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Digital Trends
21 hours ago
- Health
- Digital Trends
Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: which no-distraction wearable is best?
Over the past few weeks I've been wearing the Whoop 5.0 and the Oura Ring 4 to track my sleep and daily activity. Neither have screens, they don't deliver notifications from my phone, and there's no app support. The are both health trackers without the distractions that come with wearing one of the best smartwatches. If you're trying to choose which one to buy you'll likely want to know how similar they are, whether one will suit you better than the other, and which one does a better job keeping you informed and motivated? I found out. Recommended Videos Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: specs and features Oura Ring 4 Whoop 5.0/Whoop MG Dimensions 7.9mm wide, 2.88mm thick smart ring 34 x 24 x 10mm fitness band Weight 3.3 grams to 5.5 grams 28 grams for Whoop MG with band Durability 100m water resistance, titanium ring IP68 Sensors Heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, accelerometer Heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, accelerometer, ECG (Whoop MG only), blood pressure monitoring (Whoop MG only) Battery life Five days 14 days Subscription Monthly Annually Price From $350 + $6 per month From $199 annually Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: design The Whoop 5.0 is a fitness band you wear on your wrist, while the Oura Ring 4 is a smart ring for your finger. This obvious difference makes the Whoop 5.0 easier to buy, as there's no sizing required. It can sometimes be hard to get exactly the right fit with a smart ring, and those who've never worn a ring before may find it takes a while to get used to the feeling. However, once you're used to it, the Oura Ring 4 is unobtrusive and fuss-free. The Whoop 5.0 is light and the special material used for the bands is really soft and flexible, making it very comfortable for 24-hour wear. However, it's not attractive, and the design belongs in the gym, making it the less stylish choice between the two. It's far more noticeable on your wrist due to the size and thickness of the main module. There's no hiding the Whoop band, and most people will notice and usually question what it is. Each is water resistant (the Oura Ring to 100 meters, and the Whoop has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating), but the Whoop is definitely going to stay looking its best for longer. The Oura Ring's placement on your finger means it comes into contact with more surfaces, and it really does get scratched easily despite being made of titanium. The Whoop 5.0's band is easily washed or changed, and the module itself is always suitably protected underneath it. I personally prefer a smart ring over a wrist-worn tracker. It's completely incognito yet still looks great, and it's comfortable enough I forget I'm wearing it. The Whoop 5.0's band is annoying if it gets wet, and I don't really like the way it looks on my wrist. However, this is my own preference, and you may feel differently. The good news is, both are well made and should prove durable long-term. Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: app and connectivity I've used the Oura Ring 4 and Whoop 5.0 connected to an Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, but the app is available for Android too. Both apps have been completely reliable and take seconds to connect when syncing. The design of each gives some quick insight into who both wearables are aimed at. The Oura Ring 4's app is softer, friendlier, and less number-focused, while the Whoop's app is filled with information and more reliant on graphs and data. I love the Oura Ring 4's app. It's so well designed, surfacing key metrics so they're available at a glance, and uses colors to great effect when highlighting outliers in your data. The circles at the top of the screen can be tapped to show more information, but you don't really need to explore if you just want the basics, as your Readiness, Sleep, and Activity scores are easy to interpret. The Whoop app is very different. It's more information dense, and fills the main page with buttons and options, making it feel overwhelming at first. The problem is, when you dig into many of the options you notice a lot of repeated data. Both apps have an AI assistant, but Whoop's does provide a more useful summary, plus it brings it to the forefront more than the Oura app. There's also a lot more learning to do in the Whoop app, as interpreting its many graphs takes time. The Oura Ring 4's app suits the product really well, as it promotes a healthier lifestyle rather than pushing you to get out and exercise. You can hide the daily calorie count, if this is something you'd rather avoid, and quickly see how your stats have changed over time, all in a very friendly way. The Whoop app is less about lifestyle, and more about a deeper understanding of your performance. Its long-term data is dense but informative, and more likely to promote change than the Oura's app. Neither are medical devices so advice is quite general, but you'll get more from the Whoop if you're specifically looking for motivation. Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: health tracking Lets start with sleep tracking. The Oura Ring gives you a Sleep Score, while the Whoop app assigns a percentage to your sleep. Both are equally informative and easy to understand. It's much harder to find sleep details in the Whoop app than it is in the Oura app, which clearly provides your heart rate variability, resting heart rate, and blood oxygen levels. The Whoop app avoids these, concentrating on your consistency, efficiency, and sleep stress. The Oura Ring is far better at automatically recognizing workouts. It fully tracked a 40-minute walk, while the Whoop only captured 23 minutes of the same activity. It's likely to do with heart rate tracking, but both always return basically the same heart rate readings. Both show accurate maps when you track with GPS too. The major difference between the two is the massive amount of live activities able to be tracked by the Whoop. Oura has improved this area recently, but it's still not as comprehensive as the Whoop app. There's a Strength Trainer feature in the Whoop app some may enjoy, which opens up a variety of strength workouts. These are partially guided, but it's a complicated process to see examples of each exercise while you're trying to do them. The Oura app has guided breath work and relaxation techniques. After living with the two wearables, it's clear the Whoop is the better choice if you're really into fitness. From the sheer depth of data available and the way it's presented in graphs, to the option to choose a workout that will boost your Strain or Recovery, it has everything you need to hold yourself accountable and take on quality activities that suit your needs. Tracking exercise on the Oura Ring is acceptable, but it shouldn't be your main motivation in buying the smart ring. I haven't noticed any dramatic accuracy differences between the two, and felt each gave me a solid overview of my health and activity. Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: special features The Whoop 5.0 is packed with special features, while the Oura Ring relies on some key partnerships to provide extra value to wearers. I really like the Whoop's Healthspan and Pace of Aging feature, which is packed full of actionable data which (hopefully) should make a difference to your overall health over time. Oura is softer in its approach, showing a metric it calls Resilience along with your Cardiovascular Age as guidance on your physical well-being. The difference is, Oura's data is less informative, and it's harder to know where you should make changes. It's very obvious in Whoop's Healthspan feature, where you can identify whether you need to strength train more or sleep better for example. It's representative of the difference between Oura and Whoop in general, and understanding this will help you make an informed buying decision. Provided you pay for one of Whoop's higher tier subscriptions you'll get the Whoop MG and access to an electrocardiogram (ECG) feature, irregular heart rate alerts, and blood pressure monitoring. The Oura Ring does not have these features (mostly due to restrictions in the hardware), but it does include integrations with a wide variety of apps, including Natural Cycles, Clue, Headspace, Zero, and Strava. I also like Oura's Symptom Radar, which uses key data points to warn you if your body is working harder than usual, which may indicate an underlying condition such as sickness or stress. It's surprisingly effective. There's also a Rest Mode, where tracking continues but the Ring doesn't set and measure targets. Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: subscription cost comparison Whoop's overhauled subscription plans can make the Whoop appear quite good value, but when you closely examine what you get for your money, the base price plan is very limited. The Oura Ring has one subscription plan and you get everything, plus if you stop paying you can still see your basic Readiness, Sleep, and Activity scores. If you stop paying for Whoop, you won't see any data at all. We covered the features available in the different Whoop subscription plans in our review, but if you want the Healthplan and Pace of Aging you have to select Whoop Peak, and if you want the ECG and blood pressure, you have to select Whoop Life. The basic Whoop One plan is just basic health, sleep, and activity tracking. There's less to think about with the Oura Ring, as there's just one price. Oura Ring 4 Whoop 5.0 One Whoop Peak Whoop MG Life Hardware cost From $349 N/A N/A N/A One year subscription (total) $72 $199 $239 $359 Two year subscription (total) $144 $299 $399 $599 Whoop 5.0 vs Oura Ring 4: which one should you buy? Unlike choosing between some of the best smartphones, it's a surprisingly easy to choose between the Whoop 5.0 and the Oura Ring 4. If you're really into sport and fitness, the Whoop 5.0 will be the better choice, while if you're less focused on tracking hardcore activities and value good, clear design and stylish hardware, the Oura Ring 4 will be for you. Both meet battery life estimates provided by the manufacturer, with the Oura Ring 4 lasting around five days on a single charge, and the Whoop 5.0's battery lasting for 14 days. It's great to see how little difference there was between the two when examining the data, meaning you don't have to choose one because it appears more accurate than the other. However, if you want all the data, the Whoop's app is where you need to go, especially due to the multiple graphs and ways it presents everything for you. If you want to glance at the app and get just the information you need, the Oura Ring's app is superior to the Whoop app. I've enjoyed wearing the Whoop 5.0 more than I expected, mostly because the app has been reworked enough to appeal to more people, and the depth of data is interesting and useful. The Oura Ring 4's more lifestyle-orientated app suits me better though, and I far prefer wearing a smart ring than a fitness band. In a way, as we come to the end, this is best outcome for any comparison. Both products are great, and provided you know what you want from your new wearable and understand the differences, one is almost certainly going to speak to you more than the other. You're going to be pleased whichever you choose.
