Oura Ring 5: The Pinnacle of Smart Ring Evolution
The Oura Ring 5 marks a significant advancement in wearable technology, offering a sleeker and more comfortable design without compromising functionality. Upon unboxing, its diminutive size immediately stands out, signaling a shift towards a more user-friendly smart ring.
Compared to its predecessor, the Oura Ring 4, the Ring 5 is 40% smaller, measuring 6.09 mm in width and 2.28 mm in thickness. Depending on the ring size, it weighs between 2 to 2.69 grams, a noticeable reduction from the Ring 4’s 3.3 to 5.2 grams. This reduction enhances comfort and aesthetics, allowing the ring to blend seamlessly with other jewelry. Oura’s goal of creating a smart ring that resembles traditional jewelry has been successfully realized.
Priced at $399, the Ring 5 addresses previous concerns about bulkiness, appealing to a broader audience. Oura acknowledged user feedback requesting a more compact design and responded accordingly. This move also positions the company competitively against rivals like RingConn and Ultrahuman, which offer lighter smart rings.
The Ring 5’s reduced size significantly improves comfort, making it less noticeable during daily wear and sleep tracking. Its smaller form factor enhances nighttime comfort, a notable advantage over bulkier smartwatches.
Battery life has also seen improvement, with the Ring 5 lasting between six to nine days, compared to the Ring 4’s five to eight days. In practical use, the ring arrived 50% charged and reached 75% after a 30-minute charge. After five days of continuous wear, the battery remained at 25%, indicating reliable longevity.
However, the Ring 5 offers fewer size options, ranging from sizes 6 to 13, whereas the Ring 4 offered sizes 4 to 15. Oura explained that manufacturing challenges with the new form factor led to this decision, focusing on the most popular sizes while monitoring demand for others.
Available in six finishes—Gold, Deep Rose, Silver, Brushed Silver, Black, and Stealth—the Ring 5 offers aesthetic versatility. The redesigned Gold finish, with a truer gold tone, and the updated Deep Rose, with a copper-like appearance, are particularly noteworthy. It’s important to note that the Gold, Stealth, and Deep Rose finishes are priced at $499, $100 more than the standard options.
Durability has been enhanced with a new physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating process, making the Ring 5 more scratch-resistant. Although long-term durability assessments are pending, initial experiences suggest improved resilience.
The Ring 5 launches alongside new software features, including Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing, set to roll out later this month. These updates will also be available to the Oura Ring Gen3 and later models.
In summary, the Oura Ring 5 offers substantial improvements in comfort and design, making it an excellent choice for newcomers to smart rings. For existing Oura Ring 4 users, the decision to upgrade depends on individual preferences and budget considerations, especially since the Ring 4 will receive the same software updates.
