Best Waterproof Smart Ring UK 2026: Swim-Proof Picks
The best waterproof smart rings you can swim with in 2026: Oura Ring 5, Samsung Galaxy Ring and RingConn Gen 3 ranked, plus which budget rings to avoid.
The best waterproof smart ring you can actually swim with in 2026 is the Oura Ring 5, with the Samsung Galaxy Ring and RingConn Gen 3 close behind. The catch is that not every smart ring is swim-safe - some budget models are only splash-resistant. This guide ranks the rings rated for real swimming and flags the ones to keep out of the pool.
What water rating do you actually need to swim?
Two rating systems matter. The first is the IP code (an international standard for dust and water ingress protection): IP68 means dust-tight and protected against sustained immersion, so it is swim-safe; IP67 means protected only against brief immersion, which covers handwashing and rain but not laps in a pool. The second is ATM (atmospheres of pressure): 10 ATM equals roughly 100 metres of static water resistance and is comfortably swim-rated.
The practical rule: look for IP68, 10 ATM, or 100m water resistance for swimming. A ring rated only IP67 will survive the shower but should not go in the pool or sea.
The best waterproof smart rings at a glance
| Oura Ring 5 | Samsung Galaxy Ring | RingConn Gen 3 | Oura Ring 4 | Colmi R02 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | 100m / 10 ATM | 10 ATM + IP68 | IP68 | 100m / 10 ATM | IP67 |
| Swim-safe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Subscription | £5.99/mo | None | None | £5.99/mo | None |
| Battery | 6-9 days | 5-7 days | 10-14 days | 5-8 days | 2-3 days |
| Best for | Best tracking, swim-rated | Galaxy owners, ocean use | Value, no fees, long battery | Cheaper validated Oura | Budget - splashes only |
Oura Ring 5 - best waterproof smart ring overall
The Oura Ring 5 is rated to 100m / 10 ATM, so swimming and showering are well within spec, and it pairs that with the most independently validated sleep and recovery tracking of any ring. Water resistance is unchanged from the Ring 4, so you lose nothing on durability by buying the newer model. The trade-off is the mandatory £5.99/month membership, but if you want the best tracking in a swim-proof ring, this is it.
Samsung Galaxy Ring - best for Galaxy owners
The Samsung Galaxy Ring carries both a 10 ATM rating and IP68, which Samsung says covers swimming, showering, sweat and incidental ocean exposure - the most explicit water-use language of any ring here. It has no subscription, but works best with a recent Galaxy phone. For Android users in the Samsung ecosystem who want a swim-proof ring, it is the natural pick. See how it stacks up in our Oura Ring 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring comparison.
RingConn Gen 3 - best value swim-proof ring
The RingConn Gen 3 is IP68-rated for showering and swimming, costs £349 with no subscription, and has the longest battery in the category at 10-14 days - so it is the ring you are least likely to have to take off and charge before a swim. Sleep-stage accuracy trails Oura, but for value-focused swimmers it is the standout. Compare it directly in our Oura Ring 5 vs RingConn Gen 3 guide.
Oura Ring 4 - the cheaper validated Oura
The Oura Ring 4 shares the Ring 5's 100m / 10 ATM rating and the same validated sleep tracking, for £50 less up front. It is the smart buy if you want proven Oura accuracy in a swim-proof ring and don't need the Ring 5's slimmer fit or newer sensors. The same membership applies.
Which budget rings should you keep out of the pool?
Cheap rings are where water ratings get risky. The Colmi R02, the most popular sub-£40 ring, is rated only IP67 - fine for handwashing and rain, but not safe for swimming. If swimming matters, treat IP67 as a dealbreaker and spend up to an IP68 or 10 ATM model. No amount of marketing language changes what the rating allows.
Can you wear a smart ring in a sauna or hot tub?
Swim ratings do not automatically cover hot water. Even 10 ATM rings like the Oura models sit at the edge of their spec in saunas and hot tubs, because heat and pressure behave differently from a cool pool, and Oura itself advises caution. As a rule, swimming and showering are fine on any swim-rated ring; saunas and hot tubs are a use-at-your-own-risk grey area on all of them.
