From the all-new Whoop 5 to the Apple Watch, I love a fitness tracker, and I’ve tested them all. They range in price and features, and of course, some are more impressive than others. However, there’s one device I’ve personally been wearing solidly for years — the Oura ring (was $299, now $199, Ouraring.com).
My Oura ring has never let me down. It’s one of the best sleep trackers, but I also use it to monitor my energy levels, menstrual cycle, and recovery. The tiny, chic device has helped me take my health and wellbeing to new heights. The only drawback is that it’s expensive. But that’s no longer an issue thanks to the current reduction in price.
The Oura ring 4 ($349, Amazon.com) was found to be the best smart ring by senior tech writer Alex Lee, and the best sleep tracker by fitness writer Jennifer Heimlich, thanks to its “accessible feedback” and “the depth and quality of insights offered”. So it’s clear that the brand knows what it’s doing.
The ring uses sensors inside the band to track variables that provide feedback on your sleep quality, heart rate, and a raft of other health markers. I also love how the gold finish matches the rest of my jewelry and how lightweight, well-fitting, and easy to wear it is. Of course, you can also get the Oura in silver and cool, minimalist black, as well as rose gold. To benefit from the discount and learn why I think you should invest, keep scrolling.
If you’re shopping for a tracker that simply measures fitness levels, there are plenty to choose from, but what makes the Oura ring special is that it offers much more. Not only is it small, lightweight, and easy to wear, but it also provides a range of insights that other trackers don’t.
My favorite features are the daily tags you can add to your activity log and the cycle calendar, which helps track your mood, sleep, and energy levels and predict the coming phases of your cycle.
I’ve also found that I’ve been able to improve my sleep quality using the Oura ring — the sensors track your heart rate variability to track how long you spend in each phase of light, deep, and REM sleep, and by checking this and adapting the environment in my bedroom, taking my supplements at different times and going to bed earlier, I’ve been able to improve my overall sleep scores and rest better thanks to the ring.
While the ring and subscription to the app aren’t exactly cheap, this has been one of the most worthwhile investments I’ve made for my health.
Oura ring 3 vs Oura ring 4
The deal on the third-generation Oura ring is impressively low, and this is likely because Oura recently launched the ring 4. So, should you buy the newer model over the less expensive ring 3 that’s on sale right now? Well, this all depends on what you’re looking for in a smart ring.
Both the Oura ring 3 and 4 are titanium-based, but the inside of the newer version is now wrapped in high-grade metal instead of the plastic used on the gen 3. The Oura ring 4 is also lighter, at 3.3-5.2g (depending on size), compared with 4-6g. While both versions of the ring promise to deliver similar metrics and insights, the ring 4 features an improved sensor platform that sits flusher with the ring, and it has an improved battery life, which is up to eight days, compared with the ring 3’s seven days.
In his review of the latest Oura ring, tech expert Alex said: “The main benefit that the Oura ring 4 provides, compared with the gen 3, is improved durability, comfort, and accuracy. This isn’t a generational upgrade over the Oura ring 3, merely strengthening its position as the best smart ring out there for sleep tracking and recovery.”
