After 5 Years of Oura Rings, the Oura Ring 5 Is Its Best Yet

After five years of wearing Oura rings, I finally feel like I’m wearing a piece of jewelry instead of a piece of tech. The Oura Ring 5 is barely noticeable on my finger, and that’s the highest compliment I can give it.

I’ve been an Oura user for half a decade, so I’ve seen the hardware evolve from a chunky gadget into something genuinely elegant. But with each iteration, I find myself wondering where the company can possibly go next. The Oura Ring 5 answers that question by refining what already worked, making subtle but meaningful changes to the fit and feel.

A near-perfect fit

Before committing to a color, I followed Oura’s advice and used the sizing kit. The company warned that the Oura Ring 5 dimensions are slightly different from previous models, and they weren’t exaggerating. I chose a size 11, the same as my Oura Ring 4 and Oura Ring 4 Ceramic, but the plastic sizing ring felt noticeably tighter. With the actual ring on my finger, that impression holds true.

In the past, I was always torn between size 10 and size 11. The larger option always felt a bit loose, but the new size 11 fits perfectly. The key detail is that despite being fractionally smaller, the ring is so comfortable that you forget you’re wearing it. With my Oura Ring 4 Ceramic, I was always aware of its presence. The Oura Ring 5 disappears on your hand, and that’s entirely due to tiny reductions in thickness and width.

It now feels so close to a standard ring that most people wouldn’t guess it’s a smart device. I barely notice it between my fingers, and I essentially forget it’s there. If you want a health tracker that’s more discreet than a Fitbit Air and less sporty-looking, this is the one.

Desert Rose delivers

I chose the Desert Rose finish, the only brand-new color option, and I’m thrilled with it. The photos made it hard to gauge exactly how copper it would be, but the real thing is just right. It’s masculine enough while retaining a subtle rose-gold tint that appeals to anyone avoiding a full gold look.

That said, I’m less excited about returning to a titanium finish after months with the ceramic model. The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic looked brand-new after six months of daily wear, something a titanium ring could never achieve. The Oura Ring 5 is not available in ceramic yet, and I’m already reminded of titanium’s downsides. It picks up smudges easily, something the ceramic version never did. I loved rarely needing to clean that ring, but I’ve already given the Oura Ring 5 a few soapy baths.

Then there’s the scratch factor. So far, it’s pristine after just two days, but I know it’s only a matter of time before it meets an abrasive surface. Oura claims the titanium shell resists marks better than before, and I’m hopeful. The smaller size may also make any blemishes less visible. But I’ve already felt and heard it scrape against a metal phone, and it didn’t sound promising.

Data consistency so far

Internally, the Oura Ring 5 doesn’t introduce major hardware changes, though Oura suggests it may deliver more accurate data than the Oura Ring 4. With only a few days of wear, I can’t confirm any improvements yet. I’m comparing it to my extensive baseline data in the Oura app and the Fitbit Air. So far, I haven’t seen any sudden shifts, which is reassuring. Dramatic changes this early would have been a red flag for accuracy.

The Oura Ring 4 was already the best smart ring on the market and our top recommendation. It looks highly likely that the Oura Ring 5 will take that crown. If you’re ready to buy, I doubt you’ll regret it. Our full review is coming soon.