Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4: Should you buy the discounted smart ring still on sale or the brand’s newest?

Cyber ​​Monday Deals are still using all sorts of technologies after the deal event ended earlier this week, including the wildly popular Oura Ring 3. Oura is taking up to $200 off third generation smart ring, depending on finish. This deal applies to the Oura Ring Heritage and Oura Ring Horizon, two third-generation smart rings.

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The price of the previous generation Oura Ring 3 is so low because Oura introduced the Oura Ring 4 earlier this fall. Oura Ring 4 It’s an impressive and well-designed smart ring that outperforms its competitors (and even the Ring 3). But does that mean you should buy the newer Ring 4 instead of the less expensive Ring 3 that’s currently on sale? It all depends on what features you prioritize in a smart ring. Let’s understand the differences.

Specifications

You should buy Oura Ring 4 if…

1. You prioritize comfort

One of the features of the new Oura Ring 4 is its smart sensors. Oura Ring 4’s intelligent sensing technology uses 18 signal paths, compared to Oura Ring 3’s eight, to collect more accurate data with fewer misses.

So what does this have to do with comfort? These smart sensors allow the raised sensor domes that protrude inside the Oura Ring 3 to flatten and recede onto the Oura Ring 4, providing a more comfortable and less constrictive wearing experience. I wore the Oura Ring 3 for about eight months, and one of the few gripes I had with it was that the three domes stuck to the inside of my finger, causing indentations in my skin for days.

Also: I’ve been testing the Oura Ring 4 for several weeks. Here’s why it’s the best health tracker right now

The Oura Ring 4 is much more comfortable than the Oura Ring 3 thanks to its recessed smart sensor technology. It is noticeably thinner both inside and outside the ring, resulting in a feeling of lightness. If you’re more sensitive to health trackers on your wrist or finger and are easily irritated by jewelry, I’d recommend the Oura Ring 4.

2. Do you need a ring size smaller or larger.

The expanded sizing is one of the major hardware upgrades to the Oura Ring 4. While the Oura Ring 3 offers sizes 6 through 13, the Oura Ring 4 offers sizes 4 through 15. That’s four sizes larger on the larger and smaller ends of the ring. spectrum. If you weren’t able to buy the Oura Ring 3 because the available sizes didn’t fit your finger, the Oura Ring 4 might be a better fit for you.

3. You need longer battery life

The Oura Ring 3 can last up to seven days on battery, although I usually get about four. The new Oura Ring 4 boasts a battery life of up to eight days, but in my testing I only got about 5 and a half days.

If you forget to charge your tech all the time and want a smart ring that you can wear for a few days without worrying, then I would recommend the Oura Ring 4. However, if you are adamant about charging every day, I would recommend the Oura Ring 3.

You should buy Oura Ring 3 if…

1. You just need the latest software

Most of the software updates coming to the Oura Ring 4 are also available on the Oura Ring 3. These include automatic heart rate monitoring during workouts, a redesigned Oura app, updated day stress features that help contextualize your physiological stress, and a variety of new Oura features. Labs features you can test, such as food logging.

Automatic heart rate monitoring continues Oura’s mission to autonomously record health data without much assistance from the ring wearer. This means that in addition to automatically detecting workouts, Oura Ring can now track and record your heart rate during those activities without having to press the “Record Workout Heart Rate” button.

Also: I tested the Oura Ring 3 and it completely outperformed my Apple Watch.

Oura has updated its daily stress feature by introducing daily tags, which people use to document their diet, exercise, illness, and mood, on a daily stress timeline. Let’s say you’ve just had an argument with a co-worker and find that your heart rate has increased. If you log this in the app, it will include this tag in your timeline of the day’s stress.

Finally, there are a few experimental features that Oura Ring 3 users can take advantage of. Oura Labswhich is also available on both rings. One of my favorite features I tested was the food logging feature, which uses your camera and artificial intelligence to document what you eat (and when).

The artificial intelligence was able to detect that one morning I ate yogurt with berries and bananas, despite the fact that the yogurt was completely overgrown and mixed with other ingredients.

2. You don’t want to spend more money.

Cheapest Oura Ring 3 is now $250 thanks to Cyber ​​Monday sales. The third generation smart ring will go on sale more often now that the brand has introduced a new generation. If the starting price of $350 (plus a $6 monthly subscription for access to all your data) is too high for you, the Oura Ring 3 is significantly cheaper and, depending on when you buy it (for example, during a promotion such as Black Friday). and Cyber ​​Monday), you can do it cheaper.

3. Comfort doesn’t matter

If you have the Oura Ring 3 and aren’t bothered by the raised sensors or bulkier design, I don’t see a need for you to upgrade to the Oura Ring 4. If you don’t have either ring and are trying to make a purchasing decision, I would Recommended the Oura Ring 3 if you don’t mind the tight and raised dome around your finger.

Alternatives to Consider