The world's smallest smart ring is here– I test the Oura Ring 5 against the previous models
I've tested plenty of health trackers over the years, but there's only one I've consistently worn every single day: the Oura Ring. Unlike a smartwatch, which I inevitably end up taking off because it's bulky or doesn’t look very good with my outfit, Oura looks like a normal ring. The latest generation, the Oura Ring 5, from £399, has just landed, and if undetectable against regular jewellery is what you’re after, this will be for you.
The upgraded ring is 40% smaller than its predecessor, making it the world's smallest smart ring, yet it's packed with even more health tech than before. I've been wearing an Oura Ring for two years now, most recently the Ceramic, so I've had plenty of time to work out what it's brilliant at, where it still falls short. Now, after two weeks of testing the new Oura 5, I feel well-equipped to give anyone sitting on the fence about ordering one a proper review…
If this is your first time hearing about it (though I imagine not), the Oura Ring is a smart ring that tracks your sleep, activity and overall health metrics. Unlike fitness watches, it's small, lightweight and considerably more stylish, making it one of the few wearables you can actually forget you're wearing.
This model builds on everything that made previous generations so popular, combining redesigned sensors with new AI-powered health insights and a more discreet design. It's designed to help you understand everything from your sleep quality and recovery to long-term health trends, rather than just counting your steps.
- Sleep tracking: Monitors deep, light and REM sleep, then provides personalised insights to help improve your rest.
- Activity tracking: Tracks daily movement, calories and workouts, with improved automatic detection for activities like Pilates.
- Live activity tracking: Follow pace, distance and heart rate in real time during workouts through the Oura app.
- Health radar: An advanced Symptom Radar, monitoring long-term biometric trends including blood pressure signals and nighttime breathing patterns.
- Heart rate monitoring: Measures resting heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) to help assess stress and recovery.
- Women's health insights: Tracks menstrual cycles and fertility windows using temperature trends.
- Longer battery life: Lasts up to seven days on a single charge
- Water resistance: Suitable for swimming, showering and everyday wear.
- Locate feature: Helps you find a misplaced ring or charging case through the app.
The biggest surprise when I first picked up the Oura Ring 5 was just how tiny it is. It's noticeably slimmer than my previous ring and feels much lighter on my finger, to the point where I do genuinely forget I'm wearing it. The only downside to this is when I forget it’s there and needs charging every week.
I opted for the updated gold finish, which looks a little more like real gold (less yellow) than previous versions, and the improved scratch-resistant coating is a welcome addition after putting my older ring through plenty of wear and tear. Because I weight-lift, my old ring got quite scratched within a few weeks of wearing it, but this one is holding up really well.
I've always used my Oura Ring less as a fitness tracker and more as a wellness tracker. I like understanding how well I've slept, whether my body has properly recovered and how everyday habits affect my energy levels. After almost three years of wearing one, it's become the first thing I check every morning.
Sleep tracking remains the standout feature. I used to think I was a great sleeper until Oura proved otherwise. It's helped me realise that getting eight hours doesn't necessarily mean getting good sleep. Over time I've spotted patterns around late meals, stress and alcohol that affect how rested I feel the next day.
It's the only wearable I actually want to wear. That's probably Oura's biggest strength. Unlike a smartwatch, it doesn't dominate my wrist or clash with jewellery, and because it's now even smaller, it's even easier to forget it's there.
The health insights have definitely become much smarter. The health radar is a noticeable step up from the old symptom radar. Rather than simply warning when your body might be under strain, it now looks at longer-term trends, including nighttime breathing and blood pressure signals, giving a broader picture of your health over time. Of course, it's not a medical device, but I like having another layer of information about what's happening in my body.
Activity tracking has improved, too. One of my biggest frustrations with earlier generations was that they struggled with some of my favourite workouts, particularly reformer Pilates. Oura says activity detection has been improved, especially for lower-motion exercise, and it certainly feels more accurate than before. Live Activity Tracking is also a welcome addition if you like keeping an eye on your pace or heart rate during a workout.
The biggest downside hasn't changed: you still need an Oura Membership to unlock most of the features. At £5.99 a month, it's not outrageously expensive, but it's another subscription to factor into the overall cost.
I'd also still reach for an Apple Watch (like the series 11, from £369) if I were training for a race or wanted highly detailed fitness metrics. Oura excels at recovery, sleep and overall wellbeing, but dedicated sports watches still have the edge for serious training.
Finally, while the tougher finish should help, it's still a piece of jewellery you'll want to look after. If you're regularly lifting heavy weights or doing activities where your hands take a battering, I'd still be inclined to take it off.
If you're looking for a wearable that doesn’t look like a wearable, I still don't think anything comes close. The Oura Ring 5 refines almost everything that made previous generations so popular, from the smaller, more comfortable design to smarter health and activity tracking.
Yes, the subscription remains a slight frustration, but if your priority is understanding your sleep, recovery, stress levels and overall wellbeing rather than chasing fitness records, it's still my favourite wearable on the market. Three years after putting my first Oura Ring on, I can't imagine starting my day without checking it.
Daily Mirror
