This year, three DRN editors have been privileged enough to spend time with the Oura Ring 4. Between Lis, Julie and myself, we gave our review units a seriously good workout. Fast forward a few months and the Oura Ring 5 has found its way onto my finger.
Beyoncé famously sang, “If you like it, then you should’ve put a ring on it.” In Oura’s case, if I like it, I put my finger in the Ring 5. So here I am – Oura has officially put a ring on me.
Unlike an engagement ring, this one is designed to be replaced every couple of years. The question is: has Oura done enough to justify upgrading from the Ring 4, or is this simply a refinement of what was already one of the best smart rings on the market?
Sizing and First Impressions
The Oura Ring experience begins with the sizing kit – a collection of plastic replica rings specific to each generation. If you’re upgrading from an earlier Oura Ring, don’t assume your existing size will carry over. Each generation has its own sizing profile.
For example, I am a size 9 for the Ring 4, which fits both my middle and ring finger interchangeably. For the Ring 5 though, size 9 was a little loose on my ring finger, but size 10 is actually a better fit with my index finger and middle finger.
The index finger is the recommended finger for the best readings by Oura, but as has been my experience with the Ring 4, wearing it on my ring finger still yielded good outcomes.
I wasn’t wearing the Ring 4 on my ring finger to be rebellious. I simply found it uncomfortable on my index finger for extended periods.
Battle of the Rings: Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4
What are the differences between the Oura Ring 4 and Ring 5? Well the good news is that Oura is not leaving the Ring 4 behind in features and capability – the major change is in the hardware itself.
After wearing both for extended periods, the biggest difference isn’t a new feature – it’s comfort.
I didn’t find the Oura Ring 4 uncomfortable to wear on the “right” finger. But with the new Ring 5, Oura has completely redesigned the internal electronics, battery and sensors so the Ring 5 feels much more like a normal ring.
It’s noticeably slimmer, lighter and less bulky, which is especially welcome if you wear it 24/7.
The new sensor system also uses:
- redesigned optical sensors
- stronger LEDs
- improved placement against the skin
- revised signal processing
The aim is more consistent readings across different finger shapes and skin tones.
So is this all marketing hype, or can you actually feel the difference? After a month of wearing the Ring 5, my answer is yes.
I am wearing the Oura Ring 5 either on my index finger or middle finger, depending on the weather. The slimmer and less bulky profile resulted in a much more comfortable wear on my index finger and I am happy to wear it long term – something that I couldn’t with the Ring 4.
The below table highlights the differences between the two generations. And you might notice that the Ring 5, despite being smaller, narrower and lighter, has a longer rated battery life than the Ring 4.
On paper the changes may appear incremental, but when you compare the specifications side by side, it’s clear Oura has focused on refinement rather than reinvention.
| Feature | Oura Ring 4 | Oura Ring 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | A$569 | A$649 |
| Subscription | A$9.99/month or A$109.99/year | A$9.99/month or A$109.99/year |
| Design | Titanium | Redesigned titanium |
| Size | Wider, thicker | 40% smaller by volume, approximately 23% narrower and 21% thinner |
| Weight | 3.3–5.2g | 2.0–2.7g |
| Battery | Up to 8 days | Up to 9 days |
| Waterproofing | 100m | 100m |
| Sensor accuracy | Excellent | Improved sensor architecture and better skin contact |
| Charging | Standard dock | New charging dock plus optional portable charging case |
Software Features and Oura Membership
The Oura Ring 5 launched with updated features:
- Health Radar
- Live Activity Tracking
- improved illness detection
- enhanced Oura Advisor AI
- improved activity recognition
- blood pressure trends
- menopause and hormonal insights
One of the smartest decisions Oura has made is avoiding the temptation to lock new software features behind new hardware. These are all being trickled down to the Ring 4 and in some cases, the Ring 3 via updates.
Living with the Oura Ring 5
The best indicator that a wearable is working is that you forget you are wearing it.
That has been the case for me with the Oura Rings. After wearing an Oura Ring for the past nine months, it is part of my routine and muscle memory.
I take it off when I need to get my hands wet – I have learned the hard way that for me, I need to make sure the contact surfaces between the ring and my skin are completely dry, otherwise I end up with weeping sores at the contact points.
Whenever it comes off my finger, it goes into the same pocket. That little habit means I never spend time wondering where I’ve left it. The only break in routine is when it needs to be charged, and that always happens at my work desk.
