Oura Ring 5 vs. Oura Ring 4: Key differences compared
Everything you need to know about how the smart ring generations compare
The arrival of the Oura Ring 5 raises two inevitable questions: how much better is it than the Oura Ring 4, and what are the need-to-know differences?
While the leap to the Ring 4 mostly concerned sensor pathways and accuracy, this latest generation seeks to answer the smart ring leader's biggest critique: the size.
The headline you'll see a lot in marketing materials is that the Oura Ring 5 is 40% smaller than the previous generation. Below, we'll dive into more details on that—and show off some initial comparison photos from our brief hands-on time with the new ring (and the sizing kit dummy).
There's plenty more to consider beyond the contrasting designs, too. The charging case and sensor setup have both been tweaked, and the price difference remains crucial for anybody looking to upgrade or choose between these smart rings.
While we complete our in-depth, real-world testing, below are the key differences in all the key areas to consider—based on the specs sheets and our hands-on time. We'll update this comparison in the coming weeks when we've posted our full review.
Design thickness, width, and weight
Undoubtedly, the biggest difference between the Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 5 is the physical design.
When we reviewed the Ring 4 back in October 2024, our biggest disappointment was its width of 7.90mm and thickness of 2.88mm. Given competitors such as Ringconn posted vastly smaller designs around that time, it felt like a missed opportunity—even if the sensor accuracy upgrades have ensured it's remained Wareable's top-rated smart ring to own since launch.
With the Oura Ring 5, we should have the best of both worlds: a design that reduces the width to 6.09mm and the thickness to 2.28mm while retaining the improved comfort and accuracy of the fourth generation.
On the spec sheet, it may appear to be a dramatic difference—but it can be tough to get a sense of those sizes and their real-world impacts from just reading about them. So, take it from someone who has had over a dozen smart rings in the last few years, and the Ring 4 since launch—the difference between the two is immediately noticeable.
Balancing the scales
It's also compounded by a weight reduction. While the Ring 4 sat on the finger at 3.3-5.2g (depending on your ring size), the new generation is comparatively featherlight, weighing 2-2.69g. It feels much more like a 'normal' piece of jewelry than the Ring 4 ever did, and more like a standard wedding band.
However, the overall comfort inside remains much the same on first wear, even though the sensor bumps that were eliminated for the Ring 4 have returned in this latest generation—albeit much less prominent than those in the Ring 3's design.
We suspect this area of the comparison will be all about how the Ring 5 feels for everyday things like making a fist, clenching the steering wheel while driving, resting my hand on an office desk, and tying my hair up.
They're the occasions I notice a smart ring most—and only time will tell if the latest generation's design changes see it go more unnoticed in daily life.
Scratch resistance, finishes, and ring sizes
Oura actually delivered a very notable update in this area late last year with the Ceramic Edition of the Ring 4, finally giving users a more durable, scratch-resistant exterior.
In our six months of testing the 'Cloud' version shown in this comparison, we've managed to buff out every single scratch and mark with the included charging pad. Yet, because of titanium's nature, that same level of durability isn't necessarily available on the 'standard' Ring 4 or Ring 5 editions.
However, Oura says the PVD coating on the Ring 4 has been improved for the Ring 5. We'll only find out the extent to which that's true in long-term testing, so stick around for side-by-side comparisons in a few weeks.
The finishes are also largely comparable between these two generations, but Oura has slightly refreshed the palette for Ring 5: the standard 'Gold' finish has been toned down to a lighter, more modern hue, and a more copper-toned 'Deep Rose' finish replaces the older Rose Gold option.
This is a subjective area, naturally, but we do think the gold finish is much-improved for the Ring 5. Gold smart rings, generally speaking, have had a tendency to lean toward the tackier side of the gold spectrum, but the Ring 5's tweaked offering feels anything but.
The only catch here is that Oura has tightened the Ring 5's availability back to sizes 6–13, missing the size 4-5 and 14-15 options found on the Ring 4 line. That may change in the future, given that the Ring 4 also debuted without those same size extremes, though.
Pricing and subscriptions
Oura has never been a budget-friendly smart ring option, and the fifth-generation hardware firmly cements its status as a premium purchase.
