Smart rings are all the rage right now. But before they were the next thing since sliced bread in wearable tech terms, there was really only one player in town: Oura. The company started in 2013 on Kickstarter, its first commercially available smart ring launching in 2015. Over the last decade, the Finnish company has released many Oura Ring models, the latest of which are the Oura Ring Gen 4 and Gen 3. The Oura Ring 4 launched in late 2024. It’s a follow up to the Oura Ring 3, which came to market in 2021.
There are notable upgrades to this new model, including improvements to the hardware design. Oura has also revamped its app, which continues to work with the Oura Ring 3. Should you upgrade? We’re here to help you make that decision by comparing these two smart rings side by side on design, features, performance, and value.
Quick comparison table
Before diving into the nitty gritty of these two smart rings and how they work, let’s take a look at how they compare based on specs alone.
| Oura Ring 4 | Oura Ring Gen 3 | |
| Colours | Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Brushed Titanium, Black, Stealth (Tide, Petal, Cloud, and Midnight for Ceramic) | Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Brushed Titanium, Black, Stealth |
| Size Range | 4-15 | 6-13 |
| Thickness | 2.88mm | 2.7-2.9mm |
| Weight | 3.3-5.2 grams | 4-6 grams |
| Material | Titanium (inside and out), Ceramic (option) | Titanium outside, non-allergenic, non-metallic inner molding |
| Sensors | Heart rate, Sp02, Skin temperature, Accelerometer, Smart Sensing | Heart rate, Sp02, Skin temperature, Accelerometer |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 days | Up to 7 days |
| Water/Dust Resistance | Up to 100 metres (no official IP or ATM rating) | Up to 100 metres (no official IP or ATM rating) |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
Design and build quality
First, let’s break down the design differences. Both rings are made of titanium on the outside. But the Oura Ring 4 is made completely from titanium, inside and out. The Oura Ring 3 has a non-allergenic, non-metallic inner molding that is medical-grade and BPA-free, so it isn’t as sleek nor durable. Additionally, Oura Ring Gen 4 now also includes a classy ceramic variant, made of zirconia ceramic.
You’ll notice the physical differences immediately. The Oura Ring 4 does away with the sensor bumps inside, replacing them with recessed sensors. This allows for a thinner profile, more seamless look, and more comfortable wear. You also won’t see red lights leaking out from the sides of the Oura Ring 4 as the sensors are working like you did with the Oura Ring 3. By comparison, Oura Ring 3 comes in two designs: Horizon, which has a rounded style similar to the Oura Ring 4 and Heritage with a classic plateau design and flat top.
Both come in the same colour options, the ceramic version of the Oura Ring 4 adding new ones. The black version of the Oura Ring 4 is updated with a glossy, tungsten PVD coating that makes it look darker and improves durability. The Oura Ring 4 also comes in a wider range of sizes to accommodate especially slim and wider finger circumferences. It’s also generally more lightweight, depending on the size you choose.
New features in Oura Ring 4
The design changes are significant, but there are a lot of new and improved Oura Ring Gen 4 features under the hood, too. What’s new in Oura Ring 4?
Smart Sensing
The most notable is Smart Sensing. Basically, what this does is ensures an accurate read even when the notch on the underside of the ring isn’t perfectly placed on the underside of your finger. This can happen if you fidget, if it moves around in your sleep, or even with day-to-day movements. It also considers differing skin tones, excess finger flesh, and even those who sweat more to keep data continuously gathering where other rings might result in measurement gaps.
Double the signal pathways
Smart Sensing is possible thanks to Oura Ring 4 having more than double the signal pathways compared to the Oura Ring 3, at 18 versus just eight. This facilitates more accurate sensing, eliminating gaps between measurements throughout an activity, whether that’s a run, workout, or night of sleep.
Sensor and health tracking improvements
When it comes to sensors and health tracking, smart rings are generally considered to be very accurate. You’ll largely get the same experience with both rings, including heart rate and heart rate variability, automatic activity tracking, blood oxygen levels, and of course, sleep tracking.
Smart rings are considered the best options for sleep tracking, and Oura is known to be one of the most accurate, if not the most accurate. In his review of the Oura Ring 4, Ted Kritsonis loves that it can sense and track naps, too.
The improvements in these respects all relate to greater accuracy afforded through Smart Sensing, which permeates across every metric the Oura Ring 4 tracks.
Battery life and charging
Another benefit of Smart Sensing and the additional signal pathways is optimized battery life. The Oura Ring 4 lasts up to eight days, a full day more than the Oura Ring 3. This might not sound like a lot. But when you have so many gadgets to recharge daily, the less often you need to recharge the smart ring, the better.
I was blown away by the battery life of the Oura Ring 4, which is by a mile the best I have ever enjoyed with a smart ring. In line with Kritsonis’ assessment, I noticed about a week of life per charge of my size 8 ring. He adds that larger-sized rings will likely last longer.
When it’s time to recharge, plop either ring onto their square charger, the notch matching up with the notch of the device. Charging time is about 90 minutes, so by the time you’re done watching a movie, it’s ready to slide back on. I haven’t compared Gen 3 vs Gen 4 charging speeds, but I suspect they fall in line with one another.
My one wish for this smart ring was a charging case and Oura answered that with the launch of a charging case alongside the Ceramic variant that works with any variant of the Oura Ring 4. You need to buy it separately. But if you travel or are constantly on the go, I’d highly recommend grabbing one to slide into your purse, pocket, or bag.
