The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic challenges the established order of wearables

What do you discover on the intersection of information, well being, and trend? Wearables. They arrive in all shapes and equipment, from easy material bracelets to full-blown designer bands conserving an Apple Watch Extremely 3 strapped to your wrist. Good rings aren’t something new, however they’re definitely choosing up pace as distraction-free well being trackers that do not buzz each time you get a spam e-mail. Notification-freedom (in all respects) is definitely on my 2026 precedence listing.

I’ve proudly worn a gold Oura Ring 3 for 2 years straight — from late Friday nights to early Sunday morning exercises — and have used it to color a whole image of my well being. It was there to warn me a few dreadful upcoming case of the flu and assist me curate a restoration plan after my half-marathon six months later. All of the whereas, I would get compliments on my golden bling day and night time that become dialog starters the second I pulled it off my finger to disclose the glowing inexperienced sensors inside. Not solely was it fairly, it was additionally good.

So when Oura introduced a colourful new course for its Oura Ring 4 line back in October, I knew the Finnish firm had one thing particular up its sleeve. This cosmetic-only improve is the boldest — and costliest — iteration Oura has launched to this point, and after spending the final couple of months sporting the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic, I’ve deduced that its most necessary element is the brand new course it is pushing wearables in.

Match and really feel

Clean and tender, not glossy

I will state the apparent first: the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is cumbersome. Bulkier than the Oura Ring 3 and the Oura Ring 4 titanium fashions. I had some bother with sizing — with the titanium rings, I am a real dimension 7, however the brand new ceramic dimensions take some getting used to. I would really suggest carrying the sizing equipment fashions for 48 hours moderately than the really useful 24.

My neighboring finger feels it extra usually, too. The zirconia ceramic has a barely “tackier” texture to it — to not be confused with wanting cheesy in any respect. In reality, the fabric is so clean and glass-like that it takes on an opalescent shine in the precise lighting, which is arguably my favourite half in regards to the Tidal colorway I used to be graced with (which is definitely constructed into the fabric itself, however extra on that later). However as a substitute of sliding proper throughout it, my center finger will drag and encounter some nice, tactile friction, particularly if my fingers aren’t dry. It is comforting to run my fingers throughout it throughout conferences.

There’s a bit of notch on the underside to mark the place the sensors ought to line up with the underside of your finger, which I discover simply with my thumb. The ‘tackiness’ really helps my ring from twisting and shifting the sensors an excessive amount of.

The ceramic itself

Daring, lovely, however not essentially elevated

The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is not manufactured from the identical materials that the selfmade mug in your kitchen is. It is made with zirconia ceramic, which is a high-performance materials that is so clean and polished it usually appears to be like and looks like glass. Past the appears to be like division, it is robust as nails — which is what I really care about in a health tracker. I am not below the covers all day monitoring my sleep — I am within the fitness center lifting weights which might be used to stealing my titanium Oura Ring 3’s lunch cash. When you look shut sufficient, the fabric on the previous mannequin is roofed in scratches and imperfections, which can be a reported issue on the titanium Oura Ring 4 fashions.

It comes as a disheartening courtesy of more durable metals scratching up the metallic end. However the zirconia ceramic is not a ‘end’ just like the titanium fashions — the colour is definitely constructed into the fabric itself. Oura even states that scuffs and scratches which will inevitably seem on the ceramic rings are a results of weaker supplies themselves rubbing off on the ring, not the opposite approach round. Fortunately, the corporate gives a sprucing pad with the ceramic rings so you’ll be able to buff off any grey marks.

What the ceramic says about different wearables

Time to enter the modern period

Credit score: Oura / Pocket-lint

There is not any denying the ceramic’s magnificence. Whereas I selected Tidal for its calming, ocean-like hue, it was neck-and-neck with the extra female Petal pink. The deep, extra masculine-leaning, Midnight is mesmerizing, and the Cloud has a timeless cleanliness to it that goes with any outfit, albeit boldly. Nevertheless, I do discover myself shrugging it off within the evenings earlier than a dinner date or night time out in town — the ceramic ring would not shine with the identical class that the gold does, even with its close-up scratches.

As somebody who’s always donning gold or silver jewellery, the ceramic ring is a press release accent for my daytime endeavors, however comes off at night time if I am going for a extra cohesive total look. On that very same word, any Oura Ring is cumbersome subsequent to a dainty little ring or bracelet — even a slimmer titanium one. When you’re eager on assertion jewellery, there is no such thing as a higher (or smarter) wearable on the market now.

