Ora Has a New 4th Generation Ring (and 3rd Generation Is Already on Sale)
The rumors are true: Oura has released the fourth generation of its smart ring, and today it is officially unveiled . The new ring starts at $349 and is now available in a wider range of sizes, from 4 to 15. You can pre-order the ring starting today, and Oura says the rings will begin shipping on October 15th.
What’s new in Oura Gen 4?
The shape is “more sleek,” the company says. Where previous generations of pickups were encased in small ridges on the inside of the ring, Generation 4 has recessed pickups for a smooth interior. There is a small indentation on the inside of the ring to help align it with the charger, as well as a small decorative indentation on the outside.
The Gen 4 also has more sensors and an updated algorithm that the company says makes it more accurate. They cite the study, but the full details are not published; The algorithm is patented, and the results of the study are presented in the form of a short article and video .
Oura is also releasing a new version of its app with three tabs at the bottom (instead of five). It includes an improved version of the daily stress algorithm, determines your fertile window if you use a ring to track your menstrual cycle, and brings Oura Labs’ collection of experimental features (previously iOS only) to Android.
How much does Oura Gen 4 cost compared to previous versions?
Current prices for the Gen 4 ring on Oura’s website are $349 for silver or black, $399 for matte silver or stealth (matte black), and $499 for gold or rose gold.
The Oura Gen 3 ring used to sell for the same prices in the sleek “Horizon” shape and $50 cheaper in the flat top “Heritage” shape, but today I’m seeing deals on Gen 3 rings on Amazon. For example, here’s a silver Horizon for $299 .
The Oura ring still requires a subscription to enjoy most of its features. (You can still get readiness and sleep metrics without it, but you won’t have access to more useful data like HRV or new features like resilience.) Subscription costs $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year.
Oura notes that the ring and subscription are considered eligible expenses for FSA and HSA accounts .
How are Gen 4 sizes different from Gen 3 sizes?
Previous generations came in sizes 6 to 13, but the new Gen 4 rings have two larger and two smaller sizes, and the full range now includes sizes 4 to 15.
The internal shape of the ring has also changed (no more bumps), so there is now a new set of sizes. The sizing kit includes plastic rings in all available sizes, and Oura recommends that you try them on and wear your chosen size for 24 hours to test it. Your fingers can swell during exercise , hot weather and while sleeping, so this trial run will ensure you choose a size that will work for you 24/7.
You can order a free sizing kit directly from Oura, or buy one for about $10 from Amazon or Best Buy. If you go to one of these retailers, the package includes a $10 credit that you can use towards the purchase of the actual ring.
What is the battery life of Gen 4 and Gen 3?
Oura says the Gen 4 rings last eight days on a charge, compared to seven days for the Gen 3. The exact amount of time you’ll get per charge will depend on the size of the ring and the features you’ve enabled in your settings.
In the long term, battery life is known to become an issue as rings age. My own Gen 2 lost battery life just two years after I bought it; its replacement, the Gen 3, seems to die on the same schedule (I’ve had it for 22 months and only lasts 1-2 days on a charge). Will Gen 4 last longer? Only time will tell.
Is there an upgrade or trade-in deal for Gen 3 users?
No. When Gen 3 launched, the company offered credit in exchange for purchases and gave early adopters a lifetime subscription to the app. These offers are not available to Gen 3 users wishing to upgrade to Gen 4.