- Oura Ring 4: Originally started at $349 for standard core finishes (Silver and Black) and climbed to $499 for premium variants
- Oura Ring 5: Sets a new baseline at $399 for Silver and Black, while more premium finishes—including Gold, Stealth, Brushed Silver, and the new Deep Rose—demand $499
As with the Oura Ring 4 Charging Case, the sold-separately accessory remains $99 for the tweaked version that arrives alongside the new generation. Check out the sections below for more on that.
And, of course, without ignoring the obvious here, the $5.99/month subscription model remains mandatory to gain insights, no matter which ring generation you own.
Tracking and sensors
The internal sensor layout marks an intriguing shift for Oura. When the Oura Ring 4 launched, as we mentioned earlier, its big selling point was the 'Smart Sensing' platform that introduced an array of 18 signal pathways.
The idea here was that the architecture ensured a clean signal would always be available, even if the ring spun around your finger during the likes of exercise or sleep tracking.
The Ring 5 takes a more refined, targeted approach. It reduces the total number of signal pathways from 18 down to 12. While a lower number may look like a downgrade on a spec sheet, Oura claims the new arrangement is actually more precise.
The Ring 5 abandons the Ring 4's completely flat interior and instead reintroduces precision-engineered, low-profile sensor domes. These subtle interior nodes optimize physical contact with the skin, but on first wear, they feel completely unnoticeable compared to those on the Oura Ring 3.
Paired with higher-output LEDs, the re-engineered system aims to deliver more consistent, gap-free metrics for overnight heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), and signal quality.
However, this is an area we can only verify after longer-term testing. So, while there's a huge change on paper, only time will tell whether accuracy remains on par with gold-standard wearables.
Software features
In terms of the core health features, the two generations operate within the exact same software ecosystem. Both tap into Oura's excellent structural pillars: Readiness, Sleep, Activity, and Stress.
Where the Oura Ring 5 attempts to pull ahead is in basic data fidelity—specifically during movement. In our real-world testing of the Ring 4, automatic workout detection and live heart rate tracking during exercise were hit-and-miss, sometimes mistaking domestic chores for yoga or struggling to capture the top end of high-intensity running sessions.
By using physical sensor domes and more powerful LEDs, the Oura Ring 5 is designed to eliminate data gaps caused by skin slippage during heavy movement. If successful, this hardware revision should make Oura's Cardio Capacity and Cardiovascular Age estimates more trustworthy for active users. But, again, only time will tell on that front—and we'll update this section when we know more from testing.
To be clear, though, there aren't really any new software features on the Ring 5 that aren't coming to the Ring 4. It's only the new Bluetooth-powered 'Locate' feature, which provides better proximity guidance within the app to track down a misplaced ring or charging case.
Battery and charging
While the Oura Ring 4 was able to stay largely true to the eight-day battery estimate, real-world tracking with features like blood oxygen monitoring active reduced that down to around 5-6 days. And until the Charging Case arrived in late 2025, the Ring 4 relied on a static charging mount, making it easy to leave behind or run out of charge while traveling.
The Oura Ring 5 achieves a major technical victory in this area, though—at least on paper.
Despite its 40% smaller internal volume, it actually arrives with a better top-end battery life estimate. Oura rates the Ring 5 for a solid 6 to 9 days of continuous use, depending on your ring size and how you use specific features.
Oura has introduced a slightly tweaked version of the pocket-sized Charging Case for the Ring 5. This case acts just like an earbud case, holding enough juice to completely recharge the ring five times over.
Compared to the Ring 4 equivalent, it now also includes an integrated quick-action button for seamless Bluetooth pairing or reset, and additional LED colors to indicate the power levels of both the case and the ring.
Initial verdict: A huge aesthetic leap forward
The Oura Ring 5 doesn't rewrite the software playbook, but it didn't need to. Instead, it represents the exact physical evolution the brand desperately needed.
By slashing the width down to 6.09mm, it effectively neutralizes the aesthetic and comfort advantages previously held by competitors like Samsung and Ringconn.
Combined with the promise of improved scratch resistance and boosted accuracy for features like activity tracking, it addresses the most persistent real-world pain points of the Oura Ring 4.
However, if you already own a Ring 4 and aren't bothered by its chunkier profile, the identical app metrics mean an immediate upgrade is a luxury, not a necessity.
For new buyers deciding between the two, the Ring 5 represents—at least from our initial wear—the definitive smart ring experience. Again, stay tuned to see our post-testing comparison in a few weeks.