App experience
Alongside the launch of the Oura Ring 4, Oura redesigned its app, making it easier to eyeball your data by dividing everything into three distinct tabbed sections: Today (the current day’s stats), Vitals (an overview of your health compared to baselines), and My Health (trends over time). All the features work with both smart rings.
Automatic Activity Detection (AAD) is a game-changer
Automatic Activity Detection (AAD) works for 40 workout types, automatically sensing what you’re doing without you manually logging the exercise. I love that I don’t need to open the app and manually start a workout. I can check at the end of the day and confirm the activities it has automatically logged. Sometimes they’re not correct, like labeling cardio as strength training. But you can edit them. And it learns over time. After a week of doing boxing workouts daily, for example, it recognized that’s what I was doing whenever it sensed the motions.
Stress and resilience
This new feature gives you an idea of your stress throughout the day and how it impacts you. See the times of day you’re most stressed to link them to specific activities and make positive changes to your routine. Add tags to remind yourself what you were doing on that date and that time that made you stressed or conversely, especially calm.
Menopause and perimenopause tracking
Most wearables include menstrual cycle tracking so women can track their periods and cycles. Oura takes it a step further with menopause and perimenopause tracking. This involves a questionnaire whereby you log symptoms, helping you get a better understanding of where you are in your journey.
Heart health
See your cardiovascular age relative to your actual age. Do a walking test to get your cardio capacity. All these figures can encourage you to become more active and improve numbers over time.
Other unique features
The app has so many other goodies you can take advantage of regardless of which ring you use. Symptom Radar monitors for anomalies to alert you if something is amiss. This could be an indication that you are overly stressed, or that you might even have a cold coming on.
With Meal Logging, enter what you eat or take a photo. Using AI, it intelligently adds the ingredients (which you can modify as needed) and provides insights to help you make better nutritional choices or let you know what’s valuable about your meal choices. It also monitors meal regularity to ensure you’re getting steady sustenance.
A membership is still needed
The one thing that makes buyers wary is an Oura Ring subscription. Admittedly, many other smart rings offer the same data without the need for a subscription. However, Oura is confident that it’s backed-by-science data and private app experience is worth the investment. An Oura rep tells me there’s a 93% conversion rate with members after the one-month trial, so it’s clear that customers see value. At $8 per month, it’s effectively taken care of if you skip one fancy caramel latte a month.
I rely on the app daily to track workouts, give me an idea of how I slept the night before, how stressed I am, my heart health, and even an indication of when I could be getting sick or should take a rest day. I still wear my smartwatch alongside it. But I love being able to compare data from the two.
Hardware price comparison
The Oura Ring 4 is about $170 more than the Oura Ring 3. But considering all the design upgrades you get, along with the fact that the Oura Ring 3 is now four years old, it’s worth the investment to get the latest and greatest.
Should you upgrade from Gen 3 to Gen 4?
It goes without saying that if you’re buying new, you should get the Oura Ring 4. If you already own the Oura Ring 3 and you’re wondering if you should upgrade, the answer is a resounding yes, especially for athletes or those who care about getting the most precise measurements.
If you’re a casual user and you still love the Oura Ring 3 and don’t need the added durability, most of the other upgrades come in the form of the app experience which carries over to both models.
Final verdict
The new design of the Oura Ring 4 gives it a sleeker, more elegant look, especially if you opt for the ceramic model. The removal of the bumpy sensors on the underside makes this new ring feel like it isn’t even there: I often forget I’m wearing it. Smart Sensing is also a big deal for athletes especially who want the most accurate metrics. It’s also useful for those who want to monitor things like hearth health and other vitals.
Treat yourself and you’ll immediately notice the design upgrades. You may also find that the data it captures is more accurate than the Oura Ring 3 thanks to Smart Sensing. If you really want to change things up, get the new ceramic version for a completely different look.
FAQs
Still have questions? We’re here to help.
What’s the difference between Oura Ring 3 and 4?
The Oura Ring 4 boasts a complete redesign, including an all-titanium finish inside and out (along with a new ceramic option), a wider range of sizes, slimmer design with recessed sensors and more signal pathways, and Smart Sensing that improves tracking accuracy and battery life.
Is the Oura Ring Gen 4 worth the upgrade?
Yes, if you want the nicer look, longer battery, and more accurate tracking, upgrade to the Oura Ring Gen 4. If you’re happy with the Oura Ring Gen 3, you can still enjoy all the benefits of the latest app and software updates.
Does Gen 4 require a subscription?
Yes. While you can technically use the Oura Ring Gen 4, and any Oura Ring for that matter, without a subscription, you won’t get much out of the experience. All you get is Readiness, Activity, and Sleep score. There’s no detailed data nor historical trends. Advanced features like temperature and blood oxygen tracking, sleep stage analysis, and personalized insights, are also not available.
Can I trade in my Gen 3 for a Gen 4?
No. You would need to buy the Oura Ring Gen 4 as new. Oura does not offer a trade-in program.
Ready to slip one onto your finger?
If you’re ready to upgrade to or invest in Oura Ring 4, or want to save dough and grab the Oura Ring 3, check out a wide selection of Oura Rings at Best Buy Canada. Have more questions or comments about your experience? We encourage you to share them in the comments below.
