New Oura Ring 4 Features Slimmer Sensors and Improved Accuracy

[MacRumors]

Oura today announced its latest smart ring, the all-titanium Oura Ring 4, featuring improved accuracy and a redesigned companion app.

The Oura Ring 4 introduces "Smart Sensing" technology, which the company claims enhances data accuracy by adapting to the specific contours of an individual's finger. This new algorithm reportedly improves blood oxygen sensing accuracy by 30% over the Oura Ring 3, and reduces gaps in heart rate tracking. The ring's sensors are also now recessed, which is said to provide a more comfortable fit for all-day wear.

The new wearable boasts a slimmer profile and expanded size options to cater to a wider range of users. There are now twelve sizes, ranging from 4 to 15. (Oura Ring 3 was limited to sizes 6 to 13.) The expanded size range comes as Oura reports a shift in its user demographics, with women in their 20s now representing its fastest-growing segment. The company says battery life has also been extended to up to eight days, depending on the size of the ring.

Alongside the hardware update, Oura has also overhauled its companion app with a new three-tab interface: Today, Vitals, and My Health. The redesign aims to simplify navigation and provide clearer insights into both daily and long-term health metrics. New features include automatic activity detection for over 40 activities, enhanced stress tracking, and a "Fertile Window" prediction tool for users trying to conceive.

Priced at $349, the Oura Ring 4 will be available in six colors: Gold, Rose Gold, Brushed Silver, Stealth, Black, and Silver. Shipping starts from October 15, but it's worth noting that Oura Ring 4 continues to be available via the company's controversial subscription model, with membership priced at $5.99 per month or $69.99 annually after the included one-month trial.

Apple Ring Rumors

Earlier this year when the first reports of Samsung's Galaxy Ring began to circulate, rumors about Apple's potential entry into the wearable ring market also started swirling. Several patents suggest Apple has explored the concept, and recent reports indicate that the company's industrial design team has presented a health-focused smart ring idea to executives.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in February said the ring could be a lower-cost alternative to the Apple Watch that could sync health and fitness data with a paired iPhone. However, Gurman at the time also said that active development was not underway, so it currently remains unclear if it will be released in the near-term, if indeed ever.

Article Link: New Oura Ring 4 Features Slimmer Sensors and Improved Accuracy

 

[JippaLippa]

I oughta be honest; I'd probably get an apple ring.
I like using my apple watch during workouts, but I find it bulky and bad looking to be worn on a constant basis.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Ya'll measuring your life away.

 

[Boeingfan]

I wonder if this smart ring can give me a nutritional analysis of last nights vindaloo… 😄

 

[steve217]

I’m just thinking about how hard is to pull my wedding ring off. Which for finger for this new ring?
Not to mention the $349.

 

[redbeard331]

I’d never wear a ring from any company. Hope Apple never wastes money on this.

 

[MrRom92]

I’d be into an apple ring purely as a tech-forward fashion accessory (same way I view the watch) but I don’t think they would cannibalize the market for their own product. It would have to do something that the Apple Watch couldn’t do.

On the other hand I could totally see myself getting an Oura ring. Maybe never even charging it or opening the app either for that matter. Just something to wear. They should make one in gold.

 

[OS X Dude]

I’d be into an apple ring purely as a tech-forward fashion accessory (same way I view the watch) but I don’t think they would cannibalize the market for their own product. It would have to do something that the Apple Watch couldn’t do.

On the other hand I could totally see myself getting an Oura ring. Maybe never even charging it or opening the app either for that matter. Just something to wear. They should make one in gold.

It'd be aimed as an alternative for people who like wearing dress watches but still want to track their vitals/health and don't want to resort to a Fitbit or, as some people do, wearing an Watch on one wrist and the dress watch on the other!

I imagine, for wearers of both the Ring and Watch together, that the tracking of certain vitals would be made more accurate too.

 

[Roll0]

A smart pair of underpants what I'm waiting for...

 

[xDKP]

It'd be aimed as an alternative for people who like wearing dress watches but still want to track their vitals/health and don't want to resort to a Fitbit or, as some people do, wearing an Watch on one wrist and the dress watch on the other!

