New generation ring, advanced sensors and stylish design

Finland-based Oura introduced the fourth generation Oura Ring as one of the leading brands in smart ring technology. The new Oura Ring 4 has a more stylish design, longer battery life and smarter sensors. The most notable change in the company’s new model is that there is no engraving or indentation on the outer surface of the ring, offering a completely round and elegant appearance.

One of the ring’s biggest innovations came in the design of the sensors. In previous models, the finger contact sensors were protruding. In Oura Ring 4, these sensors are embedded in the body of the ring, which gives the ring a smoother and more aesthetic appearance. Looking at the introduced press images, it also appears that the new ring is slightly thinner than its predecessors.

The improvements made in sensors are not limited to size only. Oura notes that the Ring 4 has 18 different signal paths, compared to the eight signal paths in its predecessor, the Gen 3. These new paths are optimized with the company’s “Smart Sensing” algorithm, ensuring consistent data reading even as the ring moves throughout the day.

These improvements aim to solve a problem Oura users often encounter: inconsistent data readings due to the ring slipping on the finger. Thanks to the new hardware, it is claimed that there is a 30 percent less data gap in blood oxygen level detection, 31 percent less data gap in heart rate at night and 7 percent less during the day. Although Oura does not provide exact information about the battery size of Ring 4, it states that these improvements can extend battery life up to eight days on a single charge.

Oura Ring 4 is available in 12 different sizes, from 4 to 15, and in six different colors: Silver, Brushed Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, Stealth, and Black. While other models except Stealth are produced with titanium coating and physical vapor deposition technology, the Stealth model is equipped with diamond-like carbon coating. In addition, like the previous model, the ring is water resistant up to 100 meters and can be used in activities such as sauna and swimming, but is not suitable for deep sea diving.

Oura also renewed its mobile application, dividing the data collected by users into three main categories: Today, Vitals and My Health. While the “Today” and “Vital Data” categories allow you to review your daily vital signs, “My Health” provides long-term data, providing information such as your cardiovascular age, cardio capacity, stress and sleep. These updates will be available as of today for all users, regardless of which generation of ring they have.

The app also supports 40 different activities with automatic heart rate and activity detection features. Thus, users do not have to manually enter their post-exercise data. Additionally, when high stress symptoms are detected, this data is associated with your movements, activities and tags, providing a more meaningful context. New fertility window analyzes are also offered for users who follow their menstrual cycle. While this feature aims to help with the pregnancy process, it is not intended for birth control.

Of course, Oura is not the only brand in this space, but it is now facing new competitors such as Samsung’s Galaxy Ring. While Samsung has pioneered integrated sensors, the Galaxy Ring remains fairly basic in terms of features. In his statement to Bloomberg, Oura CEO Tom Hale stated that Samsung is at least two years behind in this field.

How much should you pay for Oura Ring 4?

Oura Ring 4 is available for pre-order today, with shipping starting on October 15, 2024. Prices start at $349 and the first month is offered free membership. Afterwards, a membership fee of $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year is required. Even if you own an existing Oura Ring sizing kit, it is recommended that you request the resizing kit for the new model.