This review has been a retentive time in the devising . I have worn the third - generation Oura Ring since the end of 2021 , come out with thegloss black Heritage versionbefore moving on to thepolished silver medal Horizon modelin 2022 . Now , in mid-2024 I ’ve recently passed my third anniversary collecting data using an Oura Ring .
That’sa lotof experience , and there were only a few short break during that time when I wore other smart gang to survey . I think I ’m in the complete location to say whether it ’s worth buying . I can confidently say that it is , but there are some things youreallyneed to realize about it first .
About our Oura Ring review
Our Oura Ring third - generation review was first published in June 2023 , and at the time , I had worn the Oura Ring for 18 calendar month . I am updating the review in June 2024 , total a year to my experience with the third - multiplication Oura Ring . Previously , I had wear the former generation Oura Ring models for around a class .
A unexampled section has been bestow below to bring our reassessment up to engagement . The original review has been altered to reflect any changes , but the overall score has not changed . Toward the end of the review , a new section explains the various competitors that have been released over the past year .
What’s the Oura Ring like in 2024?
That’sseriousstaying power , particularly for someone who expect to use newer and better products on a very unconstipated basis , and it should narrate you a enceinte pot about how impressive the Oura Ring is . I do n’t think the Oura Ring has been ameliorate , and in fact , its rivals — from theUltrahuman Ring Airto theCircular Ring Slim — have n’t come close . Part of what makes me advocate the Oura Ring so readily is its simplicity , from understanding the data point salute in the slick and fast app to the commodious charging plinth that helps you annul permit the battery run too lowly .
Oura has also steady added new features to the app , helping to justify the monthly subscription monetary value . Yes , you still have to compensate to see most of the data in the app . However , after seeing and using the apps that come with other smart rings , the Oura app is deserving the price . It ’s a lot more visceral , with clearly presented and very helpful data . I rate it as extremely as Apple ’s Ring system for motivation and Fitbit ’s latest app layout for visual ease . The app is as important as the hardware , and both are winner here . But how long will Oura dominate the ( smart ) rings ? It ’s about to face its most serious challenge yet , as theGalaxy Ringis here , and Samsung already knows what it ’s doing with wellness and fitness products . For now , though , if you require to buy a voguish ring , the Oura Ring is my only recommendation .
What is the Oura Ring?
Before I get into the functionality , excogitation , and cost of the Oura Ring , it ’s worth explaining what it actually is , as it ’s too easy to mean that the Oura Ring is just a swish fitness tracker — but that ’s not really correct . sympathise what it is , what it tells you , and how it fits into your life is very important to do it if it ’s deserving the investment and if it ’s going to become you personally .
It ’s not aFitbitor anApple Watch — it ’s smart jewelry that ’s as much about your lifestyle as it is about track your activity . If you desire a gimmick that ’s going to help you discipline well or prepare for a triathlon on its own , the Oura Ring is not the gimmick for you . likewise , if you want notifications from your phone , this is n’t what you want either .
rather , the Oura Ring trail your sleep , heart charge per unit , blood oxygen , heart pace variance ( HRV ) , and other metrics ( plus data collect from universal exercise and bodily process ) to provide an overview of your everyday health and readiness . Insights into this information aid you plan for the Clarence Shepard Day Jr. and realise where you could make improvements . Itsclosest non - overbold ring competition is the Whoop 4.0 , another screenless tracker that spotlight intention , but its forte is exercise , fitness , and working toward improving yourself in these surface area .
This is why the Oura Ring beseem me better personally . I ’m not concerned in running faster or crush every goal to push my body to the terminus ad quem . What I am interested in is using information to make changes to my lifestyle and bodily function routine to keep me healthy and watching over trends to isolate position that negatively impress my day-by-day operation . I want to do this with a equipment that ’s low-spirited maintenance and has a groovy design . The Oura Ring excel at this .
Oura Ring: design
When Ifirst wore an Oura Ring , I was concerned about ease , as I ’d never feel happy wearing a ring before . The prospect of wearing one 24 hours a sidereal day for years seemed unpleasant , as well as quite unconvincing . However , it has n’t been a problem at all . Oura supply a size kit with plastic diversion of its ring , so you’re able to try out different size to see which is the most comfortable . This is the skillful way to understand which one is right , and although you may found it on your existing ring sizing or buy one off the shelf in Best Buy today , I really recommend living with a false plastic one for 24 time of day first . If you accidentally get the wrong sizing , it ’ll deflower the experience entirely .
