Amazfit GTS 4 and Oura Ring offer quite different approaches to health tracking. The GTS 4, with its vibrant display and notifications, has been my trusty extroverted sidekick for a long time. On the other hand, the Oura Ring 3 has been more of a silent confidante, doing its work diligently without much of a show.
But now, it’s time for me to choose between one of the two. I want to see which one I’d truly prefer to wear on a daily basis for all my health-tracking needs. So, I compared both of them across various metrics and arrived at a verdict.
My Verdict
I liked the Oura Ring better than the Amazfit GTS 4. My verdict should not be surprising because once you’ve started using smart rings, you won’t be able to go back to smartwatches.
But it’s not just about the comfort. There are several other reasons that make the Oura Ring my top choice. I like the build and durability of Oura better. While there may not be a huge difference in the battery life of both these devices, I like the charging experience of Oura better than that of GTS 4.
Furthermore, while both wearables offer me plenty of attractive features, I like the data accuracy that Oura provides me with more. All smart wearables rely on companion apps, and even in that area, Oura gives me a better in comparison to GTS 4’s companion app, Zepp.
Now, if you want a detailed explanation of why and how I think so, keep scrolling through this post, and I will walk you through my experience with the rings.
Specifications
| Specifications | Amazfit GTS 4 | Oura Ring 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Material | – Aluminum alloy middle frame – High-gloss sprayed PC Bottom shell – Fluoroelastomer strap/ Liquid Silicone strap/ Nylon Strap | Durable titanium, PVD coating |
| Weight | 27 grams | 4-6 grams |
| Dimensions | – Watch: 42.7 x 36.5x 9.9mm – Strap: 20mm (Width) – Display: 1.75” – Glass Base: 0.4mm | – Thickness: 2.55mm – Width: 7.9mm |
| Size | Wrist Dimension- 140mm – 200mm | 6 to 13 |
| Charger | Magnetic Charging | Charging dock |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 days | Up to 7 days |
| Charging Time | Approx. 2 hours | Up to 80 minutes |
| Colors available | Infinite Black, Misty White, Autumn Brown, Rosebud Pink | Brushed titanium, Rose Gold, Gold, Stealth, Silver, Black |
| Connectivity | WLAN 2.4GHz24 , Bluetooth 5.0 & BLE | Bluetooth Low-Energy (Bluetooth Smart®) |
| Compatible With Other Apps | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM/ 50m | – Upto 100m/ 328 ft. – IP54 |
| Memory | 2.3 GB (For Music) | 7 days of data (also depends on the frequency of use) |
| Compatibility | Android 7.0 and above,iOS 12.0 and above | iOS devices running on iOS 15 or above. Android devices running on Android 9.0 or higher |
| Warranty | 1-year | One year from the date of purchase |
| GPS | In-Built GPS | Uses Phone’s GPS |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C | -10–52°C / 14–125°F. |
| EMF-Safe | No | Yes |
| Airplane Mode | No | Yes |
| Sizing kit | No | Yes (Free) |
| FSA/HSA Eligible | No | Yes |
| Call/SMS/App Notifications | Yes | No |
| Music Control | Yes | No |
| Event Reminder | Yes | No |
| Find My Phone | Yes | No |
| Alarm Clock | Yes | No |
Design & Colors
I never found anything new or inspiring about the GTS 4’s design. I have the watch in the infinite black finish, and it looks so similar to the Apple Watch that you probably can’t even tell them apart from a distance.
In comparison to the GTS 4, the flat top design of the Heritage Oura Ring I have is quite different from other smart rings in the market. Now, although I have the ring in black, and black is considered to be the most basic color out there, let me tell you that my ring is still really stylish!
It is sleek and shiny from the outside, and given its 2.55mm thickness and 7.9mm width, the ring looks quite light and thin on my finger. From a distance, you’d think that it’s just another pretty ring I am wearing, not a smart wearable that’s collecting all kinds of health-related data. In all honesty, that is how I have started preferring my smart wearables to be—discreet.
However, the GTS 4 watch is quite noticeable, given its 1.75” display and 20mm wide straps. The fact that the watch’s design is unoriginal makes it less appealing to me than the Oura Ring.
Yes, I’d try wearing the watch in some different colors like Misty White, Autumn Brown, or Rosebud Pink, but I’d still prefer the color options that Oura provides. For example, Oura’s Stealth and Rose Gold variants are the epitome of coolness in smart wearable space.
