The Oura Ring 5 represents a dramatic generational leap for smart rings, shrinking in size and weight to become the smallest and most discreet health-tracking wearable available. It is now comparable to standard wedding bands, making it easy to forget you are wearing it.
Size and Design
The Ring 5 is 40% smaller in volume than the Ring 4, which was already one of the most compact smart rings on the market. Its width is just over 6mm, thickness is 2.23mm, and weight is a featherlight 2g depending on size. The titanium ring comes in six colours and finishes with a harder, more scratch-resistant coating. It is available in eight sizes, and Oura provides a free sizing kit with plastic replicas that should be worn for at least a few days to determine the best fit.
Battery Life and Charging
Despite the smaller size, battery life has increased. The smallest Ring 5 lasts about six days between charges, while the largest can last up to nine days. A size 8 ring (third smallest) lasted nearly eight days in testing, about two days longer than the equivalent Ring 4. A full charge takes under 90 minutes using the included dock, and an optional travel charging case with up to five full charges is available for £99.
Health Tracking and App
The Ring 5 records heart rate, blood oxygen, temperature, and motion to track over 50 metrics related to sleep, activity, readiness, stress, resilience, heart health, and women's health. The Oura app for Android and iPhone syncs via Bluetooth and offers comprehensive data analysis. A subscription costing £5.99 per month is required for full access beyond basic daily stats. The app includes features like Symptom Radar for detecting illness signs and Health Radar (US only) for overnight blood pressure and breathing disturbance monitoring. Women's health tracking includes cycle, period, ovulation, fertile window prediction, pregnancy tracking, hormonal birth control, and menopause insights.
AI Advisor and Workout Tracking
Oura's AI Advisor chatbot can analyse health stats, explain concepts, and provide advice on sleep, recovery, and activity. It is not a general-purpose AI but is built around the user's data. The Ring 5 automatically detects over 40 activities lasting more than 10 minutes and offers live activity tracking with real-time heart rate on the phone. However, it relies on the phone for distance, pace, and route tracking, making it less capable than dedicated running watches.
Pricing and Sustainability
The Oura Ring 5 starts at £399 (€399/$399/A$649) with one month free membership. The subscription costs from £5.99 per month and is essential for full functionality. The ring is not repairable and the battery is not replaceable; it contains no recycled materials, but Oura offers free recycling. For comparison, the Ring 4 costs £349, the Ultrahuman Ring Air costs £329, and the Samsung Galaxy Ring costs £399.
Verdict
The Oura Ring 5 sets a new high bar for smart rings. Its slim, light design and extended battery life make it comfortable and unobtrusive. The excellent app and data analysis rival health-focused smartwatches, with best-in-class women's health tracking. However, it is expensive, requires a subscription, and cannot be repaired. It is one of the very best health-tracking wearables available in any form.
