Where to buy a smart ring in Nigeria, and what to check before you pay

The three ways to buy

• The maker's own website. You deal with the company that made the ring and runs its app. The terms are on the page, and you know the ring is new.
• A local seller or marketplace listing. It can be quicker and easier to pay for, but you have to confirm the ring is genuine and new, and who is responsible if it fails.
• A reseller or a friend abroad. It may be the only way to get a particular brand, but you carry the shipping, any import charges and, usually, the risk of a ring you cannot return.

Which is right depends on the brand. Not every maker delivers to Nigeria, so start with what each one actually says.

What the makers say

Oura sells through its own website in US dollars. Its store page lists free, easy returns within 30 days of purchase and a limited one-year warranty. We could not find a page on Oura's site that says which countries it delivers to, so confirm Nigeria at checkout. More in the Oura Ring in Nigeria.

Ultrahuman has a Nigeria buy page that says it is shipping its Ring AIR to Nigeria. Prices are shown in US dollars, and payment is by Visa, Mastercard or PayPal. The page says the ring is delivered within approximately four to six weeks once your size is submitted, that shipping and tax are shown at checkout, and that local taxes or carrier fees may apply on delivery. It lists a 30-night risk-free trial with free returns, and a free sizing kit.

The Zenlyf Ring is sold in naira on zenlyf.io. You can pay by card, bank transfer or USSD, and delivery is free across Nigeria: an estimate of 1 to 3 days in Lagos and 3 to 7 days elsewhere, counted from when the ring ships. Zenlyf is a new product sold by pre-order, so open the Zenlyf Ring page to see whether orders are open, and whether a ship-by date is shown. You can cancel until it is packed for a full refund. Zenlyf has not published a return window or warranty length yet, so ask support before you buy if those matter to you.

We set these side by side, with a source for each competitor fact, in Zenlyf Ring vs Oura Ring vs Ultrahuman Ring AIR. Prices change, so we do not quote them here.

A checklist before you pay

This list is our own advice, not a rule from any regulator.

1. Delivery. Does the seller say it delivers to your state, how long it takes, and who pays delivery? Ask for the timeline in writing, as an estimate of when it will arrive and not a promise.
2. Payment. Can you pay in a way you are comfortable with, and in naira if you want to avoid exchange-rate surprises? A dollar price plus card fees and a changing rate is not the final cost.
3. Extra charges. Ask whether customs, import duty or a courier fee could be added when the parcel arrives.
4. Size. A ring that does not fit is the most common reason to want a return. Measure first with our ring size guide, and check whether the seller offers a sizing kit or an exchange.
5. Returns and warranty. Find the return window, the warranty length and how to claim, in writing. If the seller cannot say, treat that as an answer.
6. Genuine and new. Prefer the maker's site or a seller the maker names. Be careful with prices far below the maker's own.
7. The cost after you buy. Some rings need a paid membership for the full app. See do you need a subscription for a smart ring.

After you have chosen

A smart ring is a wellness device, not a medical one, whichever shop it comes from. If you are still deciding what to look for in a ring at all, how to choose a smart ring goes through fit, finish and what the readings are for. Our shipping and returns page sets out exactly what Zenlyf commits to on delivery and refunds.

Common questions

Keep reading

• How to find your ring size before you order
• The Oura Ring in Nigeria: what it costs, where to buy it and what else exists
• Three smart rings compared: price, membership, sizes and delivery