Material, Comfort & Durability
The case of my Amazfit GTS 4 is made of aluminum, and the bottom shell is sprayed with high-gloss. I am quite impressed that instead of using leather or other such material, GTS uses environmentally friendly Fluoroelastomer (or liquid Silicone or Nylon) straps.
While the aluminum that GTS is made up of is quite durable, the titanium-made Oura is even sturdier. I found both of these wearables to be quite scratch-resistant during my everyday, normal use. Here, I am talking about the days when I wasn’t tripping while out on my runs or engaging in DIY crafts that required the use of drills and hammers.
On days like these, when things went wrong, the Oura ring fared better than the GTS watch. It didn’t show as many scratches as the GTS watch did, even after being in the very same situation. I think it’s the small form factor and a PVD coating on top that makes the Oura ring less prone to impacts compared to the GTS.
So, I can tell you for sure that the Oura ring is more durable than the GTS 4. I feel quite carefree and comfortable wearing the Oura Ring. Given that it’s incredibly lightweight (around 4-6 grams only), I just put it on and forget all about it. I can wear it to bed, to my dance classes, or literally wherever I want without it causing me any discomfort.
I can feel the GTS 4’s presence on my wrists compared to the Oura Ring. It weighs 27 grams, and while that isn’t exactly heavy, I still find the Oura Ring to be more comfortable.
Battery Life & Charging
| Charging Details | Amazfit GTS 4 | Oura Ring |
|---|---|---|
| Official Ring Charging Time | Approx 2 hours | Up to 80 minutes |
| My Ring’s Charging Time | 2-2.5 hours | 80-100 minutes |
| Official Battery Durability | 16 hours – 8 days | Up to 7 days |
| My Ring’s Battery Durability | 4-7 days only | 4-6 days |
Based on my experience with the two devices, the GTS Watch typically lasts 4-7 days only. The duration depends on my usage as well, though. For example, using the GPS while out on a run could make the battery drain faster.
While I can’t help using the GPS feature at times, I have turned off the always-on display faces, and I also use simpler watch faces (despite being tempted by the animated ones) simply to enjoy a better battery life.
Similarly, the Oura typically offers me around 4-6 days of battery life only. When I had the continuous SpO2 monitoring feature turned on, the battery life would further reduce to just 2-3 days, and I hated that. So, I turned off that feature, and now I get to enjoy an average of 5 days without having to put my Oura Ring on charge.
When it comes to charging, I prefer the charging experience that Oura offers compared to that of GTS 4. The experience that Amazfit offers is simply annoying.
The GTS 4 comes with a magnetic charger that’s pretty short in length. To charge the watch, I have to place it on the base of the charger and then connect the other end of the charger to a power source. The whole charging takes around 2-2.5 hours, and I hate having to wait around for that long before finally getting to put the watch back on.
The Oura Ring’s charging process is quite simple and straightforward compared to the GTS 4. The ring comes with a charging dock; all I have to do is put the ring on the dock and connect it to a power source. A full charge takes around 80-100 minutes, which I find to be more bearable than the time GTS takes.
So, when it comes to choosing a wearable on the basis of battery life and charging experience, I prefer the Oura Ring 3 over the Amazfit GTS 4.
Sensors
| Sensors | Amazfit GTS 4 | Oura Ring (Gen 3) |
|---|---|---|
| PPG Sensors |  | |
| Skin Temperature Sensor |  | |
| Photodiodes | | |
| 3D Accelerometer | | |
| Gyroscope | | |
| Infrared LED | | |
| Green LEDs | | |
| Red LEDs | | |
| EDA Sensors | | |
| Geomagnetic Sensor | | |
| Barometric Altimeter | | |
| Ambient Light Sensor | | |
Features
| Features | Amazfit GTS 4 | Oura Ring 3 |
|---|---|---|
| HR, HRV & RHR | Yes | Yes |
| Workout Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Cardiovascular Age (CVA) | No | Yes |
| Blood oxygen levels (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking & Nap detection | Yes | Yes |
| Detailed sleep analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Coach/ Guidance | Yes (Paid Feature) | Yes |
| Body Clock | No | Yes |
| Chronotype | No | Yes |
| Weekly & monthly sleep reports | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration Rate | No | Yes |
| Breathing Quality | Yes | No |
| Breathing exercise | Yes | Yes |
| Average Pace | Yes | Yes |
| Skin Temperature | No | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Distance Traveled | Yes | Yes |
| Route Import | Yes | No |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Smart sports recognition | Yes | No |
| Advanced Running Support | Yes | No |
| Period Prediction | Yes | Yes |
| Fertility & Ovulation Prediction | Yes | Yes |
| Pregnancy tracking | No | Yes |
| Menstrual Symptoms | Yes | No |
| Daily Summary/ Morning Updates | Yes | Yes |
| Set Personalized Goals | Yes | Yes |
| Personalized Wellness Assistance | Yes | Yes |
| Vital alerts | Yes | No |
| PAI health assessment system | Yes | No |
| AI Chatbot | Yes | No |
| Insights Feature | Yes | Yes |
| Trends | No | Yes |
| Health Reminders | Yes | No |
| Rest Mode | No | Yes |
| Sedentary Reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Health Reports | No | Yes |
| Data Export | Yes | Yes |
| Meditation | No | Yes |
| Stress & Recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Illness Detection | No | Yes |
| Readiness Score & Insights | No | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes |
Tracking Accuracy
While both the GTS 4 and Oura Ring 3 come with advanced sensors and impressive features, I had to see how accurate they were in tracking the health metrics that mattered the most to me—steps and activity, heart rate monitoring, sleep, and menstrual tracking.
