Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3

It’s been a few years now since smart rings have been on the market, and the latest Oura Ring 4 seems to have perfected all the qualities. With so many smartwatches that cover nearly identical features, I have to say I was a bit skeptical about the whole concept. However, Oura Ring 3 had already proven to be an excellent fitness/health tracker ring, so my hopes for its latest rendition were high.

To give you a bit of context, Oura Ring 3 was released back in 2021 at a $299 price tag. Now that the new model is out, you can get Oura Ring 3 starting at $249 to $349 (if you want a fancy-looking rose gold one).

Oura Ring 4 came in strong last October at a $349 price point, so I was curious about the improvements and overall value for money. Sure enough, it has some major upgrades, like an all-aluminum finish, and they even fixed the sensors that were visible on Gen 3. I'll go over all the tweaks and whether they're worth it in this guide.

Overview of Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3

To help you decide which one to get, I’ll get into the in-depth Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3 review below. But first, I thought we could warm up with a head-to-head comparison based on some key categories like style options, weight, features, and more.

Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3: appearance

One of the first things I noticed about Oura Ring 4 was the design. To an untrained eye, the two rings might seem the same, but once you take a closer look, you’ll spot the difference in sensor appearance.

I was pleased to see that Gen 4 doesn’t have those rugged sensors sticking out from the inside. After spending hours exploring user reviews and forum threads on Reddit, I’ve come to realize that these have caused problems for some users (although marginal).

Even so, the ring seems more appealing this way, as it doesn’t grip your finger tightly like the previous generation had been reported to do. Another major difference is the material – while Gen 3 had just a titanium cover with an epoxy inner surface, Oura Ring 4 is fully titanium-made.

I was curious to see how the material reflects usage and fit. I’ve been scouring user reports, analytics, and general comparisons from consumers who had both. Using that knowledge, I would advocate for Gen 4 – the receded sensors allow for a far better fit, while the slight weight difference makes it more comfortable for everyday use.

Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3: battery life and charging time

Battery life is one of the crucial aspects that I’ve based my review on, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the reports. Here are the standings:

• Oura Ring 3 battery life: up to 7 days on full charge
• Oura Ring 4 battery life: from 7 to 8 days on full charge

Of course, I had to do some digging to see what other users had to say about it. As it turns out, Gen 3’s battery life fails to live up to its claims since lots of reviewers say it lasts about 5 or 6 days.

Naturally, its lifespan also depends on whether you’re using all the tracking tools continuously or not. Despite that, Gen 4 seems to have a greater grip on the battery life estimate (pun intended). Most users report it lasting at least 6 or 7 days, which is great to hear.

As for the charging time, Oura claims it remained the same – from 20 to 80 minutes. In my opinion, it’s a fairly decent rate, which didn’t even need an update. Most other smart rings, like Samsung’s Galaxy ring, take around 90 minutes or up to 180 minutes for the Ultrahuman Ring Air (although it varies by model).

That’s why I’m pretty satisfied with the Oura Ring’s charging speed and battery capacity. It is also worth noting that the charging case went through a complete facelift. Unlike the rather cheap-looking plastic material for Gen 3, the latest iteration now uses a fully metal case with a silver finish for that premium kick.

Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3: fitness tracking features

Personally, I like Oura’s approach to fitness tracking features. They’re mainly based on vital functions like heart rate tracking, blood oxygen level, and, most importantly, sleep-cycle-based tracking. Here’s a brief overview of each function:

