The celeb-approved Oura Ring gets an Ozempic makeover with a lighter design and smooth inbuilt sensors as opposed to the bumps on the previous versions. While the ethos of the smart ring remains intact, there have been quite a few upgrades from Gen3.
With an expanded range of sizes, here’s everything that is different in Oura Gen4 vs Gen3.
Specifications
| Specifications | Oura Gen4 | Oura Gen3 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 3.3 to 5.2 grams (depending on ring size) | 4-6g (depending on ring size) |
| Sizes | 12 sizes (4-15) | 8 sizes (6-13) |
| Sizing kit | Yes, free | Yes, free |
| Colors | 6 colors – Silver, Black, Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold | 6 colors – Silver, Black, Stealth, Brushed Titanium, Gold, and Rose Gold |
| Design Variant | Heritage | Horizon and Horizon |
| Dimensions | 7.90mm wide, 2.88mm thickness | 7.9mm wide, 2.55mm thickness |
| Battery sizes | N/A | 15mAh – 22mAh |
| Battery life | Up to 8 days | Up to 7 days |
| Charge time | 20-80 minutes | Up to 80 mins |
| Charger | Size-specific charger and USB-C cable | Size-specific charger with USB-C cable |
| Material | Non-allergenic titanium exterior & interior | Titanium exterior, epoxy interior |
| Water resistance | Up to 100m/328 ft | Up to 100m |
| Operating temperature | -10–54 ºC / 14–129 ºF | -10–52°C / 14–125°F |
| Sensing Platform | Accuracy is powered by Smart Sensing that dynamically selects the optimal signal path | Measurements powered by a fixed, static configuration of optical paths |
| Compatible OS | iOS and Android | iOS 15 and higher or Android 9.0 and higher |
| Warranty | N/A | 1 – 2 years |
| Price | Starting $349 | Starting $299 |
| Subscription | $5.99 USD/month (first 1 month free) | $5.99 USD/month (first 1 month free) |
Design and Comfort
The Oura Gen4 comes in a fresh new look. The Heritage design has been removed from the lineup and the Horizon design comes in a new look by ditching the sensor bumps. The sensors are enclosed in the base of the ring, giving a completely smooth finish for a more comfortable feel.
The body in Ring 4 is also completely made of titanium, as opposed to the titanium exterior and epoxy interior of the Gen3. This redesign also comes as a lighter version of the ring, weighing 3.3g for the smallest size, as opposed to 4g for the Gen3. The weight depends on the size you choose, of course.
The color options remain the same with a deeper black.
Sizes
The Oura Gen4, now available in 12 sizes (4-15) instead of 8 (6-13) in the Gen3, offers a wider range of sizes. The sizing kit, which arrives prior to the actual ring, also got a new look with the plastic prototypes in white, instead of the black from the previous version.
The sizing kit and sizes of the rings also differ since the ring has no sensor bumps. With the change in design and the addition of the sizes, I don’t think the Gen3 sizes can pass for Gen4.
Therefore, I strongly recommend ordering the Gen4 sizing kit prior to ordering the size for the Gen4 ring.
Battery and Charger
The battery life has gotten a boost from the Gen3; the Oura Ring 4 has a battery life of up to 8 days, as opposed to a maximum of 7 days on the Gen3. This boost primarily comes for the largest size; as the sizes decrease, the battery life decreases.
Still, the Gen4 possesses a better battery life than the Gen3. The charger has also gotten a makeover in terms of color. The previous black charger now comes in a matte grey-silver, with the same size specific USB-C cable.
The App Gets a Makeover Too
With more and more parameters, such as stress, cycle tracking, and body clock, being added to the Oura app, the interface was starting to look a bit cluttered. As opposed to the previous app with tabs– Home, Readiness, Sleep, Activity, and Explore; the new app comes with 3 tabs– Today, Vitals, and My Health.
