logo
Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: I put the top two fitness trackers head-to-head

Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: I put the top two fitness trackers head-to-head

Yahoo05-05-2025

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission.
You won't be surprised to hear that an Apple Watch fits like any old watch. Credit: Samantha Mangino
The Oura Ring is easily the most low-profile fitness tracker. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
The Apple Watch takes the route of a standard smartwatch. In its over 10 iterations, it's kept its signature OLED display and assortment of wristband options, but it's gotten smaller and thinner over the years.
Meanwhile, the Oura Ring is the newest type of fitness tracker: the smart ring. The Oura Ring 4 looks like a classic band, just maybe a little thicker than your average wedding band. It comes in six finishes: silver, black, brushed silver, stealth, gold, and rose gold. It also comes in a wide range of ring sizes, from four to 15.
As you might guess, the Apple Watch feels like a standard watch model. It's lightweight; the latest Series 10 model ranges from 29.3 to 36.4 grams in weight, and rather than a classic watch face, it has either a 42 or 46-mm OLED watch face. That leaves plenty of room to check and reply to texts or view your health metrics. It's a slim fit that doesn't get in the way, so you can wear it all day. The wristband tends to make the watch feel stiff while you're trying to sleep, however. And it's not the most aesthetically pleasing device — don't ask the internet about wearing an Apple Watch to a wedding unless you want an earful.
Meanwhile, the Oura Ring has a far more unobtrusive design. It's 2.88mm thick and 7.9mm tall, so it's certainly not a slim fit, but in my experience, it doesn't interfere with your grip either. It looks like any old ring at a distance, but it packs a lot of biometric sensing in a small package, so if you want an inconspicuous tracker, go for Oura.
Both devices are waterproof, so you can wear them around the clock, even if you go swimming or take a shower. I should note that the Apple Watch is only for iOS users, while the Oura Ring can work with iOS and Android.
Winner: Oura Ring
The real priority with both of these devices is fitness tracking—that's why you're investing in this gadget after all. Both will monitor your activity, letting you log your type of activity and tracking your heart rate, steps, and distance, but they each do it in different ways.
With the Apple Watch, the primary sensor under the watch face sits on the wrist to gather biometric data. The smartwatch has two apps, Workout and Fitness. Workout is where you start and end workouts, and you can see your distance, pacing, and heart rate right on your wrist. The Fitness app shows you the total calories burned, hours of standing, and minutes of exercise, all of which you can check directly on the watch. Plus, if you forget to start a workout, the Apple Watch is good at sensing activity and can remind you to start a workout.
Since the Oura Ring takes a screenless approach, to see all of your health data, you need to open your smartphone and go into the Oura app. Within the app, you can start workouts and see your step count, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. Like the Apple Watch, Oura's sensors are smart at detecting activity. If you forget to log a workout beforehand, Oura will give you a list of activities to review in hindsight.
Based on ease of access to health data and phone-free approach, the Apple Watch wins for me. Plus, when used together, you can track your workouts on an Apple Watch and import that data into the Oura app.
Winner: Apple Watch
As mentioned, the Apple Watch isn't my preferred sleep tracker based on comfort alone. The silicone and metal bands tend to be stiff, causing wrist discomfort overnight. Apple Watches struggle to last 24 hours on battery life, and constant charging can be a pain.
On the flip side, the Oura Ring is the perfect sleep tracker. If you already wear rings on your fingers around the clock, then the Oura Ring feels no different. You might feel discomfort if your hand swells at night, but that's all.
The Oura Ring is also exceptionally good at detecting sleep. Not only does it track how long your sleep, but also the different cycles you go through, such as REM and deep sleep. Plus, the Oura Ring makes long-term calculations. After 90 days of wear, the Oura Ring will calculate your chronotype so you can learn when your body naturally wants to rest.
Winner: Oura Ring
While the Apple Watch lasts 24 hours, the Oura Ring goes for days. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
When it comes to battery life, it's a no-brainer which device takes the cake. The Oura Ring's battery life lasts nearly a week, while the Apple Watch lasts up to 24 hours max. Both charge fairly quickly and can charge within an hour. So, if you want a device with superb battery life, allowing you to track every waking and sleeping moment of your day, the Oura Ring is the only option.
Winner: Oura Ring
The Oura Ring offers a ton of health tracking perks — it even connects to other health apps like Clue or Natural Cycles. However, it's just a fitness tracker, albeit a very good one.
The Apple Watch provides much more than fitness tracking. iOS users receive iPhone notifications on their watch and can even take calls or reply to texts. Plus, you can connect to Spotify and other apps, all without pulling out your phone. So, if you want more bang for your buck, it's the Apple Watch.
Winner: Apple Watch
Regarding cost, the Oura Ring and Apple Watch are fairly aligned. The Oura Ring starts at $349 but ranges to $499 based on your color choice. The Apple Watch is slightly more expensive, starting at $399 and going up to $1,049 if you splurge on titanium and stainless steel models (we don't think that's necessary; the aluminum models are great).
The biggest hiccup in cost comes with the Oura Ring. In addition to the upfront cost, you must pay a monthly subscription to access the full range of Oura's features. Monthly membership costs $5.99 a month or $69.99 annually.
Winner: Apple Watch
An Apple Watch and Oura Ring work better together. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable
In my mind, the Oura Ring and Apple Watch are both winners; it just depends on what you need. If you're already on the iOS system and want a fitness tracker, the Apple Watch is a no-brainer. It provides detailed workout summaries and monitors your health data in an easy-to-access package. Just a few taps on the wrist show your step count and daily calories burned.
If you don't like the look of an Apple Watch and prefer the discreet design of a smart ring, then the Oura Ring is the ideal choice. It's the best smart ring we've tested, and it provides more comfortable sleep tracking than the Apple Watch. Not to mention its nearly week-long battery life.
But what if you want easy access to smartwatch features on your wrist and the 24/7 monitoring of a smart ring? Then get both. In comparing these devices and wearing them simultaneously, I found that they work better together than apart. I like being able to start my workouts on my watch and have them automatically uploaded to the Oura app. But the Oura Ring provides overnight sleep tracking, so my Apple Watch doesn't have to.
Get the Oura Ring and Apple Watch
If you know your ring size
Oura Ring 4 in silver
$399
Shop Now
If you don't know your ring size
Oura Ring sizing kit
$10
Shop Now
Best Apple watch for most people
Apple Watch Series 10
$299 (save $100)
Get Deal
Best budget Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE
$169 (save $80)
Get Deal
Still can't decide? Dive into our reviews of the Oura Ring 4 and the Apple Watch Series 10.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ten big changes coming to iPhones and other Apple devices this year
Ten big changes coming to iPhones and other Apple devices this year

