It’s been a year with my Oura Gen3, and I have truly found my companion in the tiny ring. A few weeks ago, I was a sloth who never left the bed (I call it my seasonal gloom). However, when my Activity Score consistently slashed down, I knew it was time to get out. Those scores provide much more validation than what I’d like to admit.
My fitness journey started with Oura but ended up with me wondering whether I needed a more fitness-focused gadget, aka a smartwatch. While Oura is more focused on recovery and sleep, I missed something in its fitness tracking.
Here, I compare Oura Gen 3 with smartwatches in general to come to a conclusion- what’s better, why, and how.
Style & Vibe
A smart ring like the Oura is designed as a subtle and minimalist piece of jewelry that can seamlessly blend into my daily wardrobe. It’s more for people (like me) who have a low-key vibe and want their data tracked without their smart wearable attracting any attention to themselves.
On the other hand, smartwatches obviously attract more attention. However, this attention can also feel quite good if you’re looking to make bold fashion statements, as I have done on occasions (think black case with neon pink straps!).
This is because smartwatches come with different kinds of case and band styles that can further be customized in various ways— if that is something you’re into.
It’s not to say that Oura doesn’t offer such color options; the ring comes in two different finishes (one completely circular, i.e., Horizon, and one with a flat top, i.e., Heritage) and several different colors like Black, Silver, Gold, Stealth, Brushed Titanium and Rose Gold.
Despite this, there are times when I think that a smartwatch doesn’t go well with a certain outfit. But I have never had this worry about my Oura ring. I can pair the silver Heritage Oura I have with just about anything from dresses to business suits and wear it everywhere I go, from gym to clubs.
Comfort, Material & Durability
Rings are considered fragile little things, but my Oura is strong and resilient. It is made up of durable titanium and comes with a PVD coating on top of it. This makes it not just super lightweight but also quite durable and resistant to scratches; theoretically.
I have scratched my shiny silver one while doing basic chores, and there’s nothing I can do to undo it. On top of that, the point of a shiny ring is to be shiny. With my clumsiness, I should have only got Stealth.
On the other hand, while smartwatches are obviously not as lightweight as a smart ring, they, too, are made up of durable materials like stainless steel or lightweight aluminum alloys and the like.
One might think that having a smartwatch might mean constantly being worried about its glass getting scratched. However, this is not the case with most of the smartwatches that I have owned and used, thanks to scratch-resistant displays like Gorilla Glass, Sapphire Crystal, etc.
Furthermore, plenty of people complain about the straps of smartwatches being itchy or uncomfortable, but those times can be considered gone, too. Smartwatches now come with Fluoroelastomers, nylon, stainless steel, etc., which also have a variety of color options, so you can literally pick and choose at your convenience.
Next, I personally find Oura to be more comfortable than a smartwatch, especially when it comes to wearing the ring to bed for sleep tracking. Oura keeps doing its work in the background without ever being obtrusive as smart watches can sometimes be. In fact, the Oura ring is so light that I sometimes even forget that I am wearing it, whereas a smartwatch obviously makes its presence felt.
However, despite all this, the large form factor of a smartwatch does make it more effective in bearing the impact of a fall or other kinds of damage in comparison to the small Oura Ring.
Battery Life
I hate having to put my devices on charge frequently. So, it’s important for me that my smart wearables can last for at least a few days before I have to put them on charge again.
And well, smart rings generally offer better battery life than smartwatches. The Oura Ring I have easily gives me around 4-6 days of battery life, but this is not usually the case with most smartwatches out there.
The battery life of a smartwatch depends on a variety of factors, like the model and usage. For example, watches like the Apple Watch 9 that have more advanced features like GPS, LTE, and always-on displays require daily charging. Thereby proving Oura to be a better option for me.
But other kinds of smartwatches, like the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro, can easily last around two weeks without being put on charge.
Pricing
An Oura ring could cost you anywhere between $299 to $549, depending on the color and finish you get. Furthermore, it has a recurring subscription charge; you could either get a monthly subscription that costs $69.99 a year or $5.99 a month. That does make the Oura ring quite an investment.
On the other hand, smartwatches can cost as little as $299 or go up to $8125.10. What I mean here is that there’s a smartwatch for every budget. Some of these watches come with apps that require a subscription, whereas some don’t. While buying a watch, you can keep all of these factors into consideration which makes them slightly more affordable and convenient in comparison to the Oura Ring.
Get An Oura Ring If:
1. If You’re Into Minimalism
If you don’t want to make a fashion statement or grab any attention to your health tracking device, then you should get an Oura Ring. It can seamlessly blend with other jewelry that you might be wearing and not make a show of itself.
Furthermore, the Oura ring only comes in two different finishes and a few color options, and there’s virtually nothing you can do to customize it. If this is something that you’re okay with and actually prefer, then an Oura ring will be the right choice for you.
2. You Prefer Longer Battery Life
Smart rings offer better battery life. The Oura ring will last longer than most smartwatches out there on a single charge. So, if you’re someone like me who hates having to put her devices to charge frequently, you’d be better off wearing an Oura ring.
3. Tracking Sleep And Recovery Are A Priority For You
Smart rings are said to work the best for sleep tracking, and well, that is even more true for the Oura ring. It will give you sleep and recovery metrics like never before. Furthermore, I have observed that my Oura ring has been more accurate with its sleep-related data in comparison to the smart watches I have used, like the Apple Watch 9 or the Amazfit GTS 4.
