Smart rings are in the middle of a renaissance. That’s great because we finally have way more options than just an Oura Ring. The downside is most of Oura’s would-be rivals are launching their first, maybe second-gen smart rings. Meaning, if you want an Oura Ring alternative, there’s a good chance you’ll have to put up with quirks and a distinct lack of polish. The $199.99 Amazfit Helio smart ring is no exception.
Technology
Amazfit Helio Smart Ring review: bargain bin bust
Amazfit isn’t a household name but is well-known among wearable bargain hunters. It’s a compelling brand because its gadgets get you a lot of bang for your buck. That’s the case with the Helio ring, the brand’s first foray into smart rings. It’s primarily a sleep tracker, but it comes with an AI chatbot called Zepp Flow, an AI coaching feature, and it has an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor for monitoring stress, a blood oxygen sensor, a temperature sensor, and period tracking. It also syncs with popular third-party fitness apps like Adidas Running, Strava, and Komoot, as well as Apple Health and Google Fit. Like the Samsung Galaxy Ring, it works with Amazfit’s other smartwatches so you can double up on data sources — or switch between the two depending on the activity or remaining battery life.
$170
The Good
- No subscription
- Works with Amazfit smartwatches
- Decent sleep and recovery tracking
- Comfortable
The Bad
- Charging case would be better than a dock
- Limited sizes available
- Inconvenient sizing method
- Battery life is unimpressive
That’s a lot packed into a smart ring, and since launching, Zepp permanently cut the price by $100 and offered free lifetime subscriptions to its Aura and Fitness services. On paper, this has the makings of a stellar deal. In reality, there’s always a catch.
In the Helio ring’s case, it’s battery life and limited sizing.
Right now, the best smart rings get you around 4-7 days on a single charge, depending on the size. (Bigger rings, bigger batteries.) The Helio ring is rated for roughly four days on a single charge, but I never managed that. At best, I got around three. That’s not great, Bob. Especially when this is meant to primarily track sleep. I wore it concurrently with the Oura Ring 4 and had to charge it two to three times as often. I also didn’t notice any discernable battery benefits when worn with two separate Amazfit watches. At least with the Galaxy Ring, using it with the Galaxy Watch meant much better battery life because Samsung optimizes which sensors are being used across both devices.
Adding to my battery woes, I don’t love that the ring relies on a dock. My cats delight in knocking these puck-like chargers around when they get the night-time zoomies. I much prefer charging cases, like the ones used by the Galaxy Ring, RingConn, and the Evie Ring.
The other thing about wearables is they have to be, well, wearable. While Oura and Samsung have expanded their size ranges and offer multiple finishes, Amazfit only offers the Helio smart ring in one color and three sizes: 8, 10, and 12. That’s swell if that’s your size — it’s quite lightweight and comfortable, and it hasn’t gotten scratched up like some of my other smart rings. The slim size selection of leaves out many people with smaller hands, particularly women. I happen to fit the size 8, but for some of my friends, this isn’t something they can wear.
Another annoyance: there’s no sizing kit. Getting the right size matters with smart rings, both for accuracy and comfort. Fingers swell and shrink with temperature changes, and while sizing kits can be tedious, they’re useful in the sense you can thoroughly vet which size will work best for 24/7 wear. With the Helio ring, you have to use either a string or a piece of tape to measure the circumference of your finger and then choose based on that measurement. Just, no.
But if you can get past all that, the sleep and health tracking is alright, though it’s best for a big-picture look at your overall trends. For instance, one night during my Christmas holidays, I slept for a glorious 9 hours, 47 minutes per my Oura Ring 4 and 10 hours, 34 minutes per my Eight Sleep bed. The Helio ring logged that as 11 hours and 23 minutes. It’s true I spent around 12 hours that evening doing my best impression of an inert log, but I also spent two hours doomscrolling, consumed by the Blake Lively / Justin Baldoni drama on TikTok. I wouldn’t call that one night accurate, but it correctly logged that I was irregular with my sleep schedule and well-rested that entire week. Other metrics, like blood oxygen, HRV, and stress, were broadly on par with my Oura Ring and Eight Sleep bed.
It’s not a great fitness tracker, though. The activities you can choose from are limited, you’ll need your phone on your for GPS, and it doesn’t automatically track activities either. And, if like me, you occasionally forget to end an exercise, there’s no way to edit the data after the fact. I hope this is something that gets added over time.
The Zepp app is also a mixed bag. The app’s been redesigned since I tested the excellent GTR 4, and I like the cleaner look and straightforward interface. My main beef is it’s difficult to view long-term historical data, which was highly annoying when reviewing metrics for this review. Still, Zepp Flow is one of the better implementations for an AI chatbot I’ve seen in a fitness tracking app. You’ll see weekly insights pop up, and a handful of prompts where you can dig in further with the chatbot. The AI insights are, how shall we say, Captain Obvious levels of basic common sense, but at least it’s speedy, straightforward to use, and easily ignored if that’s not your thing. It’s neat you can get sleep sounds and guided breathing for free via the Zepp Aura tab, but I didn’t use it much. I’ve found I fall asleep best to true crime podcasts. Chances are, you’ve also got a decent idea of what works for you and the Aura stuff isn’t going to trump that unless you’re looking for something new.
I don’t dislike the Helio smart ring. But aside from the price, it’s not a particularly compelling option unless you already have an Amazfit watch. At least then, all your data syncs to the same app. And even then, your Amazfit watch will probably outlast the ring and then what are we really doing here? Maybe a second-gen version or future software will address issues like battery life and bring more sizes. But until then, it’s hard to call this a true bargain.