Steps & Activity Tracking
Although many think that 10k is a made-up number, I still like to hit my 10k steps on a daily basis. That is why I need a smart wearable that will help me track my steps correctly.
But, much to my dislike and surprise, neither the Amazfit GTS 4 nor the Oura Ring get it completely accurate.
The GTS 4 routinely undercounts my steps, and that’s especially annoying on days when completing my steps is already a struggle for me. Similarly, Oura has often shown me good 3k steps, even on the days when I have done nothing except work on my laptop at home the entire day. I do not like being awarded steps like this.
When it comes to tracking activity, the GTS 4 is capable of tracking around 154 activities, it can smart recognize up to 8 sports and 25 kinds of strength training workouts. It’s way more than what an average person would need. While I do want to be impressed by GTS’s activity-tracking capabilities, I can’t bring myself to feel so because, quite often, the activities are tracked inaccurately.
Just as was the case with steps, GTS consistently recorded a distance lower than what I actually ran. Next, even though Amazfit claims that GTS 4 can record the number of reps, I have seen that miscounting is common here, too.
Similar to GTS 4, the Oura ring can automatically track the time, duration, type, and intensity of my physical activities. It is capable of tracking around 40 different activities. In other words, it can track every activity I can think of performing, like HIITs, playing badminton, dancing, swimming, and hell—even housework!
So, whenever I go out on a run, I don’t have to open the Oura app and log in the same; the ring will automatically pick on it and and show me the stats of my run later.
Both devices give me the option to edit the logged data to make necessary corrections in case I feel there are inaccuracies. But, I usually don’t have to make any corrections to the data that Oura records, whereas I have had to do that multiple times with GTS 4. It makes me wonder what the point is of giving the automatic activity detection feature when, in the end, I will be sitting with the app open, feeding in the correct data manually.
Heart Rate Monitoring
I have always wondered how a smartwatch worn on the upper side of the hand could be accurate in metrics like heart rate compared to smart rings that take their measurements from the lower inside part of a finger.
Keeping my doubts aside, I went into testing the heart rate monitoring accuracies of both the Amazfit GTS 4 and Oura Ring with an open mind. And well, I found out that even though both the wearables offer similar heart rate tracking capabilities, the Oura Ring was way more accurate in the data it tracked.
For example, when I was exercising, GTS 4 was mostly unable to track the rapid changes in my heart rate in comparison to Oura. And if I wore the watch loose accidentally, that also resulted in inaccurate data later.
Because of all this and more, I simply started trusting Oura’s heart rate monitoring over that of GTS 4’s.
Sleep Tracking
Oura has always had an upper hand in the smart wearable space when it comes to sleep tracking. Still, I wanted to see how accurate the GTS 4 would be compared to the Oura Ring.
Well, I found out that, mostly, both the GTS 4 and the Oura Ring were quite similar across some sleep metrics. For example, both of them provided me with similar total sleep duration and time spent across sleep stages.
However, when it comes to nap detection and detailed sleep analysis, I have found that Oura was more accurate than GTS 4. For example, if I just flopped down on the couch in the evening after a long day at work to rest for a bit, the GTS would record it as a nap, whereas Oura wouldn’t. Similarly, at times, GTS would often either not record any sleep disturbances or record more when there weren’t any.
For example, once, on a rainy day, I woke up early to sip coffee and quietly read by the window—and instead of counting 5 AM as the wakeup time, GTS noted it as a mere sleep disturbance. I wasn’t impressed.
