Oura Ring 4 Has Been Superseded by the Ring 5: What the Subscription Really Costs
A fourth-generation smart ring with improved sensor accuracy, a slimmer profile, and an AI-powered readiness score that adapts to your lifestyle patterns over time.
★ Verified 27 August 2026
- Superseded. Oura Ring 5 launched 28 May 2026 at $399 (Black, Silver) and $499 (other finishes)
- Ring 4 launch price was $349 for entry finishes only — premium finishes ran $399–$499
- Ring 4 is now being clearanced; its live price is JavaScript-rendered and we could not read it
- Membership still required: $5.99/month or $69.99/year, first month free
- Battery 5–8 days depending on size and usage — Oura’s own claim, no independent measurement found
- Weight 3.3–5.2 g · width 7.90 mm · thickness 2.88 mm · sizes 4–15 · water resistant to 100 m
- Chargers are size-specific and not interchangeable
★ Key takeaways
- Best for biohackers and sleep-optimization enthusiasts.
- Biggest strength: best-in-class sleep data.
- Main caveat: monthly fee required.
Against the Whoop strap and the Apple Watch
Whoop tracks strain better and costs more per year; an Apple Watch does more and lasts a day. Oura is the one you forget you are wearing. Against budget alternatives it justifies the step up through best-in-class sleep data and a more polished overall experience. Against the premium tier it holds its own by covering the fundamentals most people actually use, rather than charging extra for features that look good on a box and rarely get touched. For biohackers and sleep-optimization enthusiasts, that middle ground is exactly where the smart money tends to sit.
Choosing a tracker: subscription, battery, what you will act on
The subscription is the real decision. Without it the ring reports almost nothing, and it never ends. These are the ones we weigh most heavily, and the ones worth keeping in mind as you compare your own shortlist.
Strengths and compromises
✓ Pros
- Highly accurate sensors
- Slim comfortable fit
- Detailed cycle tracking
✗ Cons
- $5.99/month subscription
- No real-time display
Who this is for
The Oura Ring 4 is an easy recommendation for biohackers and sleep-optimization enthusiasts. If that describes you, it will likely become one of those purchases you forget you made because it simply works. It is a less obvious choice if budget is your overriding concern or you only need the basics, in which case the money is better spent elsewhere. As always, the best gadget is the one that fits your actual needs — and for the right person, this is a very good one.
Questions about the Oura Ring 4
How often should I update the firmware on my smart home devices?
Are smart rings as accurate as smartwatches for health tracking?
What is Matter and why does it matter for smart home buyers?
Do portable power stations degrade significantly over time?
Is a higher refresh rate display always better for everyday use?
Can AI productivity tools actually replace human judgment in workflows?
The Bold Story verdict
The Oura Ring 4 earns a 9.2/10. It is genuinely excellent, with best-in-class sleep data as its headline strength and monthly fee required as its main compromise. For biohackers and sleep-optimization enthusiasts, it is well worth the $349 at launch. It will not be right for everyone, but it knows exactly who it is for — and it serves that person remarkably well.
Sources: Oura: rings · TechCrunch: Oura Ring 5 launch
How this was checked: prices and specifications on this page were read from the manufacturer’s own pages, or from a named retailer where the manufacturer publishes none, on 27 August 2026 — and the sources are linked above. We have not tested this product ourselves; where a figure is the maker’s claim rather than an independent measurement, we say so. Prices change — check the retailer before buying. See our Editorial Policy.
