Oura Ring 5 vs Ring 4: Is the Smaller, Smarter Ring Worth It?

Oura Ring 5 vs Ring 4 in one look

The Oura Ring 5 vs Ring 4 comparison is about whether a dramatically smaller, more comfortable smart ring with refinements in battery life and sensing is worth upgrading for if you already own the Ring 4. For most new buyers the Oura Ring 5 is the obvious choice, but existing owners need to weigh the smaller form factor and subtle performance gains against higher price and similar core health tracking. In short, the upgrade makes sense if wearability and aesthetics matter as much to you as raw features in a wearable health tracking device.

If you are picking your first Oura, buy the Ring 5 and do not look back: it is 40% smaller and lighter, yet promises more accurate measurements and slightly longer battery life than the Ring 4. For current Ring 4 owners, though, the story is different. Reviewers did not see dramatic gains in sensor accuracy, and most new software capabilities roll out to older hardware as well. That means the Oura Ring 5 upgrade is about comfort, design, and a few hardware perks, not a wholesale change in what your data can tell you.

Design, comfort, and wearability: the real upgrade

The biggest leap in this smart ring comparison is physical, not digital. The Oura Ring 5 has been “completely reengineered” to be 40% smaller and even lighter than the Ring 4. Width drops from 7.9 mm to 6.09 mm and thickness to 2.28 mm, with weight starting at only 2 g depending on size. In day-to-day terms, that means it feels far more like normal jewelry and less like a gadget on your finger. For long-term wearers who sleep, train, and shower with their ring on, this directly addresses a major comfort pain point.

The Ring 5’s finishes also lean harder into jewelry territory. Its Gold color is brighter to match other pieces, and all color options use a thicker, more scratch‑resistant coating to stand up to daily wear and weight training. Meanwhile, the older Ring 4 still wins on size range, supporting smaller and larger fingers with sizes 4–15 compared with 6–13 for Ring 5. If Ring 4 already feels unobtrusive to you, the design overhaul may not justify an immediate upgrade. But if you find your current ring bulky or distracting, the Ring 5 is the most wearable Oura yet, especially for 24/7 use.

Health and fitness tracking: subtle hardware gains, similar insights

Both rings offer the same core sensor set: PPG for heart rate and blood oxygen, skin temperature, and an accelerometer. They can count steps, track sleep, monitor overall stress, support menstrual and ovulation insights, and provide readiness and activity scores that influence how you train, sleep, and recover. The Ring 5 moves those familiar capabilities into a smaller body with more powerful LEDs—four times stronger and repositioned for better accuracy—plus about a day of extra battery life over the Ring 4.

In practice, reviewers note that these hardware changes add polish rather than transforming your data. One reviewer stated, “I didn’t see dramatic gains in sensor accuracy, and most software additions are coming to older hardware anyway”. Both generations benefit from features like live activity tracking that can record pace and distance during runs, rides, and strength sessions, and the Ring 5 has been tested against a dedicated sports watch with impressive results. You also get GLP‑1 medication logging, more granular privacy controls, and time‑based data deletion across Oura generations. For most Ring 4 owners, the health insight gap is modest; the upgrade is more about refinement than new metrics.

Ecosystem, costs, and the upgrade dilemma for Ring 4 owners

No matter which ring you choose, you face the same ongoing cost: an Oura membership at USD 5.99 (approx. ₱340) per month or USD 72 (approx. ₱4,000) per year to unlock full insights. Without it, you only see basic scores, which is a shared weakness of both devices. Competing smart rings avoid subscriptions or offer longer battery life, but reviewers still rate Oura’s software as the strongest for turning wearable health tracking data into guidance that affects your daily routine.

The Ring 5’s higher starting price of USD 399 (approx. ₱22,400) versus USD 349 (approx. ₱19,600) for Ring 4 makes the upgrade decision more sensitive, especially since there is no trade‑in programme. On the upside, Oura now lets you pair multiple rings on one account, so you can switch between Ring 4 and Ring 5 styles without paying for another membership or losing your data history. That eases the pain of upgrading but also underlines the core verdict from one reviewer: unless you strongly prefer the slimmer design and better comfort, it may be wise to wait another generation before replacing a working Ring 4.

Buy if / Skip if

• Buy the Oura Ring 5 if you are new to smart rings and want the smallest, most jewelry‑like Oura with up to 9 days of battery life.
• Skip the Oura Ring 5 if your Ring 4 already feels comfortable and you are not bothered by its larger size or slightly shorter battery life.
• Buy the Oura Ring 5 if you wear your ring 24/7 and prioritize comfort in bed, at the gym, and in everyday life over saving some money.
• Skip the Oura Ring 5 if you mainly care about health insights and scores, since most new software features also reach the Ring 4.
• Buy the Oura Ring 5 if you want the latest hardware with stronger, repositioned LEDs and full waterproofing while staying out of bulky smartwatch territory.
• Skip the Oura Ring 4 if you are buying your very first Oura and can afford the Ring 5, because the newer design is clearly more wearable long‑term.
• Buy the Oura Ring 4 if you need sizes outside 6–13 or want to spend less upfront while still getting strong wearable health tracking and app insights.
• Skip the Oura Ring 5 if you dislike subscriptions and are already considering non‑subscription smart ring alternatives with longer battery life.