And so, as someone who’s struggled with sleep for the longest, having that kind of data on it helps me understand my sleeping patterns better and also implement interventions as and when needed.
4. You Need Something Comfortable And Lightweight
Ever since I started wearing the Oura ring to bed, I have never looked back. I have quite often felt bothered by the strap (regardless of how comfortable it may have been) and the weight of the case on my wrist while wearing watches.
So, wearing something as light as an Oura ring (it hardly weighs around 4-6 grams, if you’re curious) has been a game-changer for me.
Furthermore, quite often, wearing a smartwatch on my wrist gets in the way of me doing things. My Apple Watch 9 bothers me quite a bit when I am working out using resistance— which is fairly often since I am into home workouts. So if you’re someone like me, the Oura ring will be a better choice for you.
5. You Want To Track Your Pregnancy
Not me, but a relative of mine who had been trying to get pregnant and track her pregnancy was greatly benefitted by the Oura Ring.
Oura Ring provides near-accurate cycle-related insights since it relies on not just user-logged metrics but also changes in skin temperature for its predictions. Furthermore, it works with Natural Cycles (the only smart ring to be doing so) to offer birth control and fertility tracking features.
This not only makes Oura ring one of a kind but also super helpful to those who might have the same needs as that of my relative.
6. You Don’t Like Wearing a Screen On Your Wrists
Let’s be real. Our smartphones are distracting enough with their constant notification pings and the allure of a wide variety of apps. Bringing the same distraction to your wrist in the form of smartwatches that are constantly evolving to mimic smartphones even more is not an appealing idea for most. It isn’t for me, at least.
And if you’re someone like me who prefers having fewer distractions and more quiet, getting an Oura ring will be a safer bet for you.
Get A Smart Watch If:
1. You Prefer Customization & Like Variety
While minimalism is the new fashion trend, it is also quite literally the death of details. And you know how beautiful smartwatches can be. If you want something elegant and sophisticated, Apple has got you covered. If you want something rugged and sturdy, then Garmin Fenix is what you might like. There’s something for everyone’s taste! Plus, all of them can be customized according to the wearer’s preference.
If I speak for myself, I love experimenting with different kinds of bands based on my outfit or mood. Having an Oura ring doesn’t give me those customization options. And so, if you’re someone who would like to make bold fashion statements with unconventional color choices, then getting a smartwatch would be better for you.
2. You Want A Multifunctional Device
Unlike smart rings, smartwatches do more than just health and fitness tracking. There’s no limit to what a smartwatch can do. Depending on the model you have, your smartwatch could even replace your smartphone. This is particularly true for something like an Apple Watch 9 that comes with cellular LTE and allows you to even place calls using your phone itself.
With a watch on your wrist, you don’t have to use your phone for everything. You can place calls, receive and reply to messages, make payments, access maps, change music, and hell– even watch TikTok videos (I don’t recommend it, though).
So, if you want your smart wearable to do all of this and more, then get a watch and not a ring.
3. You Prioritize Advanced Fitness Tracking
I will be honest with you. While the Oura Ring 3 is dead comfortable to me and also helps me in cycle and sleep tracking, it doesn’t offer much value in comparison to smartwatches when it comes to fitness.
I have used both the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and the Apple Watch 9, and oh boy, they have been able to track my steps, runs, and even strength training workouts that I do way better than Oura has.
And so, if you’re someone who wants their activity to be tracked in great detail so that you can work on your fitness goals better, then a smartwatch is a better choice for you.
4. You Want More Features
How many features are too many features? Almost all of the smartwatches I have used have offered me more features than I knew what to do with. Take the Apple Watch 9, for example– it offers me gesture control, i.e. I can make a pinchy pinch motion with the fingers of the hand I am wearing the watch on that will do things like change music, receive or end calls, and whatnot. The list of things is so long that I can’t even remember half of them.
Furthermore, given how clumsy I am, I feel quite safe knowing that my Apple Watch 9 also comes with a fall detection feature that will basically alert emergency services and my listed contacts in case I take a hard fall.
I can add so many more cool features to the list. But, to sum it all up, it’s quite rad knowing that I am wearing such a powerful device on my wrist that could do so much more than what the Oura could do.
5. You Don’t Mind Charging Your Device Frequently
Smartwatches have a lot to offer, but well, all of that comes at the price of their battery life. I have been nothing but praise for the Apple Watch, but I have to charge for it almost every single day. The Fenix 7 Pro I used didn’t require to be put on charge as frequently, though.
However, if you don’t mind charging a smartwatch for around 60-90 minutes, then it can be the right choice for you.
What Should You Get?
In all honesty, what you should get totally depends on what your needs are. If you have to prioritize your sleep and recovery and want that data to be tracked unobtrusively, then an Oura ring is what you need to get.
However, if you’re more of an outdoorsy person, chasing fitness goals and always on the lookout for the next adventure, a smartwatch like Garmin Fenix 7 Pro or even the Apple Watch 9 will be a real asset for you. A watch will not just be able to track your run or hike but also offer you so much more throughout it.
For example, I have used mine to check the map without having to take out my phone again and again, thereby leading to fewer breaks while running. Similarly, I can also use my watch to change music, check calls and messages, and more.
In fact, if you’re someone who simply wants their smart wearable to do more a watch is a better option for you. But, if you want something like a silent confidant more for sleep tracking and normal amounts of activity tracking, the Oura ring will be better for you.
