Oura Ring 4 launches with slimmer sensors and a refreshed app

In a nutshell: Oura, the company behind one of the most popular smart rings on the market, has just given its flagship product a substantial glow-up. The $349 Oura Ring 4 has arrived, featuring enhanced accuracy, a more comfortable fit, and numerous under-the-hood improvements.

At first glance, the new ring doesn't appear radically different from its predecessor. However, several notable differences set it apart. It is now made entirely from titanium, a departure from the epoxy interior of the previous model. Beneath that exterior, significant upgrades have been implemented to enhance both accuracy and comfort.

For starters, the protruding sensor domes from the previous iteration have been replaced with sleeker, recessed components that enhance both aesthetics and comfort. Additionally, Oura has retooled its "Smart Sensing" algorithms to improve data tracking precision by adapting to the unique contours of your fingers. This new system also increases the number of signal pathways from right to 18, allowing it to dynamically latch onto the strongest reading at any given moment.

According to Oura, these enhancements result in a 120 percent boost in overall signal quality compared to the previous model. Blood oxygen sensing accuracy has improved by 30 percent, while gaps in heart rate monitoring decrease by up to 31 percent overnight and seven percent during the day. If these figures hold up in real-world testing, they represent impressive advancements.

Furthermore, Oura is finally expanding the ring's previously limited size range. The Ring 4 will now be available in sizes four through 15, an increase from the previous range of six to 13.

On the software side, Oura has redesigned its companion app into a streamlined three-section layout: Today, which provides a summary of your biometrics; Vitals, dedicated to health metrics and scores; and My Health, offering insights into your overall health data over extended periods. This redesign is a welcome change, especially given how cluttered the app had become with recent feature additions.

Additionally, Oura has revamped its Daytime Stress metric and added automatic activity detection for 40 different exercise types. The fertility and reproductive health features now include fertile window forecasting.

All this enhanced precision comes at a cost. The Oura Ring 4 will retail for $349, which is a $50 premium over its predecessor, and is set to launch on October 15. Customers can choose from six color options: gold, rose gold, brushed silver, stealth, black, and silver.

As for the older Gen3 models, Oura has confirmed that they will remain available at a lower price until inventory is depleted. Existing users can also rest easy, as the subscription fees of $5.99 monthly and $69.99 annually will remain unchanged.