Latest news with #OuraRing
CNET
4 days ago
- Health
- CNET
One Feature of the Oura Ring 4 Completely Transformed My Sleep Quality
It's no secret that sleep is important. At this point, I think we all understand that it affects just about every aspect of our well-being -- from mood to athletic performance. But I never really understood how much some of my daily habits affected my sleep quality and, in turn, my energy levels during the day. That is until I started using the Oura Ring. What started as an interesting way of tracking my step count and workouts ended up being a real game changer for my sleep and overall well-being. Unlike bulky smartwatches, the Oura ring is sleek, lightweight and highly comfortable. I wear it all day, every day, and only take it off while I shower (which is when I charge it). Every morning, I check the Oura app to see my sleep score, which breaks down how much sleep I got and how much time I spent in deep, REM and light sleep. For more on sleep, be sure to check out our best sleep trackers and tips on getting better rest tonight. How I use it Nasha Addarich Martínez/CNET The biggest thing I started paying attention to was my "Readiness Score," which tells me how well my body has recovered overnight and how well it handles daytime stress. If my score is low, Oura prompts me to take it easy that day and suggests meditations I can access from within the app. I've also used the ring to tweak my nighttime routine. I used to scroll on my phone before bed, but after seeing how much it disrupted my sleep, I switched to the in-app Headspace meditations instead. I noticed how my sleep quality has improved since then. Why it's worth it Before using an Oura ring, I thought I was getting decent sleep. After using the Oura Ring Gen 3 model for a year and then switching to the Gen 4 (which I have been using for six months), I now realize how much better I feel when prioritizing rest and having a good nighttime routine. I wake up feeling more refreshed and energized. It's also one of the few fitness trackers I don't mind wearing all the time since it looks like a piece of jewelry, not a bulky tech device. If you're curious about how your sleep and recovery impact your overall well-being, the Oura ring is for you. In fact, this gadget is so useful and easy to set up, I think it would make an excellent gift for anyone looking to step up their health and wellness game. For more gift ideas, we've rounded up a list of our favorite fitness gifts. And check out these fitness deals on health trackers, smart gyms and more.
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
Oura Ring vs Ultrahuman review: Best Picks tests the top smart rings for sleep, recovery and fitness tracking
From 'caffeine windows' to 'social jet lag' and 'sleep scores', I road-tested both smart rings to see which one really gets under your skin. As someone who regularly falls asleep with a wellness podcast playing and has a vitamin D deficiency despite living in Sydney, I like to think I'm self-aware when it comes to health. But there's nothing like two rings competing on your finger to really call you out on your daily habits. Over the past two months, I've been testing the Ultrahuman Ring and the Oura Ring side-by-side. I've worn them both during sleep, on walks, while cleaning my apartment, and even during a red-eye flight to see how they track recovery and rest. Each promises to give you a deeper understanding of your health, sleep, recovery, and movement, but they do it in very different ways. Here's my honest, first-hand experience comparing the two. Price and subscription: one ring to rule them all? Let's talk money first, because there's a noticeable difference. The Oura Ring Gen 4 comes in at $569 in Australia for standard finishes, or a whopping $799 if you want the gold. That's before the monthly $9.99 subscription fee, which is required to unlock the full experience, including detailed readiness, sleep and activity data. Without it, the ring is basically a stylish sleep tracker. On the other hand, the Ultrahuman Ring retails for $599 and it available to shop on Amazon Australia regardless of the colour you choose and comes with lifetime access to your data. No subscription, no locked features, and definitely no paywall guilt if you forget to cancel your free trial. That alone makes it a solid choice if you're subscription-fatigued (aren't we all?). Design and wearability Both rings are sleek and comfortable, but I do slightly prefer the look of the Oura Ring. It feels a little more polished, almost like a designer accessory, while the Ultrahuman has a more tech-forward aesthetic. Not unattractive by any means, just different. They're roughly the same weight and