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
I'm a sleep tech writer — my 5 top picks from the final Memorial Day sales
As a sleep tech writer, I've tried my fair share of sleep gadgets over the last nine months — from sleep headbands to the best sunrise alarm clocks and sleep trackers, each of which can elevate your nighttime routine in its own way. One of this year's best mattresses for your sleep style and body type should be your first investment for better sleep, but there's also plenty of sleep tech tackling specific sleep needs, be that blocking out light pollution, tracking your overnight heart rate or being soothed to sleep by sound. The Memorial Day sleep sales are wrapping up, but there's still time to grab some lingering deals, like 38% off the Musicozy sleep headband at Amazon and $100 off the Oura Ring sleep tracker. Here's are the sleep Oura Ring Generation 3: was from $299 now from $199 at OuraSleek and reliable, the Oura Ring Gen 3 is currently my favorite sleep tracker. Although it's not the latest model from Oura it does everything you'd want a sleep tracker to do — it measures sleep latency, sleep duration, sleep stages to collate a nightly sleep score and daily energy 'readiness' rating — all while sitting comfortably on your finger. As Oura are trying to shift their Oura Ring 3 stock (I spy an upgrade on the horizon), they have knocked $100 off select colors and designs. This means you can bag a silver or black heritage design Oura Ring 3 for just $199 now. That beats the Black Friday price by $150, but you must grab it while stocks last. Apple Watch Series 10: was $399 now $299 at WalmartThe Apple Watch 10 is another leading, reliable sleep tracker that can help you keep tabs on your sleep metrics and day to day health. Impressively, the Apple Watch 10 also has an FDA-authorized sleep apnea detection feature alongside similar sleep tracking metrics, helping you get a handle on your sleep issues. This is the thinnest and lightest Apple watch yet. Our reviewer says: "It's the best smartwatch I've ever strapped to my wrist in terms of comfort," which is great news when you have to wear it overnight. There's up to $100 off select colors at Walmart now, reducing the Apple Watch 10 to $299 from $399. Musicozy Sleep Headband: was $25.99 now $15.99 at AmazonThe Musicozy sleep headband is a two-in-one sleep gadget. It has built-in headphones through which you can play relaxing sleep sounds and it sits comfortably over your eyes, acting as a light-blocking sleep mask. It is made from a soft velvet, stretchy cotton that fits around your head and covers your eyes, with extra cushioning to enhance comfort no matter your sleep position. Amazon are knocking 38% off the Musicozy headband in a limited time deal bringing this budget sleep gadget to just $15.99 (was $25.99). The Smart Cooling Mattress Topper: was from $1,399 now from $1,099 at Perfectly SnugLike the best smart beds and mattress covers you can buy right now, this smart mattress topper adds an active temperature-regulating layer to your mattress to help you beat the night sweats and sleep peacefully. This in-bed cooling system actively delivers cool air beneath you while you sleep to keep your body temperature down at the best temperature for sleeping. You can current;y save $300 with the code MEMORIAL25. At $1,599 for a queen size after this discount, it is the most expensive gadget here. But it is still much cheaper than other climate control mattress covers like the Eight Sleep Pod 4 at $2,649. Flikeze PhotonMask Quint: was $459 now $239.99 at FlikezePrimarily a beauty product, but surprisingly a sleep-enhancing product, an LED red-light face mask is a great addition to your bedtime routine. The red light helps you relax and feel sleepy by promoting melatonin production, ultimately prompting quicker sleep onset so you don't spend crucial sleep time tossing and turning. I tested the Flikeze LED mask to see how it could help me sleep back in January and it still remains a staple in my nighttime wind-down routine. You can save $219 on this LED face mask now cutting the price to $239.99, which is a great deal on a gadget that can improve your skin health and sleep.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