Menstrual Tracking
Both the Oura ring and GTS 4 are able to track my cycle and predict my period. But, the way they do is quite different. You see, while both of them need me to log in the start and end dates of my periods for the first few cycles to be able to make accurate predictions, Oura still goes a step further here.
In addition to the metrics that I log in, Oura also considers changes in my skin temperature before predicting my next cycle. Not just that, on the basis of the said temperature changes, Oura can also tell me what phase of my cycle I am in.
And well, because of all this, Oura can predict a near accurate start date of my period better than the GTS 4. While Oura specializes and gives personalized insights to women, the same cannot be said about GTS 4. I feel the feature is merely added and is not as thorough as Oura, missing insights and phase detection.
Having the kind of cycle- insights that Oura offers has helped me manage my workouts better. It has helped me understand why I might be feeling depressed or energetic at certain times, put a lot of things into perspective, and thereby improve the quality of my life.
Companion Apps
Amazfit GTS 4 uses the companion app Zepp, and the Oura Ring 3 uses the Oura app. When I opened the Zepp app, I was immediately greeted with a lot of numbers and graphs living in very close proximity to each other. And well….it wasn’t a pleasant sight to take in.
In comparison to Zepp, the Oura app is evenly spaced out and has a much better layout/interface. Even though both of the apps show me similar numbers, Oura’s presentation is much easier to grasp than Zepp’s— especially if you’re a beginner.
The Zepp app uses a customizable layout and comes in both light and dark themes, whereas the Oura app comes in the dark theme only. This works just fine for me since I don’t prefer a light theme anyway. Both apps use different kinds of colors to portray different kinds of data, but I still prefer Oura’s color theme.
Furthermore, both apps make use of graphs and charts of different kinds to show me my health-related data trends and the like. And well, while Zepp isn’t exactly hard to decipher, Oura is still relatively easier in comparison.
There’s definitely a learning curve with the Zepp app, but once I was past it, I started checking the Zepp app in the morning just like I opened Oura. Scrolling through the home screen of both apps tells me how I should go about my day.
However, given that I trust the data accuracy of Oura more than that of GTS 4, I found the Oura app to be more useful than Zepp. The Readiness insights that the Oura app offers are more relevant to me, whereas I often feel confused by the ambiguous advice that the Zepp app offers.
I’d talk more about some features of the Zepp Aura, like detailed sleep assessments, but I don’t know how I can comment on their usefulness without knowing how accurate they are.
This is why I like the Oura app better and more useful than the Zepp app.
Pricing & Subscription
| Pricing Details | Amazfit GTS 4 | Oura Ring 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Official Price | $199.99 USD | $299-$549 USD |
| Discounted Price | $139.99 | N/A |
| Subscription | Yes (Optional) (Zepp Aura – $69.99/year), Zepp Fitness – $19.99 for 6 months | Yes ($5.99 a month/ $69.99 a year) |
The Amazfit GTS 4 is one of the most affordable smartwatches out there. I could get it for just $200. The Oura Ring 3 is on the more expensive side. It cost me $300 to get my Heritage black Oura, the cheapest version available, and this number could have gone up to $549 if I had chosen a different style or finish.
Furthermore, it’s not like all I have to do is pay for the watch or the device and consider my purchase done. Both of these companion apps come with a paid subscription, without which the app isn’t fully functional or useful.
Zepp offers a paid subscription to an in-app feature called Zepp Aura, which costs $69.99 a year, and Zepp Fitness, which costs around $19.99 for six months. Both these features have a limited free trial option, but given that the data that they offer can be useful, one can be tempted to get the subscription.
But I wasn’t—not entirely, at least. I am still using the free trial of the Zepp Aura and haven’t found anything groundbreaking about it, so I obviously won’t pay for the yearly subscription. As for Zepp Fitness, I already work with a fitness coach and, therefore, don’t find its offerings valuable.
The Oura app subscription costs around $6 a month or $70 a year. Given how useful the app has been for me, I have paid for the yearly subscription.
Which Smart Wearable You Should Buy?
If you’re looking to buy a smart wearable, and Amazfit GTS 4 and Oura Ring 3 are two devices that you have to choose between, then get Oura. It looks better, feels better, is more durable, and offers better features and accuracy than the GTS 4.
While the Oura Ring is $100 more expensive than the Amazfit GTS 4 and also requires a subscription, I still think it’s worth the extra money.
