What to expect from Oura Ring 4

Key Takeaways

• Oura isn’t tight-lipped about the Oura Ring 4, but the FCC listing hints at a possible release.
• The expected price of the Ring 4 corresponds to previous models at $299.
• The Ring 4 may include a new smoother sensor, an expanded size, and possibly address skin tone variations in sensor readings.

Oura has pretty much dominated the smart ring market since its inception, but new players have entered the arena, muddying the waters a bit. The tech giant Samsung recently released its smart ring, the Galaxy Ring, which gives tough competition to the Oura. Adding to the pressure is the fact that it released the Oura Ring 3 three years ago, which, in the tech world, amounts to an almost geriatric product.

Since Oura’s latest model has grown there over the years, it seems reasonable to expect a new version sometime in the near future. While we don’t know much yet, a few details have started to emerge.

Oura Ring 4 release date

Big question at this point

Unfortunately, Oura has been tight-lipped about the new Oura ring, so there’s no exact information on when it might come out. However, Android Authority has spotted an FCC certification listing for the Oura Ring 4, which is a sign that the company is working diligently through the certification process. That would mean that Oura is close to releasing a new ring.

Additionally, if you look at the company’s previous release schedule, however, there have been three years between each version, so it seems possible that Oura could release Oura Ring 4 this year.

Oura Ring 4 prices

Expect compatibility with previous Oura rings

All versions of the Oura Ring, except the first one launched via Kickstarter, are priced at $299. As a result, we expect that Oura Ring 4 will at least come close to that. It’s important to remember that the slightly lower price of the Oura Ring compared to the Galaxy Ring and Ultrahuman Air is partly due to the fact that you’ll need to register to use the Oura’s features. We don’t expect Oura to change its subscription model, so it won’t affect the purchase price from that.

Features of Oura Ring 4

A few tips on reviews and design

There haven’t been any significant leaks or details shared about the Oura Ring 4, but the FCC listing mentioned above provides some vague hints of what to expect.

First, the listing mentions two model numbers: OA11 and OA12. Oura currently makes two versions of its bracelets: the smooth and round Horizon and the Heritage, which features a plain design. Based on the two model numbers, we’re guessing that Oura will keep both of those versions (or something similar) with the Oura Ring 4.

There are several pictures in the certificate listing that show a completely round design without a plain. Another notable feature of the images is the smooth sensor array. The current Oura Ring uses external bumpers for the sensors, so the Oura seems to be going the route of smartwatch sensors with a smooth inner wall.

The certification listing also means that testing continues for sizes 7, 9, 13, and 15. Oura rings currently range from size 6 to 13, so it looks like Oura is going up a bit. Although the test sizes do not mention a size 6, it is possible that a smaller size will also be part of the range. As someone with very small fingers, I really hope so.

While the details above aren’t all doom and gloom, there are two new tools that could be very exciting. First, Oura has filed a patent showing that it aims to address sensor inaccuracies due to differences in skin tone, as the Wearable discovered. Sensors in smart watches and smart bracelets use LED lights to penetrate the skin and measure various health metrics. However, as Oura points out, “the user’s skin tone may affect the signal strength of the detected light signals.”

Different skin tones may absorb different levels of light, which in turn affects the amount of light received by photodetectors, thus giving inaccurate results for factors such as blood oxygen levels. The patent suggests that Oura plans to use a method to detect skin tone and incorporate that information into the results of certain metrics to provide more accurate data. It’s good to see companies addressing skin tone differences, so we hope this feature will indeed appear in the Oura Ring 4.

Finally, in a blog post in 2023, Oura announced that it had acquired Proxy, a digital identity signaling platform. That has led many to speculate that the next Oura Ring will offer contactless payments, like Apple Pay and Garmin Pay. That would be a major benefit of the smart ring, bringing it closer to meeting the capabilities of smartwatches and thus making them more usable for a wider range of users.