The Oura Ring has becomepart of me , and I have no cause to take it off .
There ’s a choice of two designs . The full circular Horizon or the Heritage exemplar , which has a matte section to give it some character . I ’ve worn both type , and there ’s no difference of opinion in comfort or feel . Both look great , and I have really been take with the refined ash grey Horizon variant , which is surprisingly subtle , yet still peek in the sunlight . Like any good composition of jewellery , the Oura Ring has becomepart of me , and I have no reason to take it off from a dash linear perspective .
Ultrahuman Ring AirAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Each example is made from titanium , with a non - metallic inner department , and it has never caused any skin irritation for me . All the Oura Rings I ’ve worn have plunk up scratches and marks , but none have dramatically detracted from the visual aspect . The worst wrongdoer was the flatness Stealth interlingual rendition , where the finale did chip a minuscule . Even after two years , the polished silver version still look good , as the second scratches and scuffs ca n’t be seen from a aloofness . The Oura Ring is water resistive to 100 meters .
The size does n’t shift the canonic property of the Oura Ring , which is 7.9 millimetre across and 2.55 millimetre heavyset . The weight varies between four Hans C. J. Gram and six gm , and I almost do n’t notice it ’s there . Initially , you will notice the thickness between your finger’s breadth , perhaps less so if you regularly wear tintinnabulation , but it soon disappears . I think I ’ve gayly worn an Oura Ring for two - and - a - one-half years , and if that ’s not a unanimous secondment of figure , quality , comfort , wearability , and durability , I do n’t know what is .
Oura Ring: technology, sensors, and activity tracking
The Oura Ring is primarily a lifestyle - based sleep tracker , with added features for basic fitness tracking and period prediction , along with some channelize intermediation and alone features such as the ability tosync with the Natural Cycles birth ascendence app . It does not have a screen , it does n’t alert you about notifications from your phone , and it ’s not the equipment to track activity like golf , or provide deep insight about your marathon performance .
For such a little equipment , it packs in a surprising amount of tech . Sensors appraise your heart rate , blood oxygen levels , and skin temperature , along with your crusade too . It relate to the Oura app on your telephone set using Bluetooth and syncs with Apple Health and Google Fit , so datum collected from another machine is take into account by the Oura Ring ( and vice versa ) . I have only used the Oura Ring connected to an Apple iPhone , and the app and Bluetooth syncing has been practically flawless . It ’s also fast , and your data is transferred and visible in seconds .
Oura ’s style of presenting its data in the app is simple , yet fantastically informative when you dig deeper . Neither Apple ’s Health app or Google Fit have the same at - a - coup d’oeil convenience of Oura ’s Readiness , Sleep , and activeness scores . These are based on data collected from your quietus and everyday movement , and you’re able to instantly see how you ’re localise up for the 24-hour interval , how good your quietus was , if you call for meter to recover , and where you need to improve . All from just three primary phone number . It ’s excellent .
RingConn Smart RingAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
It can cut through three chief activities — walking , running , and cycling — using steps and heart charge per unit , plus GPS placement from your phone . you may also manually summate in a non - tracked activeness , but it ’s not ideal , and it does pull in activeness track by Apple Health and Google Fit and contribute them to your day-to-day scores . I ’ve found the automatic physical exertion detection to be accurate and reliable . It also has anactivity modality no other fitness tracker has — housework . It picks this up automatically , and it ’s shockingly precise . All movement that parent your heart rate make a difference , and it ’s a very welcome addition to the Oura Ring ’s action tracking .
Oura Ring: sleep and activity data
The Oura app face data very clearly , with large and obvious numbers racket , score , and graphs to exemplify your functioning . All sections have additional information when you dig deeply , and the more you wear the Oura Ring , the more it understands you . The trends make a real difference not just to its recommendations , but also to how you in person understand your organic structure . Its rest staging algorithm is detailed and accurate , and it has unique information points , including your chronotype , so you may advantageously interpret sleep riding habit .