MAXIOM Launches the World's First Human-Centered AI Coach for Health & Performance
PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Maxiom Labs, Inc. (MAXIOM) officially launched its revolutionary AI platform designed to optimize health, fitness, and performance—for committed athletes and everyday achievers alike. After months of development, billions of data sets, and reinforcement learning built exclusively on the most-cited, peer-reviewed science—and shaped by feedback from thousands of users—MAXIOM secured investment from Switzerland-based genetics firm DNAthlete, closed an oversubscribed $2M seed round led by Conscious Ventures, and opened its $6M Series A. The company is now entering clinical trials to demonstrate that MAXIOM can match—and ultimately outperform—human experts. Its mission: to inspire and empower the full potential of one billion people. The world is changing — and fast. For the first time in history, advanced DNA sequencing meets adaptive artificial intelligence to create something not merely new, but transformative. This isn't a feature upgrade. This is a leap forward for humanity. Share Founded by experts in AI, human performance, sports science, and precision medicine, MAXIOM combines deep technical rigor with decades of real-world coaching and clinical experience. 'Inside each of us is the blueprint for the best of us—but we're drowning in noise and bad advice,' said Eric Harr, MAXIOM Co-Founder and CEO. 'This is a decades-old, multi-trillion-dollar problem. We built MAXIOM to deliver truth, precision, and simplicity—to unlock human potential at scale.' Simplicity Is the Superpower: Just Ask Max MAXIOM cuts through the confusion of the health and fitness world. 'Max,' your personal SmartCoach, analyzes your DNA, training, sleep, food (with 1-click logging), and even the weather—and tells you exactly what to do to optimize your day. No guesswork. Just a simple conversation with the smartest AI in health and performance. The Central Intelligence Behind the Wearable Industry We're long on data, short on truth. Your wearables collect numbers. Max makes it all actionable. MAXIOM integrates seamlessly with Garmin, Apple Watch, Oura, and dozens of others to deliver unified, personalized guidance in a single, intelligent feed—or an audio chat. Key Benefits SmartCoach AI: Take a brief survey, connect your wearables, and Max delivers hyper-precise guidance based on your biology, goals, and lifestyle. AskMax: Just talk—Max listens, adapts and gives you smarter advice over time. Credible Guidance: Max is trained on the most-cited, peer-reviewed science and expert inputs MaxConnect: Share insights across families, teams, and communities Precision Recovery: Prevent burnout and injury using HRV, training load, sleep data, and more Biometric Integration: DNA, bloodwork, wearables, and lifestyle—synced in one complete system AI Coaching, Record-Breaking Performances Three World Champions—Kristian Blummenfelt, Laura Philipp, and Gustav Iden—use Max to train smarter and perform better. Blummenfelt and Iden parted ways with their longtime coach and are entirely self-coached, guided by Max. 'Max is the future,' said Olympic and World Champion Kristian Blummenfelt, who's dominating every race he enters. 'He's getting close to outperforming the world's best coaching team — but unlike them, he's with you 24/7 and knows all your data. No bias. No wasted time. Just results. This isn't a small step forward. It's changing everything.' Use Cases Max has answered almost one million queries—helping people at all levels measurably improve their energy, recovery, sleep, and performance. 