Credit score: Oura

Wearables are now not of their infancy, however they’re solely simply getting into trend. When you put on a smartwatch or chest sensor, everybody is aware of its function and would not fault you for any coloration or materials clashes. Wearables are units you put on for perform, not trend. Certain, some smartwatches can sport designer bands that out-price the machine itself, nevertheless it’s nonetheless an Apple Watch and a Tory Burch band individually.

A ceramic ring looks like a deliberate transfer to interrupt free from the function-first assumption nearly all folks make about wearables. Sure, the zirconia ceramic provides substantial bulk to the ring, however the coloration and glass-like really feel steadiness it with a Zen aura (no pun meant) and splendid end. It is a assertion piece I need to match with a Lululemon Pilates set — bonus factors that it tracks the energy burned whereas I am sporting it.

I do assume that Oura must someway slim down the ceramic in any future rings, nevertheless it marks a big leap trend has made into the wearables area — one which I predict different health-tracker giants will start scrambling to duplicate within the coming years.

Are there software program adjustments?

No, and there would not must be

The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic has nothing new below the hood from its predecessor, the common Oura Ring 4 — if you happen to might even name it that. The ceramic line merely refreshes the skin materials and serves solely as a beauty improve. It nonetheless boasts six-to-eight days of battery life, even when that battery infamously degrades with prolonged use.

My Oura Ring 4 Ceramic in Tidal continues to trace my sleep, exercise, stress, and ladies’s well being metrics higher than any wearable I’ve worn up to now. As a busy bee vulnerable to saying sure to all plans that request a spot on my calendar, I’ve to be very cognizant of my Readiness Rating, calculated by coronary heart charge, HRV, and a myriad of different measurements that assist full the image of my well being.

Oura’s native AI Well being Advisor additionally has a particular spot in my wellness routine. After coaching for a half-marathon, it helped me provide you with a restoration plan so I might be off to the races once more as shortly as I might. And, after all, the app nonetheless (kindly) jogs my memory how badly I sleep each night time — 2026 resolutions, Oura… 2026 resolutions.

Who ought to and should not purchase the Oura Ring 4 Ceramic

Plus, why the tip of the 12 months is the very best time

If you wish to purchase any Oura ring, now’s the time. The good rings are HSA- and FSA-eligible, and are a spectacular selection for these ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ {dollars}. The ceramic line is the priciest of Oura’s lineup ($150 greater than the titanium Oura Ring 4), so the additional funds assist justify the price — as a result of that is finally a color- and material-driven buy.

The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic line is for statement-piece wearers. Ones who aren’t afraid to attract consideration to their fingers, and flash some coloration the place most individuals sometimes see gold or silver metals. It isn’t for customers who’d favor to fly below the radar with daintier items that catch delicate glances, not obtain flattering however stark, “What’s that in your finger?” remarks.

There’s some within the crowd that need each — they need their good tech to be chameleons on their hand some nights, and the peacock in the course of the room on others. The Ceramic Oura Ring 4 is for homeowners of the titanium Oura Ring 4 who need rotation, as Oura introduced cross-compatibility between all 4th-gen rings. So, if you wish to put on Petal throughout daytime yoga and swap it for shiny gold on a moody dinner date, your choices are infinite.

Oura is aware of that the ceramic-pivot is a trend assertion. The ceramic ring is not supposed to switch your titanium ring, however moderately coexist with it. And with a $500 price ticket that places it on the prime of the wearable firm’s already premium pyramid, it is no low-cost further. If a number of rings in a number of colours to make the most of that cross-compatibility is inside your funds, including an Oura Ring 4 Ceramic to your good jewellery field is a mighty superb concept. Switching the fashion of your good ring provides a layer of standing to your well being monitoring.

Minimalists, again off. When you’re upgrading from a titanium Oura Ring 3 or older technology and like the way in which the metallic ring blends in, investing in an Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is selecting a press release colorway over a extra impartial piece. You could end up taking it off some days, which is a part of the trade-off when a wearable doubles as a press release piece.

Model

Oura

Coronary heart charge monitor

Sure

Battery life

5-8 days

Sensors

Blood Oxygen, Coronary heart Fee, HRV, Respiration Fee

The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic is a health-tracking good ring with a zirconia ceramic end, barely thicker design, and new coloration choices.

The Oura Ring 4 Ceramic was supplied to Pocket-lint by Oura. The corporate had no enter as to the contents of the article earlier than or after writing.