The Oura Ring 5, priced from £399, is now available as the world's smallest smart ring, measuring 40% smaller than its predecessor. After wearing Oura rings for two years and testing the new model for two weeks, our expert shares an honest review.
What is the Oura Ring?
The Oura Ring is a smart ring that tracks sleep, activity, and overall health metrics. Unlike fitness watches, it is small, lightweight, and stylish, making it one of the few wearables you can forget you are wearing.
Key Features of the Oura Ring 5
The Oura Ring 5 includes redesigned sensors and AI-powered health insights. Key features include sleep tracking for deep, light, and REM sleep; activity tracking with improved automatic detection for activities like Pilates; live activity tracking for pace, distance, and heart rate; health radar monitoring long-term biometric trends including blood pressure signals and nighttime breathing; heart rate monitoring for resting heart rate and HRV; women's health insights tracking menstrual cycles and fertility windows; up to seven days of battery life; water resistance for swimming and showering; and a locate feature for finding a misplaced ring or charging case.
Design and Comfort
The Oura Ring 5 is noticeably slimmer and lighter than previous models. The updated gold finish looks more like real gold, and the scratch-resistant coating has held up well during weightlifting, unlike older rings that scratched within weeks.
Pros of the Oura Ring 5
Sleep tracking remains the standout feature. The health radar provides a broader picture of health over time by looking at long-term trends. Activity tracking has improved, especially for lower-motion exercise like reformer Pilates. Live Activity Tracking allows monitoring of pace and heart rate during workouts.
Cons of the Oura Ring 5
The Oura Membership at £5.99 per month is required to unlock most features. For serious training, dedicated sports watches like the Apple Watch Series 11 still have an edge. The ring still requires care during activities like heavy weightlifting.
Final Verdict
The Oura Ring 5 refines almost everything from previous generations, with a smaller design and smarter tracking. While the subscription is a slight frustration, it remains the best wearable for understanding sleep, recovery, stress levels, and overall wellbeing, according to the reviewer.
