The Ora Ring 4 (left) has retracting sensors that make it more comfortable than the Ora Ring 3 (right).
Nina Raymont/ZDNET
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Are you considering purchasing an Ora ring to track your sleep, activity, or stress? Maybe you’re weighing between the always-popular Ora Ring 3 and its successor, the Ora Ring 4.
Also: I compared this subscription-free smart ring to my Oura and here’s how it performed
I’ve tested both smart rings over the past two years and I can confidently say that this is the latest ora ring 4 An impressive and well-designed smart ring that blows its competitors (and even the Ring 3) out of the water.
But does this mean you should buy the new Ring 4 instead of the less expensive Ring 3 that often comes on sale? It all depends on what features you prioritize in a smart ring. I break down the differences below.
Specifications
| aura ring 3 | aura ring 4 | |
| Battery life | for seven days | for eight days |
| charge Time | between 20-80 minutes | between 20-80 minutes |
| size | 6-13 | 4-15 |
| Material | Titanium exterior and epoxy interior | all titanium |
| End | Black, Brushed Titanium, Gold, Silver, Rose Gold | black, brushed silver, gold, silver, rose gold |
| start price | $300 | $350 |
You should buy Ora Ring 4 if…
1. You prioritize comfort
One of the highlights of the new Ora Ring 4 is its smart sensor. The Ora Ring 4’s smart sensing technology uses 18 signal paths, compared to the Ora Ring 3’s eight, to capture more accurate data with less lag.
So, what does this have to do with comfort? These smart sensors allow the raised sensor domes that stick out on the interior of the Ora Ring 3 to be flattened and retracted on the Ora Ring 4 for more comfort and less shrinkage. I wore the Ora Ring 3 for about eight months, and one of the few complaints I had with it was that the three domes would stick to the inside of my finger, resulting in dents that would remain on my skin for days.
Also: I tested the Ora Ring 4 for weeks. This is why it’s the best health tracker right now
The Ora Ring 4 is much more comfortable than the Ora Ring 3, thanks to the older smart sensing technology. It is quite thin inside and out, resulting in a light feel. If you’re more sensitive to wrist or finger-worn health trackers and are easily bothered by jewelry, I’d recommend the Oura Ring 4.
2. Do you want a smaller or larger ring size
The expanded size is one of the major hardware upgrades that came with the Aura Ring 4. While the Ora Ring 3 offers sizes six to 13, the Ora Ring 4 offers sizes four to 15. These are four more sizes at the larger and smaller ends of the spectrum. If you can’t purchase the Ora Ring 3 because the available sizes don’t fit your finger, the Ora Ring 4 may be a better fit for you.
3. You want long battery life
The Ora Ring 3 claims up to seven days of battery life, although I usually get around four. The new Ora Ring 4 has up to 8 days of battery life, but during my testing, I got about 5.5 ml.
If you frequently forget to charge your tech and want a smart ring that you can wear for a few days without worry, I would recommend the Ora Ring 4. However, if you are adamant about daily charging, I would recommend the Ora Ring 3.
You should buy Ora Ring 3 if…
1. You’re in it for the software
Most of the software updates that came to Ora Ring 4 are also available on Ora Ring 3. This includes automatic heart rate monitoring during workouts, a Oura app redesign, advanced daytime stress features that help understand your context. physical stressAnd several new Oura Labs features you can test out, like food logging.
The automatic heart rate monitoring ring continues Ora’s mission to autonomously log health data with little assistance from the wearer. This means that, on top of the automatic workout detection feature, the Oura Ring can now monitor and record your heart rate during these activities without having to click the Record Workout HR button.
Also: I tested the Ora Ring 3 – and it totally beats my Apple Watch
Aura upgraded its daytime stress feature by implementing daily tags used to document your meals, workouts, illnesses, and mood on a daytime stress timeline. Let’s say you got into an argument with a co-worker and found that your heart rate increased. If you log it into the app, it will add that tag to the day’s stress timeline.
Finally, there are some experimental features that Ora Ring 3 users can take advantage of Ora LabsWhich is also available on both the rings. One of my favorite features I tested was the food-logging feature that uses your camera and AI to document what you’re eating (and when).
The AI was able to detect that I was eating yogurt with berries and banana one morning, despite the fact that the yogurt had been completely removed and mixed with other ingredients.
2. You don’t want to spend much money
You can often find the Oura Ring 3 on sale at various retailers. The third generation smart ring is on sale after Ora unveiled the new generation. If the starting price of $350 (plus a $6 monthly subscription to access all your data) is a bit much for you, the Ora Ring 3 is significantly cheaper.
3. Comfort is not a concern
If you have the Ora Ring 3 and you’re not bothered by the protruding sensor or the bulky build, I don’t see the need to upgrade to the Ora Ring 4. If you don’t have any rings and are trying to decide which to buy, if you don’t mind a tight and bulging dome around your finger, I would recommend the Ora Ring 3.
