When I opened the box, Oura Ring 5 walked in, my first thought was, “Wow, that’s small.” » My second thought was that this is a smart ring that many people have been waiting for.
As someone quite used to wearing the Oura 4 Ceramic RingI was surprised to see how noticeably smaller and lighter the new Ring 5 is.
The Ring 5, which Oura describes as the world’s smallest smart ring, is 40% smaller than its predecessor, measuring 6.09mm wide compared to the Ring 4’s 7.90mm and 2.28mm thick compared to the Ring 4’s 2.88mm. Although the exact weight depends on the size of your ring, the Ring 5 weighs between 2 grams and 2.69 grams, while the Ring 4 weighs between 3.3 grams and 5.2 grams.
I have found that these changes significantly improve the comfort of the ring and also make it more aesthetically pleasing compared to its predecessor. The ring no longer screams smart ring and blends in with the rest of your jewelry. Oura says the Ring 5 is designed to look like any other ring, and I think the company has achieved that.
The Ring 5 starts at $399.
Whenever I saw people discussing Oura’s smart rings, there always seemed to be two opposing views. One side swore the ring changed their lives, and the other argued it was too bulky and they would never consider buying one. I think the Oura Ring 5 is a game changer and aimed at a wider audience, including those who are hesitant to use smart rings due to their bulk.
Oura was aware of the demand for a smaller ring. The company told me that users were asking for a thinner, more compact design, which prompted the company to comply. Of course, Oura has also had to update its rings in response to competition from non-subscription competitors like RingConn and Ultrahuman, both of which sell lighter rings than the Ring 4.
While I never found the Oura Ring 4 to be overtly uncomfortable, the Ring 5 feels noticeably better on my finger. With the Ring 4, I was always aware I was wearing it, but with this latest model, I often forget it’s there, which is great for people like me who don’t always wear jewelry.
I also found that the smaller size of the ring makes it more comfortable to wear at night to track sleep and health metrics. A smart ring is more comfortable than a smartwatch for nighttime use, and the Ring 5’s smaller design allows it to be even less visible at night.
As for battery life, the Ring 5 lasts between six and nine days, compared to five to eight days on the Ring 4. In my experience, the improvement seems to hold up. The ring arrived charged at 50%, and after about 30 minutes on the charger following the setup process, it reached 75%. After five days of continuous use, I still haven’t needed to recharge it and only have about 25% battery left.
It’s worth mentioning that the Ring 5 comes in fewer sizes (sizes 6 to 13) than the Ring 4 (sizes 4 to 15). Oura told me that the reduced number of sizing options was due to the challenges of making smaller rings in the new form factor. The company said it chose to focus on the most popular sizes and was monitoring demand for discontinued sizes.
The Ring 5 is available in six finishes, including a redesigned Gold with a truer gold tone, an updated Deep Rose with a copper look, as well as Silver, Brushed Silver, Black, and Stealth.
Oura sent me the Gold version, and I really like how it looks. Unlike previous Oura gold rings, this new color does not have a yellow tint, but rather has a more subtle tone that appears closer to real gold jewelry. It’s worth noting that the Gold finish, as well as the Stealth and Deep Rose finishes, are priced at $499, which is exactly $100 more than the standard finishes.
As for durability, Oura claims that the Ring 5 is more scratch-resistant than previous generations thanks to a new finishing technique, but I can’t fully speak to durability yet given that I’ve only had it for five days. There was one point where I thought I had scratched the ring alignment guide line while grabbing a rusty swivel chain, but it turned out the rust had only rubbed off the ring and I was able to clean it with a rag.
Oura claims that the Ring 5’s new physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating process ensures that the wearable maintains its premium “out-of-the-box” look for longer. It will be interesting to see how this promise holds up.
The Oura Ring 5 launches alongside new software features that are also coming to Oura Ring Gen3 and later products, including blood pressure signals and nighttime breathing. I can’t talk about them yet, as they are expected to launch later this month.
Overall, the Oura Ring 5 is a notable improvement over the Ring 4 in terms of comfort and aesthetics, making it a great choice for anyone who hasn’t yet purchased a smart ring. As for people who already own the Oura Ring 4, the decision to upgrade depends on your budget and how much you care about aesthetics, especially since the Ring 4 will benefit from any new software updates.
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