GoKawiilJoe Maring / Android Authority
The Oura Ring 5 was just announced late last week, and on paper, it looks like the smart ring I’ve been waiting for. Having worn the Oura Ring 3 and Ring 4, Oura’s companion app and health data truly set it apart from the competition. But there’s always been a hangup for me: the hardware.
As much as I like Oura’s software, the Ring 4’s big and bulky design is something I’ve never been able to fully adjust to — especially after trying something like the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The competition has been beating Oura here for a while, and I wasn’t sure if the company would ever catch up.
But now we have the Oura Ring 5. It’s 40% smaller than the Ring 4, offers much better durability, and even has an impressive blood pressure monitoring feature. It’s exactly the upgrade I’ve wanted, and in theory, I should be over the moon about it.
There’s just one problem: the Fitbit Air.
Oura Ring 5 vs. Fitbit Air: Which would you choose? 11 votes Oura Ring 5 36 % Fitbit Air 64 %
The Fitbit Air made me realize I’m not a smart ring guy
Shortly after the Fitbit Air was announced, I wrote about why I was glad Google didn’t make the Air a smart ring. That seemed like the obvious choice for a screenless fitness tracker in 2026, but Google instead opted for a screenless wrist-based design.
There were a few reasons I thought this was the right call, but it ultimately boiled down to regular annoyances I’ve had with my Oura Ring 4. There are so many instances where it gets in the way — weightlifting, cooking, and even just holding my phone. I love the idea of the Oura Ring being a distraction-free wearable to track my health, but when I have to take it off multiple times per day because of its bulky design, that ultimately defeats the ring’s purpose.
I thought the Fitbit Air could bridge that gap — seamlessly tracking my health in the background while having a design that works better for me — and it’s proven to do exactly that.
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