I wore the Oura Ring Gen 4 every day and night for over a year, and I called it my silent little trainer. (You can read my full review of the Oura Ring Gen 4 in that whole story.) So when the Oura Ring 5 came out, I’ll admit I asked myself: do I really need to upgrade something that already works?
Then I installed it.
The Oura Ring 5 is 40% smaller, thinner, and lighter than the Gen 4, and I mean this sincerely: I forget I’m wearing it. For someone who can’t sleep with something tight or curled around their fingers, that decided it for me.
Here is my honest, real-life review as a trainer in my 60s who has been wearing Oura rings day and night for quite some time now.
What is Oura Ring 5?
Oura Ring 5 is the new version of the Oura smart ring, which tracks your sleep, activity, recovery, stress, and cardiovascular health using heart rate, heart rate variability, movement, and body temperature. The same 50+ health metrics as before, now included in what Oura calls the world’s smallest smart ring: a titanium band that starts at just 2 grams, waterproof to 100 meters.
Technology has not diminished skills. Just for size.
Oura Ring 5 vs Gen 4: What Really Changed
| Oura Ring Gen 4 | Oura Ring 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Size and weight | It’s light, but you always know it’s there | 40% smaller and smaller, from 2 grams |
| Important | Titanium | Titanium, a redesigned finish |
| Battery | Up to 8 days | Up to 6 to 9 days depending on size |
| It’s charging | Crying charger | Ring charger, about 80 minutes; An optional charging case provides a full day in 10 minutes |
| Health metrics | 50+ | 50+ same, same app |
| Price | It’s usually on sale now | $399 to $499 depending on finish |
| Membership | $5.99/month | $5.99/month (your existing membership continues!) |
Short version: everything I loved about Gen 4 is still there. What has changed is how it feels in your hand, and that turns out to be more important than I expected.
What I like about the Oura 5 ring
After a year on Gen 4 and months on Oura Ring 5, these are the changes I see every day (and the reasons I buy it again).
It Disappears From Your Finger
This is my topic. The Gen 4 was comfortable, but I always knew it was there. Oura Ring 5 is so small and light that I actually forget about it: sleeping, typing, carrying groceries, teaching class. If the size of the ring was what was holding you back from a smart ring, that objection is officially over.
It looks like jewelry now, which this fashion-loving grandma knows. I’ve asked people about my ring, not knowing they were tracking my sleep. It fits right in with my favorite Amazon designer accessories, because the look is expensive without the price tag is kind of my thing.
Battery Life I Wasn’t Concerned About
Oura rates the battery at up to 6 to 9 days depending on your ring size, and in my real life I go significantly longer between charges than I did with my Gen 4. I do my charging routine in the shower, little by little. How easy is that?
There’s also a new charging case (sold separately) that gives you a full day of battery in about 10 minutes, which I’d call travel insurance for forgetful backpackers like me.
Similar Sleep and Recovery Ideas I Depend On
Everything that made me love Oura in the first place has not changed: My Sleep Score with REM, light, and deep sleep disturbances, my Readiness Score, daytime stress, and 24/7 heart rate. As a 10-year post-menopausal woman, sleep is when the central nervous system gets loud, and this data is what helped mine mine. If you want the full story of how I actually use those scores day-to-day, it’s all in my Gen 4 review, and nothing has changed about how I use the app.
I’m still chasing Triple Crown days (Readiness, Sleep, and Work all at 85 or so). Readiness is still the most difficult crown to earn. Some things never change!
You might also enjoy my 15 science-backed tips for better sleep, and some middle-aged women’s sleep gadgets that really work (tested by me!).
Finding the Right One (Still Important!)
Use a calibration kit. I said it in my Gen 4 review and I’ll say it again, because you’ll be wearing this ring to bed every night and comfort is non-negotiable.
One note when upgrading: don’t think your Gen 4 size is going. Ring 5 has a different shape, so resize with a new kit. I still wear mine on my right forefinger, and still recommend sizing with summer swelling in mind.
