV and YouTube TV, as well. And Peacock app will continue to be available via Google Play. “This deal builds on our long-standing partnership with NBCU while addressing the evolving media landscape and recognizing the importance of making content available where and how viewers want to watch it,” said Justin Connolly, Youtube’s Global Head of Media & Sports.
While Google and YouTube TV were able to reach an agreement with NBCUniversal, they failed to reach a similar deal with Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US. Google said that Univision’s “current demands aren’t supported by [its] performance on YouTube TV over the last four years.” TelevisaUnivision, its parent company, warned customers in early September that YouTube TV wanted to remove its programs from its standard package and to charge viewers an extra $15 to be able to access its network.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/youtube/google-and-nbcuniversal-reach-multi-year-agreement-for-youtube-tv-120051505.html?src=rss
If I covered everything announced at Amazon’s fall hardware event, it would take a while, and I would be repeating the hard work of my colleague Kris Holt. Check out his report for all the new Echo speakers, new Alexa tricks, more Nest Cameras and, yes, more Kindles — AKA the only Amazon hardware I’m usually interested in.
When it comes to Amazon’s ereader series, the standout new addition is the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, combining its stylus-toting note-taking hardware with its latest color e-ink screen. It has a new rendering engine, too, which is meant to make writing faster, more fluid and more natural. Check out our first impressions of the device, and if you’re intrigued, you can order one later this year for $630.
If you think color is overrated, there’s a new regular Kindle Scribe, with a bigger screen that matches typical paper sizes. The refreshed Kindle Scribe will go on sale in the US by the end of the year, priced at $500. A version without a front light will be available for $430.
— Mat Smith
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Tile trackers reportedly have a security flaw that can let stalkers track your location
Disney reportedly lost 1.7 million paid subscribers in the week after suspending Kimmel
Alongside some tier shuffling, there’s also a painful sting in the tail for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. It now costs $30 a month, a 50 percent increase on what it was before. And there’s no discount if you go for an annual subscription, either. It’s also the second price jump in the last two years. It went up from $17 in July 2024. Three dollars doesn’t seem so bad now.
At $360 per year, Game Pass Ultimate is now more than twice as expensive as PlayStation’s Plus Premium. If you’re willing to pay up, though, Microsoft added 45 more games this week, including a lot of entries from the Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry series, two gaming franchises where the games definitely aren’t very similar to each other.
Meta’s second-generation smart glasses are becoming a genuinely useful accessory. This year’s hardware upgrade addresses many of the issues we had with the original Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The battery life is much improved, while the 3K resolution bump makes video far more useful on platforms like YouTube. Resolution aside, the video quality is just better too. Check out our full review.
I felt a little nauseous writing that headline, but if your interest is piqued…
It’s been a rough time for Peloton. Now, the company is back with major hardware (and software) upgrades across its Bike, Tread and Row family of machines. It’s an almost-entire overhaul, with new software, programmable workouts and an array of collaborations. There are also some tentative steps toward wellness, because why not?
All of the new machines have a screen that rotates away from the bike/track/rower. The updated Bike+, Row+ and Tread+ models feature a 23.8-inch display, while the base models have a 21.5-inch display. Rotating it turns your Peloton into a more versatile screen for cross-discipline workouts, which Peloton has already dabbled in, including yoga and strength training. The new devices are now available for purchase.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-amazons-kindle-scribe-colorsoft-fuses-two-types-of-ereader-111516509.html?src=rss
This week, EA announced that it plans to go private as part of a massive $55 billion sale, a move that will likely have huge implications for the gaming landscape. In this episode, Devindra and Engadget’s Sam Rutherford chat about what this deal really means (and why it includes a Saudi Arabian investment fund), and also dive into the messy state of Xbox. Is the ROG Ally Xbox X already a failure at $1,000?
Electronic Arts to go private in a deal worth $55 Billion – 1:43
What the heck is going on with Xbox? The $1,000 ROG Ally Xbox X could be a failure even before launch – 15:23
Great games out now: Final Fantasy Tactics, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades II and more – 42:46
Amazon’s fall hardware event announced new Echoes, a new Fire TV and a panopticon powered by Ring – 59:10
Google announces new Nest Doorbell along with a couple of Nest Cams – 1:09:34
Hollywood film stars recoil in disgust at Tilly Norwood, an AI actress created by a Dutch production studio –1:14:30
OpenAI’s Sora video app is full of fake shoplifting clips – 1:14:13
Working on – 1:17:35
Pop culture picks – 1:19:01
Hosts: Devindra Hardawar and Sam Rutherford
Producer: Ben Ellman
Music: Dale North and Terrence O’Brien
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/engadget-podcast-ea-xbox-and-the-state-of-gaming-in-2025-113000903.html?src=rss
Audiobook fans can get three months of Audible for $3 for a limited time ahead of the fall edition of Amazon Prime Day. Users will be charged $0.99 per month for the first three months, after which it will auto-renew at $14.95 per month.
Audible features thousands of titles in its catalog, including podcasts and Audible Originals. Subscribers will also get to choose one audiobook each month to keep in their collection for free, including best-sellers or new releases. Amazon Prime members will receive two credits the first month of their trial.
Amazon has been bringing Prime Day back in the fall for a few years now, and this year it returns October 7 and 8. Great deals tend to start rolling out in the days ahead of the event and this year is no exception. There are already sales on Apple devices, smart doorbells and most importantly, Lego sets.
If you’re a book lover but don’t have the time to sit down and read a hard copy, or you just prefer listening to the latest novel while on the go, then take advantage of this sale. It’s a limited-time offer and will only be available through December 16.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/you-can-get-3-months-of-audible-for-just-3-right-now-090052477.html?src=rss
