Key takeaways
- Top pick: Oura, best for: Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking. Oura said paid members had reached 5.7 million when it postponed its IPO in September 2026.
- Also near the top: Nothing, best for: Buyers who want a well-designed mid-range phone; and Eight Sleep, best for: Athletes prioritising recovery optimisation and sleep-based training.
- How it was ranked: 10 startups compared. Each verdict is below.
Best Consumer Hardware Startups: Top 10 Ranked. Oura ranks first, with a Lister Score of 97.1.
Oura leads consumer hardware startups globally, with millions of paying members for its smart ring.
Nothing is the best-funded independent phone maker,
Eight Sleep is the clear pick for temperature-controlled sleep, and
Even Realities leads for camera-free display glasses.
Framework is the choice for anyone who wants a laptop they can repair and upgrade.
Best Consumer Hardware Startups in 2026, compared| RANK | ENTRY | BEST FOR | SCORE | FROM |
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| 1 |  OuraOura said paid members had reached 5.7 million when it postponed its IPO in September 2026. | Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking | 97.1 | £299 |
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| 2 |  NothingNothing has raised more than $450 million since its founding, with GV, Highland Europe, EQT Ventures and Qualcomm Ventures among its backers. | Buyers who want a well-designed mid-range phone | 95.9 | From £349 |
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| 3 |  Eight SleepEight Sleep says it became free cash flow positive in 2025 and expanded to 34 countries. | Athletes prioritising recovery optimisation and sleep-based training | 94.6 | £299 (hardware + subscription) |
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| 4 |  Even RealitiesIts top markets are the US, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East and Europe, and it does not yet sell in China, where it manufactures. | Professionals who want discreet notes and prompts in view | 93.4 | $599 |
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| 5 |  UltrahumanUltrahuman said in September 2026 that it had an annual revenue run rate of $140 million, up about 45% in a year. | Ring buyers who do not want a monthly fee | 92.1 | £329 |
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| 6 |  VitureThe Luma Ultra uses Sony micro-OLED panels with a 52-degree field of view, according to Viture. | Gamers and travellers who want a big screen anywhere | 90.8 | From $399 |
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| 7 |  FrameworkFramework let 100 community members invest $10,000 each alongside its venture investors. | Buyers who want to repair and upgrade their laptop | 89.5 | From $549 |
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| 8 |  MillWhole Foods Market is the first grocer to deploy Mill Commercial, starting in 2026 with wider rollout planned for 2027. | Households that want to cut food waste | 88.2 | From $999 |
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| 9 |  MaticMatic reported more than 6,000 robots shipped at the time of its January 2026 round. | Homes with mixed floors and clutter | 86.9 | From $1,495 |
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| 10 |  TonalTonal membership costs $59.95 a month with a 12-month minimum, on top of the hardware. | People who want a full home gym on one wall | 85.6 | $4,295 |
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How to choose
Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:
- Oura (#1): Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking
- Nothing (#2): Buyers who want a well-designed mid-range phone
- Eight Sleep (#3): Athletes prioritising recovery optimisation and sleep-based training
- Even Realities (#4): Professionals who want discreet notes and prompts in view
- Ultrahuman (#5): Ring buyers who do not want a monthly fee
- Viture (#6): Gamers and travellers who want a big screen anywhere
- Framework (#7): Buyers who want to repair and upgrade their laptop
- Mill (#8): Households that want to cut food waste
- Matic (#9): Homes with mixed floors and clutter
- Tonal (#10): People who want a full home gym on one wall
Each entry's full verdict is below.
The ranking, in detail
01
Oura, founded in 2013 in Oulu, Finland, makes the Oura Ring, a smart ring that tracks sleep, activity, heart rate and temperature, sold with a membership. It raised over $900 million in a Series E at about $11 billion in October 2025, and postponed a planned IPO in September 2026, so it remains private.
PROS- Highly accurate sleep stage and heart rate monitoring
- Discreet and comfortable ring form factor
CONS- Requires a monthly subscription fee for full data access
- Best for
- Comprehensive wearable sleep tracking
- Where it falls short
- You must pay a monthly subscription fee to access full data.
- Pick something else if
- you need its advanced features on a tight budget.
97.1
02
Phones and audio with a transparent design
Nothing, founded in London in 2020 by OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei, makes smartphones, earbuds and headphones known for their see-through design. It raised a $200 million Series C at a $1.3 billion valuation in September 2025, led by Tiger Global.
PROS- Distinctive design at fair prices
- Clean software with few extras
CONS- Some models not sold in the US
- Smaller service network than big brands
- Best for
- Buyers who want a well-designed mid-range phone
- Where it falls short
- It has a smaller service network than big brands.
- Pick something else if
- you need extensive local support.
95.9
03
Recovery-focused AI coaching through sleep and biometric data
Eight Sleep, founded in 2014 and based in New York, makes the Pod, a mattress cover that heats and cools each side of the bed and tracks sleep. It raised $50 million at a $1.5 billion valuation in March 2026, led by Tether Investments.
