The topic I’ve worn an Oura Ring for 5 years. The Oura Ring 5 is its finest work yet is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
The Oura Ring 5 may be the finest piece of wearable tech yet, and I’m barely a few days into living with it.
I’m an experienced Oura Ring wearer, but I question where the brand has left to go with its hardware. It’s really that good.
Before I finalized which Oura Ring 5 color I wanted, I made sure to use the sizing kit.
Oura recommended this regardless of whether you’d owned an Oura Ring before or not, as the Oura Ring 5’s size is slightly different from before.
I selected a size 11, which was the same size as my Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 4 Ceramic, but I was a little concerned that the size 11 plastic ring was noticeably more snug on my finger than the previous size 11 rings.
Now that the actual Oura Ring 5 is on my finger, this is absolutely the case.
I was always between size 10 and size 11 Oura Ring models before, making the larger option slightly loose, but the new size 11 is a perfect fit.
The crucial thing to know is that, despite being a fraction smaller, the fit is so spot-on that it’s completely unnoticeable when you’re wearing it.
Sure, I’ve worn an Oura Ring for five years, but I always knew my Oura Ring 4 Ceramic was on my finger.
The Oura Ring 5 disappears, and it’s all to do with the tiny changes to the thickness and width.
It’s so close to a normal ring size and feel, I think most onlookers would be fooled. I barely feel it between my fingers, and essentially forget it’s there.
If you want a health and fitness tracker that is even more incognito than the Fitbit Air, and nowhere near as sporty, the Oura Ring 5 is for you.
This is what I mean about wondering where Oura can go with its hardware next.
The Oura Ring 5 is thin and really light. I wouldn’t want it any lighter, as it borders on being featherweight now, and any slimmer, it’ll stop being a piece of high-tech jewelry to wear and enjoy.
Reducing the thickness will make the most difference, but it’s not like wearing a big, thick bolt on your finger now.
The other area where it can always upgrade is the materials and finishes.
I chose the Desert Rose Oura Ring 5, the only brand-new finish for the line, and I’m so pleased I did.
It was hard to tell exactly how copper the finish was in the pictures, but it’s just right. It’s masculine, yet still has enough of a rose-gold tint to appeal to anyone who doesn’t want a full gold smart ring.
While I love the color, I’m less enthused about returning to a titanium Oura Ring after spending many months with the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic.
Think you know everything about the smart ring taking on the fitness tracker world? Put your knowledge to the test.
In which country was Oura Health, the company behind the Oura ring, founded?
What year did Oura launch its first generation ring to the public?
Which of the following metrics does the Oura ring NOT natively track?
What is the name of the Oura ring’s daily summary score that combines sleep, activity, and readiness data?
Which generation of the Oura ring introduced a more traditional, rounded ring shape compared to earlier generations?
Approximately how long does the Oura ring’s battery last on a single charge?
The Oura ring gained significant public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic partly because of a study it conducted with which major American sports organisation?
Oura introduced a subscription fee with which generation of its ring?
If the Oura Ring 5 is peak Oura Ring design, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is peak Oura materials. The finish looked brand-new after six months of continuous wear, a feat impossible with a titanium Oura Ring 4.
The Oura Ring 5 is not available in ceramic (yet), and I’m already reminded of the problems with titanium.
It gets covered in smudges easily, something that didn’t happen with the ceramic smart ring.
I loved how the ceramic model rarely needed cleaning, but I’ve already given the Oura Ring 5 a regular soaping to keep it free from muck.
It’s free from them at the moment (it has only been two days or so), but even despite its smaller dimensions, it’s going to get rubbed up against an abrasive surface soon.
Oura indicated the Oura Ring 5’s titanium shell would resist marks better than before, and I’m certainly hopeful of it.
Plus, the smaller size means any marks may not show up as much.
However, I’ve already felt and heard it make unfortunate contact with a metal-bodied phone in a way that didn’t sound good, suggesting it’s only a matter of time before it picks up some battle scars.
While there aren’t any major hardware changes inside the Oura Ring 5, Oura says it may return more accurate data compared to the Oura Ring 4.
With only a few days of wearing it, it’s impossible to spot any alterations so far. I’m comparing it to a wealth of baseline data in the Oura app, and with the Fitbit Air.
The good news is, I haven’t seen sudden changes, indicating things are much the same as before. I’d be far more concerned about accuracy if my key metrics showed dramatic changes so soon.
The Oura Ring 4 was the best smart ring, and our recommendation to buy, and it looks highly likely the Oura Ring 5 will take its crown. If you’re itching to buy, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
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