Helio Smart Ring Health Tracker vs Forerunner 255S Smartwatch Band: which is safer?

Amazfit Helio Smart Ring Health Tracker is our pick: better on PFAS and on the overall hazard picture.

Our pick

Amazfit Helio Smart Ring Health Tracker

Amazfit

Helio Smart Ring Health Tracker

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Excellent 77/100

Verdict

Buy

Hazard flags

⚑ 2

Material

Titanium alloy case, polymer band

Confidence

35%

PossiblePolymer band composition and residual monomers

PossibleBacterial growth in sealed band-case junction

Garmin Forerunner 255S Smartwatch Band

Garmin

Forerunner 255S Smartwatch Band

PFAS grade

Excellent 85/100

Overall grade

Good 59/100

Verdict

Skip

Hazard flags

⚑ 4

Material

Silicone and/or elastomer smartwatch band

Confidence

72%

PossibleHeavy metals in pigments (cadmium, lead)

PossiblePhthalates in plasticizers

ReportedBacterial/fungal biofilm from moisture trapping

Where these two actually differ

  • We flag Polymer band composition and residual monomers and Bacterial growth in sealed band-case junction on the Amazfit and not on the Garmin.
  • We flag Heavy metals in pigments (cadmium, lead), Phthalates in plasticizers, Bacterial/fungal biofilm from moisture trapping and Elastomer degradation and leaching over time on the Garmin and not on the Amazfit.
  • The Amazfit is Titanium alloy case, polymer band where the Garmin is Silicone and/or elastomer smartwatch band, which is most of the difference in these two grades.
  • These two are level, close enough that price and fit should decide it rather than our grade.
  • We are less certain about the Amazfit grade, at 35% confidence against 72%, because it discloses less.

Both products run through the same public rubric: materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls, plus a beyond-PFAS hazard analysis. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests. How grades work →

More water-resistant smart rings & bands: see the full ranking