GoKawiilOura Adds Cardio Effort and Automatic VO2 Max Tracking to Smart Ring
Oura announced two new fitness features for its smart ring: Cardio Effort, which rates weekly activity strain on a five-level scale compared to a user's baseline, and an automatically estimated VO2 Max metric. The VO2 Max feature, previously called Cardio Capacity, no longer requires a six-minute walking test and instead derives estimates passively from GPS-enabled workouts. VO2 Max will be available through Oura Labs for third-generation Oura Ring models and newer.
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These additions bring Oura closer to parity with cardio-tracking features long offered by Apple Watch and Fitbit, which could make the ring form factor more appealing to users who want detailed fitness data without wearing a watch or bracelet. By automating VO2 Max estimation, Oura removes a friction point that may have deterred casual users from engaging with the metric.
- Oura added Cardio Effort, a five-tier strain assessment based on the Training Impulse method.
- VO2 Max is now automatically estimated from GPS workouts, eliminating the prior six-minute walking test.
- VO2 Max is rolling out via Oura Labs for third-generation Oura Ring models and later.
Oura Ring Gen3 — The Oura Ring Gen3 is the device behind these new Cardio Effort and VO2 Max tracking features, offering a sleek, screen-free way to monitor cardiovascular fitness alongside sleep and recovery data. It's a great pick for anyone wanting continuous health insights without the bulk of a smartwatch on their wrist.
See Oura Ring Gen3 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Anna Washenko, 2026-10-20
Published there as: “Oura Ring can track new stats related to cardio fitness”
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