thickness, and I got used to wearing both fairly quickly. Battery life is comparable, with around five to six days between charges for each ring. Sleep tracking: Oura takes the lead (for now). I have to give the edge to the Oura Ring here. Its sleep tracking feels a touch more dialled in, and the way it breaks down your sleep stages and gives you a nightly 'readiness' score is incredibly helpful. It knows when I've had a rough night or a random nap, and it's scarily accurate at detecting when I'm asleep or just lying in bed on my phone pretending to wind down. The Ultrahuman Ring is not far behind, and to its credit, it has something Oura doesn't: the 'Social Jet Lag' feature. This clever metric compares your weekday and weekend sleep patterns to determine your circadian misalignment. Mine, oddly enough, is set to Adelaide — despite me living in Sydney — because my sleep timing maps closer to two hours west. It's an eye-opener that made me more conscious of staying up too late on 'free' nights and the impact that has on my energy levels midweek. Ultrahuman also offers a 'Caffeine Permissible Window,' which I love. Based on your sleep and wake patterns, it recommends the best time to have caffeine for optimal performance without messing up your sleep later. For someone who often mistakes coffee for breakfast, this has genuinely changed my routine. Activity and movement tracking The Oura Ring deserves credit for how intuitive it is at detecting activity. I'll vacuum the house or run around doing errands, and it logs that movement, including calorie burn, without me needing to tag it. It knows when I'm on a walk versus casually standing. This passive tracking feels effortless and motivating. Ultrahuman leans more into performance and metabolic health. It has a 'movement index' that gives you a more nuanced look at the quality and distribution of your daily activity. It's not just steps; it considers how intense your movement is across the day. If you've ever hit your step count but still felt sluggish, this might explain why. Both rings prompt you to move when you've been idle too long, and both track heart rate variability and recovery, but the emphasis differs. Oura feels a bit more lifestyle-y. Ultrahuman is for those who want a slightly more performance-driven lens. Health insights and extras One of the standout features of Ultrahuman is its 'Ultra Age' and 'Brain Age' metrics. According to the ring, I'm three years younger than my actual age — thank you very much — and that little ego boost alone might be worth the price. It's a fun, science-backed way to look at how your lifestyle choices are stacking up over time. The Oura app lets you snap photos of your meals and track your nutrition manually. While it doesn't offer full-blown macro counting or meal analysis, I found it useful to keep tabs on my general eating patterns. It made me think twice about my portion sizes and timing of meals, especially when reviewing my sleep scores the next day. Ultrahuman, meanwhile, includes a vitamin D tracker — though you need to manually log how long you've been in the sun. As someone who's clinically low in D, I'd love for it to include a built-in sensor to measure sun exposure. Still, it's a nudge I didn't know I needed. The winner (so far) After two months of Ultrahuman and just under one month of Oura, I'm not ready to crown a winner, mostly because I like different things about each. If I had to make a decision based on what's impacted my habits the most, Ultrahuman probably has the edge. It's made me think more intentionally about when I drink caffeine, how consistent my sleep is, and how my circadian rhythm affects my energy and mood. But Oura still wins on sleep tracking accuracy, passive activity detection, and meal logging. I also like the design of the Oura Ring more, and the daily summaries feel a little more digestible and beginner-friendly. Both rings have changed the way I look at my health. I'm going to bed earlier, moving more during the day, and actually thinking about recovery, not just steps and calories. Ultimately, it comes down to what kind of feedback you respond to. Ultrahuman pushes you to optimise. Oura encourages balance. If you want a data-rich, no-subscription experience with a few fun extras (hello, Brain Age), the Ultrahuman Ring is a solid pick.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
I'm a Fitness Editor, and I Tested the All-New Oura Ring Gen 4—Here's My Honest Review