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Ten big changes coming to iPhones and other Apple devices this year

At its annual developer conference WWDC, Apple has given us another preview of software innovations coming to the iPhone, Mac and other devices from the company. These include many AI features, but the first change you're likely to notice is the new design in the operating systems. Since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, there have essentially only been two design directions for the software. Initially, Apple sought to mimic real-world objects, such as wooden bookshelves for the Books app, to help users understand the concept of multitouch screens. With iOS 7 in 2013, a starkly minimalist alternative was introduced, featuring icons made of just a few lines. This minimalism has been mixed with more colour in recent years, but the two-dimensional principle remained. Now, a new design language called Liquid Glass is being introduced. Transparent elements, which appear to float above other content, are intended to evoke the look of flowing glass. 1. A new glassy design language: For the first time, Apple is introducing a unified design language across its entire product range, including the Apple Watch and the Apple TV streaming box. Additionally, all operating systems will now feature a year in their name instead of their own version numbers. For example, instead of iOS 19 following iOS 18, the next version will be called iOS 26 or iPadOS 26, with the "26" referring to the upcoming year. 2. Fewer buttons in the camera app: The camera app, one of the most frequently used iPhone apps, has also been simplified at first glance, when you only see the shutter button and another option to switch between photo and video. Additional settings and functions are now hidden behind small icons or appear only when swiping across the display. At the same time, some settings can now be accessed more quickly than before. The Photos app is also being revamped and a toggle will allow users to quickly switch between the library and various collections. 3. Improved call features: The iPhone is gaining two useful features previously known from Google's Android system. For unknown phone numbers, users can have the software ask what the call is about and decide whether to answer based on the transcribed response. Additionally, during hold times, the phone can monitor when a human operator picks up and then connect the call. 4. Built-in interpreter: Apple is also significantly expanding its live translation features. During video calls, translations will appear as subtitles, naturally in a Liquid Glass overlay. For voice calls, the software will act as an interpreter. In the Music app, song lyrics can also be translated. 5. New gesture for Apple Watch: Notifications displayed on the Apple Watch currently remain on the screen for several seconds unless you dismiss them or interact with them in some other way. In future, you'll be able to shake them away without tapping, using a quick wrist flick away from you. This gesture can also be used to reject incoming calls. 6. Maps app with memory: Apple's Maps app will soon be able to remember restaurants or shops users have visited, making it easier to find them again later. The iPhone will also remember preferred routes to frequently visited locations and suggest them. The information is protected with end-to-end encryption, ensuring that even Apple cannot access it, the company emphasised. 7. iPad gets a massive Mac feature: Many iPad users have long complained about how hard it is to work with multiple apps, while on Mac computers, arranging windows side by side is simple. Apple is now promising improvements and is even bringing the trademark traffic light buttons to iPad. Users now get enhanced options for switching between programme windows and, for the first time, a menu bar. This makes the iPad suitable for more use cases that previously required a Mac computer. 8. Karaoke on the TV: Apple is turning its Apple TV streaming box into a kind of karaoke machine. In conjunction with Apple's Music app on the box, the iPhone will act as your microphone, with the voice being transmitted through the TV. Others can also join in with their iPhones. 9. Time running out for Intel Macs: In recent years, Apple has transitioned its Mac models to chips developed in-house. The new macOS 26 Tahoe will be the last version to run on Mac computers with previously used Intel processors. However, they will continue to receive security updates for three more years. 10. Virtual widgets in real spaces: Among the innovations for Apple's Vision Pro headset is the ability to place widgets, such as a clock, photo frame, calendar or music controls, in fixed locations. When the headset is worn in the same room, the digital objects will reappear in the same spots. Apple is also making the Vision Pro more suitable for business use. It will be easier to share the headset among different employees. Additionally, multiple users can collaborate on a virtual object, such as a car or a piece of furniture. The 3D avatar Persona, which represents users in others' fields of view, is being significantly improved. The Vision Pro will also support external controllers, such as those for Sony's VR headset, which is expected to enhance the experience of immersive gaming. Useful small updates: As always, there are various minor improvements that didn't make it into the hour-and-a-half keynote at the developer conference. For instance, the camera will now notify users when the lens needs cleaning. The alarm clock will allow users to adjust the snooze duration, which has so far been fixed at nine minutes. Additionally, Apple's password app will now display previous passwords.

