The Oura Ring 4, the latest iteration of the popular smart ring, promises a more accurate and comfortable way to track your health metrics. After two weeks of testing, it delivered on many of its promises, providing valuable insights into sleep, activity, and stress levels. However, some minor drawbacks emerged, including susceptibility to scratches and a slightly shorter-than-advertised battery life. This review dives deep into the Oura Ring 4’s features, performance, and overall value, considering both its advantages and disadvantages to help you determine if it’s the right wearable for you.
Key Takeaways: Is the Oura Ring 4 Worth the Hype?
- Exceptional Comfort and Ease of Use: The Oura Ring 4 boasts a significantly improved design, making it incredibly comfortable for 24/7 wear.
- Precise Health Tracking: The upgraded sensors provide accurate data on sleep stages, heart rate, activity levels, and stress. Detailed Sleep Analysis: The app provides nearly 20 different data points about your sleep, revealing insights into sleep quality and duration.
- Intuitive App Experience: The redesigned Oura app is easy to navigate, presenting data clearly and offering personalized insights and guidance. Personalized Recommendations: The app provides actionable tips based on your data, such as suggestions for improving sleep or managing stress.
- Minor Drawbacks: Scratches Easily, Battery Life Slightly Less Than Advertised: Despite Oura’s recommendations for preventing scratches, the ring shows wear relatively quickly. The battery life, while still impressive compared to smartwatches, falls short of the advertised eight days.
- Subscription Required for Full Functionality: Access to all app features requires a monthly or yearly subscription, adding to the overall cost.
Getting Started with the Oura Ring 4
Sizing and Setup
My journey began with selecting a ring size and color. I opted for silver, using the company’s sizing kit. While in-person sizing is available at retailers such as Target and Best Buy, my initial size was slightly off, resulting in a slightly loose fit. This highlights the importance of accurate sizing, especially considering the generational fit changes between Oura Ring models. The setup process was straightforward. Pairing the ring with my iPhone was incredibly easy, and the included instructions were clear and concise. After charging the device and completing the app’s biographical information section, I was ready to begin tracking my health metrics.
What’s Good About the Oura Ring 4
Unparalleled Comfort and Discreet Design
As someone not typically fond of smartwatches, the Oura Ring 4’s comfort was a revelation. The smaller, flatter sensors compared to the third-generation ring make it remarkably comfortable for 24/7 wear; I often forgot I was wearing it. This comfort extended to activities like writing, where the ring didn’t interfere with my pen grip. Its water resistance proved reliable during handwashing and showering.
User-Friendly App and Comprehensive Data
The redesigned Oura app is a standout feature. The intuitive layout, organized into “Today,” “Vitals,” and “My Health” tabs, makes accessing and understanding data effortless. The “Today” tab provides quick access to key metrics, while the “Vitals” tab offers granular data, such as the sleep latency, a term I learned through the app’s clear explanations. The “My Health” tab showcases long-term health trends, though full data takes weeks to compile.
Positive and Encouraging Feedback
I was initially concerned about the potential negative impact of the ring’s feedback on my mood. I wasn’t disappointed. Instead of criticism for poor sleep or missed workouts, the app offered constructive suggestions for improvement, promoting a positive and encouraging user experience. The adaptive exercise goals also contributed to this positive feedback, adjusting based on my tiredness and stress levels to ensure realistic and attainable goals, making fitness more inclusive.
What Could Be Improved
Scratch Resistance
Despite following Oura’s recommendations to protect against scratches (wearing it on the non-dominant hand), the ring already shows noticeable scratches after just two weeks. While not highly visible from a distance, the scratches are a disappointment given the ring’s price and the lack of warranty coverage for this type of wear and tear. This raises concerns about its long-term durability.
Battery Life
The advertised eight-day battery life was not quite met in my experience. While still better than many smartwatches requiring daily charging (averaging five to six days), it’s a noticeable discrepancy. Oura attributes this variation to factors like ring size and usage, suggesting further optimization might be needed.
Design Aesthetics
While the comfort is undeniable, the ring’s slightly bulky design is noticeable on smaller hands. Although others haven’t commented on this, it deviates from my typical jewelry preferences. This purely aesthetic concern may not universally affect users, but is something to consider for those with smaller hands or a preference for more delicate designs.
Should You Buy the Oura Ring 4?
The Oura Ring 4’s significant price point is accompanied by a monthly subscription to unlock the full range of features and functionalities. While the basic features are available without a subscription, access to the stress tracking and comprehensive insights is worth a small additional monthly cost. Its usability and the actionable metrics provided makes it a strong choice for anyone wanting a daily health companion. Its seamless integration into one’s daily life, along with its stress-relieving tips instead of stressful reports make this a powerful self-care tool. Despite the minor drawbacks regarding scratching and shorter-than-advertised battery life, the Oura Ring 4 provides compelling health data, presented in a non-judgemental and empowering way, offering a positive experience for users seeking self-improvement and deeper health insights.
