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Comparison · 2 picks
Oura Ring 5 vs Oura Ring 4: Which Should You Buy?
The Oura Ring 5 and the Oura Ring 4 are the two current flagships from Oura (a Finnish health-tracking company whose rings lead independent sleep-accuracy tests). The Ring 5 is smaller, lasts longer and adds new cardiovascular sensors; the Ring 4 does the core tracking just as well for £50 less. This comparison shows exactly what changed and who each ring suits.
At a glance
All 2 options side by side.
 Oura Ring 5 |  Oura Ring 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £399 | £349 |
| Best for | The best Oura for new buyers who want the slimmest fit and the latest sensors. | The value pick - Oura's proven tracking for £50 less, if you can skip the new sensors. |
| Check price | Check price |
The picks in detail
Oura Oura Ring 5
Bottom line. The best Oura for new buyers who want the slimmest fit and the latest sensors.
Pros
- About 40% smaller and lighter than the Ring 4
- Longer 6-9 day battery life
- New Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing sensors
Cons
- £399 entry price, up on the Ring 4
- Oura Membership at £5.99/month still mandatory
- Premium finishes add £100 for cosmetics only
Oura Oura Ring 4
Bottom line. The value pick - Oura's proven tracking for £50 less, if you can skip the new sensors.
Pros
- Validated sleep-stage and HRV accuracy, close to clinical testing
- £50 cheaper and often discounted
- Durable titanium build with recessed sensors
Cons
- No continuous SpO2 or always-on heart rate
- Membership still required for most features
- Larger and heavier than the Ring 5
What's actually different?
Four things separate the two rings. Size and weight: the Ring 5 is about 40% smaller, at roughly 2-2.69g, so it all but disappears on the finger; the Ring 4 is noticeably chunkier. Battery: the Ring 5 runs 6-9 days versus 5-8 on the Ring 4. Sensors: the Ring 5 adds Blood Pressure Signals (overnight cardiovascular trend readings) and Nighttime Breathing, neither of which the Ring 4 has. Price: the Ring 5 starts at £399 against £349 for the Ring 4, which is frequently discounted.
What is not different matters just as much. Both rings share Oura's core sleep, readiness and heart rate variability (HRV) tracking - the metrics that consistently rate closest to clinical sleep studies in independent testing - and both require the same Oura Membership (the £5.99/month subscription that unlocks the full app).
Is the Oura Ring 5 worth upgrading from the Ring 4?
For most existing Ring 4 owners, no. The day-to-day data you see each morning - sleep stages, readiness, HRV - is effectively the same on both rings, because they run the same algorithms. The Ring 5's gains are the slimmer fit, a day or two more battery, and the new cardiovascular sensors.
Upgrade only if one of those genuinely matters to you: if the Ring 4 feels bulky, if you want the longest battery, or if Blood Pressure Signals and Nighttime Breathing fit a specific health interest. Otherwise the money is better kept, or spent on the membership the ring needs anyway.
Which should you buy?
Buy the Ring 5 if
You want the latest and slimmest
Buy the Ring 4 if
You want the same tracking for less
Whichever you pick, budget for the Oura Membership on top - it is mandatory for the full feature set on both rings. If a subscription is a dealbreaker, a subscription-free ring such as the Ultrahuman Ring Pro or RingConn Gen 3 is worth a look instead (see our Oura Ring 5 vs Ultrahuman Ring Pro comparison).