Since launching our July 2025 feedback sessions, we’ve had the chance to speak directly with Nova Ring users through casual Zoom calls. These conversations have given us incredible insights into how people are actually using their rings, what they love, and what they didn’t expect to become such a big part of their daily lives.

While everyone uses their ring a little differently, a few features stood out across the board, ones that users mentioned again and again as true favorites.

Let’s take a look at the ones that made the biggest impact.

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Sleep Tracking That Goes Deeper Than Expected

It’s no surprise that sleep is a top priority for most people shopping for a smart ring. But what surprised many Nova users was just how detailed the sleep tracking actually is.

Instead of just telling you how long you slept, Nova breaks down your night into different sleep stages, including light, deep, and REM, and offers a Sleep Quality Score to help you understand how restorative your sleep really was. Users told us they liked how easy it was to spot trends, like poor sleep after eating late or better sleep after exercise. This was often mentioned alongside the Recovery Score, which many users found especially helpful. One user put it best:

“Even if I can't always tell, my recovery score tells me if I should really be pushing it or taking it easy.”

That combination, knowing not just how long you slept but how your body responded to that sleep, is what made sleep tracking a standout feature for so many.

Automatic Activity Detection

Smart rings are meant to simplify, not complicate, and Nova’s automatic activity detection is a perfect example of that.

Several users praised how the ring automatically detects when you’re walking or running, even if you don’t manually start a workout on the app. Once the ring connects to your phone again, it syncs up the data, including duration, steps, distance, and calories burned.

This was especially appreciated by people who tend to forget to track or who prefer not to pull out their phone every time they go for a quick walk.

“I love that it knows when I’m out walking. I don’t have to tap anything or start a workout. It just logs it.”

At the same time, a few users mentioned they hadn’t realized this feature existed. So if you’re someone who doesn’t always start tracking manually, this might be a pleasant surprise. Your Nova Ring could already be logging more than you think.

This kind of hands-off tracking makes the ring feel truly smart, doing the work for you in the background.

Durability That Holds Up in the Real World

The Nova R, our most popular model, is made of titanium, which is known for being lightweight and strong. But how does it hold up when life gets a little rough?

Quite well, according to many users we spoke to.

We heard from outdoor workers, rock climbers, and parents of toddlers who all reported the same thing. The ring takes a beating and keeps going. Even when it bumps against rough surfaces or heavy materials, it resists damage better than expected.

“I work in landscaping, so I didn’t think it would last. But it’s still going strong after a year. Just a couple tiny nicks, and honestly it still looks good.”

This kind of durability was a pleasant surprise, especially for people who were worried about choosing a ring over a smartwatch for rugged environments.

Battery Life You Don’t Have to Think About

Another frequent favorite? The battery.

Unlike many smartwatches that need daily charging, Nova rings typically last 4 to 7 days on a full charge, depending on the model and usage.

Many users compared this to their experience with wrist-based trackers, saying the Nova felt much more low-maintenance. You don’t have to build your routine around charging it.

“I love not having to think about it. I charge it once every few days while I shower, and that’s it.”

That kind of seamlessness helps users actually stick with wearing their ring, which in turn means more complete health data over time.

What Surprised Users the Most

One question we asked during our user sessions was, “What feature did you not expect to care about, but ended up really liking?”

A few patterns came up again and again:

• Stress tracking, especially when paired with guided meditation
• The ability to wear it while sleeping, without discomfort
• The design, with several people saying they’re glad to be able to pair it with their analog watch and it being disguised as normal jewelry

These small surprises often turned into big reasons people stuck with the ring long term.

How Users Are Actually Using Their Rings Day to Day

It’s one thing to have all these features, but how are people incorporating them into real life?

We heard from users who:

• Check their Recovery Score in the morning to decide whether to go for a run or take a rest day
• Use the Sleep Score and sleep stage breakdown to shift their bedtime routine
• Track walks and runs without doing anything, thanks to automatic detection
• Wear their ring while traveling, appreciating the battery life and compact size
• Charge it while in the shower, using that time as a built-in reminder

Because it’s lightweight and subtle, the ring fits easily into routines, whether you’re a fitness junkie, a new parent, or someone just trying to get better sleep.

Quick Feature Comparison Table

If you’re still on the fence or wondering how smart rings stack up, here’s what our users had to say compared to other devices:

If you’re wondering whether a smart ring fits into your lifestyle, the best way to know is to try it for yourself and see which feature ends up being your unexpected favorite.

Already wearing a Nova Ring? We’d love to hear what you’re loving most. Your feedback helps us shape what we build next.