UltraHuman Air Ring - Detailed Review

When AECO Technologies told me that they brought in a health tracker, I wasn't impressed as well, Garmin that they have been distributing for years IS a health (and fitness) tracker. 

But things took a turn when they told me it is in a form of a ring. I have heard and known of Oura ring, which was something really new for me about 5 years ago and available in US. I knew of it as one of my colleague's son plays Ice Hockey and was sponsored by Oura, so his coach gets insight into his data during every training and games. I thought that was such a cool stuff for a developing athlete. 

Fast forward to about 10 weeks ago, I was shown the Ultrahuman Air ring at AECO's office. I was like... wow. Impressed. Naturally, I posted a teaser once AECO gave all clear 2 weeks later...

UltraHuman Air Ring

This will likely be your most detailed Ultrahuman ring review in Malaysia on real user usage experience that span for a month of loan.

What is:

• Ring with micro-electronics built in
• Tracks sleep, movement, SPO2, HR, Skin temperature
• Provide insight into your circadian rhythm
• Last on average (to 20% battery life) of 4 days on a single charge (at 80% charge). A charge from 20% to 80% takes about 90mins on USB-C 15W charger.
• Lightweight
• No subscription required for all features/data
• RM1799 available from AECO Technologies here

I was handed the loan unit of UltraHuman Air Ring, size 9 during the May Everymove Session at Bukit Jalil. I guesstimated the sizing based on my wedding band size+1, as I intend to wear the ring on my index finger, as recommended by Ultrahuman. The sizing came almost perfect for my left index finger, and fits similarly on my right ring finger. You may want to test and try the sizing to ensure you get the right sizing. AECO provides the sizing kit for RM30 which can be purchased and non-refundable.

Sizing chart approximation

It is very important to get the right fit as the reading may be affected if the ring is too loose and your comfort compromised if it is too snug. My suggestion is to contact AECO or head over to AECO HQ to experience the sizing if they allow.

As the unit I received was a loan/test unit, I got them without the box. So there is no unboxing experience but rather an unboxed experience. What you get (assumed in the sealed box) are the ring of the size you wanted, the charging cradle and a USB-C to USB-C cable of high quality.

The unit I got was known as Space Silver. Per Ultrahuman description, the ring is made from fighter jet grade Titanium reinforced with Tungsten Carbide Carbon Coating, which promises it to be resistant to everyday wear and tear.

The Inner ring is coated with medical-grade hypoallergenic epoxy resins, promising a comfortable wear all the time. 

AECO Technologies only bring in two color - Space Silver and Aster Black. Ultrahuman however, has 5 different selections which include Raw Titanium, Matte Grey and Bionic Gold. 

Color selection from US site

I supposed there will be some sort of documentation or indication where you can download the app from iOS or Googleplay store. If there isn't, just looked up the app store for Ultrahuman and you can't miss the logo that look like this

Logo on Googlestore

But because I try to give as much first-hand user experience and review as possible, the link to Android app is here and the iOS is here

Logo on iOS store

Here is what you will get out of the box

The ring, as shown on Ultrahuman site, color bumped up for marketing reasons

The ring and Cradle

The Cradle with Ring specific size in this case - 9

The USB-C to C cable of high quality

Here is a video of the ring as I first received it and checking it out in detail

Notice the notch at the bottom where the sensors are located. This part needs to sit at the bottom of your finger for accurate reading. Hence the need for the ring to fit nicely.

The bump or notch at the bottom

The bottom at the bottom of your finger

Here, a video with flickering Green LED to assist visually

The Ultrahuman AIR Ring has these sensors:

• Infrared Photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor
• Non-contact medical grade skin temperature sensor
• 6-axis motion sensor
• Red LED for HR and Oxygen Saturation
• Green LED for HR monitoring
• Infrared LED for HR monitoring

It can be seen that the focus here is leveraging on HR monitoring which then translate to assortments of data based on their algo settings. As it has motion sensor, it will detect movements and also translate them into steps.

Unlike the traditional wrist-based fitness tracker, the ring is obviously lacking a screen. This meant it rely 100% on the app to project the information required to you. The ring connects to your phone using Bluetooth Low Energy or BLE, and it is at version 5, or the latest version.

UH = Ultrahuman

The name is however a bit undescriptive as i found myself after a few weeks of using and completely forgot that UH_F is Ultrahuman ring, I was wondering which unknown device has been connecting to me... Renaming it as Ultrahuman AIR like how Garmin does with most of it's products will help greatly.

Ultrahuman Charging

Now the App

It's a rabbit hole of information for me. Like I've seen data and I've experienced data, but the amount of data the ring churns out is just unbelievable that it makes the health tracking on my already advanced Garmin FR965 looked basic. This following video is on Day 2 of usage and I was already very invested in purchasing this for myself.

The setting up video, if you are wondering what base data they collect. It also links to your current fitness/sports tracker, and in my case, I gave full access to my Garmin Connect account. This way, my steps and activities are synced.

