The design of the Oura Ring 5 is perhaps one of the most significant changes compared to the previous generation models. Oura says the new ring has about 40% less volume than the Oura Ring 4, and I indeed found it much more subtle and much less intrusive. The Oura Ring 4 wasn’t uncomfortable, but it still felt noticeably big on the finger. The Oura Ring 5 still isn’t quite on the level of, say, a traditional wedding ring – but after using it for a few days, it’s easy to forget about it. It measures approximately 6mm wide and approximately 2.3mm thick and weighs approximately 2 grams depending on size.
The build quality is pretty good, which is to be expected at this price. The body is made of titanium with a hardened, scratch-resistant coating that Oura says holds up better than previous generations. After weeks of daily wear, mine doesn’t have a single scratch, which is nice to see. This hasn’t always been the case with previous Oura rings, which got scuffed pretty quickly, so the coating seems to be doing its job.
Size is more important with a smart ring than with most wearables because the optical sensors need close, consistent contact with the skin to produce clear data. Oura sells sizes 6 through 13 and ships a free plastic sizing kit first, and you should use it for a few days rather than guessing. Fingers swell and shrink during the day, and a slightly loose ring at night will gradually degrade your readings.
There are six finishes: Black and Silver starting at $399, with Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold and Deep Rose commanding the $499 premium. The supplement is purely cosmetic. Each trim has the same titanium body and sensors, so the only question is whether the look is worth $100 more to you. The whole design looks like a regular piece of jewelry, which is arguably the whole point of a smart ring. I particularly like the Stealth model that I am testing. Like previous generations, there’s a small notch on the Oura Ring 5 that tells you which direction to face it so the sensors can get the best reading. It’s quite subtle, which is nice.
Water resistance is rated at 100 meters, so showering, swimming, and doing dishes is fine. This covers everyday life comfortably and is ahead of many smartwatches. The device also comes with a charging dock, similar to older models in terms of design. It has a USB-C port on the back and makes it pretty easy to charge the Ring from time to time.
Overall, I really like the design of the Oura Ring 5. It’s relatively sleek and stylish, and because of its slimmer build, most users will forget they’re even wearing it.
