Oura Ring 4
VERDICT
Despite fierce competition from Samsung, Oura remains the king of smart rings. The 4th generation is fully circular (no flat spots), made of pure titanium, and features "Smart Sensing" that doubles the number of signal pathways for better accuracy. It is the best sleep tracker money can buy, provided you are willing to pay the monthly subscription fee.
The Big Picture
The Oura Ring 4 is designed to be forgotten. You wear it, you live your life, and in the morning, you check the app to see your "Readiness Score." It doesn't nag you to stand up or breathe. It simply aggregates data on your Sleep, Activity, and Stress Resilience to tell you if your body is ready for a workout or if you need a recovery day.
🌡️ Recessed Sensors
The Upgrade: No more bumps.
Comfort: Previous rings had epoxy bumps inside that pressed into your finger. The Oura Ring 4 is perfectly smooth inside. The new sensors are flush with the titanium, making it feel exactly like a standard wedding band.
🧠 Smart Sensing Technology
It finds your pulse.
Accuracy: Fingers swell and shrink throughout the day. The new algorithm automatically selects the best signal path from the 18 available sensors to ensure it never loses your heart rate data, even if the ring rotates on your finger.
✅ The Pros
- Design: Stunning all-titanium build in Gold, Silver, Black, and Rose Gold.
- Sleep Tracking: Unrivaled accuracy in detecting sleep stages (REM, Deep).
- Battery: Lasts up to 8 days on a single charge.
- App: Cleanest, most insightful health app on the market.
❌ The Cons
- The Subscription: The ring is useless without the $6/month membership.
- Charging: The new charger is specific to the size; you can't share chargers easily.
- No Haptics: It can't vibrate to wake you up (unlike the Circular Ring).
🤔 Should you buy it?
YES if you want deep health insights without wearing a watch, and don't mind the monthly fee.
NO if you hate subscriptions (get the Samsung Galaxy Ring instead, which has no monthly fees).
See the showdown: Oura Ring 4 vs. Samsung Galaxy Ring Comparison