Perhaps it is because I am more mindful of wearing the Ring now, or perhaps it is a fringe benefit of the slimmer profile. But I have found myself less prone to pressing it against hard surfaces. In the month that I have been using the Ring 5, it has yet to pick up a scratch.
The most valuable part of course, is the data that it measures. As I age, whilst maintaining what could only be described as a stressful lifestyle, knowing that the Ring 5 is unobtrusively monitoring my health and giving me long-term trends that show whether my health is moving in the right direction, or whether something deserves my attention.
For someone like me, who admittedly is terrible at putting myself as a priority, the data and analysis performed by the Oura app is invaluable. It calls me out for my terrible sleep deficit, measures when I am under stress – even when I don’t consciously recognise it because my idea of “normal” has become skewed.
What Could Be Better?
Most of the criticisms of the Ring 5 aren’t unique to Oura. They’re shared by virtually every smart ring currently on the market.
It doesn’t and can’t replace a dedicated sports watch. The Oura Rings excel at sleep, recovery, stress and long-term health trends, but if your priority is GPS tracking, live pace, interval training or detailed workout metrics, you’ll still be better served by a smart watch or a dedicated fitness tracker such as a Garmin.
Like any ring, whether it’s jewellery or a smart ring, the Ring 5 isn’t ideal for heavy weight training.
A significant change though, is the sizing availability. The Ring 5 is only available in sizes 6–13, whereas the previous generation was available from sizes 4–15.
This means some users may simply not be able to buy the new model or lose flexibility in finger choice.
The Ring 5 isn’t a one-off purchase. To unlock the full health insights, trends and coaching, you’ll also need an Oura Membership costing A$9.99 per month (or A$109.99 annually). The hardware is excellent, but the ongoing subscription remains a key barrier to entry for many prospective buyers.
Who Should Buy the Oura Ring 5?
I would recommend the Ring 5 if:
- you haven’t bought an Oura before
- comfort is important
- you found previous smart rings bulky
- you want the newest hardware for the next few years
- you don’t mind paying a premium for the latest and greatest
- not looking at the ceramic colourways (no doubt these are forthcoming)
Should You Buy the Oura Ring 4 Instead?
The Ring 4 remains an excellent option if:
- you find it discounted (which it is at time of publishing)
- you already own one
- you don’t care that it’s slightly thicker
- you want essentially the same software experience for less money
- love the ceramic colourways
Final Verdict: Is the Oura Ring 5 Worth the Upgrade?
Perhaps the biggest compliment I can pay the Ring 5 is that, despite its redesigned sensors, my sleep, readiness and heart-rate data remained almost identical to what I’d been seeing with the Ring 4. That gives me confidence Oura has refined the hardware without fundamentally changing how it interprets my health.
I had intended to wear both the Ring 4 and Ring 5 for this review, but it turns out the Oura app only allows one active ring at a time. I suppose that makes perfect sense, you probably don’t want your health metrics being recorded twice.
One thing hasn’t changed between generations: these remain some of the most attractive smart rings on the market. Whether it’s the titanium finishes of the Ring 5 or the ceramic finishes of the Ring 4, Oura continues to make wearable technology that genuinely looks like jewellery rather than a gadget.
At launch, the difference between the Ring 4 and Ring 5 is A$80. For that premium, you’re getting a noticeably slimmer, lighter and more comfortable design, along with modest improvements to battery life and sensor hardware. Day-to-day, the software experience is almost identical.
Regardless of which generation you choose, getting the most from the Oura ecosystem requires an active membership. At A$9.99 per month or A$109.99 per year, it’s an ongoing cost buyers should factor into the overall purchase price.
The Oura Ring 5 is available from ouraring.com and through select retail partners, including JB Hi Fi, Harvey Norman and Amazon stores.
The Silver and Black finishes have an RRP of A$649.
The premium finishes, including my review unit in the Stealth colourway, have an RRP of A$799.
If you’re buying your first smart ring, the Ring 5 is the one to get. If you already own the Ring 4, however, your decision comes down to one simple question: how much do you value the slimmer, lighter and more comfortable design? If the answer is “quite a lot”, the Ring 5 is a worthwhile refinement. If not, the Ring 4 remains an outstanding smart ring that still has plenty of life left in it.
DRN would like to thank Oura for providing the review unit.