I Want Workout Buddy to Be More Boot Camp Trainer Than Cheerleader on the Apple Watch
I Want Workout Buddy to Be More Boot Camp Trainer Than Cheerleader on the Apple Watch

CNET

time5 hours ago

  • CNET

I Want Workout Buddy to Be More Boot Camp Trainer Than Cheerleader on the Apple Watch

I was expecting (and hoping) Apple would launch some kind of AI-powered health feature on the Apple Watch at WWDC 2025, but Workout Buddy wasn't exactly what I had in mind. I'm the kind of person who spoils any and all surprises by reading the last page of a good mystery novel, or the finale synopsis of a Netflix whodunit before I've even gotten through the pilot. So I went into WWDC, Apple's annual developers conference, having read all the rumors, feeling pretty confident that I knew most of what was coming to WatchOS 26: a smarter Health app with AI coaching that could finally turn all my fitness metrics into meaningful, personalized guidance. What we actually got during Apple's WWDC keynote was a bit different... and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Rather than unleashing a flood of generic coaching suggestions or unsolicited advice (like caffeine restriction windows which should not exist in my vocabulary), Apple is being intentionally conservative with its approach to AI on the watch, testing the waters with Workout Buddy and laying the groundwork for more meaningful, context-aware insights. Workout Buddy will take into account all your past fitness data including training load, move rings and past workouts. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET What Is Workout Buddy? Workout Buddy isn't meant to be a coach (at least not in the traditional sense). It won't train you for a marathon or map out a four-week plan to boost your VO2 max. What it will do is act as a voice in your ear, offering encouragement during a workout based on your past fitness data. Think: "That was your fastest mile ever," or "You've just crossed 500 miles for the year!". For some people, that kind of affirmation might be enough to keep pushing forward. But I'm the kind of runner who thrives on structure and tough love. I should note that I haven't tested Workout Buddy. But from what Apple showed off, Workout Buddy won't cut it for me -- at least not yet. I already rely on pace and heart rate alerts to let me know when I'm slacking. What I really need is a drill-sergeant-style coach that handles the math for me, so I can focus on my stride, my breathing and whatever podcast is carrying me through mile four. Apple unveils WatchOS 26 at its Developers Conference WWDC 2025. Apple Screenshot What Workout Buddy means for the future What Workout Buddy is doing is technically impressive, combining exercise and health information and turning that into a conversational voice that gives you a personalized pep talk. It proves that Apple has both the data and the processing power to analyze workouts in real time and turn them into something meaningful. It's the first step toward a more responsive, intelligent Apple Watch health/fitness experience that doesn't just track your fitness, but actively helps you improve it. It also offers a window into Apple's broader strategy for AI on the Watch. Whether due to hardware limitations (Workout Buddy relies on Apple Intelligence, which requires an iPhone 15 or newer communicating with the watch) or just Apple being Apple (cautious, user-first and deliberate), the result is a feature that feels thoughtfully scoped rather than rushed and half baked. It's not shouting unsolicited advice or drowning users in confusing metrics. It's dipping a toe into coaching, not diving in headfirst. Now that the groundwork is there, it feels like only a matter of time before we get a true AI-powered health coach. Workout Buddy could pave the way for more real-time coaching on the wrist. Apple Screenshot And if this voice assistant really is the start of something smarter and more didactic, can it please expand to other areas of health too? I've never been a fan of sleep tracking. But maybe, if I had the right incentives or feedback, I'd get on board. The new Vitals app already does a decent job of flagging early signs of illness, but now imagine a proactive sleep coach that tells me my room's too hot to hit deep sleep. That's the kind of data driven encouragement I'd actually listen to. For now, Workout Buddy is limited to eight workout types: indoor and outdoor running and walking, outdoor cycling, HIIT, functional strength and traditional strength training. It'll arrive in September with the watchOS 26 update -- alongside a handful of other features you can read more about here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store