- Today– The tab encloses all vital insights from the current day, right from when you wake up to the time you hit the bed. The Scores are also displayed on the top of the screen on the ‘Today’ tab for an easy glance at your metrics. This tab also allows you to add tags to your day.
- Vitals– This tab takes a deeper dive into your overall health with a baseline for each metric, allowing you to see when these metrics start to deviate.
- My Health– Trends of your personal health data are showcased under the ‘My Health’ tab, allowing you to view how certain factors affect your health in the long term. This tab also includes metrics such as Cardiovascular Age and Stress Resilience.
All in all, the app looks much more streamlined than before. The update to the app will also be available to all Oura Ring users, regardless of the version of the ring they have.
Accuracy
With minor changes to the look, a major update has come to the software. The signal pathways have increased from 8 to 18, to pull better and stronger data signals throughout the day.
This leads to better accuracy and decreases gaps in the data captured. In addition, the external studies conducted by Oura also concluded more ways the Smart Sensing in Ring 4 makes this better than Gen3. Here’s how:
- 15% more accuracy in the breathing disturbance index (BDI).
- 120% boost in signal quality, converting to increased accuracy in average overnight SpO2 by 30%.
- Lesser gaps in the daytime heart rate graph by 7%.
- Lesser gaps in the nighttime heart rate graph by 31%.
As perfect as it was, Oura always had ‘activity’ as its pain point. They have made significant improvements in this department by adding an additional 40 activities, which can now automatically be recognized by the ring.
In addition to this, we finally have automatic heart rate monitoring while performing an activity.
It goes without saying that I will take any opportunity to boast about Oura’s cycle-tracking abilities. With further improvements to insights into one’s fertility window, I might not be requiring the additional subscription to Natural Cycles at all. How cool is that!
While the Ring 4 doesn’t have a dedicated EDA sensor for stress, just like the Gen3, it often mistook my movement as stress. This has now advanced with a ‘tagging’ feature to log if the stress is because of mental exhaustion or movement.
Oura Labs Comes to Android
A feature exclusive to iOS, the Oura Labs have made their way to Android. Labs was a platform used by Oura to test out their beta features before they made their official debut. With Oura partnering with Veri, one of the features included in the Labs is meal tracking.
Oura Labs also houses Symptom Radar, which deciphers if you’re getting sick by studying variations in various metrics. Another feature that was previously exclusive to iOS, the AI-powered Oura Advisor, will also be available to have a conversation based on your health metrics to have a deeper understanding.
Price and Availability
The starting price has gone up from $299 of the Gen3 to $349 for Gen4. The sizing kits have started shipping as soon as the ring was launched on 3rd Oct, 2024, while the Gen4 is available on preorder and will start shipping on 15th Oct 2024.
What’s Missing in Oura Ring 4
With an impressive upgrade, there are a few things I was hoping to see Oura incorporate as a longstanding user of the Oura Ring.
- The charger could’ve been made into a case for easy portability. It could also have been used to boost up battery without needing to be plugged in.
- There are still no half sizes in the ring; however, the wider range of sizes leads me to believe this won’t be an issue. I’ll have to wait to get my hands on the sizing kit before I give my final verdict.
- An NFC payment feature could’ve given all the smart rings a run for their money.
- Sleep Apnea detection could’ve been a great addition to the already perfect sleep tracking.
- I was surprised to see how useful the ‘Sleep Debt’ feature is on the Whoop, which could be a fascinating addition to the Oura Ring.
- Lastly, they still hold the same subscription model as before, which is a bummer. They could at least have given more free features in the ring without needing a subscription.
Wrap Up
Oura has thrown Samsung’s Galaxy Ring off its high horse with its upgraded Oura Ring 4. While the update was long overdue, Oura has retained its position as one of the best smart rings on the market.
This lighter and more streamlined design with enhanced accuracy and battery life, strengthens Oura’s commitment to staying on top of their game. While there were a few features and upgrades I was hoping for, I cannot wait to get my hands on the new Ring 4.
