Oura Ring 4 hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Ring’s worst nightmare

Oura Ring 4, like a stealthy ninja at night, may have just knocked the Samsung Galaxy Ring off its high horse.

I’ve been wearing the Galaxy Ring since it launched in late July – and I’ve been wearing it on my ring finger non-stop. I praised it for several features, including its good compatibility with my Galaxy S24 Ultra (it can trigger the shutter button in the camera app). Also, no registration fee is always a bonus.

As the weeks have passed, however, I’ve grown bored with the Samsung Galaxy Ring – it’s missing something. It needs more.

And then – wow! – Oura Ring 4 has just been announced, threatening to annihilate all its rivals. A new wearable beast has entered the ring, pun intended, and it has the Galaxy Ring squarely in its place, ready to deliver a rematch.

Oura Ring 4 works with hands

So for the uninitiated, the Oura Ring 3, because of its sensors, has a bumpy interior – similar to the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Samsung Galaxy Ring
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In my opinion, the bumpiness is not noticeable in both wearables. For example, Mashable’s Chris Taylor, who reviewed the Oura Ring 3, says the sensors felt like “smooth little round teeth,” but he didn’t find them unpleasant. And while the Galaxy Ring has the same grooves, it just doesn’t work for me.

Still, seeking to achieve wearable nirvana, Oura has stripped back the sensors on the new fourth-generation ring for a sleeker interior. See below.

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Now compare this to Oura Ring 3, pictured on the left next to Taylor’s wedding ring.

Oura Ring 3 (pictured left)
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

In addition, Oura increased the number of signal paths to 18 (up from eight).

The Finland-based health technology company told Mashable that the sensors use Smart Sensing technology, powered by an algorithm that works with advanced sensors in the Oura Ring 4, to adapt to each user’s unique finger characteristics.

In other words, depending on your skin tone, BMI, and age, Oura Ring 4 can measure your individual body.

Better accuracy

The 10 additional signal paths in the Oura Ring 4 lead to better accuracy, according to Oura. Therefore, users should get more accurate readings.

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Oura said its accuracy claims are backed by research. It compared the Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 3 with an external research group and documented a 30 percent improvement in blood-oxygen sensing accuracy and better monitoring of respiratory distress (up 15 percent). In addition, there are small gaps in the heart rate graphs during the day and at night (7 percent and 31 percent less, respectively).

Sensors inside the Oura Ring 4 include the following:

Oura told Mashable that the Ring 4 uses a “multi-wavelength photoplethysmography (PPG) system.” As you can guess, that went away way over my head. But after Oura explained it to me as a five-year-old, it basically means that the Oura Ring uses lights (eg, blue and infrared LEDs) that shine on your skin to get certain health metrics (eg, how your blood flows through the body yours. ).

The PPG method tracks your heart rate, breathing rate, and even sleep patterns, throughout the day and night.

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Oura Ring 4 can monitor the following health and wellness metrics:

• Heart rate

• Heart rate variability

• Finding sleep time

• Sleep stage

• Blood oxygen levels (spO2)

• The age of the heart

• Cardio Power

• Daytime stress and stiffness

• Body clock and chronotype

• Cycle details

• Automatic job discovery

It’s also nice to note that, with the Oura Ring 4, you no longer have to worry too much about how it sits on your finger. With the Galaxy Ring and Oura Ring 3, you will get a more accurate reading when the sensors are against the soft parts of your finger. However, thanks to the improved sensors, this is not a problem as it was with Oura Ring 3.

Long battery life

The Oura Ring 3, like the Samsung Galaxy Ring, has an advertised battery life of about seven days. (For me, the latter lasted about six days on a single charge.)

Oura Ring 4
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

According to Oura, the Ring 4 has improved energy efficiency. It can reportedly take up to eight days, but we’ll be the judge of that once we get it in for review.

Plus sizes

Oura said it has received many requests to accept additional sizes.

Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

Younger women (eg, teenagers), in particular, have shown an interest in health-oriented wear. It even received requests from wealthy athletes who wanted a bigger size.

As such, Oura Ring 4 now offers an expanded range of sizes: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

I asked the Oura rep which finger is the best place for the Ring 4 – and the index finger, obviously. Interestingly, my index finger is a size 7: two sizes larger than my ring finger.

Oura Ring 4 measurement kit
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

When you buy Oura Ring 4 online, you can get a free sizing kit, allowing you to choose your right size with confidence.

Gold Oura Ring 4 is amazing

The predecessor of the Oura Ring 4, the Oura Ring 3, came in two styles: Gems and Horizon.

Oura Ring 4 worn next to Mashable’s aquamarine ring by Joe Maldonado
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Now, Oura Ring 4 only it reaches the Horizon.

The Oura Ring 4 comes in six different sizes, but let’s be honest, the gold one is the best.
Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

I’ve always joked that the Heritage reminds me of a washing machine with its ridges while the Horizon offers a smooth, undisturbed round design.

Oura Ring 4 comes in four categories:

• Black

• Trickery

• Silver

• Mixed Silver

• Rose Gold

• Gold

Samsung Galaxy Ring Black
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, it was the Gold Ring that won my heart. I can imagine getting a lot of compliments while wearing this one. Currently, not only not I got compliments on my matte-black Samsung Galaxy Ring, but my most loyal best friend had the gall to call it “ugly.”

New and updated app

The Oura app is getting a major update and redesign, too. However, I am very excited about Oura Labs, which is where you can get an AI-powered Oura Advisor that works in concert with your Oura health data.

You can start a conversation with an Oura Advisor, and they’ll give you advice and personalized health goals based on what they understand about your data.

The Oura Ring 4 is available for pre-order now, and you can find it at several retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Oura’s main website.

The Oura Ring 4 starts at $349, and comes with a free one-month membership. However, after it expires, the membership will set you back $5.99 per month or $69.99 per year.

Oura Ring 4 will officially hit store shelves on Oct. 15.