On trial: Oura Ring 4 Ceramic

As someone who’s tried everything in search of a more balanced lifestyle, from personal trainers to the latest fitness fads, I was intrigued by the idea of the latest iteration of Oura Ring 4. Could a piece of wearable technology really help me to achieve a healthier way of life? 

I gave the ring a two-week window to see what it had to offer. Read on for my review.

Put simply, the Oura Ring 4 is a health tracker, condensed into the size of a ring. Now available in four coloured finishes, crafted from zirconia ceramic – a lighweight but durable premium material that’s harder than steel – I opted for cloud white, which could pretty well pass as a regular piece of jewellery. Until now, the rings have been offered in a range of coatings, including Oura Ring 4 titanium range, which comes in classic gold, rose gold, silver and more. 

Once it's on, Oura Ring connects to the Oura App that can be installed on any smartphone, and that’s where the fun starts. As you go about your day, Oura ring tracks everything from sleep patterns, heart rate, stress levels, movement and more. Oura App then gives you a comprehensive view of your day-to-day health, with suggestions of easy improvements you could make – reminding you to get up and move more often, for instance, or suggesting you take it easier on days when your sleep has been disturbed. 

You can also log meals and bouts of exercise to give it a complete picture of your lifestyle, and allow it to give you more detailed recommendations. And, as the battery lasts between five and eight days, it doesn't miss anything.

As someone who’s fairly tech-agnostic, I was surprised by how easily my ceramic-coated Oura ring fit into my daily routine. Each day, Oura App provides a recommended activity goal (either a number of steps to achieve, or an amount of ‘active calories’ to burn), which have quickly become my go-to benchmark – I’ve found myself getting off the bus a stop early, or taking one last walk before dinner, to make sure I’ve achieved my goals. 

I was pleasantly surprised, too, by how non-intrusive Oura App is. Aside from an occasional prompt to get up and move around (usually after I’d spent too much time sitting at my desk), or a gentle nudge that it might be time to wind down for bed, it doesn’t badger you, or guilt-trip you on slower days. Instead, it takes each day as it comes: the morning after a particularly late night at a concert, Oura App recommended that I rest up and focus on reducing my stress levels. The next day, it encouraged me to make up for lost time and restore some balance with a more active routine. 

I’ve become obsessed, too, by the sleep tracker, which can help to identify what’s causing disturbed sleep. It’s certainly given me the nudge to put the devices down and avoid eating so late. 

For me, absolutely. This unobtrusive wearable has given a greater sense of structure to my day-to-day routine, and helped me focus on the areas of wellness that matter most to me. 

If you’re in need of a little gentle encouragement to support your health goals, and to get a better picture of your overall wellness, Oura is a pretty unimpeachable place to start. 

★★★★★