Introduction: Wearable Technology
TTAC has been following the wearable market for some time now. These small form factor devices are designed to capture and present vital health information. The two primary consumer wearable form factors are smartwatches and rings.
Smartwatches were the first category of wearable technology to gain mainstream adoption, but over the last several years, TTAC has observed increasing investment and growth in the smart ring category. Smartwatches tend to be more interactive with users, requiring daily charging, while smart rings are more passive and allow for longer intervals between charges.
Wearable devices are becoming increasingly reliable for medical data collection. (Source: Accuracy of Three Commercial Wearable Devices for Sleep Tracking in Healthy Adults) Innovations in the wearable space tend to be incremental, focusing on improved battery performance, additional sensing capabilities, and enhanced user experience, particularly in long-term comfort and data synthesis/presentation. However, integrating new or additional technologies into these devices remains challenging due to their compact form factor.
Oura Ring Generation 4 Smart Ring
The Generation 4 Oura Ring from Oura Health builds on its predecessor with enhanced sensor technology, improved battery life, and a redesigned user experience. This smart ring continues to track physiological data such as sleep, heart rate variability, activity levels, and body temperature while integrating new health metrics and refined analytics.
About the Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring 4 is available in six finishes—Black, Silver, Stealth, Brushed Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold—catering to a range of aesthetic preferences. It is constructed with a more durable titanium alloy, making it both lightweight and robust. The ring sizes range from 4 to 15, ensuring a better fit for a broader range of users.
Enhanced durability and a lower-profile sensor design improve comfort and allow for continuous wear. Users can request a sizing kit before purchase to ensure a proper fit. The improved fit and materials contribute to a more seamless experience, even during activities like weightlifting or high-impact exercises.
Charging and Battery Life
The Oura Ring 4 boasts an extended battery life of up to eight days, surpassing the previous generation’s usage time of up to seven days. It maintains the same wireless charging system, requiring 20 to 80 minutes for a full charge. The charging stand includes a simple LED indicator to signal the charging status. Charging of the device is now simpler as the notch on the bottom of the ring aligns with the charging LED.
For users looking to maximize battery life, an updated Airplane Mode option allows data storage on the ring for up to 14 days. One disadvantage of the Airplane mode is that the device will need to be placed back on the charger to get it back to normal sync mode. In general, syncing times upon reconnecting to the app have been improved for a smoother experience compared to the Generation 3 model.
Oura App and Data Presentation
The Oura Ring 4 connects to its dedicated mobile app using encrypted Low Energy Bluetooth (BTLE) for secure and efficient data transmission. The redesigned app interface now includes three main tabs: Today, Vitals, and My Health. These sections provide a streamlined way to analyze key health trends, assess daily readiness, and review sleep quality.
A notable addition is the Cardiovascular Age (CVA) feature, which estimates vascular health based on heart rate trends and variability. The AI-powered meal analysis function also assists users in correlating dietary habits with sleep and recovery metrics.
Daily scoring remains a core feature, with updated algorithms for:
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Sleep Score: Now more precise, with enhanced detection of sleep cycles and improved differentiation between rest and inactivity.
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Activity Score: Incorporates automatic workout recognition with better movement categorization and expanded third-party app integrations.
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Readiness Score: A refined metric that accounts for temperature trends, stress indicators, and recovery optimization.
Additional Features
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Web Portal Access: Users can log into their Oura dashboard online to track long-term trends and export health data.
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SpO2 Monitoring: Now fully enabled for 3rd and 4th generation devices, the infrared sensors measure blood oxygen saturation levels throughout the night to detect potential sleep disturbances.
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Subscription Model: The Oura Ring 4 maintains the membership model, providing exclusive features and personalized insights at a $6/month fee after the first month free trial.
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Women’s Health: The Oura app continues to add more women’s health focus from: Period Prediction, Cycle Insights, and even Pregnancy Insights. See more: ŌURA Launches First-of-its-kind Pregnancy Study With Scripps
Web Portal
In February 2024, Oura introduced a web portal where people could access their personal data and determine trends associated with two seemingly independent data points. They allow for compare and correlation between two metrics (SPo2 vs. sleep efficiency, etc.). Additionally, the portal allows for a custom selection of time to further highlight trends. A simplified sleep report is also exportable and can easily been shared with others or health providers.
Overview
The Oura Ring 4 is a feature rich health tracking device that refines key aspects of its predecessor while introducing valuable new features. With a more comfortable fit, better battery life, and improved sensor accuracy, it continues to stand out as a leader in smart ring technology. Its passive monitoring approach makes it an excellent option for users prioritizing comprehensive health insights without the distractions of constant alerts or notifications.
From time to time, TTAC will choose a piece of technology to show or demonstrate in the “Innovation Watch” section of our website. No endorsement of any products or services is expressed or implied by any information, hyperlink text, product, service, material, or content referred to or included on, or linked from, or to the TTAC website.
From time to time TAC will choose a piece of technology to show or demonstrate in the “Innovation Watch” section of our website. No endorsement of any products or services is expressed or implied by any information, hyperlink text, product, service, material or content referred to or included on, or linked from or to the TTAC web site.