15-year-old Turner trains with Max. His parents track his sleep, nutrition, and recovery—without nagging or guesswork. They just ask Max. Jessica, a busy mom of three, wanted to run again. Max designed a plan to fit her schedule. She's back—faster, stronger, and more energized. At his annual checkup, Kevin placed his phone on the doctor's desk. In seconds, Max shared a complete health snapshot—sleep, activity, nutrition, and stress. What once took 30 minutes of guesswork now takes 30 seconds, marking the future of precision medicine: faster insights, better care, and smarter performance. What's Next 'MAXIOM's clinical trial, launching in June, will be a randomized double blind study to examine the effects of different coaching techniques that includes both human and Max's strategies,' said Dr. Judith Lambton, Fulbright Scholar and Principal Investigator. MAXIOM is now raising a $6M Series A to scale its breakthrough platform from thousands of engaged users to millions worldwide. Free Trial Try MAXIOM free for 7 days —and elevate every aspect of your health and performance.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Memorial Day sleep tracker sales just got real juicy —$100 off the Oura ring and budget rivals
The first step towards improving your sleep quality is understanding how your body acts overnight and what's getting in the way of your rest. Tracking your sleep with a smart ring provides these valuable insights. Right now, you can buy an Oura Generation 3 Ring for $199 at Oura in today's Memorial Day sales (was $299.) That brings the sleep tracker down to its lowest ever price. I've been wearing the Heritage Oura Ring 3 to bed for four months and its become my favorite sleep tracker within that time. Yes, it's not the newest model from the brand (that's the Oura Ring 4, our best smart ring of the year), but its features fall only marginally behind. With Oura slashing prices on its old inventory, it's a great time to bag a good deal. Looking for a new mattress too? Today's Memorial Day mattress sales are now live, with big discount across some of our favorite brands. But if it's just a wearable sleep tracker you're after, I've dropped the Oura Ring 3 deal below, plus I've scanned Amazon Memorial Day sales to find you cheaper alternatives... Oura Ring 3: was from $299 now from $199 at Oura The Oura Ring 3 tells me everything I need to know about my sleep health and how I can optimize my rest, all while looking sleek on my finger. It tracks how long I take to fall asleep, my overnight heart rate and how long I spend in each sleep stage. That gives me an indication of how efficiently I sleep each night and, therefore, how ready I am to take on the day ahead, enabling me to tailor my workload and activity levels to my energy levels. With $100 off now, the Oura Ring 3 Heritage Silver is at its lowest price ever ($199). But this sale is only live until stocks last, so you'll need to be quick. Also note, Oura requires a $6.99 monthly subscription fee to access all features. We've never seen the Oura Ring 3 price drop this low before. Around Black Friday, it's lowest price was $349 at Amazon. But Oura's clearance sale has knocked that deal out of the park, cutting an extra $150 off. $199 is outstanding value on a sleep tracker of this quality and we don't expect the Oura Ring 3 to drop any lower until it sells out. According to Oura's LinkedIn page, their manufacturing factory is based in Oulu, Finland. Therefore, changes in US tariffs could impact the price of the Oura Ring going forward. Amazfit Helio Ring: was $199.99 now $169.99 at AmazonAmazfit launched the Helio Ring last spring following the success of Oura. Hence, it tracks similar sleep metrics to help you understand how good you are at sleeping. The current 15% off knocks the price from $199.99 to $169.99, making it $30 cheaper than the Oura Ring 3. This seems to be a standard, regular discount on this ring that appears around major sale periods. The last time we saw it was around Presidents' Day in February and we expect it to return around Prime Day in July. The Amazfit Helio ring is a great alternative if you missed out on the Oura clearance deal. Milavan Smart Ring: was $100.99 now $65.99 at AmazonIf you're looking to trial tracking your sleep with a smart ring before you sign up for a subscription or spend over $100, this is the deal for you. After 35% off, the Milavan budget smart ring is down to $65.99 (was $100.99). It is available in gold, black or silver, records deep and light sleep duration and wakefulness to give you a clear picture of your sleep quality. Customers give it a 4.4 out of 5 star rating and say its sleep tracking metrics are accurate.