PROS- Unique focus on sleep-based recovery and readiness metrics
- Advanced biometric tracking integration for comprehensive health picture
CONS- High upfront cost for smart mattress cover hardware
- Primarily recovery-focused; limited active workout coaching
- Best for
- Athletes prioritising recovery optimisation and sleep-based training
- Where it falls short
- The high upfront cost for smart mattress cover hardware may be prohibitive.
94.6
04
Camera-free display smart glasses
Even Realities, based in Shenzhen and founded by former Apple engineers, makes the Even G2, everyday glasses with a heads-up display and no camera, controlled by a companion ring. It raised a $150 million pre-Series B at a $1 billion valuation in July 2026, led by Meituan and Tencent.
PROS- No camera, so fewer privacy concerns
- Looks like ordinary glasses
CONS- Prescription lenses and ring cost extra
- Display shows text, not full video
- Best for
- Professionals who want discreet notes and prompts in view
- Where it falls short
- The display shows text, not full video.
- Pick something else if
- you need full video playback.
93.4
05
Ring Air health tracker with no subscription
Ultrahuman, founded in 2019 in Bengaluru, makes the Ring Air smart ring along with home health and glucose tracking products. In September 2026 it raised $70 million led by Qualcomm Ventures at a $365 million valuation.
PROS- No subscription for core features
- Profitable in its last reported year
CONS- Ring Air barred from US import after a patent ruling
- Smaller than Oura
- Best for
- Ring buyers who do not want a monthly fee
- Where it falls short
- The Ring Air is barred from US import due to a patent ruling.
- Pick something else if
- you live in the United States.
92.1
06
XR display glasses for gaming and work
Viture, founded in 2021, makes Luma XR glasses that act as a large private screen for phones, laptops and game consoles. It raised a $100 million Series B in September 2025, followed by a further $100 million round led by Legend Capital.
PROS- Works with phones, PCs and consoles
- Range from entry to pro models
CONS- Tethered by cable
- Not built for all-day wear
- Best for
- Gamers and travellers who want a big screen anywhere
- Where it falls short
- The glasses are tethered by cable and not built for all-day wear.
- Pick something else if
- you need wireless freedom or all-day comfort.
90.8
07
Repairable, upgradable laptops
Framework, founded in 2019 and based in San Francisco, makes modular laptops that owners can repair and upgrade with standard tools. It has raised about $61 million, including a $17 million Series A-1 led by Spark Capital in April 2024.
PROS- Parts sold directly for repairs
- Mainboards can be upgraded later
CONS- DIY edition ships without memory or storage
- Smaller retail presence
- Best for
- Buyers who want to repair and upgrade their laptop
- Where it falls short
- The DIY edition ships without memory or storage.
- Pick something else if
- you need a laptop ready to use out of the box.
89.5
08
Kitchen bin that turns food scraps into grounds
Mill, founded in 2020 by Nest co-founder Matt Rogers and Harry Tannenbaum, makes a kitchen bin that dries and grinds food scraps overnight. It has raised more than $250 million and is adding a commercial version for grocery stores.
PROS- Quiet, low-odour operation
- Backed by Amazon's Climate Pledge Fund
CONS- Expensive for a kitchen bin
- Mainly sold in the US
- Best for
- Households that want to cut food waste
- Where it falls short
- It is expensive for a kitchen bin.
- Pick something else if
- you need a budget-friendly option.
88.2
09
Vision-based robot vacuum and mop
Matic, based in Mountain View, California, makes a robot that vacuums and mops using cameras and on-device AI rather than lidar, assembled in California. It raised $60 million in January 2026, led by Sutter Hill Ventures.
PROS- Maps and cleans without cloud processing
- Vacuums and mops in one unit
CONS- Priced well above mass-market vacuums
- Small installed base so far
- Best for
- Homes with mixed floors and clutter
- Where it falls short
- The price is high compared to standard vacuums.
- Pick something else if
- you want a low-cost vacuum.
86.9
10
Wall-mounted smart strength trainer
Tonal, founded in 2015 and based in San Francisco, makes a wall-mounted strength training machine that uses digital weight and coaching software. It passed a $1 billion valuation after raising $250 million in March 2021.
PROS- Replaces a rack of weights
- Guided programs with form feedback
CONS- High upfront and monthly cost
- Needs professional installation
- Best for
- People who want a full home gym on one wall
- Where it falls short
- The high upfront and monthly cost may be prohibitive for some buyers.
- Pick something else if
- you need a lower-cost option without professional installation requirements.
85.6
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best Consumer Hardware Startups?
Oura ranks first on Lister. Oura, founded in 2013 in Oulu, Finland, makes the Oura Ring, a smart ring that tracks sleep, activity, heart rate and temperature, sold with a membership. It raised over $900 million in a Series E at about $11 billion in October 2025, and postponed a planned IPO in September 2026, so it remains private.
What are the top 10 Consumer Hardware Startups?
1. Oura; 2. Nothing; 3. Eight Sleep; 4. Even Realities; 5. Ultrahuman; 6. Viture; 7. Framework; 8. Mill; 9. Matic; 10. Tonal.
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