The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is here, and it looks gorgeous

Since the beginning, an Oura smart ring has had a metallic finish, but that’s all changed with the introduction of the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic. With the new material comes a selection of new colors, each quite different to what we’ve seen from the company before.

Not only that, but Oura has introduced a series of crucial new features and services, which will make ownership more convenient and more informative. Let’s go into more detail about what’s new.

Oura Ring 4 Ceramic

The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic has the same technology and features as the Oura Ring 4, but is made from zirconia ceramic and not titanium. The material is hard-wearing and durable, plus it’s hypoallergenic, so it shouldn’t cause any skin reactions. It’s often used in jewelry, and is an ideal material for a smart ring.

Oura has shifted away from its traditional ring color scheme for the Ring 4 Ceramic, and it’s available in four subtle, pastel shades called Midnight, Petal, Tide, and Cloud. The color is part of the material and not a coating, so it won’t fade or discolor over time.

Oura stopped short of saying it’s dramatically more resistant to scratches and scuffs than the notoriously easy-to-scratch titanium smart ring, and reiterated marks may come from contact with softer metals. Interestingly though, Oura will include a special polishing pad to remove marks which the ring may pick up over time, and to return the surface to its original luster. Zirconia ceramic is known for its hardness and scratch resistance, so there’s a good chance it will may stay looking its best for a little longer than the titanium version.

The use of zirconia ceramic has slightly altered the physical dimensions of the Oura Ring 4. The ceramic version is still 7.9mm wide, but it’s 3.51mm thick, up from the 2.88mm thick titanium version, and the weight is up to between 5.1 grams and 8.1 grams depending on the ring size. The titanium ring varies between 3.3 grams and 5.2 grams. If you’re used to a titanium Oura Ring, you’ll probably notice the ceramic version between your fingers for a short while as you get used to it.

The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic costs $499 regardless of which color you choose, is available in sizes four to 15, and requires the same subscription to use all the app’s features, which is priced at $6 per month or $70 per year.

Swap between rings

If you buy the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic to “replace” an existing titanium Oura Ring 4, there’s no need to discard it, because Oura has introduced an excellent new software feature which makes it easy to swap between smart rings.

It means you can keep both smart rings, and wear the one you want when the mood strikes, without having to go through a long software process to change between finishes. It’s really welcome, and may help convince people to buy a ceramic version to complement their titanium ring, rather than replace it.

The feature will be available on iOS from October 1, and arrive on Android on October 20.

Recharge on the move

While the Oura Ring 4’s battery typically lasts for around five days, anyone wearing it on a longer trip away has to take the charging plinth that comes with the smart ring. Oura recognizes this isn’t the best solution, and has introduced a charging case that’s perfect for travel.

The battery inside it contains enough energy for five full smart ring charges, with each one taking around 90 minutes to complete. There’s an LED indicator on the front to show the internal battery’s state of charge, and the charging status of your smart ring. The case has a USB C port for recharging, which also takes around 90 minutes.

Made from aluminum and weighing 60 grams, the case is size-specific, so if you and your partner have an Oura Ring in different sizes, you’ll each need your own charging case. It’s set for release later this year and will cost $99.

Health Panels blood test

The final new feature announced by Oura is Health Panels, a personal blood test carried out by a specialist lab which covers 50 different blood markers, which will then be tracked inside the Oura Ring app.

Oura has partnered with Quest Diagnostics to offer the test in the U.S., where the service will first launch in the near future, which will provide insight into everything from blood sugar and kidney health, to overall metabolic and cardiovascular health.

The data collected will appear inside the Oura app, and feedback will include tips from the Oura Advisor AI chatbot, and also see any markers which fall out of range over time. While there will be options to share data with your doctor, it’s not an FDA-approved feature, and the advice shared in the Oura app will reflect this.

Blood tests are already commonly available, but few integrate so neatly with a wearable device which already knows plenty about you, making Oura’s Health Panels an interesting addition. It joins a similar feature from Ultrahuman.

Your Health Panels blood test appointment can be scheduled and managed in the Oura app, and will cost $99. It’s open to Oura Ring wearers over 18 and under 65 years old, and will initially be available in most U.S. states, with a few exceptions such as New York and Hawaii.