Oura Ring 5: Smart ring becomes smaller and more expensive

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About a year and a half after the introduction of the Oura Ring 4, the Ring 5 follows. According to the manufacturer, the new generation is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor, but is said to still deliver a week of battery life.

“Oura Ring 5 is the most significant leap in smart ring history,” says Holly Shelton, Chief Product Officer at Oura. To make the device 40 percent smaller, sensors, battery, and the geometry of the ring itself had to be rethought. According to Oura, the ring is 6.09 mm wide and 2.27 mm thick, weighing 2 to 2.69 g depending on the size.

According to the manufacturer, the ring features a new signal architecture and flat sensor domes for better skin contact. In addition, more powerful LEDs are said to ensure clearer, more consistent measurements and twelve stronger signal paths, enabling higher accuracy with an even greater variety of finger types and skin tones.

According to Oura, another new feature is live activity tracking, which allows users to start a workout and track key metrics in real-time on their smartphone. Once a workout is started in the Oura app, pace and distance can be tracked for the most popular activities, such as running, cycling, and strength training. In addition, users can pair third-party heart rate monitors as well as supported devices to see their heart rate in real-time. Furthermore, the manufacturer is bringing lock screen widgets to smartphones, which allow users to keep an eye on pace, distance, and connected heart rate in real-time.

Oura has also revised automatic activity detection. It is said to also detect less strenuous activities such as Pilates. The new signal architecture of the Oura Ring 5 is said to make tracking more precise than with its predecessors.

New features for women's health

With the new ring, the manufacturer also offers new features for women's health. On the one hand, the company offers “Menopause Insights,” which Oura describes as “the next chapter in menopause care.” “At its core is the Menopause Impact Scale – a proprietary, research-based clinical questionnaire developed by Oura,” it says.

The company is also integrating innovations for hormonal contraception: “Oura's new feature for hormonal contraception adapts 'Cycle Insights' individually to members who use the pill, patch, IUD, implants, or other hormonal methods.” According to the manufacturer, the features can be used immediately with Ring 3 and newer.

More data protection

To give users more control over their collected data, Oura is introducing a time-based data deletion function. This allows members of all Oura Ring generations to flexibly delete data stored in the Oura app from a specific time window. The account and the rest of the history remain completely intact.

From Ring 3 onwards, the manufacturer also offers live activity tracking, a new location function, “Locate,” and data deletion. These features will be available from June 4th.

From 429 euros plus subscription

The Oura Ring 5 costs 529 euros for the premium versions Gold, “Stealth,” “Brushed Silver,” and “Deep Rose.” The basic versions in silver and black cost 429 euros. The Oura Ring 5 comes with a standard, size-specific charger. It is available for pre-order starting today and will be delivered from June 4th.

As before, a subscription is required for the full functionality of the ring, which costs an additional 6 Euros per month or 70 Euros per year on top of the hardware purchase price.

Optionally, the manufacturer offers a new wireless Charging Case as a mobile charging solution, which is said to provide an additional month of battery life for the ring. The charging status can be read and the device paired via a button.

(afl)