Silicone Covers I Wear Over Myself
Here’s my favorite tool for hacking, and it goes back to my Gen 4 days: silicone ring covers. I wear one over my Oura Ring 5 when I strength train so the titanium doesn’t get chewed up by the dumbbells (and my dumbbells don’t get scratched either). They cost nothing, go in and out in two seconds, and keep my ring looking brand new.
I keep a couple in my gym bag and one next to the kettlebells at home. If you propose, consider yourself responsible.
And if I want the opposite effect (jewelry on purpose), I still put mine with a thin decorative belt, the same trick I used with my Gen 4. The small profile makes it look even better.
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07/23/2026 08:02 am GMT
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07/23/2026 01:57 pm GMT
Is the Oura 5 Ring Suitable for Women Over 40?
Everything I said about Gen 4 goes double here. Menopause and menopause change your sleep and recovery, and most of us can only guess what’s going on. The ring replaces guesswork with awareness.
It’s not a medical device, and I don’t always agree with my Readiness Score (sometimes in the morning I feel good and I politely disagree). But it taught me to listen to my body instead of pushing it, and at this stage of life, that’s a very important skill.
The small size makes the case even stronger for women. Many of us have small hands, wear other rings, and don’t want a fitness tracker that looks like technology. Ring 5 solves all three.
Should You Upgrade From Gen 4 (or Gen 3)?
My honest take:
If you have a Gen 3, yes. The leap in convenience and battery life alone is significant (Oura says the Ring 5’s sensors are more accurate), and your membership extends right into the app.
If you have a Gen 4 and it fits perfectly, you don’t the need to develop. The app experience is the same. Upgrade if size and weight are a concern, if you’ve been putting it off (the Oura ring in the closet doesn’t track anything!), or if you just want a sleeker look. That comfort difference is why I did it.
And if you’re new to smart rings, start with the Ring 5. There’s no reason to buy yesterday’s version of something you’ll wear for years.
Membership, Pricing, and FSA/HSA Perk
The membership is still $5.99/month and still worth it in my opinion, because that’s where the long-term trends and data live, and that’s the part I really miss. New members currently get their first month free. When you upgrade, your existing membership expires, no new registration is required.
The ring runs $399 to $499 depending on finish (there are six now, including the beautiful Deep Rose). And yes, you can still use FSA or HSA dollars, which takes the sting out of the price.
Things to Consider Before You Buy
- Cost: it’s still an investment, not a necessity
- Usage: works best worn day and night, consistently
- Rating: Order a free measurement kit, even if you’re upgrading
- Learning curve: less, and it’s the same as Gen 4 when you switch
- Possible disadvantages: membership is required for full details, and the Readiness Score will not always correspond to how you feel
My final take on Oura Ring 5
With Gen 4, I started as a skeptic and ended up a believer. With ring 5, there was no doubt left to overcome, just a question of whether the development was worth its end.
It does. The best part? The ring finally fits the philosophy. Oura always wins for being a tracker that doesn’t stay in your way, with no noise and no screen demanding your attention. Now it remains on your physical path again. I wear it, I forget it, every morning it quietly tells me the truth about my sleep and recovery.
That’s my kind of coach.
PS. If you’re still deciding between generations, my Oura Ring Gen 4 review covers a full year of actual wear, and the Gen 4 is often on sale now, making it a great budget choice.
Oura Ring 5 Frequently Asked Questions
The Ring 5 is 40% smaller, thinner, and lighter (from 2 grams), with a battery life of up to 9 days depending on the size and fast charging case you choose. Health tracking, app, and 50+ metrics are the same.
If you’re new to smart rings or upgrading to Gen 3, yes. If you have a comfortable Gen 4, upgrade for comfort and size, not new metrics.
Up to 6 to 9 days per charge depending on ring size and usage. A full charge takes about 80 minutes, and the optional charging case adds a full day in about 10 minutes.
Yes. Add a new ring as a device to the Oura app and your $5.99/month membership rolls over.
Yes, up to 100 meters, so bathing and swimming is not a problem.
Not so, as Ring 5 is a different size and shape. Check out the covers made for Ring 5 (I’ve linked the ones I use above).
Yes. I still use my Apple Watch for real-time heart rate during workouts, and everything syncs with the Oura app.
