What This Oura Ring 4 vs 5 Comparison Covers
An Oura Ring 5 comparison with the Oura Ring 4 is an in‑depth look at design, features, battery life, and price to help buyers decide whether the slimmer, more expensive smart ring upgrade is worthwhile or if the older model still delivers enough value for everyday health tracking. Both rings are health tracking rings that monitor sleep, activity, and stress through sensors built into a titanium band worn on your finger. The key question is whether the 40% thinner Oura Ring 5, with its refreshed internals and small battery gains, offers improvements you will feel and use every day, or if the Oura Ring 4 remains the smarter purchase for budget‑focused users or satisfied current owners who do not need the newest design.
Design and Comfort: How Much Does Thinner Matter?
Design is the clearest difference in the Oura Ring 4 vs 5 debate. PCMag notes that “the Oura Ring 5 is 40% thinner,” measuring about 0.24 inches wide by 0.09 inches thick, while the Oura Ring 4 comes in at 0.31 by 0.11 inches. Both models are made of titanium and are water‑resistant to 328 feet, so durability and swim‑readiness are similar. The slimmer Ring 5 should feel less bulky during sleep and workouts, especially for users who found the Ring 4 occasionally intrusive during weight training. However, the Oura Ring 4 wins on size and finish flexibility: it is offered in sizes 4 through 15, with optional zirconia ceramic exteriors, while Ring 5 is limited to sizes 6 through 13 and no ceramic variant. For many hands, the extra size range of Ring 4 may matter more than the millimeter‑level thinness.
Features and Tracking: Incremental Upgrade, Not a Leap
From a health tracking perspective, both rings look very similar on paper. Each uses red and green infrared LEDs plus skin temperature sensors and an accelerometer to track blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, daily movement, workouts, sleep duration and stages, and stress levels. These are the core features most people buy health tracking rings for, and they are present on both generations. The Oura Ring 5 redesigns its internals to fit the slimmer frame, reducing the number of signal pathways through your finger from 18 on Ring 4 to 12 on Ring 5, while Oura claims the newer model gathers more precise data despite the reduction. For most users, that means Ring 5 is an evolution rather than a reinvention: the experience in the app will feel familiar, with potential accuracy refinements rather than brand‑new capabilities.
Battery Life and Charging: Small Gains, Same Routine
Battery life is another area where the Oura Ring 5 comparison shows refinement instead of transformation. Oura estimates that Ring 5 should last between six and nine days per charge, slightly higher than the official five to eight day estimate for Ring 4. In PCMag’s testing, the Oura Ring 4 already managed just over a week on a single charge, so Ring 5 will need to hit the top of its claimed range to beat it in real‑world use. Both rings use a size‑specific charging base, meaning you still place the ring on a cradle rather than plugging in a cable. A new aluminum charging case is available as a USD 99 (approx. RM460) extra for either model, holding about a month of top‑ups and charging wirelessly. For day‑to‑day life, charging habits will feel much the same whichever generation you choose.
Price, Value, and Who Should Upgrade
Price is where the Oura Ring 4 vs 5 split becomes sharper. The Oura Ring 5 starts at USD 399 (approx. RM1,840), which is USD 50 (approx. RM230) more than the previous generation’s starting price, and climbs to USD 499 (approx. RM2,300) for premium finishes. By contrast, the Oura Ring 4 remains available from USD 349 (approx. RM1,610) in silver and stealth, with gold and ceramic variants priced at USD 399 (approx. RM1,840). PCMag concludes that “the Oura Ring 4 remains the better value,” and both generations require the same USD 69.99 (approx. RM320) annual membership for full app features. For current Ring 4 owners who are comfortable with the fit and satisfied with their data, the smart ring upgrade to Ring 5 is optional, driven mainly by comfort and aesthetics. New buyers, or those who find Ring 4 bulky, have stronger reasons to pay extra for the slimmer Ring 5.