Parade aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. I'm a Fitness Editor, and I Tested the All-New Oura Ring Gen 4—Here's My Honest Review originally appeared on Parade. I've been wearing an Oura Ring since 2023, and ever since then, not a single day has passed where I don't look at my Oura Ring data (usually first thing in the morning when I wake up too). Sure, call me obsessed, but the longer I've used the Oura Ring, the more I want to learn about the data it tells me—and how to improve it. There's no denying that this accessory is more than a fitness tracker, it's a conversation starter, fashion statement and, once you experience the app and all the features, you quickly realize that it's way more than a fitness wearable. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 So when I had the chance to upgrade my Oura Ring to the new Oura Ring Gen 4, I jumped at the opportunity to try it out. Plus, when I was a few weeks into testing the Oura Ring Gen 4, Oura rolled out its new Metabolic Health features which include new glucose monitoring and meal tracking features available in the app. Plus, there's a new integration with Dexcom Stelo, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that you can purchase without a doctor's prescription. So, naturally, I had to test that too. Below, my thoughts on the new Oura Ring, how it stacks up to the Gen 3 Oura Ring, plus what I thought about the new CGM integration. Related: I've been using the Oura 3 since July 2023, and got the new Oura Ring 4 in early May, so I tested the new ring for two full months. I also spoke with, Oura's Product Marketing Leader, to go over the new features and updates, and explain the new Dexcom CGM integration as well (I tried this new integration for about two weeks). When I first unboxed the new Oura Ring, I noticed a much sleeker design overall. I ended up ordering the same size ring that I wore previously for the Gen 3, and I did use the new sizing kit as recommended to double-check my size. But once I got the new Oura Ring 4, I noticed that the same size ring fit slightly looser on my finger. Although noticeable, it didn't bother me enough to order another size down (plus, I knew it's common for the fingers and hands to swell throughout the day/night). This was probably due to the new updates to the ring sensors, which used to slightly bulge out underneath the ring against your finger. But, the new Oura Ring 4 features recessed sensors that make the ring look and feel more sleek. According to Harrington, the new Gen 4 Oura Ring is made with all titanium material, and the previous model was made of a resin-like material and titanium. "The thing that's really neat about titanium is it's very durable and really hard as a material, but it is a very lightweight [material]," says Harrington. The titanium design is also part of how the team was able to make the ring's sensors recessed, nixing the little bumps and LED lights that were notable in the previous model. Related: The new ring also has a "smart sensing" technology that's supposed to provide more accurate data tracking due to its ability to fit each person's unique finger shape and skin. The new Oura Ring also has expanded size options, boosting ring size options for people with larger or smaller hands. "Oura Ring four is now available in sizes four through 15. That accounts for around 93% of people's hands on pearth," says Harrington. One of the things I love about the Oura Ring is the battery life. I usually only need to charge the ring about once a week, and now, the Oura Ring 4 has about an eight-day battery life. The new charger is also noticeably sleeker and easier to use. I wasn't a huge fan of the older charger, which I found a bit clunky and hard to place the ring in the right spot to new charging platform is a much-needed upgrade: It has a sturdier, easier-to-maneuver shape that makes charging the ring a breeze. It also charges fast, in about 20-80 minutes, per the brand's website. Oura Ring tracks over 30 different health metrics and wellness insights, including sleep, recovery, heart rate, heart rate variability, body temperature, stress and more. The brand has added 24 new product features in the last year or so, including Pregnancy Insights, Cardiovascular Age and Symptom Radar. The metrics I personally pay attention to the most are my Readiness Score, Sleep Score, Activity, Stress and Cycle Insights. Let's dive into how Oura calculates these below: According to Oura, your readiness score is a "holistic picture of your health" that encompasses your activity, workouts, sleep, metrics like your heart rate variability, body temperature and heart rate. Your score will range from 0-100, and I find it is usually pretty accurate in terms of how I'm feeling on a day-to-day basis. When I'm feeling refreshed, my scores hover in the 80s or above, and after a stressful day or night, poor sleep, or one too many drinks, my score will dip into the 60s or lower. Each day you get