It took me two times to get it right. So, if you experience some credential issues, it's likely the app trying to link, so kill the app and try again and all will be good.

These are the data it tracks, and i hope this is conclusive based on my usage over the past 8 weeks. The best devices often collects your biomarker in the background, without you doing anything more that to charge and sync the ring.

Based on my years of using fitness and health tracking devices, I can share with you that what is missing in most is telling you how well you are recovering, and that is beyond telling you need to "rest for XX hours" or telling you that you scored 100 points in body battery.

The Ultrahuman Ring Air captures

• Skin temperature (in Celsius and Fahrenheit)
• 7-days HRV trend
• Last night HRV
• Sleep Index
• HRV interpretation
• Dynamic Recovery (your naps and other recovery activities in real time)

How close the HR reading to a wristHR device, in this case my Garmin FR965? I would say - pretty close!

So this will put aside any concerns or worries that the HR captured is inaccurate and only for you to think that the only accurate way to track HR is via HRM chest strap. Bear in mind that technologies in these sensors are so advanced right now that a Wrist HR, or in this case a Ring HR is as accurate as a HRM strap. I stand by this based on the usage of Garmin Elevate 4 HR modules and experiencing the Ultrahuman Ring AIR data.

Capturing Sleep Data

The Ring Air captures and report these Sleep metrics. More than what the typical fitness device does. I separate the list below with things my FR965 can't do vs what Ultrahuman Ring Air can do, and surprisingly, there are two metrics that Ring Air can't do!

What Both (What Garmin calls them in bracket) can do:

• Sleep Index (Sleep Score)
• Total Sleep (Duration)
• Sleep stages breakdown (Stages Breakdown)
• Restfulness (Awake/Restlessness)
• Restorative sleep (Body Battery Charge)
• Average heart rate (Average Heart Rate)
• Average HRV (Average HRV)
• Average blood oxygen saturation (Average SPO2)

  
  

What Air Ring can do that Garmin can't:

• Temperature
• Consistency
• HR drop
• Time in bed
• Sleep efficiency

What Garmin can do that Air Ring can't:

• Average Respiration
• Stress while sleeping

Winner: UltraHuman Ring AIR

The ability to track your skin temperature and HR Drop already makes a big difference in the whole sleep tracking experience. IN the weeks of using it, I learn that minor (read in Fahrenheit, sometimes 0.5F) impact the overall sleep score. 

I have learned that Skin Temperature deviation is a sign of lack of rest, illness or inflammation. Also, eating late at night caused temperature fluctuation as the system need to work overtime to digest the food, hence creating a thermogenic impact. Needless to say, late night workout will lead to higher temperature at sleep.

On the HR Drop, it is defined as the time it takes for your HR to drop to the lowest point during sleep. This is a marker for rest and recovery. The faster it drops, the better the body starts to repair and recover. Similarly, food and stimulant like caffeine will impact your HR Drop even if you already "used" to the spike. And of course, late night exercises contribute. 

External factor such as your bedroom - cool, dark and quiet, and even avoiding usage of devices or bluelights will contribute to HR Drop. 

Knowing these factors made me more aware on how I approach my sleep, and indeed i saw improvement in my habits and started to clean up my sleep!

Tracking your Circadian Rhythm

We all read about how as Human, the circadian rhythm or in layperson speak, is the natural process that moves throughout the day that tells us when to eat, sleep and play. External factors such as sunlight and temperature play an important part, this is why for frequent travelers, once they fly across time zones, they struggle with how the body reacts - and jet lag is just one of the resultants of a whacked circadian rhythm. 

When your circadian rhythm is out of synced, you will see impacts such as delay in recovery or delay in wound healing, changes to your hormones, digestion issues, body temperature fluctuations, lack of energy, brain fog and mental disorder.

These will then lead to more major issues such as issues with your cardiovascular system, your metabolism, your GI, your endocrine (hormone) and your nervous system.

So, having Ring AIR takes in all the data of your sleep, rest, stress and all, it will generate a chart called the Phase Response Curve that is yours to monitor. The chart will have a countdown marker on how and what you can maximise your day. Stimulus such as light exposure, food, exercise will help map the response, and then help you to shift your circadian rhythm - priming you to wake up earlier or later, and greatly utilises the body temperature data to determine your temperature minima - aka the lowest temperature your body achieved at complete rest.

It is all science. 

Caffiene Intake

This was a tough one for someone that are used to drink coffee anytime of the day. In the name of science, I embarked on the UltraHuman "Stimulant Restriction Window" where it takes into account my Circadian rhythm and how other external factor impact my overall health.

It has a caffeine decay chart, that shows the optimum time to take the stimulant (caffeine) drink, and how much to take. It changes ever so slightly unless your Circadian clock goes out of whack.

How is this for control intake?

In the month that i did this, I have definitely found that and understood my optimum timing for coffee. My window starts from 9.15am onwards and it tapers off to 3.10pm. A month after returning the ring to AECO, I am still adhering to this timing for my caffeine intake and yes, my sleep and rest, and recovery for the next day's training has seen improvement. 

