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Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Oura Ring 5 ranks higher (#1 vs #2 of 8) and scores better on sleep tracking, battery life, comfort & sizing, durability.
The biggest complaint about the Oura Ring 5 is membership on top of a $399 ring; for the Oura Ring 4 it's battery and reliability problems. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Oura Ring 5 | Oura Ring 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in smart rings | #1 | #2 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $$ |
| Type | Subscription ring | Subscription ring |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 10% | 20% |
| Overall score | 4.3 | 3.7 |
| Sleep tracking | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Battery life | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| App & insights | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Comfort & sizing | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 4.0 | 3.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $200 · $$ $200–350 · $$$ over $350. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Oura Ring 5
- Membership on top of a $399 ring
PCMag and ZDNET list the price as a con, and WIRED says the $6-a-month membership 'still feels mandatory' because only the three daily scores show without it. Amazon's review summary says value for money is mixed, with some owners calling it overpriced.
- Workout tracking is hit or miss
PCMag calls automatic workout tracking hit-or-miss, CNET says it is 'not the best fitness tracker', and WIRED says it isn't the right choice for athletes who need live workout stats or built-in GPS.
- Sizing and reliability complaints
Tom's Guide notes the Ring 5 comes only in sizes 6-13 versus the Ring 4's 4-15. Amazon's summary says size is mixed, with some finding it smaller than expected, and functionality is mixed, with some saying it never works correctly. WIRED adds that Symptom Radar still isn't as predictive as Oura claims.
Oura Ring 4
- Battery and reliability problems
Amazon's review summary says battery life is mixed, with some owners charging daily or every two days, and that some rings stop working properly or break within a year. WIRED's reviewer saw dwindling battery life on his silver Ring 4.
- Expensive, and most data needs a membership
Wirecutter and PCMag both flag the $349-and-up price and the $6-a-month membership needed for most data. Amazon owners call value for money negative.
- Logs rest as sleep; scuffs
Wirecutter says it regularly mistakes rest such as computer work or watching a movie for a nap, and a colleague's ring logged wake-up times late. WIRED's reviewer saw scuffing on the silver finish, but not on the ceramic version.
Who should pick which
Pick the Oura Ring 5 if
The most comfortable, low-profile ring
Detailed sleep, stress and recovery insights
iPhone or Android users who don't mind a membership
Skip it if: You won't pay a monthly fee; You need size 4-5 or 14-15 (Ring 4 covers those); You already own a Ring 4
Pick the Oura Ring 4 if
Oura's app and insights for $50 less than the Ring 5
Small or large fingers (sizes 4-15)
A ceramic finish (Oura Ring 4 Ceramic)
Skip it if: You won't pay a monthly fee; You want the slimmest ring; You need workout detail like a watch
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