Oura Ring 5 vs. Oura Ring 4: Is it Worth Upgrading?

Here’s a quick look at how Oura Ring 5 and Oura Ring 4 compare on design, battery life, sensors, sizing, and price.

New Smaller and Lighter Design

The most noticeable change is physical size. Oura Ring 5 is 6.09 mm wide and 2.28 mm thick, compared with 7.9 mm wide and approximately 2.88 mm thick for Ring 4. 

Oura says the redesign reduces the overall volume of the ring by around 40%. That is a meaningful reduction for something designed to stay on your finger throughout the day and night. 

A smart ring may only be a few millimeters thick, but even small differences become noticeable when sleeping, typing, exercising, or wearing other jewelry.

Weight is lower as well. Depending on sizing, the smallest Oura Ring 5 weighs around 2 grams, while the standard Ring 4 ranges from approximately 3.3 to 5.2 grams. 

One month-long review of Ring 5 found that the smaller dimensions made the new model feel noticeably more discreet than Ring 4.

Early Oura Ring 5 reviews have therefore focused heavily on comfort and appearance rather than dramatic new health features. 

The software experience remains very similar, but Ring 5 feels more like traditional jewelry and less like a piece of wearable technology.

Comfort, Fit and Available Sizes

A smaller ring should be easier to wear continuously, which is particularly useful for sleep and recovery tracking. 

Oura designed Ring 5 around a width of roughly 6 mm after testing different dimensions for comfort and everyday wear.

There is one tradeoff. Ring 5 is available in sizes 6 through 13, while Ring 4 covers sizes 4 through 15. Anyone at either end of the Ring 4 sizing range may therefore find that the newer model simply does not fit.

Oura ring sizing is also slightly different between generations. Oura specifically recommends using the Ring 5 sizing kit rather than ordering the same numbered size you previously wore. 

Ring sizes can also differ from standard jewelry sizing, so testing the fit before purchasing is worthwhile.

The smaller dimensions are likely to be most valuable for anyone who previously found Oura rings bulky. 

However, Ring 4 is already reasonably comfortable for a health wearable. If your current ring fits properly and you rarely notice it, comfort alone may not justify buying another device.

Redesigned Sensors and Tracking Accuracy

The sensing system is the most important technical change beneath the smaller design.

Ring 4 uses Oura's Smart Sensing platform, which adjusts its signal paths based on factors including finger structure, skin tone, activity, and signal quality. 

Its LEDs and sensors measure heart rate, HRV, respiration, blood oxygen, temperature trends, movement, and other data used throughout the Oura app.

Ring 5 reorganizes this hardware into a smaller architecture. It uses two photodetectors rather than Ring 4's three, along with two tri-color LED units, a temperature sensor, and an accelerometer. 

The new system creates 12 optimized signal pathways and positions its optical components closer to the skin.

According to Oura's internal testing, Ring 5 delivered a 12% improvement in overnight HRV accuracy for the average member compared with Ring 4. 

Oura also reports a 24% improvement in signal quality during workout heart-rate tracking, resulting in a 19% accuracy improvement across common activities including running, cycling, and walking.

These numbers make Ring 5 technically more capable, but they should be kept in perspective. 

Ring 4 was already designed around continuous sensing, and Oura itself describes Ring 5 as reaching parity or modest improvements in some areas rather than completely changing the tracking experience.

For most users, the improvement will probably appear as fewer gaps or inconsistent readings rather than completely different daily scores.

Battery Life and Charging

Battery life receives a modest improvement. Oura rates Ring 5 for typically 6 to 9 days, while Ring 4 typically lasts 5 to 8 days. Actual battery life varies according to ring size, features, activity tracking, battery age, and individual usage.

The difference is not huge, but an additional day between charges can help with continuous sleep and recovery tracking.

Oura says Ring 5 takes about 80 minutes to charge depending on its starting battery level. Ring 4 generally takes between 20 and 80 minutes. 

Oura also offers a separate Ring 5 Charging Case capable of holding multiple additional charges, which may be useful for travel.

There is one less obvious downgrade. Ring 5 stores up to three days of data without syncing, whereas Ring 4 can store up to seven days. 

Most people who regularly connect their ring to their phone will never notice, but Ring 4 is more convenient if you frequently spend several days away from your phone or without syncing.

Durability, Materials and Finishes

Both standard models use titanium inside and out, so the move to Ring 5 does not represent a fundamental material upgrade. The difference is in the finish.

Ring 5 uses what Oura describes as a super-hard physical vapor deposition coating across all finishes. Oura says the updated process improves scratch resistance and helps the surface withstand regular wear more effectively.

Ring 4 also uses titanium, but its exterior coating varies between PVD and diamond-like carbon depending on the finish. 

Both generations are water-resistant to 100 meters and suitable for activities such as swimming, although Oura does not recommend scuba diving with either model.

Ring 5 comes in Black, Silver, Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold, and Deep Rose. The new Deep Rose finish and revised Gold option provide a little more variety if appearance is important.

No smart ring is immune to cosmetic wear, particularly if it regularly comes into contact with weights, metal surfaces, or other jewelry. The tougher coating is useful, but it should not be treated as scratch-proof.

Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: Pricing

The Oura Ring 5 price currently starts at $399 for Silver or Black, while selected premium finishes cost more. 

Ring 4 starts at $349, leaving a $50 difference between the entry-level versions.

That relatively small price gap makes Ring 5 the stronger option for many new buyers. Paying $50 more gets you the smaller body, updated sensor architecture, additional typical battery life, and revised exterior coating.

For existing Ring 4 owners, the decision is less straightforward since their current ring already offers nearly all of the same Oura software features.

Both models also require the same Oura Membership for the full experience. In the US, membership currently costs $5.99 per month or $69.99 annually, with the first month free for new members. 

Without membership, Oura says access to health data and insights is considerably more limited.

That ongoing cost should be included when comparing Oura with smart rings that do not require a subscription.