A New Era for Smart Rings
Oura’s latest offering, the Ring 5, marks a significant evolution in the world of smart rings. This new model is not just an upgrade; it's a complete reimagining of what a smart ring can be. The Ring 5 is dramatically smaller and lighter than its predecessor, making it more akin to a standard wedding band or other jewelry. This means that it's so unobtrusive that you might genuinely forget you're wearing it.
The Ring 5 is a direct replacement for the popular Ring 4 and comes at a starting price of £399 (€399/$399/$A649). However, accessing advanced features requires a monthly subscription of £5.99 (€5.99/$5.99/A$9.99), which makes the Oura Ring a significant investment.
Design and Comfort
One of the most impressive aspects of the Ring 5 is its size. It is 40% smaller in volume than the Ring 4, with a width of just over 6mm, a thickness of 2.23mm, and a weight of only 2g. These numbers don't fully capture the experience—when worn, the Ring 5 feels even smaller than it appears in pictures. This compact design makes it much easier to live with, as it doesn't catch on pockets, dig into your fingers when you clench them, or cause discomfort when carrying shopping bags or lifting weights.
The Ring 5 also looks less like a piece of technology compared to the Ring 4, which may make it less of a conversation starter. However, this subtle design is a trade-off for comfort and discretion.
Features and Functionality
Despite its small size, the Ring 5 still offers comprehensive health tracking. It records heart rate, blood oxygen levels, temperature, and motion to track over 50 different metrics related to sleep, activity, readiness, stress, resilience, heart health, and women’s health. This level of detail allows Oura to provide insights comparable to those of top smartwatches, but without the bulk of traditional wearables.
The titanium Ring 5 is available in six colors and finishes, each with a harder, more scratch-resistant coating than previous models. This helps maintain its appearance over time. In my testing, the black model remained pristine, though it wasn’t as durable as the ceramic Ring 4.
Sizing and Battery Life
The Ring 5 comes in eight sizes, and Oura provides a free sizing kit with plastic replicas to help users find the best fit. The ring needs to be snug enough to stay in place for accurate data collection but loose enough to be easily removed for charging. The included dock or optional battery case (£99) allows for weekly charging.
Even though the Ring 5 is smaller, its battery life has improved. The smallest size lasts about six days, while the largest can go up to nine days between charges. The size 8 model, which I tested, lasted just under eight days, which is about two days longer than the equivalent Ring 4.
Technical Specifications
Here are some key specifications of the Ring 5:
- Width: 6.09mm
- Thickness: 2.28mm
- Weight: 2g (depending on size)
- Size variations: Eight (6 to 13)
- Water resistance: 100m
- Temperature range: -10°C to 52°C
- Sensors: PPG (HR and SpO2), temperature, accelerometer
- Rated battery life: 6 to 9 days
- Connectivity: Bluetooth Low Energy
The App Experience
The Oura app is essential for maximizing the Ring 5’s potential. While the app itself is free, a subscription is required to access detailed health insights. The app offers some of the best data analysis in the industry, with clear explanations, actionable advice, and personalized insights.
The main "Today" page highlights key health attributes, such as sleep quality or stress levels, helping users make informed decisions for the day. Further down, widgets show sleep, stress, heart rate, and activity data, along with a full timeline of daily events.
The "Vitals" page breaks down seven key health categories, including readiness, sleep, and heart health, with charts and scores for easy tracking. The "My Health" tab provides a long-term view of health trends, including cumulative stress and habit tracking.
Proactive Health Monitoring
The Ring 5 automatically detects over 40 different activities lasting more than 10 minutes, and users can manually start workouts using the Live activity feature. However, it relies on a phone for distance, pace, and route tracking, which limits its effectiveness compared to dedicated fitness watches like Garmin.
Oura’s proactive health monitoring includes features like Symptom Radar, which looks for signs of illness, and Health Radar, which adds overnight blood pressure and breathing disturbance monitoring. These features mirror similar capabilities found in devices like the Apple Watch.
Women’s Health Tracking
The Ring 5 offers extensive women’s health tracking, including cycle, period, and ovulation tracking, fertile window prediction, pregnancy tracking, and insights into hormonal birth control and menopause. This data can also integrate with services like Natural Cycles for birth control.
AI Chatbot
Oura’s AI Advisor chatbot is a standout feature. It provides personalized health insights, explains concepts, and offers advice based on user data. Unlike general-purpose AI assistants, the Advisor focuses solely on health-related queries, making it a valuable tool for users.
Sustainability and Pricing
The Oura Ring 5 is not repairable, and the battery cannot be replaced. While it doesn’t contain recycled materials, Oura offers a free recycling program. The Ring 5 starts at £399 (€399/$399/$A649) and includes one month of free membership, after which a monthly subscription is required.
For comparison, the Ring 4 costs £349, the Ring 4 Ceramic costs £399, the Ultrahuman Ring Air costs £329, and the Samsung Galaxy Ring costs £399.
Verdict
The Oura Ring 5 represents a generational leap for smart rings, setting a high bar for competitors. Its slim, lightweight design makes it feel like regular jewelry, and its extended battery life and durability add to its appeal. The comprehensive health tracking and excellent app experience further solidify its position as one of the best health-tracking wearables available.
However, the high cost and monthly subscription, along with limited repairability, are notable drawbacks. Despite these issues, the Ring 5 remains a top choice for those seeking a discreet, effective, and insightful health tracker.
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