Oura Ring 5 Shrinks 40% but Skips a Trade-In for Loyal Owners

Oura Ring 5 went on sale June 4 at $399, a titanium ring 40% smaller than the fourth-generation model with roughly the same week of battery life. Six weeks of daily wear back up the comfort and durability claims Oura made at launch.

The bigger changes this cycle live in software that is already reaching rings bought back in 2021, and the subscription math behind Oura’s business still leaves loyal owners without a trade-in credit.

The Hardware Numbers Behind a 40% Shrink

The new ring measures a width of 6.09 mm and 2.28 mm thick, down from a noticeably bulkier fourth-generation shell. Oura calls it the world’s smallest smart ring, built from scratch-resistant titanium across six finishes.

Six finishes start at $399 for Silver or Black and run to $499 for Gold, Stealth, Brushed Silver or Deep Rose, across sizes 6 through 13. That starting price arrived alongside new blood pressure signals built into Health Radar, one of the specs Oura confirmed at launch.

It is $50 above the Oura Ring 4’s own $349 starting price, though the membership fee never moved.

Battery life actually improved despite the smaller shell. Oura rates it at 6 to 9 days per charge, about a day longer than the Ring 4 managed, according to Tech Advisor’s comparison of the two generations. The company credits rebuilt battery chemistry and firmware tuned for the smaller cell.

Sizing still requires patience. Oura ships a free kit of dummy sizing rings before the real order and recommends wearing the correct size for 24 hours, since fingers swell overnight and shrink in the cold.

The membership price has not moved since the third generation. What changed in June is the software stacked on top of it.

Software Now Reaches Rings Bought in 2021

Health Radar continuously scans cardiovascular and respiratory signals in the background, a proactive layer Oura pairs with Live Activity Tracking, GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) Insights for members on weight-loss or diabetes medication, and a new tool to locate a misplaced ring or charging case.

None of that requires the new hardware. Most of it reaches the Oura Ring Generation 3 and even Generation 2, the ring line that first shipped in 2021.

1. June 4, 2026: Oura Ring 5 ships alongside Live Activity Tracking, the new Locate ring finder and data deletion controls, all reaching Generation 2 rings and newer.
2. June 2026: GLP-1 Insights begins rolling out to members in the US, UAE and India who own a Generation 3 ring or newer.
3. June 30, 2026: Lab Uploads and the Advisor chat tool roll out, letting members drop PDF blood work into the same timeline as their ring data.

Oura built its medical guidance layer with Counsel Health, an outside AI health partner, rather than adding new sensors to the ring itself.

“Oura Ring 5 is a big step toward our vision of giving every body a voice,” Tom Hale, Oura’s chief executive, said in a statement. “By reimagining Oura Ring 5 to be smaller and easier to wear, and pairing it with our most advanced software yet, we’re making it possible for many more people to wear Oura every day.”

Is the Oura Ring 5 More Accurate Than the Ring 4?

Reviewers found real consistency gains, not a dramatic accuracy leap. Android Central tracked a 5,000-step walk and landed within 15 steps of a Garmin Venu 4, calling it the ring’s best step count yet. DC Rainmaker’s sleep timing landed within minutes of six rival wearables on the same night. Workout heart rate still trails dedicated fitness watches during hard efforts.

On one night, DC Rainmaker logged falling asleep around 1:45 a.m. and waking at 7:50 a.m. The Oura Ring 5 read 1:48 a.m. to 8:12 a.m., close to the Whoop 5.0’s 1:48 a.m. to 7:59 a.m. and the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro’s 1:37 a.m. to 8:08 a.m.

Sleep-stage accuracy is a separate question. Even lab-grade devices only hit around 80% accuracy sorting sleep stages, so the review suggested focusing on total sleep and consistency instead of exact stage timing.

Heart rate is the bigger gap. Android Central found the ring’s readings ran noticeably lower than a Garmin Venu 4 or Fitbit Air during high-intensity workouts, even though resting heart rate matched closely at rest. Oura still recommends pairing the ring with an outside heart rate source for anything intense.

