Oura Ring 5 review: Thinner, lighter, better

When I first opened the box and the Oura Ring 5 came out, my first thought was, “Wow, this is so small.” My second thought was that this is a smart ring that many people have been waiting for.

As someone who’s quite accustomed to wearing an Oura Ring 4 Ceramic ring, I was surprised by how much smaller and noticeably lighter the new Ring 5 is.

The Ring 5, which Oura describes as the world’s smallest smart ring, is 40% smaller than its predecessor, at 6.09mm wide compared to the Ring 4’s 7.90mm, and 2.28mm thick compared to the Ring 4’s 2.88mm. Although the exact weight depends on the size of your ring, the Ring 5 weighs between 2 grams and 2.69 grams, while the Ring 4 weighs between 3.3 grams and 5.2 grams.

I have found that these changes greatly improve the comfort of the ring, and also make it more aesthetically pleasing compared to its predecessor. The ring no longer screams smart, and blends in with the rest of your jewelry. Oura says the Ring 5 is designed to look like any other ring, and I think the company has achieved that.

The Ring 5 starts at $399.

Whenever I see people discussing Aura smart rings, there always seem to be two opposing viewpoints. One party swore the ring had changed their lives, while the other said it was so huge they would never consider getting it. I think the Oura Ring 5 is a game-changer and attracts a larger audience, including those who have turned away from smart rings because of their bulk.

Ora was aware of the demand for a smaller ring. The company told me that users were asking for a thinner, more compact design, which prompted the company to comply. Of course, Oura has also had to update its rings in response to competition from no-subscription competitors like RingConn and Ultrahuman, both of which sell lighter rings than the Ring 4.

Although I never found the Oura Ring 4 overtly uncomfortable, the Ring 5 feels noticeably better on my finger. With the Ring 4, I was always aware I was wearing it, but with this newer model, I often forget it’s there, which is great for people like me who don’t always wear jewelry.

I also found that the smaller size of the ring makes it more comfortable to wear at night to track sleep and health metrics. The Smart Ring is more comfortable than a smartwatch to wear at night, and the Ring 5’s smaller design makes it less noticeable at night.

As for battery life, the Ring 5 lasts between six to nine days, compared to the Ring 4’s range of five to eight days. In my experience, the improvement seems to continue. The ring arrived 50% charged, and after about 30 minutes on the charger after setup it reached 75%. After five days of constant wear, I still haven’t needed to charge it, and the battery is at about 25% charge.

It is worth noting that the Ring 5 comes in smaller sizes (sizes 6 to 13) than the Ring 4 (sizes 4 to 15). Ora told me that the fewer size options are due to the challenges of manufacturing smaller rings in the new form factor. The company said it has chosen to focus on the most popular sizes, and is monitoring demand for discontinued sizes.

Ring 5 comes in six colors, including a redesigned Gold with a more realistic gold tone, an updated Deep Rose with a copper-like look, as well as Silver, Brushed Silver, Black, and Stealth.

Oura sent me the gold version, and I really like the look of it. Unlike previous Oura gold rings, this new color does not have a yellow tinge, instead featuring a more subtle hue that looks closer to actual gold jewelry. It’s worth noting that the price of the Gold color, along with the Stealth and Deep Rose colors, is $499, exactly $100 more than the standard finishes.

As for durability, Oura says the Ring 5 is more scratch-resistant than previous generations thanks to the new finishing technology, but I can’t fully speak to durability yet considering I’ve only had it for five days.
There was a moment when I thought I had scratched the ring’s alignment guide line when I grabbed a rusty swing chain, but it turned out that the rust had just rubbed off on the ring, and I was able to clean it off with a rag.

Oura says the Ring 5’s new physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating process ensures the wearable retains its premium “outdoor” look for longer. It will be interesting to see how this promise holds up.

The Oura Ring 5 launches alongside new software features that are also coming to the Oura Ring Gen3 and newer products, including blood pressure and nighttime breathing signals. I can’t speak to those yet, as they are scheduled to launch later this month.

Overall, the Oura Ring 5 is a noticeable upgrade over the Ring 4 in terms of comfort and aesthetics, making it a great option for anyone who hasn’t yet purchased a smart ring. As for people who already have an Oura Ring 4, the decision to upgrade depends on your budget and how much you value aesthetics, especially since the Ring 4 will be getting all new software updates.