Let's be healthy: Russians have become more likely to buy devices for body monitoring

In Russia, they began to actively buy gadgets for health monitoring: bracelets, rings, trackers, Izvestia found out. The demand for such technologies has increased significantly compared to 2024, following the global trend for so-called wellness and longevity (well-being and longevity). The editors tested the country's first smart ring with AI support, which not only monitors body parameters, but also provides recommendations on sleep and other aspects. The built-in AI-based assistant passed the Medical exam in 2024.

Continuous health monitoring

Russians have a positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle and are interested in devices for health care. For the first time, a new gadget for health monitoring has appeared in the country — a smart ring with artificial intelligence support. This assistant allows you to monitor the condition of the body and sounds the alarm when there are deviations from normal indicators.

— The Russian market is ripe for such devices. We see a growing interest of users in gadgets that not only collect data, but help manage their condition — to control stress, sleep quality and body resources. According to the Romir Research Center, more than 75% of respondents have a positive attitude towards healthy lifestyle and self-care. This is no longer just a trend, but a formed demand for personalized solutions to support health," Dmitry Ryzhikh, CEO of SverDevices, told Izvestia.

According to him, the smart ring, created by the company together with the Sberbank Health Industry Center, is designed so that users can not only monitor key body metrics, but also consult with an expert if necessary. At the same time, the gadget is not a medical device and does not allow itself to make diagnoses or conduct medical consultations.

Specialists from Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University, Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as experts from Sberbank and Medsi also participated in the development of the project.

The product has passed multi—stage testing, including polysomnographic studies - the "gold standard" in sleep assessment. This made it possible to provide clinical verification of the algorithms and confirm the accuracy of the data obtained, according to the company.

Analogues and other smart rings

The main global analogue of the smart ring from Sberbank remains the Finnish Oura Ring. This device is also designed for round-the-clock health monitoring and is commercially available in Russia, despite the absence of an official representative.

The Russian company relies on the simplicity and built-in AI of GigaChat. The ring measures pulse and activity around the clock, and at night — saturation (SPO₂, the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood saturated with oxygen) and heart rate variability (HRV). AI analyzes the data and explains, for example, why the body's "resource" has dropped or how to improve sleep. This is a convenient option for those who want to receive recommendations in a conversational manner, without complicated schedules. The device, made of titanium, works for up to seven days without recharging, has water protection (5 atm) and syncs with the app without the need for a subscription. The ring has been adapted to Russian conditions and went on sale in September 2025.

The gadget from the Finnish company is a more mature and internationally recognized product equipped with advanced sensors. In addition to standard metrics (heart rate, HRV, and SPO₂), it measures body temperature, respiration, and automatically detects physical activity. Smart Sensing algorithms adapt measurements to user behavior. The device offers deeper analytics, but access to all functionality requires a paid subscription. The ring works for up to eight days without recharging, is protected from water up to 100 m and has a user experience — with positive reviews and complaints about a decrease in battery capacity over time.

The choice between devices depends on priorities: a domestic company offers a clear and localized product with built-in AI and without a paid subscription. The Finnish version is a more accurate and "professional" solution, but the gadget works according to a subscription model and has potential problems with battery life. In addition, smart rings from companies such as Samsung, McLear, Colmi and WizBay, dating back several generations, are represented on the global market. The domestic solution still remains a monopolist in the local market.

The disadvantages of the domestic device are exactly two — firstly, iOS users are forced to contact the office of the manufacturer to install specialized software. Secondly, the device depends on a constant internet connection. However, according to the developers, the offline mode of operation is already in the closed testing stage.

According to experts, innovative health gadgets in the premium segment demonstrate stable sales year after year. The Apple Watch remains the leader in this category of products, the restore press service said. The new AirPods Pro 3 headphones also feature heart rate and temperature sensors that monitor heart rate during exercise and can measure body temperature. There is also a high demand for such devices, which is why the store even predicts a 20% increase in sales this season.