Smart rings have long been a niche segment in the wearable tech market, but recent years have seen a surge in interest as bigger brands enter the space. Finnish company Oura, a pioneer in the field, has emerged as a clear leader despite growing competition. At the end of last year, Oura launched the Ring 4, improving on its predecessor with enhanced features and design refinements to stay ahead of imitators.
While it continues to impress as a piece of advanced wearable technology, the question remains whether its premium price is justified. For those seeking detailed health insights, sleep tracking, and a sleek, unobtrusive wearable, the Oura Ring 4 offers a compelling, cutting-edge option.
Oura Ring 4
Oura’s newest Ring 4 stands out as the top smart ring available today. Its compact design limits the range of functions compared to larger wearables, but it excels at delivering accurate health and sleep insights.
Pros
- Comfortable, lightweight fit
- Improved sensor accuracy and data collection
- Sleek, intuitive companion app
Cons
- Requires a subscription for full functionality
- Optional color finishes come at an extra cost
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Hardware
Oura refined the Ring 4 with a full titanium body, replacing the epoxy resin interior of its predecessor. Building on the sleek, fashion-forward look of the Ring 3, it remains stylish and subtle—almost indistinguishable from a regular ring.
Rings naturally shift on your finger, which can affect sensor contact. The Ring 4 addresses this by embedding sensors flush with the interior surface, though a small notch now indicates the correct orientation toward your palm. Data collection is improved with 18 signal pathways—up from eight—and a new algorithm optimizes sensor readings, reducing gaps in tracking.
Available in sizes 4–15, the Ring 4 also comes with a redesigned charging dock, slightly larger but more refined. For current Ring 3 owners, the upgrade is nice but not essential.
In Use
The Oura Ring 4 continues the Ring 3’s seamless daily wear—it quickly fades into the background once on your finger. Most interactions happen via Oura’s intuitive mobile app, which tracks Readiness, Sleep, Activity, Heart Rate, and Stress scores. The app provides daily progress updates, bedtime reminders, and nudges to move if you’ve been sedentary.
Detailed activity timelines, stress metrics, and health insights help you optimize your routine, though the ring occasionally misclassifies movement as exercise. Hidden features include meditation content, experimental tools in Oura Labs, and AI-powered meal and wellness guidance.
Battery life reaches around seven days for a size 10 ring, and paired with a phone, the app shows the last-known location. Full access to advanced tracking, however, requires a subscription.
Tracking Activity, Sleep, and Stress
Wearables like the Oura Ring 4 are best used to identify trends rather than obsess over exact numbers. It offers detailed metrics for activity, sleep, and stress, allowing users to drill down beyond aggregate scores. For example, spikes in resting heart rate during stressful events, like travel delays or personal challenges, are easily visible, though the Daytime Stress metric can occasionally miss periods of elevated stress.
Automatic activity detection is generally accurate but may delay tracking short or varied workouts, and GPS-based activities sometimes register late. Despite minor quirks, the ring excels at revealing patterns over time. Oura’s recent partnership with Dexcom, backed by $75 million in investment, promises even richer health insights in the future.
Price and Competition
The Oura Ring 4 starts at $349 for silver or black, with brushed silver or stealth at $399 and gold or rose gold at $499. A sizing kit is required before purchase, available in sizes 4–15, as previous kits aren’t compatible with the Ring 4.
Full access to key features requires an Oura Membership—$5.99/month or $70/year—covering essentials like 24/7 heart-rate, temperature, and sleep insights. While the subscription model funds ongoing updates and platform improvements, it can frustrate users expecting basic functionality.
Competitors like Samsung Galaxy Ring ($400) and Ultrahuman, Circular, and RingConn offer hardware and software access without recurring fees, presenting alternatives for those wary of monthly subscriptions.
Wrap-Up
The Oura Ring 4 is an impressive piece of hardware and a reliable daily companion. Its sleek design and powerful app make tracking sleep, activity, and health trends effortless. While minor quirks exist, the overall experience is polished, making it the go-to smart ring for most users.
Its main limitation is inherent to smart rings: a small device can only collect so much data. For deeper, real-time insights, a smartwatch may be more suitable. Still, for unobtrusive health tracking and daily wellness guidance, the Oura Ring 4 remains a top-tier choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Oura Ring 4?
The Oura Ring 4 is a smart ring that tracks sleep, activity, heart rate, and stress for daily wellness insights.
How accurate is the Oura Ring 4?
It provides reliable trend-based data for sleep, activity, and heart rate, though it’s not a replacement for clinical devices.
What sizes are available for the Oura Ring 4?
Sizes range from 4 to 15, with a sizing kit required before purchase.
How long does the battery last?
Battery life lasts up to seven days for most users, depending on ring size and usage.
Do I need a subscription to use the Oura Ring 4?
Yes, full access to features like 24/7 heart-rate tracking, temperature, and sleep insights requires a $5.99/month or $70/year membership.
What colors are available for the Oura Ring 4?
Options include silver, black, brushed silver, stealth, gold, and rose gold, with premium finishes at higher prices.
How does Oura Ring 4 compare to competitors?
It leads in accuracy and app features, though rivals like Samsung Galaxy Ring and Ultrahuman offer hardware without subscription fees.
Conclusion
The Oura Ring 4 combines elegant design, advanced sensors, and a robust app to deliver a top-tier smart ring experience. While its small form factor limits data depth and a subscription is required for full functionality, it excels at tracking sleep, activity, and overall wellness. For those seeking unobtrusive, reliable health insights, the Ring 4 remains the benchmark in smart rings.