By
Andy Boxall
Published 58 minutes ago
Andy is a seasoned technology journalist with more than 15 years experience in the mobile industry, writing for Digital Trends, Wired, and more. During that time he has reviewed hundreds of smartphones and tablets, dozens of smartwatches, and a host of smart rings and smartglasses too.
His daily mobile tech life includes Android and iOS devices, smart rings, and a smartwatch unless it's a special ocassion, when a traditional watch takes its place on his wrist. He has attended multiple CES, MWC, and IFA tradeshows, has a passion for photography and cars, listens to far too much K-pop, and always has a strong opinion on the state of the tech industry.
You can find Andy's portfolio of work on his Authory page.
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I’m nearly two months into wearing the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic after it replaced the titanium Brushed Silver version on my finger. Since then, the company has also released its updated app with a new-look design.
I won’t hold back. The ceramic version is the one to buy, and after a bit of a rocky start, the app has also started to win me over.
Here’s what life has been like with Oura’s latest smart ring and fancy app.
The end of scuffs and scratches?
The finish to get
The Oura Ring has always suffered with durability. It’s not that it breaks or isn’t suitably water resistant, it’s the way the finish has always collected scratches and scuffs, quickly ruining the look of the smart ring.
I’ve seen this first hand on every Oura Ring I’ve worn, with the Brushed Silver version of the Oura Ring 4 being one of the worst offenders.
The surface lost its sheen after a few weeks, and even though I don’t subject it to harsh treatment, micro-marks appeared almost immediately.
I didn’t have high hopes for the ceramic version because of this, yet I’ve been proved very wrong about it so far.
I’m coming up to two months with the Ring 4 Ceramic on my finger, and even upon very close examination, I can’t see any marks on it at all.
Constant wear, no problems
No need to polish
I wear the smart ring all day and all night, taking it off when I shower or to give it a quick charge. While I don’t climb mountains, regularly grip dumbbells, or build houses, I never have, so my general use has been no different.
I’ve still done everything from moving furniture to gardening and washing cars, and if the titanium Oura Ring 4 got scratched, so should the ceramic version. Except it hasn’t.
Instead, it looks brand new. While some may think this shouldn’t be trumpeted, this is a wearable exposed to everything your hands are, all the time.
It’s logical that it runs the risk of getting damaged, but the ceramic finish seems to have increased everyday durability a great deal, and it’s brilliant news.
I can’t say whether this will continue on throughout my ownership, or that it’ll be the same for everyone, but seeing as I’ve racked up about 1,460 hours wearing the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic without a scratch, I’d say it’s looking pretty good for the future.
Oura made a special polishing cloth for the ceramic smart ring, claiming it would polish out any small marks.
I received mine, and haven’t had any cause to take it out of its protective sleeve yet, so I can’t say whether it works or not. Which is, in all honesty, exactly the way I’d want it.
New app design
It took some getting used to
It’s always a shock to the system when something familiar is changed.
The most recent update is probably the most dramatic change to the Oura Ring’s app yet, altering everything from the fonts used to the background images.
At first, I wasn’t a fan of the new look. The previously obvious “Circles” at the top of the screen, where your key data was displayed, became transparent, and the numbers disappeared into the background.
It’s a similar issue with the daily scores, which were prominently displayed on the main screen, but are now smaller and less immediately noticeable.
The choice of new font is softer, giving the app a friendly appearance, but it’s not all that good for scanning.
Some argue the overall new look is less modern than before, and that’s a good point. It’s a definite switch towards a less aggressive, more lifestyle-focused look.
On the positive side, the new Vitals screen provides all the glanceable data in one place, but it’s a shame I have to navigate away from the main splash screen to see it.
The My Health screen is also excellent, with a new graphic giving fast access to whether your sleep, stress, or cardio needs attention.
Still one of the best health apps
Matching one of the best wearables
Despite all the changes, the app remains very fast. It syncs with the smart ring almost immediately, and I’ve never had any problems with the connection.
There’s a handy location-tracking feature if you lose your smart ring, and the option to add another ring to your account.
The app never feels complicated, it doesn’t overload you with graphs, and it doesn’t push ads or extra features.
Access to the app requires a $6 per month subscription, but it’s one of the few that justifies this cost through new features, reliability, and a focus on useful data.
I’ve steadily become used to the Oura app’s redesign, and now that I know where to find things, I navigate through it quickly.
I’d like to see some changes to the fonts, use of Liquid Glass-style transparency, and overall legibility in a future update, though.
While it’s not a device for the hardcore fitness enthusiast, the Oura Ring 4 is great for general tracking.
The automatic workout tracking is one of the most accurate I’ve ever used, and it recognizes walking, running, and housework without fault. It only emphasizes how easy it is to live with.
Oura has scored a serious win with the more durable ceramic finish, and even with some small design issues, its app continues to be one of the best in the wearable space.
The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is a fantastic buy, and I can’t imagine not wearing it every day.
Source: Oura
Oura Ring 4
8.5/10
Heart rate monitor
Yes
Notification support
No
Battery life
Up to 8 days
Sensors
Heart rate/HRV; blood oxygen; skin temperature; accelerometer
Water Resistance
Water-resistant to 100 m
Ring sizing
4 – 15
$349 at Oura
$349 at Amazon
$349 at Best Buy
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