Oura Ring 5 Shrinks the Hardware and Expands the Health Playbook
Table of Contents
The physical shrink: Less bulk, more precision
For years, the primary friction point for potential smart ring adopters hasn’t been the subscription model or the accuracy of the sensors—it’s been the bulk. Even the most streamlined wearables can feel cumbersome during a workout or when typing on a keyboard. Oura seems to have finally listened. The new Oura Ring 5 is a significant departure in scale, arriving 40 percent smaller than its predecessor, the Oura Ring 4.
The numbers tell a clear story of miniaturization: the ring now measures 6.09mm in width (down from 7.9mm) and 2.29mm in thickness (down from 2.88mm). Weighing in between 2g and 2.69g depending on the size, the device is noticeably lighter in the hand and far less intrusive on the finger. While the aesthetic remains largely consistent with previous generations, the titanium construction has been updated with a new coating designed to resist the scratches that plagued the rose gold finishes of the Gen 3 era.
Under the hood, the redesign isn’t just about aesthetics. Oura has reengineered the internal components to accommodate stronger LEDs while maintaining a battery life of six to nine days. As is typical with miniaturized tech, users with larger ring sizes will see the upper end of that battery spectrum, while those with smaller fingers will likely hit the six-day mark faster.
Beyond Sleep: The ‘Health Radar’ and Metabolic Tracking
While the hardware is slimmer, the software ambitions have grown considerably. The center-piece of the update is Health Radar, a new suite of features that evolves Oura’s existing Symptom Radar. Rather than forcing users to manually parse through daily metrics, Health Radar is designed to proactively flag significant physiological shifts. This includes new tracking for nighttime blood pressure and breathing trends.
Perhaps the most provocative addition is the integration of GLP-1 insights. With the explosion of weight-loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, Oura is positioning itself as a companion for users on these regimens. The app will now help users monitor dosages and track common side effects, such as the mild increase in resting heart rate often associated with GLP-1 agonists. This is coupled with new lab upload capabilities, allowing users to import medical test results directly into the app for analysis via an AI chatbot.
It is important to note that several of these advanced features—including the medical record imports and the Council AI chatbot—are currently locked behind the experimental Oura Labs beta. Furthermore, as with any AI-driven health tool, there remains a risk of hallucinations, meaning these insights are intended to complement, not replace, professional medical consultation.
The Trade-offs of Rapid Iteration
The jump to the Ring 5 isn’t without its caveats. In a move that may frustrate some loyalists, Oura has narrowed the available size range. While the Ring 4 offered sizes 4 through 15, the Ring 5 is limited to sizes 6 through 13. Company representatives indicated this is a result of assessing demand patterns from the late 2024 launch of the previous model, though it leaves those with very small or very large fingers in a lurch.
Additionally, the company is again urging users to utilize a new sizing kit before purchasing. Because the internal components have been reshaped, the fit is not identical to previous generations, and users may find themselves between sizes.
Privacy and Data Sovereignty
Oura’s pivot toward more sensitive medical data comes at a time when the company is still weathering the fallout from its previous partnership with Palantir. To address ongoing privacy concerns, the company is introducing Time-based Data Deletion. This allows users to surgically remove health data from a specific window of time rather than opting for a total account wipe, providing a more granular level of control over their biometric history.
The Oura Ring 5 is available for preorder starting at $399 for the standard black and silver finishes, with premium colors retailing for $499. Shipping is expected to begin on June 4th, with the software suite rolling out gradually throughout the month.
