We used the Oura Ring 4 to optimise our fitness and sleep, and this is what happened

In today’s fast-paced world, most of us have come to rely on wearables to track our health and fitness activities on a daily basis. But the flip side of this dependence is the near-constant notification alerts and buzz. That is precisely why Oura Ring 4 arrives as a breath of fresh air.

It’s a piece of technology that doesn’t demand attention. Instead, it goes about doing its job of tracking fitness and sharing insightful data in a stealthy manner. Having recently launched in India, I got my hands (or finger) on it to find out whether this discreet wellness companion is worth the hype. Here’s our detailed Oura Ring 4 review.

Oura Ring 4 design

The first thing you notice about Oura Ring 4 is its understated elegance. Crafted from lightweight titanium, it feels more like a piece of jewellery than a gadget. The latest generation features recessed sensors, making it even more comfortable than its predecessors. It’s comfortable enough to wear 24/7, and easy to forget it’s even there.

The Ring comes in a range of sizes (4-15), and to get the perfect size, buyers can first opt for the sizing kit. There are also a variety of finishes to choose from, including Black, Silver, Gold, Stealth Black, Brushed Silver, and Rose Gold.

While the choice of colour differs from person to person, our personal favourite is the Stealth Black. As the name suggests, it is subtle and understated, and feels right at home whether you’re at a gym or a black-tie event.

The ring is not only a looker, but also sturdy enough to survive gruelling indoor and outdoor workout sessions. It is also water-resistant up to 100 metres, so you don’t have to worry about taking it off for a swim.

The Oura experience: Beyond the hardware

The real magic of Oura Ring 4 however lies in its app. It’s among the most in-depth fitness app interfaces I’ve come across, but at no point does it feel overbearing. The data is well-organised, easy to understand, and provides a holistic view of your health.

The health metrics on the app are divided into three main scores: Sleep, Readiness, and Activity.

Sleep: Your nightly report card

This is where Oura Ring stands out among the score of health trackers, and truly shines. For one, it is effortless to wear while sleeping, which can’t be said for most other trackers in the market today.

In terms of data, the Ring is able to track and provide a detailed analysis of your sleep, including your time in different sleep stages (light, deep, and REM), your resting heart rate, and your heart-rate variability (HRV). It also tracks blood oxygen levels and can detect potential breathing disturbances during the night.

In my time using the Ring, the sleep data reflected on the app was remarkably accurate. It not only tracked the quality of my sleep, but also predicted how I’m likely to feel through the day. Over time, I also found myself making small changes basis what the app suggested to improve my sleep score.

Readiness: Your daily guide

The Readiness Score is a snapshot and an important indicator of your body’s overall state. It takes into account your recent sleep, activity levels, and key biometric signals to let you know how prepared you are for the day ahead.

This is particularly useful for knowing when to schedule a tough workout and when to prioritise rest and recovery. Between work, the long commute, workouts and sleep, the Ring was able to accurately predict when my body was in need of a rest day.

But what really blew my mind was an instance when the Ring was able to detect that I was about to fall sick. In essence, the onboard sensors detected changes in my body temperature, my heart-rate and respiratory rate to alert me of potential symptoms. And almost on cue, I fell sick the next day. This is something no other fitness gadget I’ve used so far has been able to offer.

Activity: Counting more than just steps

When it comes to workouts, Oura Ring 4 automatically detects over 40 different activities, from walking and running to housework and gardening. While it may not provide the granular-level data of a dedicated sports watch, it gives a good overview of your daily movement.

The Activity Score is a dynamic goal that adjusts based on your Readiness Score, encouraging you to push yourself when you’re well-rested and take it easy when you need to recover.

Oura Ring 4 battery life

Among the highlights of Oura Ring 4 is also its battery life. Throughout our time using the Ring, it easily lasted between six to seven days before alerting us of the need to charge. This week-long battery life means you don’t need to carry the charger around, and only top-up over weekends.

Speaking of top-ups, charging the Ring can take anywhere up to 90 minutes. This is a welcome change from the daily charging routines we’ve come to associate with most smartwatches.

Unboxed Take: Who should buy Oura Ring 4?

Oura Ring 4 is not for the hardcore athlete who wants to track every split and interval. Rather, it’s for the individual who wants to gain a deeper understanding of their overall health and well-being. It’s a tool that empowers you to make small, sustainable changes that can have a big impact over time.

With prices starting from Rs 28,900 and monthly subscription fee of Rs 600 for the Oura app, there are costs to consider. But the wealth of personalised data and actionable insights make it a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about their health. And for all these reasons, we rate Oura Ring 4 a solid 4.5/5.

For more such in-depth reviews and everything tech, stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma.