Ultrahuman, a leading player in the smart ring market, has made a triumphant return to the United States after more than a year of exclusion due to a patent dispute with its primary competitor, Oura. The company announced on Tuesday that its latest product, the Ring Pro, is now available for preorder in the U.S., marking the end of a ban imposed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection following a ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission in August 2025.
The dispute centered on patents related to the internal architecture of smart rings. The commission ruled in favor of Oura, affecting both Ultrahuman and another competitor, Ringconn. While Ringconn negotiated a royalties agreement with Oura to continue operations, Ultrahuman chose a different path. It halted sales of its popular Ring Air model in the U.S. and shifted focus to redesigning its technology. By the end of February 2026, Ultrahuman unveiled the Ring Pro, which it began selling internationally while awaiting clearance for the American market.
That clearance arrived this week, allowing Ultrahuman to re-enter a market where it holds the second-largest share alongside Samsung, trailing only Oura. According to a November 2025 report from market research firm Omnia, Oura commands about 74 percent of the smart ring sector, while Ultrahuman accounts for roughly 9 percent. The global smart ring market continues to grow, providing opportunities for challengers like Ultrahuman to expand their footprint.
"We're delighted to be back in the U.S. with Ring Pro," Ultrahuman CEO Mohit Kumar said in an email statement. "Ultrahuman is an engineering company -- and we believe that the company that leads with engineering will ultimately win in this space."
The Ring Pro introduces several features aimed at appealing to health-conscious consumers wary of subscription models and short battery life in wearables. Unlike Oura's rings, which require a monthly fee for full access to health insights, Ultrahuman does not charge a subscription for core data on sleep, recovery, movement, stress, and circadian rhythms. Advanced metrics, available through software plugins, may incur additional costs, but the base experience remains free of ongoing fees.
One standout specification is the ring's battery life, which lasts up to 15 days on a single charge. This can extend to more than 45 days when paired with the optional Pro charging case, a compact accessory that recharges the device multiple times. The ring also features a redesigned heart-rate sensor, a dual-core processor for on-device machine learning, and storage capacity for 250 days of health data, reducing reliance on smartphone connectivity.
Pricing for the Ring Pro is competitive in the premium wearable segment. The first 1,000 customers to preorder will receive the ring along with the charging case for $349. After the preorder period, the standalone ring will cost $399 and come with a mini charger, while the charging case is available separately for $100 or bundled for $479. The device is offered in four finishes: black, silver, gold, and titanium. For safety, it incorporates technology that allows the ring to be easily separated in emergencies, such as accidents or finger swelling.
Ultrahuman's return extends beyond the ring itself, reflecting broader ambitions in the health technology landscape. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year in Las Vegas, the company's booth showcased its evolution from a smart ring specialist to a comprehensive wellness provider. Visitors noted expansions into ambient sleep environment monitoring via a home device, advanced ovulation tracking, on-ring detection for atrial fibrillation (AFib), FDA-approved insights for migraine management, and real-time glucose monitoring through a companion sensor.
The company has also launched Blood Vision, a service offering blood tests to evaluate biomarkers for various health issues. These initiatives position Ultrahuman not merely as a rival to Oura but as an innovator pushing boundaries in preventive health tech. Even without rings on display at CES, the presentation underscored Ultrahuman's commitment to holistic solutions.
The patent battle with Oura highlights ongoing tensions in the rapidly evolving wearable market. Oura, founded in Finland and now based in San Francisco, has dominated since launching its third-generation ring in 2021. Its success stems from accurate sleep tracking and integration with apps like Apple Health and Google Fit. However, critics have pointed to its subscription model—$5.99 per month or $69.99 annually—as a barrier for some users.
Ultrahuman, headquartered in Bangalore, India, entered the market in 2021 with the Ring Air, emphasizing no-subscription access and lightweight design. The 2025 ITC ruling forced a U.S. sales pause starting in late 2025, during which Ultrahuman reportedly invested heavily in R&D to circumvent the patent issues. Sources close to the company indicated that the redesign focused on proprietary sensor arrays and processing algorithms distinct from Oura's claims.
Industry analysts view Ultrahuman's re-entry as a positive development for consumers. "The smart ring space needs competition to drive innovation and affordability," said one expert from a tech research firm, speaking on condition of anonymity due to client relationships. Oura has not publicly commented on Ultrahuman's return, but in past statements, the company has emphasized its intellectual property protections as essential to maintaining quality standards.
Looking ahead, Ultrahuman plans to ramp up marketing efforts in the U.S., targeting fitness enthusiasts and those interested in non-invasive health monitoring. The company aims to capitalize on the growing demand for wearables that provide actionable insights without constant phone pairing. With the Ring Pro's preorder phase underway, early adopters can expect shipments in the coming weeks, potentially challenging Oura's lead in the coming months.
The broader implications of this return extend to the competitive dynamics of health tech. As more players like Samsung and Whoop enter the fray with their own rings and bands, the market could see price wars and feature enhancements. For now, Ultrahuman's engineering-focused approach appears to resonate, offering a viable alternative for Americans seeking advanced wearables without the strings attached—literally and figuratively.
In a sector projected to reach $1.3 billion by 2028 according to some forecasts, Ultrahuman's story is one of resilience. From patent hurdles to product reinvention, the company's journey back to the U.S. underscores the high stakes and rapid innovation defining modern consumer electronics.