I imagine, for wearers of both the Ring and Watch together, that the tracking of certain vitals would be made more accurate too.

Yeah I wear my Apple Watch 99% of days, but if Apple made an Apple ring to keep track of vitals, I could use my Apple Watch on some days and not loose out on metrics when I want to wear my mechanical watches once in a while - would be nice.

Also I sleep with mine and not really an issue, but have heard many say they think it's uncomfortable so that could be a sleep tracker as well.

 

[gigapocket1]

Yeah I wear my Apple Watch 99% of days, but if Apple made an Apple ring to keep track of vitals, I could use my Apple Watch on some days and not loose out on metrics when I want to wear my mechanical watches once in a while - would be nice.

Also I sleep with mine and not really an issue, but have heard many say they think it's uncomfortable so that could be a sleep tracker as well.

I have an Apple Watch Ultra. At times it does feel bulky (obviously). Have to take it off every couple of days to give my wrist a rest I feel… Sleeping with it all depends on how tired I am. I take it off about 2 nights a week.. The other watches I didn’t mind sleeping with them on, it just that the battery didn’t last.

 

[mobilemario]

I would totally buy a ring if Apple made one.

 

[redbeard331]

I would consider Apple brass knuckles™ though.

But in reality, I’d rather they go more into the wearables market, jackets, hats, shoes.

A hat could monitor your vitals, analyze your sweat, even have a little heads up display that projects down from under the brim. Would be better than glasses as we are a long way away from those looking like normal ones as we’ve seen with the goofy meta glasses.

They could make shoes covered in that flexible screen material (I forget what it’s called) that could be any color you choose, or play any animation or video. They could partner up with Nike, people who run and walk at night could use them to be more visible to vehicles. Apple needs to get in on this space.

 

[bLackjackj]

A smart pair of underpants what I'm waiting for...

Its being worked on too...

Smart Underpants: A New "Brief" In Health Monitoring

“Smart underwear” is just one of the latest advances coming out of the rapidly-expanding e-textiles industry. Find out what the latest intelligent garments can do for you (and why you’re not going to want to let them languish in your dresser!)

www.forbes.com

 

[CharlesShaw]

I wear an Apple Watch primarily for notifications, Apple Pay, and so I can leave my phone at home and still have access to and calls and texts, and music during workouts, so I don't see a ring replacing my watch. Aside from fall detection while biking, I care very little about health monitoring, so I guess there's no ring in my future to supplement my watch either. Money saved to spend replacing AirPods.

 

[arkitect]

I wonder if this smart ring can give me a nutritional analysis of last nights vindaloo… 😄

A smart pair of underpants what I'm waiting for...

That should do it.
🙂

 

[Lioness~]

If the ring comes in enough small sizes and not are so bulky as the watch, I might consider it.
But will they do them small enough for women’s hands and fingers?

 

[Momof2.1107]

This came right on time. This is my second option to buy, when it’s time for my battery replacement on my ultra 1 if the blood oxygen sensor is not enabled on the replacement. I have sleep apnea and asthma, so the blood oxygen sensor is a nice feature for me to have to monitor my oxygen levels. I use my continuous sp02 ring at night to gently awake me when my oxygen levels drop below 90%.

 

[xizdun]

Had an Oura Ring Gen2, currently using/wearing the Gen3 and just purchased the Gen4.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

I’d never wear a ring from any company. Hope Apple never wastes money on this.

