Oura launches Ring 5 with slimmer design and new health features

On Thursday, Oura unveiled the fifth generation of its smart ring, the Ring 5. The new device, which starts shipping on June 4, arrives just a year and a half after the company launched the Ring 4. Starting at $399, the Ring 5 is 40% smaller than its predecessor. According to Maz Brumand, the company’s VP of Product, Oura reduced the ring’s width by about two millimeters and its thickness by roughly 30%. Brumand noted that Oura members had been asking the company to make a ring that was smaller and thinner, prompting the shift toward a slimmer design. To achieve this, “Oura achieved the new size by redesigning the mechanical, electrical, optical, battery, and sensing architectures,” Brumand explained. The Ring 5 can last between six to nine days on a single charge.

The rapid release cycle reflects Oura’s response to increased competition. Increased competition likely explains why Oura is launching a new ring just a year and a half after the Ring 4, compared to the longer gaps between previous models. The company faces pressure from subscription-free rivals like RingConn and Ultrahuman. To maintain its market position, Oura is pairing its hardware updates with a suite of new software features, though users must still pay a $5.99 monthly subscription to access them.

The Ring 5 introduces several new software capabilities, which will also roll out to older models:

• Health Radar: This feature monitors biometric signals in the background to detect shifts that may indicate cardiovascular strain. It tracks blood pressure patterns during sleep to alert members to potential cardiovascular risk.
• On-Demand Care: Oura is partnering with Counsel Health, an on-demand platform combining AI with licensed physicians, to bring medical care directly into the app. Members in the U.S. can ask health questions and connect with licensed physicians for an additional fee.
• U.S. Health Data Integration: Members in the U.S. will be able to import diagnosed conditions, medications, lab results, and allergies into the app.
• GLP-1 Insights: The app will offer insights for tracking GLP-1 (a class of weight-loss medications) medication journeys, allowing users to monitor weight and body changes.
• Brain Health Study: Eligible members can enroll in a study to map how daily choices impact mental sharpness and long-term brain health.

Why it matters

Oura is accelerating its product release cycle to compete with subscription-free rivals like RingConn and Ultrahuman, while simultaneously expanding into medical-adjacent services like on-demand care and blood pressure monitoring.