The Oura Ring is something very special. Not only is it the wearable I’ve worn the most, but it’s also the one that knows me best, plus it’s paired with one of the best wearable tech apps I’ve used.
It’s coming up to my one-year anniversary with the Oura Ring 4, so the ideal time to revisit what is still the best smart ring you can buy. Here’s what keeps me committed to the Oura Ring, regardless of its few downsides.
One year with the Oura Ring 4
Only part of my long-term review
Although I’ve worn the Oura Ring 4 for almost a year now, in total I’ve worn an Oura Ring since the end of 2021, meaning I’m about to enter my fifth year with one on my finger.
With this amount of time invested, the app has collected a wealth of data, which it uses to inform genuinely helpful everyday metrics.
I trust the data the Oura Ring app shows because I can review all the historical data to check what it has collected, then see how results have changed over time.
I find it helpful to see my resting heart rate, skin temperature, and respiratory rate in the morning, which, combined with my Readiness Score, means I always have a good idea of how I’m set for the day and if I’ve been overdoing it.
Why is this useful? I’m not good at recognizing when I’ve done too much, and even worse at taking a break.
The Oura Ring’s data means I am much better at understanding when I need a day to recover, as I can see it for myself and not just ignore the physical signs. It does this through simple daily scores, and without endless graphs.
This also applies to the Symptom Radar feature, which looks at various data points to assess if your body is under strain due to an illness.
It recently confirmed several overnight high temperatures and other symptoms, and activating Rest Mode gave me time to recover without missing out on key metrics.
All this happens without any intervention from you, and because the data is presented in a friendly, easy-to-read way, you’re never lost in different menus or deciphering charts.
The language used is clear and simple to understand, making the Oura Ring’s app wonderfully accessible.
The benefits I get from long-term trend data only come after long-term wear, and the Oura Ring 4 is so easy to wear that I often forget it’s there.
Not without a problem
But handled perfectly
Yes, you pay a monthly subscription for the Oura Ring’s app — $6 per month, or $60 for a year — but I’ve long felt this investment goes into making the app so good.
Subscription-free smart ring apps are fine, but none come close to the clever design and human-first approach to data favored by Oura.
The app has also been completely reliable, and I’ve never had any problems with the Bluetooth connection, plus it takes just moments to sync.
However, I had a problem with the Oura Ring 4 earlier this year, which gave me a great insight into the brand’s customer service.
Three months into wearing the Oura Ring 4, the battery suddenly stopped lasting more than a day, considerably down from the five to seven days I’ve considered normal.
In the Oura Ring app, I contacted customer service to explain the problem, and through some technical magic, the team ran tests and found a problem with the ring.
Within 24 hours, I received an email from Oura confirming all this, and telling me to confirm a few details about my smart ring so they could send a replacement.
Before you think this is because I’m using a press sample, I did this without contacting the brand directly at first, giving me insight into what it’s like for regular customers experiencing an issue with the smart ring.
After I received my replacement ring — which was done through my press contact — it has worked faultlessly since, and nine months later, the battery is still good for at least five days without a charge.
However, I place the smart ring on its charging plinth when I’m in the shower most mornings, and never have to give the battery any other attention. It’s very easy to live with.
Scratches and scuffs
Something to accept
What about the smart ring’s durability?
I’ve been wearing the brushed silver Oura Ring 4, and although it looks fine from a distance, close examination reveals scratches and scuffs all over the surface.
This isn’t something that only affects the Oura Ring 4, and all the Oura Ring models I’ve worn have quickly stopped looking their best.
Does it matter? It depends. If you want all your tech and jewelry to always look perfect, then outside of putting a cover on the Oura Ring 4 and wearing it on your non-dominant hand, it’s highly unlikely to happen.
I notice the marks on my Oura Ring because I know they are there, but I’d be surprised if anyone else did.
Oura has worked hard to overcome the other downside of its smart ring, which is its fitness tracking.
There are multiple fitness tracking options available now, filling a gap that was a problem for the Oura Ring early on, and the auto workout tracking feature is highly accurate.
My favorite activity tracking feature is for housework, something few other wearables ever deem worthy of including, yet can make up a good amount of someone’s daily activity.
Tough time for smart rings
Still the best one to buy
The Oura Ring 4 suits my lifestyle, exercise preferences, and data needs perfectly.
The app is one of the best I’ve used for a wearable, and even though I’ve had an Oura Ring 4 go wrong, the customer service response was exactly what I wanted. Otherwise, it has worked without a problem and is incredibly low maintenance.
Smart rings have been having a difficult time recently, with Ultrahuman and RingConn losing a legal battle against Oura, and the Circular Ring 2 facing ongoing customer satisfaction problems following its successful Kickstarter campaign, while Samsung seems to have forgotten all about the Galaxy Ring.
It means choice has been eroded, which is never a good thing, but at least the Oura Ring 4, the benchmark against which other smart rings are judged, remains.
The Oura Ring 4 fits into my life almost perfectly. It’s inconspicuous. I can wear it alongside a normal watch, the data it returns is valuable, the app is reliable and well-designed, and it requires very little ongoing upkeep.
I’ve worn and enjoyed an Oura Ring for more than four years now, and I can’t imagine not wearing it. I would seriously miss it should that ever happen. It’s one of the few tech products I feel confident recommending with little hesitation.