A Symptom Radar Alert That Missed Basic Biology

TechRadar’s reviewer received a “major” warning from Symptom Radar, the feature that flags strain using respiratory rate and body temperature, after ovulation naturally raised her temperature overnight. The app had no way to account for that, and a normal cycle read as a health scare.

The same review flagged the cost of staying subscribed. “The mandatory subscription fee does add up,” the outlet wrote, alongside praise for the ring’s comfort and sleep tracking.

Engadget leaned more positive on the shrink itself. “A feat that shocked even me when I was first told,” the outlet wrote of the 40% size cut, while noting Oura added no new sensor types this generation, only smaller, more efficient versions of the old ones.

The Subscription Bill That Doesn’t Shrink with the Ring

Full access still requires a membership on top of the hardware, and that has not changed since earlier generations.

• $399 to $499 for the ring itself, depending on finish and size.
• $5.99 a month or $69.99 a year for the membership required to see sleep, readiness and activity scores.
• Roughly $469 in year one once the cheapest ring and annual membership are combined.
• No trade-in credit for an old ring, only a free recycling option through Oura.
• Up to three weeks to ship for some Ring 5 finishes, due to demand since launch.

Oura’s one return or exchange allowed per item within 30 days covers sizing mistakes, not upgrades between models. Anyone wanting a newer generation has to return the old ring for a refund and place an entirely new order.

A secondary market has filled the gap Oura left open. Third-party resellers offer buyback quotes for old Oura rings spanning Generation 2 through 5 hardware, cash that Oura’s own recycling program does not provide.

Should Current Oura Ring 4 Owners Bother Upgrading?

Probably not for the software. Every major feature launching this year, from Health Radar to Live Activity Tracking, reaches Generation 3 rings and even Generation 2 rings from 2021, so current owners already have most of the new experience without spending anything extra this cycle.

Bloomberg’s review reached a similar verdict after testing both rings side by side, calling the new model “the best smart ring yet” while noting that owners of older models have less reason to upgrade to the $399 device than first-time buyers do.

Some Ring 4 owners already paid next to nothing for their current ring, with a $44 Amex Platinum statement credit deal circulating well after that ring’s own launch. That kind of discount undercuts any case for paying full price again two generations later.

The calculus is different for anyone still on a Generation 3 ring or shopping for a first ring entirely. Oura’s starting price has climbed $50 with each of its last two hardware cycles, from $299 for Generation 3 to the Ring 4’s own $349 starting price to today’s $399, even as rivals stall. Samsung’s Galaxy Ring has not been updated since 2024 and costs about the same as the Ring 5, trailing Oura and Ultrahuman by roughly two generations, per Engadget’s comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Does the Oura Ring 5 Cost in the First Year?

The ring itself starts at $399 for Silver or Black, or $499 for Gold, Stealth, Brushed Silver and Deep Rose. Add the $69.99 annual membership and the first year runs close to $469 before tax.

Does the Oura Ring 5 Need a Monthly Subscription?

Yes. Without an active Oura membership, the ring still collects data but the app withholds most sleep, readiness and activity scoring, leaving only limited raw metrics visible.

What Sizes Does the Oura Ring 5 Come In?

Oura sells it in sizes 6 through 13, and recommends wearing the included sizing kit for a full 24 hours before ordering, since fingers swell at night and shrink in cold weather.

Is the Oura Ring 5 Waterproof?

It carries a 100-meter, IP68 rating, safe for showers, pools, hot tubs and saunas, though Oura advises against scuba diving or keeping it submerged for more than 12 hours straight.

Will My Oura Ring 4 Get the New Software Features?

Most of it, yes. Live Activity Tracking, the Locate finder and data deletion controls reach Generation 2 rings and newer, while GLP-1 Insights requires a Generation 3 ring or newer.

Can I Trade In My Old Oura Ring for Credit?

Not through Oura directly. The company will take back an old ring for recycling at no cost, but pays nothing toward it. Third-party buyback sites offer cash instead, though quoted values vary by condition and generation.

How Long Does the Battery Actually Last?

Oura rates it at 6 to 9 days per charge, and the optional charging case adds roughly a month of top-ups on top of that for travel.