Wherever I go, whatever I do, people point at my finger and ask, “Is that an Oura Ring?” Lots of people find they like the design, and they tell me why they’re thinking about switching to a smart ring from a smartwatch. But the people who scrunch up their noses? They usually say something along the lines of, “Hm. Maybe when it’s lighter or smaller.” Good news. The newly announced $399 Oura Ring 5 is both.

The Oura Ring 5 measures 6.09mm wide (down from 7.9mm) and 2.29mm thick (down from 2.88mm). Depending on the size, it weighs from 2 to 2.69 grams. You’d think it might be hard to notice much a difference between the Oura Ring 4 and 5 — two very small wearables. But slipping the Oura Ring 5 off a ring stand and into my palm? It’s immediately noticeable. On my finger, it’s slimmer, too.

Design and Build

The design doesn’t look that different, though Oura told me in a press briefing that it was reengineered to include stronger LEDs and optimized battery life that can last for six to nine days. Larger rings always have longer battery life. The ring itself is titanium and IP68 weather resistant, and the coating is reportedly less scratch-prone than previous models. There’s also a new “deep rose” color, which is more of a coppery rose gold than pink. The optional charging case now also holds five full charges and works with wireless chargers.

There are a few disappointments. As with the Oura Ring 4, the company is recommending that people seeking to upgrade double-check their size with a new sizing kit. Because of the redesigned components, people can get stuck with an “in-between” ring size, which may require going larger or smaller to be more comfortable. Also, while the Oura Ring 4 was available in sizes 4 to 15, the Oura Ring 5 will only come in sizes 6 to 13. At my briefing, I was told that’s because the Oura Ring 4 isn’t that old yet (it launched at the end of 2024) and the company is still figuring out how much demand there is for the newer sizes. Another bummer: There’s no ceramic option yet.

Software Updates: Health Radar and Beyond

Alongside the hardware, Oura is also announcing a ton of new software updates today. Building on Symptom Radar, which detects early health changes, the company is launching something called Health Radar. This suite of features includes nighttime blood pressure and nighttime breathing trends, the ability to import medical records, and a partnership with Council AI for a medical chatbot. The latter two features require you to participate in the experimental Oura Labs beta testing feature. The idea is that Health Radar will flag when a significant change happens in your health without having you look at each metric separately every day.

For folks interested in metabolic health, Oura is also adding GLP-1 insights and lab uploads. At my briefing, I was told the GLP-1 insights are meant to help users keep track of their dosages, monitor changes and side effects, and get a sense of what’s normal regarding how the medication may affect their metrics. For example, GLP-1s can cause a mild increase in resting heart rate. Lab uploads will allow Oura users to directly import test results into the app and chat with Oura’s AI chatbot about the findings. As always, an obligatory reminder that most AI health features are capable of hallucinations and poor advice, so it’s a bad idea to think this can replace your doctor.

Fitness-wise, live activity tracking is also improving in the Oura app. You’ll now be able to pair a third-party heart rate monitor to the Oura app, as well as view various real-time metrics. And similar to other big-name health tech companies, Oura is launching a new research study called the Brain Health Study. Users can opt in to share their data as Oura studies how metrics correlate to cognitive performance.

Privacy and Data Control

All of this is pretty sensitive information, and given Oura’s controversy last year over its Palantir partnership, the company says it’ll now give users expanded options for deleting their data. A new feature called Time-based Data Deletion will allow users to erase their information from a specific window of time should they wish.

Pricing and Availability

The Oura Ring 5 is available for preorder from Oura, Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers today, starting at $399 for the black and silver colors and $499 for the rest of the colors. It’s expected to ship June 4th. The Brain Health Study is live starting today. The rest of the software updates will roll out in June.

Background and Market Context

Oura has been a pioneer in the smart ring category since its first generation launched in 2015. The company’s devices have evolved from basic sleep trackers to comprehensive health platforms capable of monitoring heart rate, body temperature, activity, and more. The Oura Ring 4, released in late 2024, introduced a new sensor layout and a ceramic edition aimed at improving accuracy and durability. However, the bulky profile remained a common complaint among users with smaller fingers or those seeking a more discreet wearable.

The smart ring market has grown increasingly competitive. Samsung entered the fray with the Galaxy Ring in 2024, offering a sleek design and integration with its Health platform. Ultrahuman and Circular also offer alternatives, each focusing on specific health metrics like sleep or activity. Oura’s latest hardware refresh aims to reclaim the design lead while expanding its software capabilities to justify the premium price point.

The inclusion of GLP-1 insights is particularly timely, given the surge in popularity of drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro for weight loss and diabetes management. These medications can alter metabolic markers, and Oura’s ability to track changes in resting heart rate, HRV, and body temperature could help users understand their own responses. The company’s decision to allow lab uploads and integrate an AI chatbot for analysis positions the app as a central hub for health data, though users are cautioned to continue consulting healthcare professionals.

Data privacy remains a critical issue for wearable companies. Oura faced backlash in 2025 when it partnered with Palantir Technologies for data analysis, leading some users to worry about how their health information might be used. The new Time-based Data Deletion feature is a direct response to those concerns, giving users granular control over their historical data. While it doesn’t change the fact that Oura still collects extensive biometric data, it does offer an additional layer of transparency and user agency.

Looking ahead, the Oura Ring 5 represents a careful balancing act: delivering a smaller, more comfortable form factor while expanding health tracking capabilities that could appeal to a broader audience. The absence of certain sizes and the ceramic option may frustrate some loyalists, but the core improvements in size, weight, and battery life are likely to win over many skeptics. As the smart ring market continues to mature, Oura’s ability to iterate on both hardware and software will determine whether it retains its position as the category leader.

Source: The Verge News