You gotta think about it as just a ring. The problem is battery life, I want to put the ring and never have to worry again about it. Until they get months lasting battery life this is a no go. It would be the same awful product as the Apple Watch

 

[Tanax]

I've had the Oura Ring 3 for like 2 years now. Here are my thoughts:

• Form factor is AMAZING, especially during sleeping, much nicer than an Apple Watch that the ring replaced
• Surprisingly good at recognizing workouts, walks, etc and allows me to one-click add them afterwards rather than having to "start" a walk
• I don't mind the subscription to be honest. Of course, no subscription would be better
• Great battery life (up to a week in the beginning)

Some things that now have made me order the new Apple Watch and plan to cancel my subscription of the ring (i.e. stop using it):

• The app connection is finicky, it often fails to notify me when battery is about to run out, causing it to not record my sleep, etc, nor does it always notify me that charging is complete, causing me to have it on the charger for longer than it needs
• Compared to a watch, it's much nicer to have on while sleeping, but compared to a regular ring, it's much "thicker", causing you to not be able to fully close your fingers (i.e. when scooping up water)
• They have an intense focus on women health, so much so that I feel like I'm paying for something that doesn't even focus on bringing features that benefit me (I'm a man)
• Since it's a ring, it doesn't have valuable features that a watch would have, i.e. being able to pay with it, listening to music from it which are the main things for me missing, especially if you want to go on a run without your phone.. you can't listen to music, nor will you get any GPS tracking since it doesn't have that
• Battery degradation has been pretty bad, now only reaching like 2-3 days rather than 7 from the start
• It's draining my PHONE battery HUGELY! Especially with location services on. Absolutely terrible!!

It doesn't look like their Oura Ring 4 solves much of these. They say they made it "sleeker" but it looks like they only refer to the inside of the ring being flat rather than the bumps for the sensors today. That was never the issue IMO, but the thickness of the ring shell.

Going to try the Apple Watch 10 now and see how that works. My last Apple Watch was a 3, so quite a while ago!

 

[dumastudetto]

I genuinely see no reason why everything on us shouldn’t be smart connected to the devices in our life. There’s so much potential here for Apple to develop innovative new experiences to keep us better connected.

 

[wbeasley]

With a monthly sub fee, it seems like you are marrying into their contract...

Comes with a PreNup instead of an EULA

 

[wbeasley]

I've had the Oura Ring 3 for like 2 years now. Here are my thoughts:

• Form factor is AMAZING, especially during sleeping, much nicer than an Apple Watch that the ring replaced
• Surprisingly good at recognizing workouts, walks, etc and allows me to one-click add them afterwards rather than having to "start" a walk
• I don't mind the subscription to be honest. Of course, no subscription would be better
• Great battery life (up to a week in the beginning)

Some things that now have made me order the new Apple Watch and plan to cancel my subscription of the ring (i.e. stop using it):

• The app connection is finicky, it often fails to notify me when battery is about to run out, causing it to not record my sleep, etc, nor does it always notify me that charging is complete, causing me to have it on the charger for longer than it needs
• Compared to a watch, it's much nicer to have on while sleeping, but compared to a regular ring, it's much "thicker", causing you to not be able to fully close your fingers (i.e. when scooping up water)
• They have an intense focus on women health, so much so that I feel like I'm paying for something that doesn't even focus on bringing features that benefit me (I'm a man)
• Since it's a ring, it doesn't have valuable features that a watch would have, i.e. being able to pay with it, listening to music from it which are the main things for me missing, especially if you want to go on a run without your phone.. you can't listen to music, nor will you get any GPS tracking since it doesn't have that
• Battery degradation has been pretty bad, now only reaching like 2-3 days rather than 7 from the start
• It's draining my PHONE battery HUGELY! Especially with location services on. Absolutely terrible!!

It doesn't look like their Oura Ring 4 solves much of these. They say they made it "sleeker" but it looks like they only refer to the inside of the ring being flat rather than the bumps for the sensors today. That was never the issue IMO, but the thickness of the ring shell.

Going to try the Apple Watch 10 now and see how that works. My last Apple Watch was a 3, so quite a while ago!

THe Apple Watch 10 makes you realise how a slight thinning and bigger screen makes this feel more like an analogue watch. It just sits and feels better.

My 3 died and my 5 has dreadful battery like after upgrading to WatchOS 10. Wish I hadnt.
Yes battery health was down to 62% but the 3 would long outlast it ... the 10 has great battery life doing the same things I do with it.

 

[peneaux]

Not only is expensive, ,it also wants a subscription! $6 + tax per month.

No thanks.

From them:
"Without membership, you cannot access the Oura API"