Agree to Continue: Amazfit Helio Smart Ring
Every smart device now requires you to agree to a series of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that no one actually reads. It’s impossible for us to read and analyze every single one of these agreements. But we started counting exactly how many times you have to hit “agree” to use devices when we review them, since these are agreements most people don’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.
To use the Amazfit Helio Smart Ring, you must pair it with an iPhone or Android smartphone. That includes the phone’s Terms of Service, privacy policy, and any other permissions you grant. If you choose to enable Zepp’s Aura or Fitness services, you’re also agreeing to those privacy policies and services. The same goes if you enable third-party integrations.
By setting up the Helio Smart Ring, you’re agreeing to:
Final Tally: Three mandatory agreements, and several optional permissions and agreements.
There’s a new name in charge of Netflix’s ongoing gaming efforts. As Variety reports, the streamer has hired Alain Tascan as the new president of its gaming division, after he previously served as executive VP of game development at Fortnite maker Epic Games. The news comes as the game division’s former boss, Mike Verdu, moved into a different role at Netflix focused on a new team “on the cutting edge of game innovation.”
In his previous role at Epic, which he held since 2018, Tascan was in charge of the company’s first-party output, which included not only Fortnite and its various modes like Lego Fortnite but also other live-service games like Rocket League and Fall Guys. In a statement, Tascan explained that he took the role at the streamer because “I firmly believe that Netflix is uniquely positioned to redefine the future of gaming.”
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Clone Robotics, a Polish-American company, has recently unveiled its groundbreaking humanoid robot, Protoclone, sparking both fascination and unease across the internet. This eerily lifelike android represents a significant advancement in biomimetic robotics, closely replicating human anatomy and movement in ways never before seen.
With its unsettlingly realistic movements, Protoclone is pushing the boundaries of what we expect from robots, raising both intrigue and questions about the future of robotics.
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Protoclone (Clone Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The anatomy of this robot
Protoclone stands at an impressive 6 feet tall and boasts a skeleton made of 206 polymer bones, mirroring the human skeletal structure. What truly sets this robot apart is its muscular system, featuring over 1,000 artificial muscles powered by Clone Robotics’ proprietary “Myofiber” technology.
Protoclone (Clone Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
HUMANOID ROBOTS BUST DANCE MOVES ALONGSIDE HUMANS
The muscle behind the machine
The Myofiber system is a revolutionary approach to robotic movement. Each artificial muscle consists of a mesh tube containing an air-filled balloon. When hydraulic fluid is pumped into the balloon, it expands, causing the mesh to contract, much like a human muscle. This system is powered by a 500-watt electric pump, Protoclone’s mechanical “heart,” capable of circulating fluid at a rate of 40 liters per minute.
Protoclone (Clone Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
CHINA LAUNCHES FACILITY TO TRAIN 100 PLUS HUMANOID ROBOTS SIMULTANEOUSLY
Sensory sophistication
Protoclone’s nervous system is equally impressive, featuring four depth cameras in the skull for vision, 70 inertial sensors for joint position awareness and 320 pressure sensors for force feedback. This advanced sensory network allows the robot to process visual input and learn by observing human activities.
Protoclone (Clone Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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A glimpse into the future or a sci-fi nightmare?
The recent video release of Protoclone in action has garnered millions of views and sparked intense online debate. In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner.
While some viewers have expressed awe at the technological achievement, others have reacted with discomfort or even hostility. Comments range from comparisons to “sleep paralysis demons” to references to dystopian science fiction scenarios.
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Protoclone (Clone Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
The road ahead
Despite its impressive capabilities, Protoclone is still in early development. Currently, it requires suspension for stability and lacks the ability to stand or balance independently. Clone Robotics plans to launch production with 279 units, named “Clone Alpha,” with pre-orders opening in late 2025.
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Protoclone (Clone Robotics) (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Kurt’s key takeaways
While Protoclone’s current iteration may be more unsettling than practical, it’s clear that we’re on the cusp of a new era in robotics. As these technologies continue to advance, we’ll likely see more refined and capable humanoid robots entering our homes and workplaces. The question remains: Are we ready for this future, and how will it reshape our relationship with technology?
Does the appearance and movement of Protoclone fascinate or unsettle you? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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TikTok is rolling out a new feature to encourage teens to stop using the app at night. If a teen under 16 is still using the app after 10PM, TikTok will interrupt their feed with a full-screen “wind down” reminder, which will play “calming music to help teens relax and be mindful of the time.”
It will display another reminder that’s harder to dismiss if teens ignore the first one. TikTok plans on expanding this wind-down feature in the future, as it’s going to start testing incorporating medication exercises into the reminder “in the coming weeks.”
TikTok is making some updates to its Family Pairing feature as well, which already lets parents put restrictions on their child’s account. It’s launching a new Time Away feature that will allow parents or caregivers to prevent their child from going on TikTok during specific times, as well as set a recurring schedule. TikTok will also give parents the ability to see who their teen is following, who follows them, and which accounts their child has blocked.
Additionally, TikTok says it will continue to use age assurance technology, including machine learning, to prevent children under 13 from using the app. It’s partnering with the telecom company Telefonica “to understand how people can use age information from their phone provider to confirm their age.” Google also recently announced that it would start using machine learning to estimate users’ ages.
The launch of these new features comes as lawmakers continue to home in on online child safety. Earlier this month, Utah became the first state to pass a law to require app store operators, like Google and Apple, to verify users’ ages when downloading an app. Other state laws have emerged that would block children from accessing social media, but many of them have been blocked by courts.
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