Three years after the release of its predecessor, Oura has unveiled the fourth generation of its smart ring. The landscape has shifted significantly since the last iteration, with major players like Samsung and Zepp Health entering the smart ring arena. So how has Oura upped its game?
A wealth of iterative upgrades
The Oura Ring 4 maintains its titanium construction while introducing a slimmer profile and recessed sensors for enhanced comfort and consistent readings. At its core, the device retains familiar hardware components such as an accelerometer, multicolor LEDs for physiological monitoring, and a temperature sensor, though Oura emphasizes improved accuracy across the board.
A notable advancement lies in the sensor arrangement. The photoplethysmography sensors are now positioned asymmetrically within the ring, optimizing signal quality. The ring has more than doubled its signal pathways from eight to eighteen, enabling substantial improvements in data collection.
In real life this means users can expect 120% better SpO2 signal quality, translating to 30% more accurate overnight blood oxygen measurements. The breathing disturbance index accuracy sees a 15% boost, while gaps in heart rate data collection have been reduced by 7% during daytime and 31% at night.
Battery life receives a nice boost, extending from 4-5 days to up to eight days per charge. This longevity, partly attributable to the absence of a screen, sets the device apart from typical smartwatches.
Accompanying the hardware release is a completely redesigned app, which will be available to both new and existing Oura Ring 3 users. Android users gain access to Oura Labs, an experimental platform featuring capabilities like meal tracking. The ring now automatically detects 40 different activities, offers enhanced stress tracking, and provides updated women’s health features, including estimated fertile day predictions.
Following its recent acquisition of metabolic health startup Veri, Oura plans to integrate new metabolic insights into its offerings. The company continues to evolve its health monitoring capabilities, maintaining features like Symptom Radar for early illness detection while introducing Oura Advisor, an AI-powered tool for personalized health insights.
Price & availability
The Oura Ring 4 launches on the company’s website for preorder with shipping beginning October 15. The company maintains its subscription model, offering the first month free followed by a $6 monthly fee or $70 annual option.
Available in six finishes including an updated black, the ring now comes in 12 sizes, an increase from the previous eight. As mentioned, the physical specifications are even more discreet than before. The ring measures 7.09mm in width, 2.8mm in thickness, and weight a mere 3.3 to 5.5 grams depending on size. Water resistance comes in at 100 meters.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
Many of these improvements remind us of RingConn Gen 2. That ring has just been released and comes with a slimmer profile, more accurate sensors and longer battery life. We would have liked to see something new from Oura in the sensor department, but that will need to wait until generation 5. The company says it will phase out its third generation ring, so you will probably be able to pick that one up at a hefty discount.
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