The Oura Ring is one of the most popular fitness rings on the market, offering five different finishes and various sizes. The Oura Ring 4 debuted in October and boasts some substantial hardware and software upgrades from the tried and true Oura Ring 3. Oura is still the top brand for smart rings, and you can’t go wrong with the Oura Ring 3, but if comfort is your main priority, the Oura Ring 4 is best for you.
That’s because one of the most essential upgrades from generation to generation is Oura’s smart sensing technology that allows for the raised sensor domes on the Oura Ring 3 to recede on the Oura Ring 4 — and makes for a more continuous and accurate data capture. The Oura Ring 3 had eight signal pathways it used within the ring to gather data; the Oura Ring 4, on the other hand, upgraded that number to 18. Thanks to that signal pathway upgrade, there’s more data to capture throughout the day and fewer gaps within the data.
You can record your workout heart rate on the app and view your activity score, inactive time, and burned calories. Then, the next day, you get a glance at your recovery scores to see how you bounced back from your intense workout. As it gets to know you, it can detect which activities you perform, whether that’s running, walking, pickleball, or tennis, without you having to log it immediately.
As the smart ring market becomes more competitive, Oura has been rolling out new feature after feature to keep its top spot, like a meal logging feature, menstrual cycle insights, cardiovascular age (that helps you see how young or old your heart health is), and more.
The ring is known for its exceptional sleep tracking. It provides insightful data that surpasses what you would receive from a Fitbit or the best smart rings. For instance, it displays your HRV balance, temperature changes during sleep (which can be used to predict menstrual cycles), blood oxygen levels, and the duration of each sleep stage.
Also: Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4: Which is right for you?
In addition to impressive sleep tracking, the Oura Ring excels in activity tracking. It monitors your steps, calories burned (including active calories), heart rate during exercise, and training volume. One feature that separates Oura from other fitness rings is its resilience feature, which measures how well you bounce back from stress.
Another fun Oura feature that runners will love is the ability to sync your Strava data to Oura and vice versa. When you record a run on the running app, it will immediately import into the Oura app. This is a lifesaver as an avid runner who sometimes forgets to start recording on one app before my run.
One downside to note is its tendency to get scratched and scraped. Many Reddit users say that while the Oura Ring does sleep tracking well, it comes at a hefty price that may or may not be worth it to some.
Oura Ring Gen 4 specs: Sizing: 4-15 | Material: Titanium | Colors: Black, brushed silver, gold, silver, rose gold | Water resistance: Up to 328 feet | Sensors: Heart rate and heart rate variability, respiration, blood oxygen, PPG, skin temperature, 3D accelerometer for activity | Connectivity: Bluetooth Low-Energy, Airplane Mode | Battery: Up to eight days