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I spent 96 hours with the Ringconn Gen 2 Air — 5 things I liked, 2 things I didn't
I've been testing the Ringconn Gen 2 Air for the past 96 hours to see if it can compete with the best smart rings out there, including options from Oura, Samsung, Amazfit and Ultrahuman. Well priced and surprisingly well-specced, my first impressions of the Ringconn Gen 2 Air are largely positive. With four days of non-stop wearing behind me and a full review in the works, here are five things I love about the Ringconn Gen 2 Air so far, along with two things I don't like. The little brother to the flagship Ringconn Gen 2 ($299), the Ringconn Gen 2 Air is a straight-up bargain at $199. This price puts it in line with the best affordable smart ring I've tested, the Amazfit Helio Ring. Similar to the Helio Ring — but unlike the industry-leading Oura Ring 4 — the Ringconn Gen 2 Air is also completely subscription-free. I'm still in the process of testing the Rinconn Gen 2 Air, but it's already in the running for the best affordable smart ring of 2025. Priced at just $199 and subscription-free, the Gen 2 Air has similar specs and features to higher-end models, like the Oura Ring 4 and Samsung Galaxy Ring, plus a long-lasting battery and comfortable, durable design. One of my favorite smart rings is the Samsung Galaxy Ring. Unfortunately, unless you're an Android user — I am not — the device is off limits. And to get the most out of Samsung's finger-based wearable, you'll of course need to own one of the best Samsung phones. Ringconn, like Oura, Ultrahuman, Amazfit and others, doesn't play favorites when it comes to smartphone compatibility. The Ringconn app is available on both the Google Play and Apple App Store. Ringconn says the Gen 2 Air should last for up to ten days on a single charge. That rating makes the wearable even longer-lasting than the best smart rings, but how realistic is it? Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. After exactly 96 hours of near-constant wearing, I've only used 25% of the battery. At this rate, ten days seems entirely reasonable. Of course, I plan to keep wearing it until the battery fully drains. Stay tuned for my full review where I'l report on those figures. So far, I'm finding the Ringconn Gen 2 Air pretty darn comfortable. At roughly 3.5 grams, it's no heavier than an Oura Ring 4. The thickness of the ring varies from 3.1 mm, where the sensors protrude from the inside, to 1.6 mm, where there are no sensors. While I prefer flush sensors, like on the Oura Ring 4, the pair of 1.5mm tall nubs (which appear to be heart rate sensors) don't bother me much. Ultimately, the size 11 fits comfortably on my index finger, while looking no different from an ordinary ring in terms of heft or design. The stainless steel exterior of the Ringconn Gen 2 has a few faint micro scratches from my four days of testing, which included dropping it on a hardwood floor not once but twice (accidentally, of course). The interior, where the sensors are, is epoxy resin and shows no signs of wear. Ringconn says the device is impact- and scratch-resistant, and I believe it. Ringconn also didn't skimp on environmental sealing. With 100 meters of water resistance — the same as the Oura Ring 4, Samsung Galaxy Ring and others — you can wash your hands, shower and even swim with confidence while wearing it. I strongly dislike confusing product names, and so the following must be said: Despite what may seem logical, the Ringconn Gen 2 Air actually weighs more than the standard Ringconn Gen 2. According to the brand's site, the Air weighs between 2.5 and 4 grams, depending on size, while the standard Gen 2 is between 2 and 3 grams, again, depending on ring size. I weighed both models on my own scale, and the silver size 11 Ringconn Gen 2 Air weighed in at 3.5 grams, while the black size 12 Ringconn Gen 2 checked in at 2.5 grams. The standard Ringcon Gen 2 is one of the few smart rings in 2025 with sleep apnea detection. Unfortunately, the feature is absent on the more entry-level Gen 2 Air. Though this isn't terribly surprising, it is a bummer. Along with a lighter design and use of titanium alloy instead of stainless steel, sleep apnea detection is one of the key differences that sets the $299 flagship model apart from the $199 entry-level option.