a sleep score that gives you a snapshot of your sleep quality, according to about seven different metrics that Oura tracks. This includes: total hours of sleep, "sleep efficiency," or how much time you actually spent asleep while in bed, your level of restfulness or how much you tossed and turned throughout the night, REM sleep, deep sleep, sleep timing (what time you went to sleep) plus your sleep latency or how long it takes you to fall asleep. Your activity score is a combination of your daily steps, how much you move around in general, and it also encompasses your workouts or fitness training. The score is a range from 0-100, and you get a daily score based on how active you (you can also input your own activity goals, which it will factor in). Throughout the day, Oura tracks your stress levels via several insights including your HRV, body temperature, heart rate and more. All of these signals give you a stress insight, which shows your stress levels throughout the day on a graph. One of the most notable developments I've seen with Oura Ring since I started using it years ago is the expanded women's health features. Oura Ring has an impressive cycle tracking feature that uses a combination of your personal data, body temperature and other algorithms to help you predict your cycle, ovulation and when your next period may the Oura cycle tracking feature is not approved by the FDA for contraception use, Oura does have an integration with Natural Cycles, which is approved by the FDA. Other women's health-focused apps that Oura can integrate or share data with, if you choose, are and Clue. Related: One of the buzziest launches of 2025 so far is Oura Ring's new metabolic insights feature, which integrates a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) from Dexcom called Stelo. While this feature is not exclusive to the new Oura Ring 4, I tested it simultaneously with the new ring. The Stelo is one of the first CGMs on the market that doesn't require a prescription from a doctor. The Stelo by Dexcom costs $99, and includes 2 sensors that last for about 15 days each. Oura also launched a new Meals feature that is powered by AI, and allows you to take photos of your meals and you get real time nutrition feedback from the Oura Advisor. This feature, paired with the glucose data, gives you a lot of interesting insights into how specific foods or meals may be affecting your blood sugar. While I found the Meals feature interesting (I feel pretty solid on my nutrition knowledge and what works for my body) the most useful feature for me was the glucose monitoring. I found the Stelo CGM very easy to wear and I barely noticed it after the first day or so (I applied it to my upper arm). Although I have used a CGM before, I loved how easy it was to pair the Stelo with the Oura Ring, and all of the data was integrated seamlessly into my Oura app. I was able to watch my blood sugar throughout the day and see when certain foods or beverages triggered a "spike" which is considered above 140. Although I did not get many "blood sugar spike" alerts from Oura, the first one was notable—a plain oatmilk latte from Starbucks. I was shocked that this prompted a spike, even over the chips I'd eaten the day before, or even a cocktail I had recently had with dinner. As someone who drinks a lot of coffee, seeing this data made me change my ways. Once I saw how oatmilk was affecting my blood sugar, I decided to drink lattes with whole or 2 percent milk to see how I felt (I had avoided drinking dairy for years) and was surprised to find that not only did I feel fine after drinking regular cappuccinos, but I didn't miss the sweet, creamy taste of oatmilk as much as I nutritionally speaking, I know that regular dairy milk is way more balanced in macros than oatmilk (it has a much better carbs to protein to fat ratio, and fewer weird additives.) This showed in my glucose readings, too. Honestly, this was the biggest change to my habits to come out of using Stelo—but it's a big one! (I can't tell you how many oatmilk lattes I downed in the past few years.) The new Oura Ring 4 is a sleeker, more optimized version of the previous model. Although I had no complaints about my old ring, I was happy to upgrade to the new version, and I definitely don't want to go back to the 3. If you're an Oura Ring fanatic like me, the upgrade is worth the price tag of around $349. If you're on the fence or haven't tried Oura yet, you can still purchase the Oura Ring 3 for about $100 way, you're getting a comprehensive health tracker with a ton of data and health insights, paired with a great user experience on the companion Oura Ring app. Up Next:Bryn Harrington, Oura's Product Marketing Leader I'm a Fitness Editor, and I Tested the All-New Oura Ring Gen 4—Here's My Honest Review first appeared on Parade on Jul 12, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
