I Tested the New Oura Ring 5 for a Month. It’s the Fitness Tracker I Didn’t Want to Take Off

5 min readI’ve always been anti-wearables—that is, until I got an Oura Ring. I just felt I didn’t need the data, and that tracking my every heartbeat would probably make me more stressed rather than less. Then, about a year ago, I got a ceramic Oura Ring 4 to test for a story, and I realized that I actually loved having the info.A big part of why this change happened is because of how the brand packages it in really accessible and supportive ways. (If I get a bad sleep score, it doesn’t tell me the world is ending—just that I could benefit from taking it easy.) And insights like sleep debt and resilience really help me think about my health in the big picture, rather than just day-to-day.To put it plainly: I’m a big fan of Oura. There was always just one tiny little problem. The ring sometimes looked silly on my finger. I felt like it just looked too bulky for my hand.So, when the company announced its new and improved Oura Ring 5, which is both thinner and lighter than its previous versions, let’s just say I was psyched. I’ve been testing the next-generation Oura Ring for nearly a month now. Here’s my full review, plus how it compares to the size of the Oura Ring 4.ProsLooks like a regular piece of jewelry No-stress app experienceComfortable enough for 24/7 wearConsCan interfere with holding weightsBattery LifeBetween 6 and 9 daysSubscriptionYesBand Width6.09 mm How the Oura Ring 5 PerformedI’m not new to Oura—and there aren’t major differences between the 4 and the 5 beyond aesthetics—which is just to say that both rings perform really well at tracking heart, sleep, menstrual cycle, and physical activity data.Overall, the ring fits seamlessly into my life. I wear my gold Oura Ring 5 basically 24/7. I sleep with it on, shower with it on (yes, it’s waterproof!), and wear it on runs (though I use my Garmin for training). Obviously—and Oura, if you’re listening, maybe your next iteration can solve for this—it’s pretty difficult to wear to the gym. That’s simply the nature of it being a ring, but I don’t lift with it on. I don’t want to put the scratch-resistant titanium exterior to the test in that way.For something I am constantly using, it has impressive battery life. Per Oura, the battery for the 4 should last between five and eight days, while the battery for the 5 should last six to nine. In the month I’ve had my 5, I’ve only charged it three or four times—right on par with its estimations. Something I’ve always appreciated is that the ring gives you a warning when you have about 20 hours left of life, which is plenty of heads-up to make it to your charger. From there, you need just about one to two hours to get it back to 100 percent.Like other Oura Rings, users have to pay a subscription cost of $6 per month or $70 per year, so that’s important to keep in mind on top of the one-time cost of $399 to purchase the ring.Shop the Oura Ring 5 The Ring’s New-and-Improved LookThough it has some other updates, the headline for the Oura Ring 5 is its slimmer look. The band is 6.09 millimeters wide—down from the 4’s 7.90 mm width. It’s also not as thick. The 5 is 2.28 mm while the 4 is 2.88 mm. Unsurprisingly, then, it’s also not as heavy! Sizing affects how much the final weight clocks in at, but the smallest size is just 2 grams, while for the 4, it’s 3.3 grams.Honestly, this has a big impact on the experience of wearing this ring for me, especially since my ceramic 4 was slightly bigger on those specs. It feels a lot lighter and low-key, helping the tech camouflage into my other jewelry better.If you’re already an Oura user and think it’s as simple as just ordering your size in the new model—think again. The sizing may be a little different, and the brand recommends that you use its free sizing kit before placing your order. My Oura Ring 4 is a size 7, but my 5 is a size 8. I’m not sure it’s as simple as just ordering the next size up, though. It’s best to be safe and use the sizers.Oura also added a new color for this release: gold, silver, stealth, brushed silver, and black, and deep rose.Shop the Oura Ring 5 A Closer Look at the DataOf course, we have to talk about the insights Oura provides. Each ring connects via Bluetooth to an app on your phone, refreshing the data and analyzing it in real time. You get all those basics: step count, calories burned, heart rate. But, you also get details about your body temp, heart rate variability, and resting heart rate. One strength: It automatically logs activities. I don’t need to press start before a run—I know it’ll pick up on what I’m doing.Something I find really fun and engaging about Oura is all of the accessible user metrics they have. For example, Oura is known for its “sleep score,” which is a simple way to quickly get an idea of how you slept. But, when you click on the score, you get even more insights, such as how much time you spent asleep and in what stages.My favorite thing to look at regarding sleep is sleep debt—Oura’s estimation of how behind I am on my Z's. When my debt gets too high, it’s always a good reminder for me to prioritize rest or set my alarm slightly later if I can.I’ve also really enjoyed paying attention to trends about stress and what Oura calls “resilience.” Both metrics give me some information about how much demand I’ve been putting on my body and then how I’ve been recovering. But really, there’s always something new to discover when you open up the app, which is something I love about Oura. All the data—and the accessible, fun way it’s packaged—has allowed me to be curious and reflective about my health and habits.Courtesy of Oura RingThe Oura Ring 5 also tracks monthly cycle data.Shop the Oura Ring 5Alternatives to the Oura Ring 5 While I haven’t tested these personally, there are two other ring-style fitness trackers that receive positive user reviews that are alternatives to Oura if you’re looking for screenless health metric tracking. The RingConn Gen 3 claims a battery life of up to 14 days and comes in at a slightly lower price. Another option is the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which is about 2.6 mm thick compared to the 2.28 mm profile of the Oura Ring 5.Final Verdict: The Oura Ring 5 Is the Best Oura Ring YetI knew I’d love this ring before I got it, but I’m happy to confirm I do! If you’re considering getting a health tracker for the first time, Oura is a great brand for just about anyone. The insights are easy to understand, thorough, and useful—and the 5 is its best-looking ring yet. If you already have the 4, you’re not missing so much by not having the newest model. It really comes down to how you want it to look on your hand.Shop the Oura Ring 5Alternatives to the Oura Ring 5RingConn RingConn Gen 3SAMSUNG Galaxy RingOlivia Luppino is an associate editor at Women’s Health. She spends most of her time interviewing expert sources about the latest fitness trends, nutrition tips, and practical advice for living a healthier life. Olivia previously wrote for New York Magazine’s The Cut, PS (formerly POPSUGAR), and Salon, where she also did on-camera interviews with celebrity guests. She recently ran the New York City Marathon.Natascha is an editor and writer covering health, fitness, and the ways people move through the world. She’s been a NASM-certified personal trainer for more than a decade, with a background in functional strength training, corrective exercise, nutrition, and behavior change. She has additional CES, CNC, BCS, and SFC certifications. She is also a level-2 certified Spinning instructor. Her work has appeared in Bicycling, Runner’s World, and other outlets, and her experience spans both editorial and hands-on work across the fitness industry. Whether she’s writing about training, health, or performance, she’s most interested in making complicated topics useful, approachable, and helpful.