GoKawiilOura
The Oura Ring 5 just landed, and from everything we’ve seen so far, the new model already sounds a lot like the version I’ve been hoping for. I’ve had an Oura Ring in my rotation for roughly five years. For the past six months, I’ve been flip-flopping between two Oura Ring 4 models, a metallic and a ceramic. The rings have become as much a part of my routine as my house slippers or my increasingly dented Hydro Flask. Ironically, I also smack them into hard surfaces with alarming regularity.
As much as I love my current rings, I’m very excited for the newest generation. It doesn’t hit every item on my extremely unrealistic wishlist, but there are a few upgrades in particular that already have me ready to upgrade.
Will you upgrade to the new Oura Ring 5? 3 votes Absolutely! 0 % No, I am happy with my current model. 0 % I don't own an Oura Ring, but I am interested in the new model. 100 % I don't own an Oura Ring and don't want one. 0 %
1. A smaller build
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
The headline feature of the Oura Ring 5 is also the most noticeable one. Oura says the new ring is 40% smaller than the Oura Ring 4, measuring just 6.09mm wide and 2.28mm thick.
I’ve learned from wearing multiple smart rings simultaneously that size still matters, even after you’ve shrunk an absurd amount of tech into a very tiny wearable. Wearing the Galaxy Ring alongside my Oura Ring 4, for example, the difference in comfort is immediately noticeable. I notice the Galaxy Ring less overnight and during workouts, but also during everyday tasks like driving or hauling my laundry basket around the house. I have petite hands (read: bony) and chunky smart rings grind against adjacent fingers more than I’d like. I also have to take off my Oura Ring to shower, despite its water resistance, because I cannot handle the feel of it banging against my scalp while shampooing.
The most notable upgrade is a 40% smaller build.
It’s hard to appreciate the passive appeal of a screenless tracker if its fit keeps demanding your attention. The Oura Ring 4 has never been unbearably uncomfortable for me, but I’ve definitely hoped for a smaller model. The ring also just reads a little oversized on my hand. On my partner, a smart ring might pass for a wedding band. On me, it’s still a bit of a statement piece that reads as tech more than jewelry. Oura also claims it managed to shrink the hardware without sacrificing its battery life, which was always my biggest concern when imagining a smaller build.
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