• Sleep tracking. Both Oura Ring 3 and Gen 4 carry out sleep tracking splendidly. I haven’t noticed significant changes between the generations, so I decided to take an in-depth look at their efficiency. As it turns out, a medical study carried out by the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Center proved that Oura Ring measures vitals equally well throughout the sleep phases, from light, deep, and REM sleep. Other tested products like Fitbit and Apple Watch underestimated/overestimated at least one phase. With the addition of dedicated green and infrared sensors for heart rate and respiration tracking during sleep, Oura Ring 4 clinches the title in this category.
• Activity tracking. As mentioned, Oura Ring 4 has a few more data collection points when compared to Oura Ring 3 (a jump from 8 to 18), which should significantly impact activity tracking. Still, it’s not that big of a difference in practice as you still get the same basic measurements – day and night heart rate, walking distance, and even calories burnt during daily activities (when using the app).
• Heart rate readings. As Oura itself states, both the Gen3 and the Gen4 of their smart ring feature more accurate heart rate tracking than some other devices (smart watches for example). The brand claims that rings are superior in accuracy since fingers have a denser network of blood vessels closer to the skin surface compared to the wrist.
• Readiness scores. The readiness score aspect has remained unfazed by the changes Oura made. Sure, more data collection points spread through the ring should lead to more precise tracking of the Gen4 compared with the Gen3, and Oura claims it makes a difference in terms of faster data updates and higher accuracy. Other than that, you’ll receive the same 0-100 score telling you if you’re fit for new challenges or need rest.
• Stress ratings. Another aspect that has pretty much remained unchanged is the stress rating. Both rings feature four levels – restored, relaxed, engaged, and stressed. You can measure them via the app integration and follow the visual graph to see how different activities affect them.
• Other health and fitness insights. Last but not least, I’ve also checked the reviews and analytics of other health and fitness insights. Some of the latest additions are mainly app-based, so they do not depend on the ring version, including menstrual cycle tracking and resilience estimates. The latter reflects on your resilience to stress by monitoring your daytime stress levels and recovery time. It also sheds some light on how much you recover during sleep. Oura Ring 4 in particular broadly covers this aspect combined with the “Readiness Score” which is based on resilience and other contributors like resting heart rate and recovery index.

Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3: accuracy

Accuracy was one of the most important metrics I considered, and the differences are very subtle. I’ve read as many official materials provided by Oura as I could find, together with a scientific research file on how impactful these rings are for measuring sleep time. Specifically, the said research was based on Gen2 and Gen3 Oura Ring, and it showed they’re both very efficient in measuring not only the total sleep time, but also time spent in light sleep and deep sleep.

From what I could see by the new technological improvements, Gen4 is at least just as efficient. The main difference is that the Oura Ring 3 features measurements based on a fixed configuration of optical paths. On the other hand, Gen 4 uses a new Smart Sensing technology with 10 more data collection points. As a result, Oura claims that the new ring’s measurement accuracy is up to 30% higher.

However, I have to say I wasn’t able to find many user reports supporting the statement. As far as I can tell from existing reviews and examples, it’s a close call between the two. On a side note, the measurement gaps seem to be improved on Oura Ring 4. So, you might be able to get an extra metric point during measurements or at least receive faster updates based on activity.

Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3: app & subscription fee

Regardless of your choice of the Oura Ring generation, you need the app to fully utilize its functions either way. Moreover, there’s no point in having the ring measure your activity, heart rate, and stress levels without being able to check all the readings within the app.

Fortunately, the app is very convenient and it’s HSA and FSA-certified and available on both Google Play Store and the AppStore. In other words, memberships are covered by Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spendings Accounts (FSA). That means you can use reimbursements from pre-tax dollars by subscribing with either of these accounts.

The membership costs $5.99/month, but you can save up by subscribing to the app while purchasing your ring. This way, you can get a discounted $69.99 annual subscription.

Both Gen 3 and Gen 4 Oura Rings offer a $69.99 prepaid annual subscription or a $5.99 monthly plan.

Oura Ring 4 vs Oura Ring 3: price and availability

Ultimately, I had to check the pricing plans and availability of both rings to determine which one carries the better value. I’ve read some insights stating that Gen 3 will no longer be available for purchase on the site, but luckily, it was still there at the moment of writing this guide.

You can get both via the site or by visiting Amazon, whichever works best for you. In terms of cost, Oura Ring 3 starts at $249, while Gen 4 comes with quite a heftier price tag of $349. Here are price overviews of both.

These prices are listed under the Special Pricing category on the site, so you should hurry up and snag this deal.

Overall, the discounted price of Gen 3 seems pretty appealing, with nearly the same features. However, the metal charging case and a full Titanium design make Gen 4 a worthwhile purchase. You can get yours now and save up with great discounts, or visit Oura’s Amazon page and shop your ring with various affordable ring covers.

Get Oura Ring 4

Conclusion: which one should you go for?

Choosing between Oura Ring 3 and Oura Ring 4 is tough, even with all the upgrades. You still get the most accurate sleep cycle tracker ring combined with the app, which works equally well with both rings.

I’d say that Gen 3 is a slightly better deal price-wise, especially with the current discounts offered by Oura. However, the premium feel of the all-titanium design with receded sensors and a full-metal charging case of Gen 4 are definitely worth the extra cash.

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