The Oura Ring 4 is now official and sees the first update to the iconic smart ring since 2022.
Oura has single-handedly dragged the smart ring segment from niche wearable curiosity to the hottest market in tech. And brought the likes of Samsung to the party.
The Oura Ring 4 reveals the company’s vision for the years ahead. And it’s more accurate, sleeker, and lighter – but controversially it’s not much smaller.
Here’s how it compares to the Oura Ring 3.
Read our full hands-on preview of the Oura Ring 4.
Oura Ring Gen 4 vs Gen 3: Specs compared
| Oura Ring Gen 4 | Oura Ring Gen 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Starts at $349 | Starts at $299 |
| Dimensions | Width: 7.90 mm Thickness: 2.88 mm |
Width: 7.9 mm Thickness: 2.7 – 2.9 mm |
| Weight | 3.3 – 5.2 g (sizes 4-15) | 4 – 6 g (varies with ring size) |
| Sizes | 4 to 15 | 6 to 13 |
| Finishes | Silver Black Brushed Silver Stealth Gold Rose Gold |
Silver Black Stealth Gold |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 days | Up to 7 days |
| Water Resistance | Water-resistant to 100m/328ft Suitable for water sports and sauna (no diving) |
Water-resistant to 100m/328ft Suitable for water sports and sauna (no diving) |
| Accuracy & Sensors | Smart Sensing technology with 18 signal pathways
Infrared photoplethysmography (PPG), red/green LEDs, NTC temperature sensors, accelerometer |
8 signal pathways
Infrared photoplethysmography (PPG), red/green LEDs, NTC temperature sensors, accelerometer |
Oura Gen 4 vs Gen 3: Design
The Oura Ring 4 is a significant redesign and now comes with a single design option. It’s closer in design to the premium Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon, which was released after the initial Gen 3 Heritage.
The Ring 4 is completely smooth and round, made entirely of titanium, without a plastic interior, making it lighter and more premium to wear.
The Oura Gen 3 had small nobbles (that’s the technical term) on the inside to stabilize the ring and prevent it from rotating. These have been removed in the Gen 4, resulting in a more natural wearing experience.
However, one issue remains: the Ring 4 is essentially the same width and thickness as the Gen 3. It hasn’t shrunk in size, even though it weighs significantly less, which may disappoint those hoping for a slimmer version.
We should also add that the Ring 4 increases in price for the entry level model. It starts at $349, up from $299.
Oura Ring 4 vs Gen 3: Accuracy and Sensors
The Oura Ring 4’s key story revolves around accuracy. Oura has increased the number of signal pathways (LEDs emitting and receiving light) to 18, up from 8 in the Gen 3.
The Oura Ring Gen 4 has notable improvements in accuracy and sensor performance:
- 120% improved signal quality for blood oxygen sensing (SpO2), leading to a 30% increase in overnight SpO2 accuracy.
- 15% more accurate breathing disturbance index (BDI).
- 7% fewer gaps in daytime heart rate readings.
- 31% fewer gaps in nighttime heart rate readings.
Oura claims that the Ring 4 can optimize signal processing based on factors like skin tone, BMI, and finger shape for improved accuracy.
Oura Ring 4 vs Gen 3: Features
There aren’t many new features in the Oura Ring 4, so don’t expect drastic new insights or sensors. However, there are significant additions.
The number of auto-tracked workouts has increased to 40, which can be edited and refined in the Oura app, and added retrospectively.
A notable addition is the Fertility Window feature, which enhances cycle tracking to help couples find the ideal time to conceive.
Finally, stress detection has been improved, with new insights into how movement may affect stress levels.
The Oura app is also getting a major overhaul, introducing a new “Today” tab for live daily data and a “My Health” tab that offers insights into long-term data trends, such as sleep patterns or changes in habits and vitals. The new app will roll out to Gen 3 and Oura Ring 4 users alike.
Oura Ring 4 vs Gen 3: Battery Life
Due to Oura’s ability to dynamically choose the optimal performance of its 18 signal pathways, it can turn off unnecessary ones, which has helped extend the battery life from seven days to eight. Although it’s a modest increase, it’s still more than most smartwatches offer.
Given that the size of the Oura Ring 4 is essentially unchanged, a larger increase in battery life might have been expected, but over a week is still impressive.
Early Verdict
Every aspect of the Oura Ring 4 is improved over the Gen 3, though some may be disappointed that it hasn’t become significantly smaller. The Oura Ring 4 is more comfortable to wear, offers better accuracy, and has slightly more battery life.
In terms of design, the Oura Ring 4 ($349) is more comparable to the premium Gen 3 Horizon but is slimmer and lighter than that model. Overall, it’s a solid upgrade, though it leaves room for competitors like Samsung and the huge number of smart ring startups to compete.
The post Oura Ring 4 vs Ring Gen 3: Key differences compared appeared first on Wareable.
