Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3 – My favorite smart ring just got a big upgrade

The Oura Ring Gen 3 has officially been replaced by the Oura Ring 4. So, whether you come across the Oura Ring Gen 3 when the store is running out of stock or you want to know if you should upgrade to the Oura Ring 4, you’ve come to right place.

I have used the Oura Ring 3 for many years since it was released in 2021. However, the newer Oura Ring 4, featuring an all-titanium redesign and longer battery life, will be available on October 15, starting at $349. Going forward, those interested in purchasing one of Oura’s best smart rings will exclusively purchase the Oura Ring 4 – only third-party retailers will have the Oura Ring 3 while supplies last.

That said, there are a few improvements worth noting when it comes to the Oura Ring 4 compared to the Oura Ring 3. The biggest changes materialize in the actual design of the ring and sensor accuracy. But when it comes to the companion Oura app and the types of fitness metrics the smart rings provide, the two have more in common than you might expect.

Below you’ll find everything you need to know about Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 3.

Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3: Specs Comparison

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Header Cell – Column 0	Oura’s Ring 4	Oura’s Ring 3
Starting price	$349	$299
Sizes	4-15	6-13
Coloration	Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Brushed Titanium, Black, Stealth	Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Brushed Titanium, Black, Stealth
Sensors	PPG (heart rate + SpO2), skin temperature, accelerometer	PPG (heart rate + SpO2), skin temperature, accelerometer
Libra	3.3-5.2 grams	4-6 grams
Thickness	~2.88mm	~2.7-2.9mm
Battery life	Up to 8 days	Up to 7 days
Subscription	$5.99 per month	$5.99 per month

Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3: Price and Availability

Oura Ring 4 replaced Oura Ring 3 as of October 3, 2024, and customers can no longer purchase Oura Ring 3 directly on Oura.com; however, October 15 is the official release date for Oura Ring 4.

As for pricing, the Oura Ring 4 starts at $349, which is $50 more than the starting price of the original Heritage-style Oura Ring 3, which had a ridged exterior; however, the fully round Oura Ring Gen 3 Horizon model started at $349.

Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3: Design

The Oura Ring 4 may look like the Oura Ring 3 at first glance, but take a closer look inside and you’ll see that the newer version has some significant changes to its design.

Where the Oura Ring Gen 3 had three protruding edges on the inside that housed the fitness-tracking sensors, the Oura Ring 4’s sensors are almost completely recessed. There are now two very slightly raised bumps – I don’t think most people will even notice them.

Oura Ring 4 is now also made entirely of titanium, while Oura Ring 3 had a titanium exterior and an epoxy coating on the interior. This makes the ring slightly lighter, but apparently helps in terms of accuracy as well.

Another significant design change is that the Oura Ring 4 is available in sizes 4 to 15, providing 4 more size options than the Oura Ring 3. While you will still need to confirm your best fit with a size kit, the added sizes now give you Oura Gets an edge over the Samsung Galaxy Ring in this regard. The Samsung Smart Ring is available in sizes 5 to 13.

Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3: Fitness Tracking Features

Oura Ring 4 introduces a new system called “Smart Sensing”, where the ring’s sensors are able to create up to 18 sensing paths for your finger to read (compared to 8 in Oura Ring 3) and determine which paths are the most reliable at any given time given time. This means that Oura Ring 4 should be able to collect data more accurately while limiting the frequency of data gaps.

While Oura Ring 4 may be up to 120% more accurate than Oura Ring 3 in some respects, the actual features and data points are the same. In fact, thanks to the Oura app modernization that launched on October 3, 2024, Gen 3 and Ring 4 users can benefit from a wealth of health metrics and Oura integration.

This includes, but is not limited to: sleep tracking, activity tracking with automatic workout detection, heart rate readings, readiness scores, stress scores, menstrual cycle forecasts, immunity estimates, and long-term health trend analyses. To keep all your information organized, the Oura app is now divided into three tabs: Today, Vitals and My Health.

Oura regularly adds new features and third-party integrations to the app, although this comes at a cost. Membership, which isn’t actually optional, costs $5.99 per month.

Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3: Battery Life and Charging

Oura Ring 3 claimed to last up to 7 days between charges, although in my experience and that of most users I’ve talked to, 4-5 days is a more accurate battery life span. Oura claims the Ring 4 can last up to 8 days, although I haven’t had a chance to check if that’s true yet. My guess is that with all features enabled and moderate fitness tracking it will last 5 to 6 days, but I’ll have to see.

It’s worth noting that the Oura Ring 4 charging base is also different. Oura Ring 3 comes with a black plastic charging base, while Oura Ring 4 comes with a square metal charging base. It looks more luxurious and is also silver, making it easier to notice. I can’t even count how many times I’ve lost my Oura Ring 3 charger, so I hope this new base won’t cause me as many problems.

Oura Ring 4 vs. Oura Ring 3: Conclusion

It’s not a question of which ring you should buy, but whether you’re considering upgrading from Oura Ring Gen 3 to the newer Oura Ring 4. Since the app experience and features included are almost completely the same, it’s probably not worth it for most existing users bought Oura Ring 4.

That said, if you’re an avid Oura Ring user and want to stay on the cutting edge of the company’s latest hardware, I think you can buy new knowing it won’t be replaced for a few more years.