I can see my Heart Rate Variability ( HRV ) long - terminal figure and how it changes with my activity and stress levels , and even sustain how I finger in the dayspring using it . The HRV , rest heart charge per unit , and respiratory pace flesh give a really big indication of how well recovered you are , and I ’ve grown to recognize and realise the signboard of enfeeblement through them . My long - term exercise enabled me to seehow stress affected my body , which helped me face my situation . In turn , the app ’s Readiness score usually backs it up by saying I ’m either looking honest for the day , or I should take it soft . There ’s even a residual Mode that adjusts your day-by-day goals accordingly , and is recommended by the closed chain when it mark you ’re not at your best .
The Oura Ring does tend to overestimate footprint numeration , but the heart pace and calorie burn — a metric that can be hidden entirely if you prefer — matches other devices , and its overall sleep tracking data has become even more precise over time , as the company refines its algorithm . It mechanically tracks eternal rest , and is very in effect at knowing when you ’re sleeping or awake . It neatly takes this into thoughtfulness when presenting its Sleep score , something not all devices do . Some include the time you spend awake in bed as “ sleep , ” which can skew resultant role .
Circular Ring SlimAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
The app generates reports on a regular basis , highlight your trends over set full point of time , which are presented very well and are very informative . The Oura Ring is n’t a medical gadget , so it stop short of making real passport or analysis , but it ’s secure at balancing its interpretation of your data between being too general or gloss over central points . It intend I read what it says , and potentially act on it too .
I wish that the Oura Ring is n’t intrusive either . It does n’t send piles of telling or constantly tease me to do something . It will prompt me to get up and move around , but that ’s all . This lack of interruption is enhanced by its lack of a blind , so there ’s never any visual pushing to up your step count or beat a personal adept . While I find this a benefit , others will require the motivation , which may intend this is n’t a gadget for them . Remember , this is n’t a fitness tracker in the way of life a Fitbit or Apple Watch is .
Oura Ring: what isn’t so good?
While Oura has stepped up its efforts to deliver new features that increase value , some forebode lineament are still missing . A general , grab - all seaworthiness - tracking mode would greatly raise the ring ’s usefulness , but one still has n’t been released . I now doubt such a thing is coming at all . This brings up the question of whether the Oura Ring is enough of a wellness and activity tracker on its own , and it may not be quite feature - rich enough for some people .
The solution is to also wear a smartwatch or a fitness tracker , but it ’s a crowing financial commitment to grease one’s palms one along with the Oura Ring . However , in its current form , theOura mob complement smartwatches like the Apple Watchreally well . Most smartwatches ca n’t play off the Oura Ring ’s excellent sleep trailing and data presentation , yet obviously improve on fittingness trailing and add up notifications and apps too .
Wearing and using both may voice like overkill , but you ’re not really doubling up on that much functionality . However , you ’re only take in to wear two devices because of the Oura Ring ’s slightly circumscribed feature readiness . On the more positive side , another consideration is if you ’re like me and often endure a traditional non - overbold watch , the Oura Ring is expectant as it does n’t take up valuable wrist space , yet it still countenance health and activity tracking .
Movano Evie RingChristine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
The app curb a department on guided meditations and mindfulness sessions , which is a dainty addition as these are more usually found in freestanding , paid apps . However , the lack of a comprehensive search function means it ’s hard to find what you want . The titles are too ornate to be informative , there ’s no information on whether it ’s a manlike or distaff voice , and no room to sort out by the someone draw the school term either . If you want to quickly receive a new session by someone you like when try on to sleep , it ’s frustrating , and that defeats the target .
Oura Ring: women’s health
There are some features I ca n’t personally try out , but they are definitely worth highlighting . The Oura app let in period prevision , which it estimates ground on body temperature . I have personally see how precise the Oura Ring ’s body temperature measurement are , as it accurately caught my raised temperature that was bought on by illness and a vaccine .
The temperature sensor also links the Oura Ring to the Natural Cycles birth control app , which remove the need to manually contain and go into your temperature into the app . Natural Cycles is both Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) and CE approve , and the Oura Ring ’s integrating meet those standards . Oura also notice no sensitive data is partake in between the apps . The Oura Ring has some competition in this area , asMovano ’s Evie overbold ringhas been designed and built specifically for women , although it did not perform well in our review .
Oura Ring: battery life and charging
I ’ve never experienced any barrage anxiousness with the Oura Ring , and I do n’t think the battery has depleted more than once or twice . I do n’t really consider about charging it at all . How many article of clothing can you say that about ? amazingly for such a little gimmick , the barrage liveliness extends to around four or five Day use with 24 - minute - a - sidereal day wear , blood O sensing , heart rate monitoring , and a 30 - minute physical exertion tracked up to twice during that period . This is low than Oura ’s expect seven days , but still perfectly tolerable .
Now I ’m several year into using the tertiary generation Oura Ring , the battery has not shown much evidence of degradation , and it still returns the same four to five days exercise . It ’s not the distance of the battery life that cook the Oura Ring so convenient though , it ’s thewayyou shoot down it . A custom plinth match to the size of your hoop is supply , and I keep mine by my bed . Most mornings , I range it on the charger while I lavish and get quick for the twenty-four hour period , and this go along it topped up with no meaningful interruption to wear meter . It becomes a substance abuse , and entirely removes any need to monitor how much assault and battery life rest .
Oura Ring: price and subscription
The cost of Oura Ring possession varies depend on which mode and finish you prefer , plus it necessitate an ongoing subscription to proceed seeing all the data in the app after a get period of time . The Heritage style starts at $ 299 , while the Horizon starts at $ 349 . This admit a single month ’s access to the information in the Oura app , a alteration from the six months gratis access that used to be included with the doughnut .
The subscription cost $ 6 per month , and if you do n’t pay , the app only show up your Readiness , Sleep , and bodily function scores . Understanding the eventual cost of owning and fully using an Oura Ring is important . Over two age , the Oura Ring will be a total of $ 487 if you choose the most expensive destination . For compare , anApple Watch Series 8starts at $ 399 , but does not command any further subscription .
The Oura Ring is one of the best pieces of wearable health technical school I ’ve ever used .
Thesubscription is a roadblock to ownership . It ’s not that the Oura Ring does n’t provide good time value — the data shown is well - portray , interesting , and promiscuous to interpret . The app is also one of the best project that I ’ve used , sure for a wearable , so you are getting a very high - lineament product , plus more features are being steadily introduce these days . The problem is , Garmin , Apple , Samsung and others provide their apps and data analysis for no extra complaint .
What about other smart rings?
When I first reviewed the third - generation Oura Ring , it did not have any well - do it contender , but this has changed over the last year . However , none have usurped the Oura Ring as ourtop smart ring recommendation . TheRingConn Smart Ringis the only one that has really come closely to the Oura Ring for me , while others haveended up choose itafter trying it out . It ’s certainly serious than the overly complexUltrahuman Ring Air , which I also let a friend wear to get his mental picture of it , and his finding were very interesting and unique . If you want more entropy , I compared theOura ringing to the RingConn Smart Ringandthen to the Ultrahuman Ring Air .
The Oura Ring , RingConn Smart Ring , and Ultrahuman Ring Air are all better than theCircular Ring Slim , which failed to hold out up to expectation and disappoint a great deal . alas , the same thing happened with theMovano Evie Ringdespite considerable hope ahead of its liberation . At the time of writing , the Oura Ring is the smart ring to buy — but what about the Galaxy Ring ? It look very bright , but we still need to test and refresh it to know how it heap up . If you like the look of the Oura Ring , I do n’t recollect you ’ll be disappointed if you purchase it .
Should you wear the Oura Ring?
The Oura Ring is one of the best pieces of wearable wellness tech I ’ve ever used . It ’s really brilliant , and accommodate my life-style and requirements very well indeed . I truly have no mental reservation recommending the Oura Ring as a intersection at all . However , the subscription irk , because it ’s hard to see incisively where the extra welfare are compared to free services that also analyze and accumulate your data point .
It also makes this an expensive Cartesian product , with the ownership bill closing in on $ 500 for two years of use and $ 72 each year after this . If the characteristic jell was comprehensive enough that I did n’t feel the need to also use another physical fitness tracker , then it may be slightly better , but as it is , I postulate to wear a smartwatch or a Fitbit to really quantify all my bodily function and health . I ’m not saying this arrest me from recommending the Oura Ring , but it really is an important consideration .
The Oura Ring is a very sticky ware , and the amount of time I ’ve worn it is a will to its style , quality , usefulness , and wash room . If you want a beautiful wearing - and - forget twist that delivers interesting and helpful wellness data point , and you do n’t mind paying a monthly fee to get at it , then it ’s utterly gross .
