When you first open the box Oura Ring 5 When it arrived, my first thought was, “Wow, that’s small.” My second thought was that this is the smart ring that many have been waiting for.
Like someone who is very used to dressing up Oura Ring 4 CeramicI was surprised at how noticeably smaller and lighter the new Ring 5 is.
Described by Oura as the world’s smallest smart ring, the Ring 5 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 found that these changes greatly improved the comfort of the ring, as well as making it more aesthetically appealing than 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 and feel like any other ring, and I think the company has nailed it.
The Ring starts at $5,399.
Whenever I saw people discussing Oura’s smart rings, there were always two opposing views. One party swore the ring changed their life, while the other claimed it was too big and they would never consider buying a ring. I think the Oura Ring 5 is a game changer and appeals to a larger audience, including those who shy away from smart rings due to their size.
Oura was aware of the demand for a smaller ring. The company told me that users were demanding a slimmer and more compact design, prompting 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, who sell rings that are lighter than the Ring 4.
While I never really bothered with the Oura Ring 4, 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 jewellery.
I also found that the smaller size of the ring made it more comfortable to wear at night to track sleep and health metrics. A smart ring is more comfortable to wear at night than a smartwatch, and the Ring 5’s smaller design makes it less noticeable at night.
As for battery life, the Ring 5 lasts between six and nine days, compared to the Ring 4’s range of five to eight days. In my experience, improvement continues. The ring arrived 50% charged and reached 75% after about 30 minutes on the charger after the setup process. After five days of continuous use, I still haven’t needed to charge it and my battery is down to about 25%.
It should be noted that the Ring 5 comes in fewer sizes (6 to 13) than the Ring 4 (4 to 15). Oura told me that the fewer size options are due to the challenges of manufacturing smaller rings in the new form factor. The company said it has chosen to focus on the most popular sizes and is monitoring demand for discontinued sizes.
The Ring 5 comes in six colors, including a reworked Gold with a truer gold tone, an updated Deep Rose with a coppery look, plus Silver, Brushed Silver, Black and Stealth.
Oura sent me the Gold version and I really like how it looks. Unlike previous gold Oura rings, this new color does not have a yellow tint and instead has a subtle tone that feels closer to real gold jewelry. It’s worth noting that the Gold finish, along with the Stealth and Deep Rose finishes, costs $499, which is exactly $100 more than the standard finishes.
As for durability, Oura says the Ring 5 is more scratch-resistant than previous generations thanks to a new finishing technique, but given that I’ve only been using it for five days, I can’t really speak to durability yet. There was a moment when I thought I had scratched the ring alignment guide when I grabbed the rusted swing chain, but it turns out the rust was just rubbed into the ring and I was able to clean it off with a cloth.
Oura says the Ring 5’s new physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating process ensures the wearable will maintain its high-quality “out-of-the-box” look for longer. It will be interesting to see how this promise pans out.
Along with this, Oura Ring 5 is also released new software features Also coming to Oura Ring Gen3 and later products, including Blood Pressure Alarms and Night Breathers. I can’t speak to them yet as they will be launching 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 option for anyone who hasn’t bought a smart ring yet. As for people who already own an Oura Ring 4, the decision to upgrade depends on your budget and how much you value aesthetics, especially since the Ring 4 will receive all new software updates.
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