CNET
10-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
Nab This QVC Deal and Save Big on This Subscription-Free Fitness Tracking Ring During Prime Day
These days, you don't need a bulky smartwatch to keep an eye on your fitness throughout the day. Smart rings are a sleeker, less clunky solution -- especially if you're wearing them at night. The Ultrahuman Ring Air is one of CNET's picks for top smart rings, and it can perform many of the same functions as a wrist-worn fitness tracker without throwing off your style. It typically sells for $350, but right now you can pick up any of the five color variants for as little as $298 when you shop at QVC. That's thanks to a $51 direct discount and an additional coupon code HELLO30 that takes an extra $30 if you're new to QVC. It's not quite the biggest discount we've seen, but deals on this smart ring are far and few between, so you could be waiting a while if you're holding out for a better offer. The device is water-resistant and weighs just 2.4 grams, hence the "Air" in the name. It can track sleep data, function as a fitness tracker, have a heart rate monitor, support circadian phase alignment and more. Even more appealing is that it is subscription-free, compared to other smart rings like the Oura Ring (which costs over $6 per month if you want all your insights). Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. If you're trying to get a detailed look at your health and fitness data, the Ultrahuman Ring Air is an ideal choice. It lets you track your sleep, movement, recovery and other health data through the Ultrahuman app, which calculates everything using its own scores. The ring can even tell you the optimal times to drink caffeine based on your personal data. It's even perfectly suited for high-performance athletes who need to maintain their overall health. It also offers additional features, including food tracking and time management, to help you avoid glucose spikes or disrupted sleep. Why this deal matters The Ultrahuman Ring is a great fitness tracker that hasn't been on sale much, so a $51 discount is worth your attention. Fitness rings are still a fairly new category, so discounts on them are still very rare. If you like the look of this one, make sure you get in on it sooner rather than later, as we don't know when the deal is set to expire.
Cosmopolitan
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Best Oura Ring 4 deals during Amazon Prime Day 2025
I have been wearing my Oura Ring for almost two years straight, and you'll see proof of that in every single Instagram photo and mirror selfie I've ever taken. And because it's such a permanent fixture on my right hand, naturally, I get asked a lot of questions about whether I like it, whether it's changed my health for the better, whether I think it's worth the purchase, etc. The short answer? Absolutely, yes. The longer answer? It's a little pricey, but it's worth the investment – especially if you can snag it during a sale moment like Amazon Prime Day. SHOP AMAZON PRIME DAY And wouldn't you know it, it's your lucky day, because Prime Day is happening right now and runs through until Friday 11 July (i.e, tomorrow)! Prime members will be able to score up to 15% off the Oura Ring 4 via Amazon through the end of the sales event. This is the first time that this model (aka the newest one with the best battery life) has ever gone on sale – and you have one more day to nab the discount. You'll be able to choose from the following colours: Rose Gold, Silver, Black, Stealth, Gold, and Brushed Silver. Each shade has a slightly different sale prices, even though the actual hardware of the ring is the same for each colourway. I personally went for gold to match the rest of my daily ring stacks, but a lot of my friends who I convinced to hop on the Oura ring train opted for the most affordable-yet-trendy silver colourway. If you're unfamiliar with the Oura ring, think of it like a really chic, barely-there health monitor. It keeps track of your steps, your heart rate, your temperature, your cycle, your sleep, and lots of other biometrics that help you understand your body. And if you're concerned about purchasing the right size, don't worry – Oura has a workaround for you. If you purchase a sizing kit during Prime Day, you'll receive a £10 Amazon credit to use toward an Oura ring. Take it from my roommates, coworkers, and friends who bought the Oura Ring at full price – now is the time to snag this discount before it ends on Friday! Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
