Oura Ring 5 review: the software makes the difference
25.8.2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Lorenz Keller
The fifth generation of Oura’s smart ring hasn’t seen much technical development, but it’s slimmer and more compact than ever before. The software’s still trailblazing, but the subscription model costs extra.
Oura’s been selling smart rings for over ten years. The Finnish manufacturer has popularised a whole new product category. After so long, can Oura really reinvent the wheel ring? For the past two months, I’ve been testing the fifth generation of their fitness and health tracker, provided by Oura. However, the manufacturer had no influence on either this article or my review.
Small, smaller, Oura Ring 5
I can answer the initial question immediately: no, the Ring 5 doesn’t offer any new features. The basic principle and functions are the same as in the last two generations.
The shape, however, has changed: the ring is smaller than ever before. According to the manufacturer, the Oura Ring 5’s 40 per cent smaller than its predecessor. It’s almost two millimetres narrower, which visibly alters its appearance. The Ring 5 looks understated and discreet. In comparison, the Ring 4 looks almost bulky.
The new version comes in six colours – to suit every style. Depending on the ring size, it weighs between 2.0 and 2.7 grammes, a lot less than its predecessor, which weighed between 3.3 and 5.2 grammes. However, even the older models weren’t heavy enough to be noticeable on the finger, especially compared to real silver or gold jewellery.
The ring’s made of titanium with a nano-coating that’s supposedly particularly durable. This has proven true in the first two months. Normally, the inside of my ring quickly gets micro-scratches because I carry things around, hold onto things and the ring rubs against hard materials. This hasn’t been the case with Ring 5 so far: there are no visible signs of everyday wear.
Accurate measurements, mediocre battery
Oura didn’t just shrink the ring; it completely redesigned it from the ground up. This includes improved sensors designed to provide consistently precise measurements regardless of skin type or finger position.
I can’t verify that. What I can attest to, though, is the automatic sleep tracking. The time I fall asleep, awake phases, my wake-up time – the app maps everything exactly as I experience it.
I put the pedometer through its paces – literally. I counted 1,000 steps twice using a clicker and compared the results with the app’s readings. With a deviation of less than one per cent, the Oura 5’s among the most accurate smart rings I’ve tested so far. The readings are slightly low, which is acceptable to prevent me from overestimating my activity.
The battery life comparison with the competition’s a less favourable one. In my last test, the RingConn lasted just over eleven days before needing be to recharged. The Oura Ring 5 lasted an average of seven and a half days. That’s significantly less than models from other manufacturers.
At least the Ring 5 lasts as long as the Ring 4, despite its much more compact design. And I don’t notice any major difference in measurement accuracy compared to the previous model, which also accurately recorded my daily routine.
Software’s the key
But let’s be honest: Oura’s greatest strength is its software. The Finnish manufacturer still offers the most comprehensive app, which is continuously being developed and expanded with new features. However, this comes at a price. To use the ring effectively, you need a membership. The subscription costs six Swiss francs or euros per month, or 70 Swiss francs or euros per year. Most competitors manage without these additional costs. Understandably, this pricing model’s a dealbreaker for some.
If you’re willing to invest in the subscription, you’ll get a comprehensive analysis of all the data the ring records. And that’s where Oura moves ahead of competing apps. Not only are the measurements available, but the app also interprets them in detail.
For example, my stress level is currently higher than normal because I’m in the middle of planning for IFA and – on top of my daily work – I have to respond to countless queries and plan our trade fair coverage. The app’s advising me to let my body rest from time to time.
I can also see that my stress levels are generally under control. My cumulative stress is low because I take breaks to recover, but this is where my resilience decreases. Recovery at night and during the day is only rated good, and stress levels are moderate. Oura’s tip for me: get enough sleep and take breaks during the day as well.
You can click through every aspect of your health and delve deeper into the connections. The app explains everything clearly and concisely. Graphics and the clear design reinforce the positive impression – and spark the desire to engage with the data in more depth.
For example, I check my readiness score and see that my resting heart rate is very good at an average of 52 beats per minute. I’ll explain more about the connections in a further article.
Deep within the app
Besides daily fitness, you can find details about sleep, activity, heart rate, stress and resilience. You can keep a health diary and manually enter anything that’s been on your mind. The ring tracks 80 different sports at the touch of a button, more than any of its competitors. It even recognises some activities – such as walks or jogging – automatically. However, for accurate workout tracking, it’s best to start each session manually. The ring can also record data on your menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause, if you wish.
With the so-called «unguided session», you can record your own mindfulness and relaxation exercises. Finally, a year ago the manufacturer launched the Oura Advisor: a self-developed AI model for health-related questions that provides tips based on measured data but also answers questions – for example, how I can sleep better while travelling or increase my resilience.
What I’ve noticed compared to the last test is that I can now more accurately adjust how often the app notifies me with tips and tricks. The constant notifications used to annoy me.
So, for the pretty hefty subscription fee, you get real added value compared to providers such as RingConn or Samsung (which don’t charge a subscription fee). However, whether the better software and more in-depth analysis are truly worth the extra cost is a question that every smart ring enthusiast has to answer for themselves. This is a major factor in deciding whether the Oura Ring 5’s even an option. By the way, if appearance isn’t a big deal to you or you prefer chunkier rings, the Oura Ring 4 would be a half-price alternative. The money you’d save would cover the subscription for several years.
In a nutshell
Great software, but only with a subscription
Users willing to invest in a monthly or annual membership get comprehensive health and fitness tracking with the Ring 5. No one achieves the level of depth that smart ring pioneer Oura does.
The ring’s noticeably more compact and therefore more discreet, but there’s not much difference technology-wise compared to the previous model. So, anyone looking to save money should also consider the Ring 4.
Pro
- Slim and discreet
- High-quality
- Comprehensive software solution
Contra
- Mediocre battery life
- Expensive and subject to a subscription
- Similar to the previous model
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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