Is the Oura Ring Worth the Price?

Sniffle, sniffle, cough.

Oops. Sorry about that. I think the hotel air during my writing retreat has given me a teeny head cold.

Actually I'm sure it has... because my new $500 gadget, the Oura Ring 4, tells me so.

Oura Ring 4 Review

I bought Oura Rings for both me and the hubby in December. After constant wear for the last two months, I'm ready to share my thoughts.

What I Love About the Oura Ring

Sleep and Activity Tracking

This thing takes sleep tracking to another level. It assigns a sleep score every morning, which means my husband and I no longer have to ask, "How'd you sleep?" We just glance at our "Circles" where we can see each other's sleep, activity and "readiness" numbers.

Kindler, Gentler Goals

My ring looks at how well I slept and other biometrics to adjust daily activity recommendations. Unlike my Apple Watch, which is all, "Close those rings no matter what!" the Oura Ring actually recognizes when my body needs a break.

Everyday Wear and Long Battery Life

Before the Oura Ring, I used to stride to the charging area each morning before coffee to strap on my Apple Watch to monitor my activity level because I want to count Every. Single. Step. But the ring is just a ring, and I only take it off to charge it every 5-8 days. My Watch requires daily charging.

Biometrics You Never Knew You Needed

Smart watches have come a long way with health monitoring, but they don't compare with the Oura Ring. I don't even know all the stuff it's tracking. Details I used to need a doctor’s visit for are now at my fingertips (literally). It’s like having a tiny, silent health assistant that occasionally tells me, "Maybe don’t push yourself today." Or, in my case, "You’re basically a walking zombie. Go lie down."

Watch the Video Review

https://youtu.be/h9oXL5nB2Mg

Oura Ring Irritations

Judgy McJudgerson

I love it when my Oura Ring recognizes that I did some housework or walked quickly through an airport by suggesting an activity and giving me credit.

But if I sit down like a normal person to binge 4-6 hours of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it asks me to confirm that I took a nap. It doesn't even take into account that I had what we call "feline paralysis" because a cat was sleeping on my lap. And to make it worse, it has you confirm that you didn't take a nap when you try to X it out.

Style and Sizing

The hubby wanted our rings to be matchy-matchy, and I thought that was so cute. We wanted matte black, but it was sold out, so our second choice was the shiny rose gold. It cost more than the others, and frankly, it looks cheap and kinda scuffed.

Then there’s the sizing drama. Fingers change size when it's cold or hot or you lose weight or gain wait or for whatever reason. So having to buy a sizing kit to commit to an expensive ring that can't be altered was stressful. But then again, I have commitment issues.

The Price: Oof.

This thing runs $350-500, plus a $60-70 yearly subscription for full access. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly health tracker, this ain’t it.

Data Overload: Not for Chronic Over-Checkers

The Oura Ring delivers so much data, and I might be slightly addicted to checking it. Plus sometimes it says I'm stressed when I don't feel stressed. And that makes me stressed.

Glowing Fingers in the Night

Oh, and here’s a weird one: At night, the ring sometimes glows. I'll see our fingers light up in eerie colors randomly throughout the night. I don't wear my Apple Watch to bed because it sometimes glows. I guess that's the price you pay for bringing your gadgets to bed.

Final Thoughts: Is the Oura Ring Worth It?

So, is it worth it? Honestly, I love the insights it gives me, even if they sometimes stress me out. If you’re the kind of person who geeks out over health tracking or needs a little extra motivation, the Oura Ring is a solid investment. But if you’re happy with your Apple Watch (or don’t want to spend a small fortune on a ring that sometimes judges you), you might want to pass.