The window changes as the ring gets more data from you, moving your Circadian clock and helping you to optimise the stimulants.

Weekly Report

I receive a weekly report from Ultrahuman that benchmark my last 2-weeks data against the last week. It has a 3-weeks trending window. When the first report came in, it is obviously inaccurate as I did not wear it for the first two weeks of the report. So the video above is "all me". Without writing more on what it tracks, which you can see if for yourself, the amount of data sharing is immense and useful. From the basic of your sleep score and recovery score to your movement index, to the very detailed "skin temperature drop" and how well you adhered to your Circadian clock. In short, you can't cheat your own biological clock. This ring will know if you been sleeping late and having bad recovery.

Temperature Deviation

If HR, HRV and SPO2 data isn't enough to tell you what and how your rest and recovery has been, the Ultrahuman can detect your temperature changes down to 1 degree Fahrenheit. This accuracy is essential than using Celsius as a comparison simply because a "0.1C" doesn't look as alarming as "0.18F" though they meant the same thing. While the overall temperature reporting is in Celsius, the deviation or changes is in Fahrenheit. 

in Celsius speak, this is 0.72C changes

The smaller unit used gives a better picture of how the body is responding to a few external factor. I realised my body temperature change when sleeping if I:

• Exercise after 6pm
• Eat or snack after 9pm
• Sleep late post the sleep window
• have late night work calls

A higher core temperature would then meant my body will recover slower as the other metric comes in; the HR Drop where it triggers the actual recovery while we sleep.

The body starts recovering when the HR drop faster at rest, which meant the HRV starts to be longer, which allow the body to be better at rest. So, any stimulant (caffeine) or external impact (including stress) actually gives you a slower recovery rate, which then impact your overall sleep quality and efficiency. 

And it all started to make more sense.

Read the description

Also, notice the change in temperature between daytime and nighttime?  You all will know why the bigger deviance on the temperature in daytime (because I run under the sun). But take note that my body is warmer at night vs daytime!

Breathing Exercises

The developer of Ultrahuman is based in Bangalore. No surprises that a lot of the breathing exercises is based on Yoga principal. The are many choices of them that last from 2 minutes to beyond 10 minutes with various impact and effect, including raising temperature!

My personal favorite is the Box Breathing, which is consistent with what I do everyday when I wake up. I have tried a few more of them, particularly the 4-7-8 which i feel asleep before i ended the exercise! Maybe I was just too tired that day.

How about Workout Tracking?

As the Ultrahuman is more of a health tracker than an activity tracker, the integration of workout is with the device you pair with to obtain the data. While you can do the tracking using the phone app, it is not as accurate due to the GPS dependency on the phone signal and accuracy. This also meant you will have to bring your phone with you. If you default to just pulling data from your devices, you won't get any map or data.

There is also no control on the HR Zoning, which based on the above, I believe could be biased to the 220-age formula. Otherwise, the rest of the data is a direct pull from my Garmin Connect when both devices are synced. My only complain is that the Step counter on this ring is not accurate. I believe because it is worn on the finger, the sensitivity is set to be really low. In my month of wearing them, the ring step counter has never went past 50% of what my Garmin register. As an example, I run 5km and my Garmin registered about 4.6k steps. The ring will only show I moved less than 1500 steps. This big gap also contributed to the "movement index" in the weekly reporting. However, as long as you are using just one device to benchmark your activities, it will not be a big change to the reporting. But if you are looking for a more robust workout and activity tracker, the Ultrahuman is not it.

Summary

The Ultrahuman ring experience showed to me that it is a good alternative to those that do not always wear their devices or watch and would like something more discreet while still have their vitals like HR, SPO2, HRV and movements recorded. It is not intrusive and is comfortable if you sized it correctly. So, the fit is important and essential.

I like it for:

• Lightweight and barely there. Just find the most comfortable hand and finger to wear.
• No subscription required.
• Great GUI and reporting. Makes me want to get the report everyday.
• Actionable suggestions. Instead of just dumping data to you, it suggests to you that you can do to close the gap. Breathing exercise as an example or having better sleep hygiene.
• Accurate. The vital readings are similar to my Garmin FR965 and Fenix7x Plus.

I can like it better if:

• Allow FIT file upload or full integration to popular devices, and how they will change and integrate to the overall data, including aligning the Steps.
• Changes to the app to remove the advert for M1 Glucose monitoring - which is not available in Malaysia, or require you to invest in other tools from Ultrahuman
• Less thick or at least taper the edged down. The thickness sort of brushes against your face or surface. Sometimes it's painful (lol) and sometimes, i am afraid it may scratch the ring (because it's on loan)
• Have a marker on the ring to show where the sensors are, instead of having to consciously adjust. The data is only as accurate as the sensor placement.
• And...

If AECO Technologies will have a longer collaboration of this ring with me so I can continue to report and share how these data changes in my daily life.

Thank you AECO Technologies, again, for this loaner.

Read More