Oura Ring 4 Ceramic review: Colorful glow

Let’s be honest, most wearable tech devices are bulky and not exactly what you’d describe as pretty. But when you wear something on your hands regularly, you probably want it to look pretty and perhaps blend in with the rest of your jewelry. That’s the idea behind Oura’s latest smart ring, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic.

The Ring 4 Ceramic is Oura’s first range of smart rings that don’t have metallic finishes. Instead, they’re made of zirconia ceramic, a more wear-resistant material that, Ora says, offers style and comfort.

I’ve been testing the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic for the past three weeks, and here’s what I found.

Before we dive into the details, it’s worth noting that since the software behind the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is the same as the Oura Ring 4, I won’t delve too deeply into the software and hardware side. So, you can check out our Oura Ring 4 review.

Finish and feel

Oura Ring 4 Ceramic comes in four colors: Midnight (dark blue), Cloud (white), Tide (light teal), and Petal (light pink). The ring costs $150 more than the starting price of a standard 4-ring, at $500, and is available in sizes 4 to 15.

I chose midnight. Although the shade is technically dark blue, it can appear black from a distance — or even a dark shade of green, I’m told. The ring doesn’t look like a tech wearable at first glance, which is great if you want to prioritize aesthetics without sacrificing functionality.

When compared to the original Ring 4, the ceramic version is slightly thicker, but the difference is barely noticeable. The titanium version is 2.88 mm thick, while the ceramic version is 3.51 mm thick.

As for weight, the ring can weigh between 5.1 and 8.1 grams, depending on the size you get, which makes it heavier than a Titanium 4 ring, which weighs between 3.3 and 5.2 grams.

Although the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is thicker and heavier than its predecessor, I found it to be comfortable and lightweight, even when compared to a standard metal band. It feels like a regular ring, but marginally thicker.

The ring is smooth and not as prone to collecting fingerprints as the titanium versions of the Ring 4. Since zirconia ceramic is warmer and less smooth than titanium rings, the Ring 4 ceramic can feel somewhat “sticky” at times, meaning the outside of the ring may stick to the sides of your fingers, but I adapted to the feel of the ring pretty quickly.

Ora says the color on the rings comes from the natural minerals in the ceramic itself, so it stays vibrant and doesn’t fade over time. (Of course, I’ve only had the ring for three weeks, so I can’t speak to its long-term durability, but so far, the color is identical to how it was on day one.)

durability

Ora says Ring 4 Ceramic is susceptible to scuffing from softer metals, like those found in cookware or dumbbells. The company says these scuffs can be addressed using the polishing pad that comes with the ring. (However, the review unit I received from Oura did not include the polishing pad.)

The company also recommends wearing the ring on your non-dominant hand to avoid unnecessary influence. However, I felt like the ring was on my dominant index finger, so I’ve worn it there for the past three weeks. This exposes him to more potential damage in a shorter period of time than the average customer would be exposed to.

The first day I wore the ring, I spent a busy travel day attending TechCrunch Disrupt, our annual conference in San Francisco. I wasn’t sure how the ring would hold up when I was carrying my luggage, accidentally bumped the ring on a few counters (I’m clumsy!), or left it touching the plane window when I leaned over to take a nap.

As it turned out, the ring made it through all of this unscathed. There were even moments when I was sure I had scratched it — like when I was holding on to a rusty fence as I walked down the steps of the Point Arena Lighthouse, and forgot I was wearing a ring, or when I forgot to remove it before washing the dishes. But the ring did not end up with any marks or permanent damage.

It’s worth noting that although the ring is water-resistant to 100 meters, which means you can wear it while washing dishes or showering, I took it off while washing dishes because Oura warns that the ring can scuff when it comes into contact with softer metals.

Since I’ve spent less than a month with the ring, I wouldn’t be surprised if it accumulated at least a few scratches or scratches, especially given its location on my dominant hand.

Final thoughts

Aesthetics aside, the ring has been very useful in helping me understand my heart health, sleep, and stress through the Oura app. Every morning, I found myself looking forward to seeing my “readiness score,” which is calculated using short- and long-term metrics to show how prepared I am for the day ahead.

Plus, the battery life is holding up well, as I only had to charge it once a week, which matches Oura’s promise of a five- to eight-day battery life.

Choosing between a titanium ring and a ceramic ring ultimately depends on your aesthetic preferences and ideal price point. Since color and material are the only difference between the two, it really comes down to whether you want a sleek, modern finish or the standard metal smart ring look.

If you want that color and style, the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic might be the smart ring for you.