Is the $39.99 Brookstone smart ring at Marshalls, T.J. Maxx as good as the Oura ring?: ‘There was no subscription’
Some people are paying hundreds of dollars for a tiny piece of tech that still charges a monthly fee. Others, however, have outsmarted the system by buying a $39.99 dupe right next to the impulse-buy phone chargers at Marshall’s.
A TikToker recorded and shared her treasure hunt for the Brookstone’s smart ring—the budget-friendly, no-subscription cousin of the Oura. Lo and behold, she actually found it sitting in the checkout tech aisle like it was no big deal. Now the internet is wondering if the Oura ring is even worth it when this cheaper version exists. Maybe the price is worth the benefits… except the TikToker’s update on the Brookstone ring just seems more convincing.
What’s an Oura Ring?
The era of FitBits and Apple Watches has died down and made way for a new “health-conscious” piece of tech: the Oura ring. Now easily fitting on your finger and camouflaging as jewelry, this Finnish technology tracks over 50 health metrics 24/7. From sleep quality and stress levels to menstrual cycles and cardiovascular health.
It’s also waterproof enough to shower and wash your hands with. All the metrics get uploaded to the app. The ring quickly became a household name in the TikTok-sphere, as influencers jumped on the bandwagon and consequently praised its usage.
Condé Nast also reported on its viral fame and whether it was worth it. Currently, the price for an Oura Ring 4 stands at €399 on their website and $349 on the American BestBuy website. After purchase, there is a monthly subscription of $5.99 USD/month or $69.99USD/annually.
Meaghan Kelly from Condé Nast shares her opinion on the ring. “If I wake up to a less-than-ideal Sleep Score, I try to go easy on myself and make sure I add in time to recharge throughout the day,” she says. “It’s also been great to track my steps while I’m exploring a new place, so even when I’m not logging workouts at the gym, I can add all that walking toward my daily movement goals.”
Similarly, influencers have also shared how the ring has impacted their daily life. One just needs to type the word into the search bar and a myriad of videos pop up. However, it’s hefty price tags has naturally given people pause.
@kylie.waeghe #marshalls #oura #foryoupage #fitness #gymtok ♬ original sound – ky
A Search for the Oura Dupe Begins
Kylie (@kylie.waeghe) had one plan and one plan only: find the Brookstone ring. Her treasure hunt for the dupe amassed 1.4 million views.
Kylie starts the clip by sharing that she knows a girl who found the “knock-off Oura ring” at a T.J. Maxx or Marshall’s and claimed it was a lot cheaper with no subscription and similar features. Since Kylie has been debating getting an Oura ring, she says she will try the dupe first, if she can find it.
She takes viewers to Marshalls and starts looking in the fitness section. No luck. She notes she gets a little sidetracked by other items in Marshalls before checking the tech area by check-out. And there it is. Kylie picks up the Brookstone ring box–gold–and shows the price at the back: $39.99.
Does Kylie Buy It?
Kylie immediately heads to the cashier and buys the ring. As she gets back in her car to do the unboxing, she excitedly starts saying how it was the last box at a size 6. “It was only $40,” she gushes. She opens the box and voila, it fits perfectly on her ring finger. She shows the viewers the gold band on her hand and exclaims, “I’m actually obsessed with it.”
Kylie then shows the front of the box and shares what all features it advertises. She lists heart rate, menstrual cycle, and sleep. She also mentions that it is waterproof. She says it’s advertising everything as the Oura ring. The TikToker closes off by saying she’ll do an update after a few days of having the ring.
Is the Brookstone ring worth it?
True to her word, Kylie posts an update three days after the first clip. The three-minute-long video already has 148,000 views. Kylie starts off with her favorite feature: the sleep tracking. She explains how it takes note of the REM cycles and then shows a chart of her sleep tracking on the app. She then shares that the app also tracks heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and blood glucose levels.
Kylie says she isn’t sure how accurate it is, but to her, it seems pretty trustworthy. As she talks, she overlays screenshots of the metrics. It’s worth noting that the app also provides educational information on what are the normal ranges for these metrics.
Another part Kylie gushes about is the “Readiness” feature. This metric indicates how “ready” you are for the day based on the other indicators it tracks, sleep being a major part.
What Did Kylie Find Out Because of the Ring?
In a surprising turn of events, Kylie says she learned something new about her body because of the ring. One of the features is tracking HRV levels, which is Heart Rate Variability Levels. This shows how well you handle stress or changes in stress. “One thing I’ve noticed with this ring is that I’m a lot more stressed than I thought, if this is incredibly accurate.” She overlays a screenshot that shows her HRV levels at 90 and states it’s always this high.
One downside Kylie brings up is the lack of a menstrual cycle tracker. She said the package advertised it but she was unable to use the feature. A viewer later reveals that Kylie bought the men’s version, whereas the women’s has the menstrual cycle tracker. As for comfort, Kylie rates it a 10/10: “you don’t even really notice that it’s there.” She notes the charging range as “absolutely awesome” since she had only charged it once after buying and it still had 86% battery.
Overall Rating of the Brookstone ring
As Kylie prepares to end the video, she emphasizes that the Brookstone ring needs no subscription whatsoever. She compares it to the Oura ring and says it’s a much better alternative and doesn’t have any in-app purchases. The low price and full range of features makes it a great dupe. Overall, Kylie rates the ring a 8/10. She says it would have been a 10/10 if it had the menstrual cycle tracker.
Viewers Suggest Even More Dupes
One of the most popular types of replies seems to be another dupe TikTokers have found for the Oura ring. One of them is the Ringconn. One viewer says, “RingConn has been great since there is no subscription!” While another shares, “Ringconn!! Paid for it with my health insurance!!! Completely free!”
On the other hand, viewers share similar experiences with Brookstone. “I’ve had the brookstone one from Marshall’s for a week now and I LOVE IT!! I got the gold one and was debating oura or ringconn and I’m so so happy I got the brookstone one,” shares one viewer.
A second says, “I got the same one at TJ Maxx a few months ago and I’ve had no problems with it this far. No subscription, tracks everything, water proof, charges fast, all the thingssss. I love mine.”
The Mary Sue reached out to Kylie via TikTok direct message and to Brookstone customer care via email.
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
