Oura Ring 5: New Design Delivers Discreet Wearable Tech

The latest iteration of Oura's popular smart ring, the Oura Ring 5, has been released, focusing on a significantly refined design that emphasizes comfort and aesthetics alongside its health-tracking capabilities. After just 48 hours of wear, initial user impressions highlight a substantial reduction in size and a more jewelry-like appearance, potentially setting a new trend in the wearables market. This latest model arrives with a $400 price tag, a $50 increase over its predecessor.

Measuring 6mm wide and 2mm thick, the Oura Ring 5 is reportedly 40% smaller than the Oura Ring 4. This reduction is noticeable, especially when compared to previous generations and competing smart rings like the Ultrahuman Ring Pro. The new model offers a more subdued gold finish, moving away from a more ostentatious look towards something described as "fancy night at the symphony gold." Oura has also introduced a deep rose color to its existing lineup, which includes silver, black, brushed silver, and stealth. While Oura recommends using its sizing kit, some users have found success ordering a size down from their previous ring, though precise fit is crucial for comfort and accurate readings.

Comfort appears to be a major win for the Ring 5. The slimmer profile allows it to sit more naturally on the finger, reducing interference during activities like washing one's face or during strenuous workouts. Previous smart rings have sometimes caused discomfort or pinching during weightlifting, a problem the Ring 5 seems poised to alleviate. Scratch resistance is another key promise, and after two days of use, including contact with a Pilates reformer, the ring remained pristine, a promising sign for long-term durability.

Sensor Upgrades and Workout Detection Challenges

While the physical design sees significant improvements, the internal technology also receives updates. Oura claims a stronger signal and more accurate readings due to more powerful LEDs, despite a reduction in sensor pathways from 18 to 12. The company also states that the Ring 5 offers better performance across various skin tones and during movement, areas that have historically presented challenges for smart rings. Automatic workout detection has been a point of frustration with earlier Oura models, often failing to recognize lower-impact activities. Early testing with the Ring 5 has yielded mixed results in this regard, with a 30-minute Pilates session going undetected, despite elevated heart rate readings captured by a separate Apple Watch. However, Oura maintains that consistent user tagging of workouts improves detection over time.

In contrast, a 4-mile run was accurately detected, with heart rate data closely matching that of an Apple Watch. Although the ring lacks onboard GPS for distance tracking, its heart rate monitoring proved highly accurate. Sleep tracking remains a strong suit, with the Ring 5 consistently logging sleep windows and overnight interruptions with precision. Readiness scores, which indicate the body's recovery and capacity for strain, are noted as potentially optimistic in early assessments.

Temperature variations continue to be a valuable feature, particularly for women tracking their menstrual cycle and pinpointing ovulation. The ring also monitors breathing, blood oxygen, heart rate variability (HRV), and includes new alerts for potential atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea indicators. Access to these advanced alerts, however, requires at least a week of collected data.

Battery life on the Oura Ring 5 is projected to last between six to nine days, depending on ring size. After 48 hours with moderate use, including a run and two nights of sleep tracking, the battery level was around 80%. This offers a slight improvement over the Ring 4, though competitors like Ultrahuman and Whoop are now offering longer battery life, approaching two weeks between charges.

Overall, the Oura Ring 5 builds upon the established strengths of its predecessor's app and data interpretation. The primary advancement, however, lies in its design, which successfully integrates advanced wearable tech into a form factor that prioritizes style and comfort. The focus on making the technology feel secondary to the jewelry itself marks a significant step for Oura and potentially the broader market for discreet health monitoring devices. While long-term performance and sensor accuracy will be further evaluated in a full review, the initial impression of the Oura Ring 5 is overwhelmingly positive, suggesting it could indeed be a new benchmark in smart ring technology.